I Bought a Kirby

[Princess_Aurora]

Please tell me I'm not the only here that was willing to pay over a thousand dollars for a vacuum. We had a Kirby salesman come to our house last nigh, spent three hours demonstrating this vacuum, filled our whole coffee table up with dirt he was pulling from my carpet and then wouldn't leave until I agreed to buy one. After succuming to my starvation and sleep depravation (he showed up right before we were going to start eating at 7 and didn't leave until after 11) I Finally agreed to a final price of $1100 (down from the $2200 he started with) to be paid in payments of $40/month for 36 months with 12 months same as cash.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this vacuum cleaner. It's the best I've ever seen. But after talking to some family and friends I really realized that I'm about to pay $1100 for a VACUUM! It's not a very smart decision, especially since we're saving up for an October Disney trip. But at 11p.m. when you're starving, it seems like a really good idea.

Are there any other Kirby owners here that can tell me whether or not it really is worth the $1100 or did you later end up regretting the purchase? I mean, it's not the vacuum that's a letdown, it's the price. I have three days to cancle the order and give the vacuum back, and everyone is telling me I should give it back. Should I???

 

[Dan Murphy]

Sounds like a LOT of money, for a vacuum, regardless how good it is. It would have to do the work for me for that kind of money. Yikes.

 

[Pooh67_68]

I have had my Kirby for 12 yrs now and would not trade it for anything, we paid $1500 for ours. I can not make up your mind for you, only you can decide if it really was too much money.

 

[Lanshark]

If you feel your decision was made because you just wanted to get rid of the guy then you should probably cancel. Do you actually have the vacuum or are you waiting to receive it? If you already have it I would leave the original packing on it until you make your decision. If you decide to cancel and return make sure you have every documented and sent certified so you can prove you're within the 3 day window. Do everything in writing so you have an audit trail on the return?

Good Luck

 

[wahoo2]

My MIL bought one of these and actually gave it to me after she had it for about a year, because it was to heavy for her. I vacuum a lot and I can tell you if we had the money, I'd sell the Kirby and get a different one! First off it is very heavy!! You can't push it under my coffee table like I could with my other one. You can't get into the edges of the walls good unless you break out the attachments and let me tell you that is a hassle! My old vaccum was one of those bagless kinds with the onboard attachment which I loved and miss!! I don't like buying or changing the bags! And you have to change them often! This is just MHO but I would never pay what they want for this vacuum. My MIL said she regreted buying it also. It does have the carpet cleaning attachment stuff which would be nice, but after watching the video, it looked to complicated!LOL!! Although I'm sure some people love this vacuum, it just isn't for me. HTH

 

[TexasErin]

Sounds like we had the same experience. We finally bought it just to get them to leave. I am now VERY careful about not opening the door for ANYONE. The guy told me if he could just come in for a minute it would help him to get credit on his job. The vacuum is okay, but I'd rather have my money back.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I do not have a Kirby, but we did get a central vacuum system when we built our house. The system was $1600 and we have spent an extra $50-60 on attachemts.

That being said, I love the system! I am gald I knew about the option for vac pans. These are openings to the system at floor level where you just sweep your debris up to the opening, turn on the system (with your toe) and away goes the dirt. I think that is my favorite part of the system. I use my vac pans every day.

Just let go and enjoy it (well, as much as you can enjoy a vacuum ).

 

[Carl]

I had the same experience and I DID return it within the 3 days. Glad I did. It turns out my mother had an old Kirby and she put it out for the garbage man to pick up. She did not like it.

 

[helenabear]

IMGONNABE40, if I had the opportunity to put a central vac into my house, it would be worth the $1600 to me My MIL has that in her new home and it is great!

That said, $1100 is A LOT for a vacuum cleaner in my eyes, especially when you were "talked down" to that price. I think the most I would spend for one is what they ask for a Dyson. Even then, that is a lot to spend, but I *know* they are worth it.

Here is a link with some reviews just in case http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Large_Appliances-All-Vacuum_Cleaners-Kirby
http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/electronics/vacuum_cleaners/kirby_gsix_vacuum/

 

[Cindy B]

My FIL has had his for over 30 years, and he loves it!

My BIL has one as well.

Well, Kirby vacuum people are very pushy. I had one come by once and I said that the vacuum was more than my mortgage payment. I told the salesguy at least I get a tax break for my house.

You have to practice saying no no no... all the time.

 

[clh2]

If I were you, I would cancel the sale. If in a month or two you really decide you want to purchase this - then after you have done the appropriate amount of research for an $1100 purchase, then go ahead.

Were you actually looking for a vacuum? Or did the sales rep just knock on your door? Maybe the question is - do you NEED a vaccum?

 

[momm2four]

I have an idea. You can buy mine for $100 (I paid $1400 5 years ago), however the shipping on this monstrosity would probably be $200.

I would say that paying that much for a vacuum is one of the biggest regrets I have ever had. We could have paid $300-$400 and got a really nice one and saved $1000.

It is SOOOOO heavy. Also, after we bought it, we moved into a house with all hardwood floors except for our den and the playroom downstairs (but who wants to carry that heavy thing up and down stairs?).

When we were being shown the vacuum, I remember thinking, "Wow, this thing will do everything but do my laundry,", but I have only used the carpet cleaning attachments once and wasn't too impressed. The other attachments became light sabers and pretend weapons to my four little Jedis.

I say, if you are uncomfortable with your decision now, you will be VERY uncomfortable with it later, but that's just my little ole' opinion.

Lori P.

 

[ChefBilly]

We agreed to let a Kirby salesman into our house once.
He said it would take 20 minutes.

He showed up an hour and a half before the first game of a Bruins/Canadiens playoff series.

He spent 90 minutes showing us the thing, and when the Bruins started, he was just getting going.
I told him to get out, and I'd let him finish the next day.

Of course I had the opportunity to sleep on it, and when he pulled into my driveway the next day I didn't even let him get out of his car.

These people are liars, plain and simple. Sure, the vacuum is great, but why LIE about how long it's going to take? They are scum.

How do I know? My SIL, who hits rough times now and then, took it up for about a week. We bought one to help her specifically, and then she quit a few days later. Great. We ended up with a very expensive vacuum.

Is it good? Yeah. But it's too heavy to move around too much. BEWARE of these people.

 

[my3kids]

My next door neighbor has one. Neither her nor her housekeeper will use it...too heavy.

Think about it this way....for the price you paid, you could buy probably 9 or 10 of whatever Consumer Reports lists as their best vacuum whenever you need a new one. If each one lasts 5 years, that is like 45 years of the current best model for the same price. There is no way in a span of years that your current model would outproduce a brand new state of the art cleaner.

Also, you are paying $340 for 24 months of interest. The interest alone could buy 3 Basic Hoover Windtunnels.

Just my opinion and math.....

 

[skiwee1]

I thought of a Kirby but it was too heavy. I got a Miele instead. It was only $600 and worth every penny. It is light and has great suction. I'd cancel the contract.

 

[hyzdufan]

$1000+ for a VACUUM CLEANER? Not only would it have to have great suction, but it'd have to cook dinner, do the laundry, and wash my car to boot.

Just think of trading a 4 day Disney vacation for a vacuum cleaner.

 

[Lars624]

We have one................paid 1400.00 for it a few years ago.......I don't hate it ~ but would I buy it again?? NO

 

[binny]

ok heres my story

we got swindled into buying one at one time too and I resented it like crazy UNTIL we were renting this house with light grey carpet. then my DH spilled 2 QUARTS of red koolaid on the carpet

After soaking up as much as we could we put salt and baking soda on it to soak up the rest but were still left with a HUGE red stain.
I brought out the Kirby and it took it all up!


That made it worth it all!
now 10 years later its still going strong!

 

[ilovepcot]

Many years ago I, too, allowed a Kirby salesman into my home. Horrible mistake! Most times they use the element of "surprise" to work for them. You're caught off guard and really don't know how to respond to their pushiness. They're a "guest" in your home and most people usually refrain from being rude and abrupt to any visitor.....even a Kirby salesman! Then, they frustrate and wear you down. They know when you begin to tire you'll say or do nearly anything to get them out of your house. I had reached this point when DH arrived home from work. Let's just say.....I never bought a Kirby. (Wasn't pretty, I tell ya!!!) I also feel if you're already questioning this purchase...... there's your answer!

 

[Serena]

Cancel it.
If you need a vacuum, research and buy one at your convenience, not because you were pressured into it.

Oh, and cancel quick. They try and use the weekend as part of the three days. Or they did with my sister and she wouldn't fight them about it. Her's was $1,800, she couldn't afford it. She didn't listen to her big sister.