Stories from the Sales Frontlines

jipster

The vita Mix reminds me of a Kirby vacuum cleaner. Nobody would ever buy one without watching a slick demo

Buying a Kirby is a lot like buying a automobile (slick way of making this on topic :P ). It is to vacuum cleaners what BMW (that one is for driver) is to fine cars... the best. The asking price for a Kirby is outrageous, but there is a lot of wiggle room for negotiation. If it weren't for Kirby... the "Jipst Method" very likely never would have been born. This site.. likely have ceased to exist.

I bought a Kirby 17 years ago before I got married. As many of you are well aware, as I have mentioned buying a Kirby before, I believe the asking price was around $1,200. I did get the slick demonstration of the Kirby sucking up a bowling ball, the various attachments, it could wash your car or paint your house. :surprise:

I kept mentioning price too high, price too high... no thanks sales dude!! He kept lowering the price until I couldn't say no. The guy sold it to me for $200 less than what he let his grandma have it for... 600 bucks. The Kirby was a heavy, though self propelled, awesome cleaning machine. It would probably last a lifetime. Alas, I was getting married soon, so I decided to sell it (sold it the first day it was in the paper for what I paid for it). I do look back at times, and think about what life would have been like, if I had kept Kirby and ditched my wife, but I think I made the right decision. :confuse:

jmonroe

kyfdx, I think you just want an interesting sales story.

For a host, I’m kinda surprised that he’d be looking for that on this forum. He must have read some of these recent posts and now he's all juiced up. :confuse:

jmonroe

robr2

Try a blend-tec - it'll blend almost anything.

imidazol97

ROFL
So we WERE on topic all along. It has 4 wheels, a motor, steering "wheel."

Kirstie_H

It starts out well, but you just have to be wary of the later chapters, in which some commandments are handed down... then I get to choose only two of every kind... I think I'll quit while we're ahead!

roadburner

Buying a Kirby is a lot like buying a automobile (slick way of making this on topic ). It is to vacuum cleaners what BMW (that one is for driver) is to fine cars... the best.

We bought a Kirby about 25 years ago. A similar story- we paid $600 for it. We still use it in the finished basement and to vacuum my cars. That said, my preference for German products has been adopted by my wife- resulting in the purchase of a Miele Callisto a couple of years ago...

jmonroe

The guy sold it to me for $200 less than what he let his grandma have it for... 600 bucks.

I’m surprised at you; you were jipped. I could have had one for less than that back in ’89.

I was relatively new in my second home and the neighbor 2 doors up siked his kid on me trying to sell me a Kirby. He came to the door saying something like he knew I wasn’t going to buy one but he needed the practice doing his sales pitch so I relented but I made it clear that we weren’t going to buy a vacuum cleaner “just so you know that”. He goes on and on and …I’d say he was there at least an hour and a half and finally Mrs. j pulls me into the next room and says, “when is he going to leave? Stop asking him questions about how does it have so much power. You know more about that thing than he does. He can’t answer any of your technical questions, you’re embarrassing him. So just let the kid go home already”.

I think this kid thought we were off having a pow wow about what we would pay for the beast and when we came back to the living room he said, “OK, Ill let you have it for $550”. I said, “Oh, I thought you said you weren’t trying to sell me this thing, that you just wanted practice with your routine”. He smiles and said, “well, that’s how I always start my routine, so how’s that price”? I said, “gee, I’m sorry you wasted your time. I wouldn’t buy that contraption if you were selling it for $300 let alone $550. The $89 Hoover we have works just fine.” He immediately folded his tent and left after he heard that. I’d say he got a crash course on trying to pull a fast one on ole ‘jmonroe’.

In case anyone is wondering about the neighbor relationship after that. We got along just fine. In fact, my college aged Son #1 even showed this kid how to do a brake job that summer. He appreciated the help. He was out of the Kirby biz by then. :sick:

jmonroe

sterlingdog

Poor,poor child. When he rang your doorbell, he had no idea that he was about to meet the King of Tight A$$es! Had it not been for the kindness of Mrs. Jmonroe, the kid would probably still be there trying to answer your technical questions---to which you have had the answers for years. Love the story.

Richard

sterlingdog

"...then I get to choose only two of every kind..."

That's hysterical! Imagine if some of us posters came in pairs! I, too, had better stop here.

Richard

jipster

I could have had one for less than that back in ’89

The 1989 series of Kirby was the old Legend 2 series,. They sucked (figuratively) compared to the early 1990's Gerneration 3 Kirby. Cleaned refurbished Generation 3 Kirby's are going for around $300. If you still have that $89 Hoover you may want to think about trading it in for one.

sterlingdog

We also have the Miele Callisto. It's the best cleaning machine in the world. Though it was expensive, the company repairs it for free if there is ever a problem. Our house keeper liked it so much that she bought one for herself. IIRC, we bought it three years ago for about $900 at a Labor Day sale event.

Richard

sterlingdog

"...but I think I made the right decision."

If you had ditched your wife in favor of a Kirby, your life would now "suck". :P I hope that your wife doesn't read these posts. :surprise:

Richard

imidazol97

We bought a $70 Hoover rated #2 or #3 in Consumer Reports. It has great suction. It picks up any allergens and filters them at the bag. We like it even more than our previous Hoover which wore out.

An area store has new and used Kirbys. He said both require an annual servicing of some of the hard parts. Even though I probably could do that myself, we opted for a lightweight vacuum with CR-rated great suction.

Kirstie_H

This is the second time today that you've all amused me. I imagine telling people, "Hey, look over here - I found a bunch of guys talking about vacuum cleaners. No, really - they are ALL dudes discussing vacuum cleaner brands and experiences. "

I'm glad it's in print so that if I ever do, I can't be called a liar.

lemko

I had an old Royal vacuum from the 1940s that did a spectacular job. Unfortunately, the motor finally burned-out.

jipster

I hope that your wife doesn't read these posts.

My wife probably would use her "Delete- O-Matic"... ON ME, if she read some of the things I post on here. Fortunately for me, she thinks these car sites a total waste of time and doesn't bother reading them. :P

Kirstie_H

She might think otherwise if she found out this car site also includes a select group of consumer reviews on watches, juicers, and vacuum cleaners! If you added jewelry and hair products, she might find her way here (inadvertently) all by herself.

isellhondas

We rarely return anything but Costco has a very liberal return policy.

We used it once and cleraned and sanitized it so well nobody would have been able to tell it had been used. Packed it up perfectly too!

isellhondas

A few years back I sprung for a Royal for my wife. It looked like it had been designed in the 1930's. I thought I was doing her a favor...WRONG!

It worked O.K. I guess but it was so HEAVY that lugging it upstairs was a real pain. She just hated it.

Once I had it into the local vacuum store where I bought it for something or other and they had a refurbished Kirby for sale. My God, it weighed even more than the Royal did!

The Royal eneded up at a garage sale where it brought a piddly 100.00 I think.

Our current dirt sucker is an Oreck and I can't say enough about it. Bought one for my MIL too and she, like my wife just loves it!

jipster

juicers, vacuums, jewelry... european hand bags (for men) a couple weeks ago. This link will put things straight. Check out this manly demonstration of the power and ease of use of the Kirby Generation 3.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CqMpu0gwEM

robr2

I installed a central a few years ago and bought a hose for each floor. All we lug are the wands and attachments.

verdugo

I am more of an urban person, like seeing old buildings, busy streets, archelogical findings, etc.,

Driver,

I agree with you. I don't think you'd be happy in the Canary islands. Save the money and go somewhere else.

jipster

I bought it for something or other and they had a refurbished Kirby for sale. My God, it weighed even more than the Royal did!

Yeah, the Kirby was solid.... steel. Very heavy. Not a problem back then living mainly on the carpeted main floor, with the Kirby being self propelled as well.
I could see the weight issue being a problem with some buyers.

verdugo

There are other benefits, one of which is the opportunity to drive fast in your new car on the superb German autobahn system.

I've always wondered about that. I've been told never to push the engine too much during the break in period. How would the fast autobahn driving affect the longer term longevity of the car?

verdugo

I am convinced that the Kitchen Aid that we bought will go head to head with the Vita Mix. The vita Mix reminds me of a Kirby vacuum cleaner. Nobody would ever buy one without watching a slick demo.

My parents swear by VitaMix and they gave us one. I use it pretty much every day to make smoothies. Clean up couldn't be easier!

tjc78

I installed a central a few years ago

Did you remember to have an outlet installed in the garage or in the driveway so you could vacuum out the cars?

robr2

Did you remember to have an outlet installed in the garage or in the driveway so you could vacuum out the cars?

Yes. I had installed it about 10 years ago. When I did an addition and added the garage, I extended the system rather than move the whole thing out to the garage from the basement.

isellhondas

" I could see the weight issue being a problem for some buyers"

Yeah, for my 5'3" wife and our two story house!

As heavy as that Royal was, I couldn't believe just how much heavier the Kirby was that I picked up!

The Orecks are so easy to use and they do an excellent job and weigh so little.

fezo

Over 25+ years of marriage we have had two Electrolux vacuums which is what I grew up with as well. For some reason what had been Electrolux in this country is now called Aerus. The Swedish company actually called Electrolux apparently wanted their name back....

i liked them a lot. We also have an Oreck which is fine if you use it a lot and don't have like a loose piece of carpet which it will eat and then you have to take things apart to get the long string out....

Kirbies weigh as much as some vehicles (official car reference).

isellhondas

"Clean up couldn't be easier"

That's right and the juicers are the opposite.

Also you lose most of the fiber with the juicers.

I would have bought a Vita Mix but not for over 350.00 more.

imidazol97

>I guess but it was so HEAVY that lugging it upstairs was a real pain
>refurbished Kirby for sale. My God, it weighed even more than the Royal did!

The Kirbys have power wheels to help with that. They even have a transmission to change gears, IIRC. I was willing to buy a new current model at a store in the same town with the Kitchen Aid Experience store (close to the factory) and I think they had $700 or $800 on the price for the $1200/$1300 Kirby. I would have been afraid to wave $600 in front of them unless I wanted to buy. I think they would have taken it a year and half ago; business was slow throughout the area at that time.

The Kirbys are well built. But my wife's Hoover is 16 pounds. Only thing lighter than that in top 4 (it was #4) is 13 pounds for a Hoover that is in two parts.

isellhondas

The power wheels don't help carrrying it up the stairs!

crkeehn

I think it is more likely the cars that required special painting techniques or more exotic materials cost more. The inferno red color for the PT Cruiser was an extra cost option. It had metalflakes in the paint and I believe that it required a slightly different painting technique to ensure that the metal flakes would catch the light.

It was a pretty color

fezo

The Kirbys have power wheels to help with that. They even have a transmission to change gears, IIRC.

Oh, good! Now we can start a topic about if you are a wimp because your vacuum cleaner has an automatic!

driver100

I found a bunch of guys talking about vacuum cleaners.

Yeh, I am waiting for the conversation comparing laundry detergents.

jmonroe

I had an old Royal vacuum from the 1940s that did a spectacular job. Unfortunately, the motor finally burned-out.

When I grew up, my Mother had a Royal. She had it for a loooong time. The motor didn't fail, the handle broke in two. My Father fixed it once but when it broke again at another place he said, "retire it and get a Hoover. That thing is about as old as the dirt it picks up". :surprise:

jmonroe

driver100

I don't think you'd be happy in the Canary islands

Thanks, I am taking it off my wish list.

driver100

I've been told never to push the engine too much during the break in period

I don't believe that is a factor any more. Might want to go easy on brakes until they work themselves in a bit, but I don't think new cars need a break in period any more.

driver100

The inferno red color for the PT Cruiser was an extra cost option. It had metalflakes

I think if Inferno Red was an extra cost option, Metallic Purple should have had a discount!

driver100

No, really - they are ALL dudes discussing vacuum cleaner brands and experiences. "

Maybe we need a few new sites: "Car guys who want to compare vacuum cleaners" and "Car guys who want to compare their juicers".

imidazol97

>Maybe we need a few new sites:

What we need are more car buying and selling stories.

Sandman6472

Had a similar experience but was promised a free gift. After an hour pitch where we kept saying "no", the guy poured all this crap on my carpet & said that our current Panasonic was a "piece of sh-t" and showed us how his picked up all that mess on the 1st try. But after being insulted, we told him to leave. Said he'd have to call in, so he did. When I got on the phone to ask for our free gift, his manager said something stupid & before I could ask him a 2nd time, he hung up!

This was the last time we ever had an in-house demonstration...period! I did tell the wife at 1st to just say "no" to anyone coming over to the house, but she wanted the "free gift" which we never got anyways. I'll never let that happen again!!! :mad:

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

verdugo

I would have bought a Vita Mix but not for over 350.00 more.

I'll talk to my parents and see what I can do :P

snakeweasel

Isell this is the juicer I got fro Christmas, I really do enjoy it and use it everyday.

houdini1

I believe you buy your car from a representative in the U.S and they see that the car goes to a dealership in the US. You can save about $5000 to $5000 a car which pays for your trip.

If that is true, why do you even have to make the trip?

oldfarmer50

"...or I'll shoot you back to 1999..."

Please make it 1989 which was they last time I was comfortable with technology.

houdini1

My wife recently bought a heavy duty blender from Costco called a "Ninja". That darn thing would liquify anything you put in it. It only cost about $50. The way things come and go at Costco, they may have come and gone.

houdini1

Thumbs up on item #3 neighbor, I was hoping that would happen, congrats.

On item #2, check out that Ninja at Costco.

oldfarmer50

"...So anticlimatic!..."

Yeah, so then you took it alll out on me! :sick:

oldfarmer50

"...There are no discounts for Canadians..."

You could tell them that you're jmonroe or richard64 and get the royal treatment.

Or tell them that you're jipster or me and get thrown out of the country. :P