a Simplicity, which cost an exorbitant $200 then [$350 now...]
came with a full set of tools[I'm on my second set...]
as well as other "perks" for a "staff person" of numerous furry beasties...
I've had it "serviced" twice, belts replaced, etc...
and it just keeps sucking up the pet hair, etc...
until yesterday, when it kept stopping & starting...
when it ran, it sucked-up everything...but then it would just stop...
as you can see, it is well-made...
so I cleaned it up & took it to the repair shop...
there was an older lady at the counter with her 1960 Kirby...
I stood in line while the nice man at the counter...
fixed a non-turning wheel & replaced the belt...
then she pointed out the frayed cord...
at this point, he said that it would need to be left...
since they would need to order the replacement cord...
but it would be ready within a week...
so her cleaning schedule wouldn't have to be altered...
I had assumed that I'd have to just leave mine too...
[when was the last time a repairman fixed your problem at the counter ?]
and I figured that there must be a short...
but a few twists of the screw driver tightened the loose handle...
solving the stop/start problem immediately...
which he demonstrated as he had plugged it in...
then he took it into the back to replace the belt...
a couple of minutes later, he was back...
he had also fixed the loose upright locking mechanism...
and told me that I owed him all of $3.26 !!!
[just the part, NO LABOR !!}
the lady with the commercial vac at the other part of the counter...
was amazed at the little cost...
it reminded me of when I was a kid and we always took stuff...
to be fixed, or repaired it ourselves, if we could...
instead of tossing it away when it broke...
or just buying a new one when it got old & worn...
that's one of the perks in frequenting family owned businesses, like this one...
that have been around for years, providing customer service...
selling quality merchandise and being able to keep it running...
I think that the name brand of my vacuum, "Simplicity"...
says it all...
this experience didn't "suck" at all, but boy... my vacuum sure does...
it sucks up everything I point it at...and that's a good thing...
4 comments:
Wouldn't it be great if one of the pet care websites did product testing on vacuum cleaners from a pet owner's prespective? I don't think I've ever seen Consumer Reports address whether the vacuum will extricate pet hair from the couch cushions. There's other products that could be tested from that perspective too, like carpet cleaner. And making sure cleaning products aren't toxic to pets. Purina, are you listening?
Oh, and my vacuum cleaner has the double whammy - cat hair and sewing thread snippets. It overheated and stopped last month - thought it was dead. It just had to cool off so the protective relay could let it run again. Whew - did't want to have to buy a new vacuum right now.
...I actually bought one of those Dyson Animal hair vacs, but balked at the "no bag" situation...so I donated it to the Humane Society Yard Sale & continue to stay with the old stand by...
I'm fairly sure that there are websites doing just what you suggest, as far as testing[their own products anyway...] :P
I have had 2 bagless vacuums in roughly 16 years and won't go back to the bag vacuums, which I admit work better, but I hate installing and disposing of bags, as well as finding said bags in the stores (not with the one I had years ago). So, I will go bagless and put up with slightly less efficiency. Actually 2 vacuums in about 16 years isn't bad (still using the second one). The first, a Fantom, simply wore out. The suction, while still there, grew weaker and weaker. My Eureka is a beast and keeps on going and going, but unfortunately weighs about as much as your average beast(!) and it absolutely wears me out to sweep the whole place in one go. Note to self: the next vacuum has to have caster wheels on the back like Mom's Dirt Devil.
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