[...] The truth about Kirby Vacuums! Kirby sentria [...]

I purchased a Kirby because a friend needing a job was selling them – that compassion was a great error on my part. It is almost impossible to move this mega vacuum, I cannot use it myself and have others vacuum for me, the belt falls off 2 or 3 or more times with every use, adding the accessories can take very strong hands which I don’t have, etc. etc. I would advise everyone and anyone to STAY AWAY FROM THE KIRBY. I have written Kirby but basically am told “too bad – you had 3 days to change your mind.” Right – it wasn’t even delivered in the three days. Don’t expect any help from Kirby – they have their money and we have the problems.

I am in cancellation period for purchase of Kirby Sentria. Can anyone tell me the most I should be paying for it. Please help, as I will cancel if I can’t get some idea. Online I read $900 to $1100 despite the initial prices quoted. When I call to cancel, what is highest price I should offer to purchase for? Please help FAST. Thanks

If you can afford to pay for the entire Kirby up front. I would hold out with the salesperson until you can get the absolute final price (including any tax) below $1000.

“They are paid on commission, so every time you talk the price down, it does come out of what the salesperson (and his boss) will earn.”

“boss” being their team leader out in the field, and if you as a person happen to be a bad loan they struggle to finance, their distributor gets paid almost nothing of the loan.

Many dealers will not lower the price beyond a certain point because it means they make(literally) nothing. Car salesmen have the luxury of always leaving the price high, Kirby salesmen do not, so the customer has a lot of power regarding price versus other kinds of salesmen.

No, you cannot get a Kirby for less than 1000 normally, there may be special ultra-deals or huge pushes where they’re willing to post at a loss, but don’t expect it.

kirby sales man quoted me $2,497.00 for the vacuum, 2 hours later they told me we can go as low as $2,100.00 another hour later they told me $1500.00 if i buy right now cash or check. ” told them I wasnt paying that much for a vacuum and why the price diff in 3 hours. no answer, so no sale

I purchased a Sentria Kirby.I had a G4 that worked great.I had had it about 17 years.The G4 pulled itself when vacuuming carpet.The Sentria works as good or better on carpet in neutral,which is not good.The Sentria is supposed to be a better cleaner,but I think it stinks.I called the salesman and he advised me that he would come out and look at it.I haven’t heard anything yet.Any advise.

YOur not suppose to use it in neutral your suppose to put it in drive for carpet.

What is it supposed to come with? I only got the vacuum and the shampoo thing that’s it!

we bought a kirby in oct 08..they are still trying to tell us we owe until Dec of 2012..this is a mistake that will not happen again, I use to think Kirby had a great reputation,,no more,,DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS COMPANY,,in process of finding all my records to try to get this situation under control, but as others have mentioned,,Kirby is of NO help!! Going to report to BBB.

We just purchased a Sentria for $1000. While the person was doing his demo, I got on the internet and did some research. After just a few minutes I was able to gather enough information in order to be able to negotiate a fair price for the vacuum.

The salesman started with a list price of $2700 for the 2011 Sentria G10D and the accessories (brushes, wands, shampoo attachment, turbo sander, etc). But he quickly knocked it down to $1800 with discounts for our old vacuum trade-in, discount for being teachers,and special sale price “today”. The demo guy was very pleasant and not high pressure, but it was obvious that there were some stereotypical sales tactics going on at times. The salesman first told us how he is trying to earn points for a trip to Las Vegas with the boss. Later in the demo, he made a big show of calling the boss on our home phone and making sure he stayed close enough to us during the call so we could hear him trying to get a better deal for us. It was kind of funny and reminded us of the tricks car salesmen use. As he finished the demo, we told him that we liked the vacuum and we had researched info on the internet. We said we did not want to play any games and that we had decided that we would offer to purchase the machine for $1000 out the door with all the accessories. He called the boss and came back with two counter offers: first was $1125 plus tax, we declined. Second counter was $1000 plus tax, we again declined and said thanks “but I guess we won’t be buying a vacuum today.” At that point the boss agreed to $1000. He congratulated us for being such tough negotiators. The salesman claimed that their cost was $995, which I’m not sure I believe, If true, why would they sell it for just $5 over cost and eat the sales tax? My guess is that we might have been able to get it for closer to $800 or so, but after using the vacuum I feel like I paid a fair price and it really is a great vacuum. We had been buying a vacuum about every 3 years, but I fully expect that this is the last vacuum we will ever buy. Our 7 year old carpet (with 3 kids and 4 pets in the house) looks better than it ever has, except when it was first installed.

A cheaper option to consider is to buy one off eBay. There are Sentrias going for $500-600 with a 1 or 2 year warranty from the seller. Some are new and some are refurbished. I decided if I did need warranty repair, it would be a huge hassle to have to ship it back to the seller on ebay. The Kirby person will try to tell you that the ones on ebay are older models and/or even scams where you never receive the vacuum. I am sure there have been instances where that is true, but the sellers I looked at appeared to be vacuum cleaner dealers with lots of good feedback.

Sounds like you got a great deal. Thanks for the experience, this helps other people that manage to do a little research before buying.

It should come with a wide assortment of hoses and attachments. Also they will sometimes include an extra vacuum bag or 2.

I purchased the Kirby Sentria for $1340.00. I felt this was a fair price and I was very happy with the low pressure sales tactic from the representative. Best advice if you like the machine and would like to purchase – negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. My experience was the same as above, ie “let me call the boss and ge this ok’d”. I found my self caught up in the melodrama ‘hoping’ the boss would say yes. My salesman even shampoo’d my entire living room! All-in-all a positive experience and a good product, but I think I could have paid less:-)

Both my grandparents have kirbys one a G4 and one a heritage they will last forever and work great only thing is Kirby stopped manufacturing bags for the heritage so now we have to buy them online. I still love them though

We bought our G-six with the shampoo kit and the the cleaning attachments for $600 from the Kirby salesperson. My wife used to work for a loan company that financed vacuum purchases such as Kirby and Rainbow. She knew what the actual costs were so she had great leverage when it came down to dealing. So my opinion is, don’t overpay for your Kirby

I purchase a Kirby Vacuum on Oct 2009. It was financed through the Finance Company that was recommended by Salesperson. I dont have copy of the receipt or the Contract. After the downpayment I am paying $40.84 automatically deducted from my checking account. It should have been paid last Oct 2011. They are still deducting 40.84 from my account as of 12/16. Please research and let me know so I can stop the stop the payment.
Thanks
Vic Obrador, 1561 Lagoon Ln, Oxnard Ca 93035 (805)822-7139

Truths about Kirby from a very successful salesman who made a living selling them from 1978 to 1981.

1. There is no better vacuum. Only the Royal vacuum is as good.
2. Heavy? Here’s what you do so it won’t be heavy – and the salesman should be sure the customer understands the three things that make a Kirby heavy:
First, pushing it from the total upright position. The vacuum should be out in front of the user with the handle about waist high; otherwise, they are pushing it in to the floor, simple leverage.
Second, the bag gets overly full. This makes a great deal of extra weight AND all that dirt blocks the bag from getting more dirt.
Third, Start it with the height adjustment in the highest position; then lower it until the rug begins to lift. Too far down, it will grab the carpet in too tight of a grip and it will be difficult to roll.
Profit. Just like anything else, it has a price markup and a sale price. Just go into any mall and you will see this.
SALESMEN. There are good and bad in every business, and claims of quality, etc are fair.
For Salesmen:Never tell the potential customer it is not for sale. Of course it will be for sale. Tell them that is true, but you don’t twist arms, and that they don’t have to buy it. Then keep your word. (I sold about 2 out of 3 demos). Never lie. When you discount the price, have a plausible reason. Go to the mall: sales end all of the time. Salesmen are always in contests; I won four really great trips. If there are other legit reasons, find them. Help, never force the customer. NEVER set the initial price too high and then discount like crazy. Customers a not stupid. Never leave the house without being absolutely sure that the customer knows how to use their new, top of the line equipment.
Longevity. Vacuums are simple: brush roll connected to a fan to move dirt and air and a bag to catch it. Kirby’s rug head shape is the key element in why it is so good. I STILL own a Royal and two Kirbys that I took in trade THIRTY years ago (some people trade in Kirby vacuums like cars.)
Warranty: Three years is more than I got on my new Prius. But, rebuilding will make it work like new and back then when I sold them, any Kirby shop can do it for about the same price as the factory.
EMPTY it – push it the right way – adjust the height properly. Clean brushroller and set brushroll properly (some unscrupulous vacuum salesmen of any brand can make another vacuum not work by adjusting the brushroll so it doesn’t touch the carpet. Jerks!). Change belts periodically. Buy a new outer bag five-six years down the road; even with paper bags, the fabric of the outer bag will begin to clog with dirt. You may be able to put off buying the outer bag by washing it. But, the outer bag is cheap. Today I bought one in a shop for $24.95. New ones work better than washed bags.
You really can make a Kirby last a very, very long time (at least the older models.
ADVICE: Unless you must have something new, an older, rebuilt Kirby will always be the best deal for the money.