Comments on: The truth about Kirby Vacuums! Kirby sentria

By: Jim Thomas

Jim Thomas — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:36:49 +0000

Just Purchased a New in Box Kirby Sentria online from a CA kirby dealer for $700 on ebay. I don’t need a warranty as I just gave my 25 year old Kirby to my son to take to college. They Work, They Last. My wife used to like Dyson’s $500 machines which she replaced every 10 years or so. You do the math.

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:02:36 +0000

I am BEYOOOOOND UPSET with Kirby…..
I have been ripped off beyond belief, as well as the fact that I was sucked into the whole financing thing….

DOES ANYONE KNOW THE NUMBER OF THE BANK THIS COMPANY USES FOR THEIR FINANCING???

I originally bought this thing as a way to help my mother because she has extreme allergies, so she could come and be in my house and visit her grandchildren and not end up in the hospital from shock….

I can’t seem to get a hold of ANYONE from this company, our local distributor is GONE and out of business…(GEEE I wonder why)

within the first 4 times of using this vacuum that I ended up having to finance for over $2800….the belt completely breaks right in half, and the whole thing smokes up….

I have been spending the last YEAR AND A HALF trying to find a place to have the parts and GET RID OF THIS THING!!

I am LOOOOSING my mind!! I feel SOOO Manipulated and beyond just being taken advantage of….

We are a military family, my husband is an active duty Marine…we live paycheck to paycheck…we can’t put up with our money going into this huuuuge MONEY PIT that I cant even adjust with this bank that I can’t even seem to find any way to contact this financing bank to even get out of this thing….

What can I do? find a local vaccuum place around here that would buy the kirby sentra so we can use the money to pay off this thing? i even have all the crazy extensions and such too….

I can’t believe I allowed myself to have this happen to our family, I just wanted to help make my mom feel better….

By: Bridget

Bridget — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 01:14:13 +0000

I bought one tonight.. The demo was excellent! The cleaning he did was worth money to me! He put our dyson to shame! My husband and I both remembered our parents having one and nothing has ever compared.. Or just the fact the memory still stuck 30+ years is worth something. I did not negotiate that much, I feel I would not be allowed to negotiate if I went to Walmart or home depot for a vacuum.. Nor a new mattress which after what we sucked up, my old one will last a little bit longer before Igo help keep them in business, because no negotiating there..too bad Walmart doesn’t offer negotiating or we would all be richer.

By: critter

critter — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:01:51 +0000

We just purchased a new Kirby Sentria for $800. They started out over $3,000 and after negotiating for quite some time, calling the boss etc., we settled on $800. I still think we could have gone lower.

By: Roland

Roland — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:34:36 +0000

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.

By: Vic Obrador

Vic Obrador — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:20:45 +0000

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

By: Tristan

Tristan — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:06:14 +0000

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

By: Harry smith

Harry smith — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:14:01 +0000

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

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 05:15:54 +0000

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:-)

By: Steven

Steven — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:27:56 +0000

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