[Seymour Sunshine]

I'm looking for a decent vacuum cleaner.

I've seen quite a few Kirbys on eBay going at reasonable prices. They certainly look very well made and their owners seem to be even more passionate about them that Dyson owners. The comparison tests I've seen on YouTube look good.

But are they any good for commercial/business use?

[AshWhite]

Yes I've got one, yes they're good, yes good for business use (much more so than dyson which is intended for domestic). Also good for rugs too.

Yes, I've got one for sale. Just putting a new belt & bag on it

[JandS]

Brilliant piece of kit.
I have one for sale too, pick up only though.
Upgraded to a newer one but the old one
still works perfectly, new belt, roller bar and
external bag.

John

[Bedfordshire Oven Cleaning]

Haha,
I have one for sale too!!
Pick up only from Bedfordshire.

Has 4 spare belts, box full of accessories, all working.

Paul

[Steve Rothwell]

Yes they are very good.

I however ................................................ do NOT have one for sale

 

[A P T]

Yes, they are good,.
.
.
I 've not got one for sale either     

Are owners really passionate about Dysons ? my own experience is that they're not up to much,
especially when you compare them to a Sebo    !!!!!!!!!

[jasonl]

Yes they are good , but unsuitable for carpet cleaning as the crevice/ edge tools are a hassle to connect , the machine has to be half dismantled to set it up .


Sebo takes less than 2 seconds to get into edge cleaning mode.

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

I have a Kirby and won't use anything else. Jason when you say you "the machine has to be half dismantled to set it up . " you make that sound like a big job. It takes moments to do. Well under 30 seconds. I don't find it a hassle at all.

On another note can anyone tell me what makes  a Sebo so good? Ive never used one before.

[Russ Chadd]

I have one... brilliantly engineered piece of kit!, i always use my henry for stairs and edges   

[jasonl]

In an average domestic , taking the front end off the kirby , then where are the bits ( in a pile with often bits of fluff and dust falling onto a cream carpet)   

Then if cleaning a room in 2 halves due to furniture , you would potentially be dimantling and putting it together twice . 


Then there is the bag issue , messy to empty.

I like the sebo because of the powered beater bar , and the nozzle that just pulls out in one second , crevice nozzle on , and away you go on the edges , no need to turn machine off even.

Then there is the ease of servicing too.

[Jim_77]

I've used a BS36 side by side with a Royal (very similar to kirby without the stupid bells & whistles) and it's unbelievable how much better the Royal is.  

The Royal is a similar pain in the butt if you wanted to use the optional extra hose/tool kit.  But that never put me off buying one.. I've got a fantastic cylinder vac, which does edges, stairs, hard floors and upholstery... the Royal stays as a dedicated upright and portable rug duster.

In my porty days I used to keep both on the van and (revolutionary concept) use the best tool for the job at hand, rather than compromise quality for convenience

Kirby are bloody heavy... the Royal is actually a little lighter than a BS36.  Shame they don't seem to be available in the UK any more

[Paul Moss]

Ive got a Royal for sale if you want one.

[Neil Williams]

Are owners really passionate about Dysons ? my own experience is that they're not up to much, especially when you compare them to a Sebo    !!!!!!!!!

Yes and I tried a sebo and really wasn't impressed after all the hype on here.

[wynne jones]

Hats off to James Dyson for doing a really good marketing job on us. Cleans as it sweeps as it falls apart.

Kirbys are cheap on ebay and probably the best upright available.

[jim mca]

We phoned dyson for a replacment hose for a dc 01 that was about 5 years old and they seamed amazed we still had one working that old Im with wynne great marketing average product.

Jim

[Jim_77]

I'd go one further than that and say fantastic marketing, utterly shyte product.

Totally taps in to what women want... or at least what they think they want, because that's what they're told they want.

I'm going to rename my man-sausage to Dyson.

[Mike Halliday]

When the which? Magazine  did a test of vacuum cleaners the dyson came 16 out of 20.

It all about marketing, dyson supply very eye-catching point of sale material to the big retailers and offer staff training.


Slightly off topic but if you want to see an excellent example of marketing watch the stone chip ads on tv 'fix your windscreen before it cracks'

I was working for a guy who does this in supermarket carparks for a big national company. He told me screens will very rarely crack, but the windscreen companies created the fear that it happens... Then offered to sell a solution

Create a need or fear... Then offer to sell a solution brilliant!

[wynne jones]

I read somewhere a company that canned poor quality salmon that was an unappetising pale colour hit on an idea to turn it round.

So some bright spark put 'Our Salmon won't turn pink in the can, Guaranteed!' on the label.

[Barry Livingstone]

Ive got a Royal for sale if you want one.

If its Kate I have it 

[Seymour Sunshine]

On the strength of the replies on here I've just bought this one:



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290658653199?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_500wt_1279

Agree with the stuff about Dyson. They are good machines, but they're incredibly lightweight and delicate.

Also agree with stuff about Sebo. Brilliant machines and obviously designed for professional use, but out of my price range just now. If I could afford one, I'd have one straight away.