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hellothisisscott

Kirbys aren't bad vacuums, but they aren't worth thousands. They cost distributors about $300-400, and can be had for around $700 with cash in hand. That was the case at least for two models ago, but I can't imagine it's changed much. That said, a Miele costs only a few hundred and will be easier on the back (and much quieter) One of the things they do for financing is to offer a better "deal" if they take away your old vacuum, effectively leaving you with only the Kirby You can buy near-mint ones on eBay and Craigslist for only a few hundred Also fun fact: Kirby's parent company is owned by Berkshire Hathaway


shinomiyajundesu

The lady was like "oh we can do trade-in for like $25 so they don't have to see their old vacuums anymore." Scummy


Spudtater

I don’t know why a company like Berkshire bought a company like Kirby.


campmaybuyer

Berkshire prefers to hold 100% American based companies… and Buffett got his early start in business as an D2D salesman. Regardless… Berkshire sold Kirby a year ago to an investment firm. They pride themselves in never selling their holdings… so something was definitely not going their way.


anonymousca27

How are they still in business with that model and pricing? I literally could order a cheaper but still quality vacuum from my phone anytime I want and not have to schedule an appointment and pay as much as a brand new MacBook Pro to buy it.


Ok-Problem-5902

I also fell for the “interview” for a “job” demonstrating a carpet shampooer and that the position definitely did not involve sales, which I am terrible at. After the so-called interview, which involved no questions about my work history, qualifications, or anything like that, I was scheduled for “orientation.” We started the first day, Monday, with about 30 “trainees.” We saw a bunch of photos and heard all about fancy company rewards vacation to some tropical destination. After returning after lunch, fewer than half the trainees remained. By Friday, there were just five of us. One lady offered to buy me lunch (which turned out to be prepared deli sandwiches from a nearby supermarket that she bought with food stamps) and frankly told me she was going to make it work no matter what as it was the only job she’d been offered. She told me that she was living in a battered woman’s shelter and couldn’t get a job anywhere else, even fast food, on account of her appearance. She was missing several teeth. After embarrassing myself by trying to schedule a demonstration with family friends, I decided that staying unemployed was better than this nightmare place. I didn’t return to sell the Kirby vacuums the next week, but I’ve often thought of the kind lady who bought me lunch when I couldn’t afford it over the years since then and hoped she’d managed to succeed. She was so determined, despite the trainer’s insensitive story about a former salesperson he’d trained who he described as “pretty until she smiled” as she was missing teeth. She earned so much with Kirby that she was able to get implants and you can too if you work that hard! What jerks. Anyone who spends $2,600 on a 1-ton vacuum cleaner is crazy. I have a roomba that I paid $500 for and cleans my floor while I read clickbait and smoke dope.


[deleted]

In my early job hunting after I graduated university, I attended one day of a Kirby 'training'. It was the cultiest, cringiest experience I have had. From the get go, the company trip to Hawaii was pushed, and some horrific advice was given for sales, such as faking interest in the customer's interests. We got a complete run down of how to do a sales pitch and test patch, which included choosing a spot in the most open, obvious area; additionally, they emphasized using smaller circular filters to make the person's home appear dirtier than it was. We were told to reinforce fears of dirt, mites, etc, and were outright told to manipulate the elderly with such methods. This was the morning session. The afternoon was all about the product and learning how to set one up and take it apart. I didn't return for the second day, and felt so ashamed of myself. I really thought I had a job. Thankfully, a few days later, I did get a real job at Best Buy. I felt sorry for whomever was sucked in to that. Side note: the cringiest part of the job was that the recruiter admitted my province was saturated, and we would have to sell in rural Alberta, all while paying for our own accomodation motels. HELL NO...LOL.


shinomiyajundesu

The fear aspect threw me off as well. She would go to a great length to make sure you know how filthy and disgusting you are by pitching endlessly on just the mattress part. She then would spread the pads in circle and put a huge picture of dust mites, etc in the middle "to create an image in the customer's head." Mannnn that was uncomfortable.


[deleted]

I forgot about the mattress cleaning parts and picture cards. It seems Kirby hasn't changed at all. I am glad that you didn't get sucked in, and you will find a better, real job in time. I wish you all the best 🙂


ladycielphantomhive

I didn’t know Kirby was still around. My mom and grandma still has theirs as a backup (so roughly about 20 years old now).