Kirby Vac BS

Just got a call frfom my 80 yr old mother. Seems the Kirby guys were at her house days ago and to get them to leave she agreed to let them leave the unit for 3 days (which could be fully returned.) As you guess, now she can not get them to respond.
She is upset (and embarrased) which is understandable.
Looks like I am going to alter my entire day to serve the need of getting this thing back today.

Please advise. Someone here likely has experience on either side of this sales experience.

Step 1: Find Kirby office

Step 2: Throw vacuum through window

Step 3: Profit!

Seriously though, call the cops and report fraud. Don't forget to file with the FTC as well.

Yeah I used to sell those things. I got fired when I "mishandled" some merchanise after I reported the office for bad business practices. They use some seriously sketchy practices to sell you a stupid expensive vacuum cleaner.

Registered letter to Kirby.

I've seen people rave about Kirbys but I think it's just to rationalize their less than smartness (see I've learned to be PC).

With that said, another gimmicky vacuum that does seem to work is the Dyson. Yes, it's overpriced, but ours has lasted quite a bit longer than our kid's regular vacuum cleaners so it's not really all that expensive. Plus seem to have fewer allergy symptoms. Besides it's fun to watch the cannister fill up. It makes my wife vacuum more often and more thoroughly so she can show me "Just how much dog hair she's getting up off the floor"

It makes the transition from carpet to bare floor very easy.

Dyson FTMFW! I love it when the swirling tornado of pet hair builds up enough static inside the plastic cannister that it causes a static lightning bolt to jump from the cannister to the grounding strip on the side of the machine. Awesomeness! Makes me want to vacuum in the dark.

Hoover tornado Mach-something from Wally World. That thing will suck start a Harley.

Kirby through the window sounds good to me. Make sure she didn't sign anything.

Call to the BBB (better business beauru) may help too. They fixed my Verizon bill.

Verizon isn't an independant door to door vacuum cleaner sales company. In my experience, most crooked shops have a BBB plaque on the wall, next to some type of religious decoration or saying/quote.

Dr. Hess wrote: Verizon isn't an independant door to door vacuum cleaner sales company. In my experience, most crooked shops have a BBB plaque on the wall, next to some type of religious decoration or saying/quote.

Quoted for emphasis. The BBB is merely a trade organization and the worst they'll do is throw someone out of their membership - usually they'll just file that they received a complaint and maybe downgrade their rating. The FTC can shut the company down or send people to jail.

Many companies refuse to be a member of the BBB cause it's impossible to keep a good rating with them. ANY complaints no matter whether it was a mistake and going against the wrong company or whether if was resolved is always left on the record. They also aren't very good about reporting that a complaint was resolved.

jrw1621 wrote: As you guess, now she can not get them to respond.

Have her call and say she loves it and would like a second to give as a gift.

http://www.kirby.com/

There's a link there for Customer Service. Email them representing your mother or have her do it. Tell them to come and get the equipment. Wipe it down, put it in the box, leave it near the door. (in case you're responsible for damage or something)

Wait for them to pick it up.

Was there any contact info, or did the college boys leave a business card?

Or: Box it up and bring it to the Kirby distributor. C'ya.

EDIT: I went to Kirby dot com and just to find a distributor yo have to register. Makes me nervous.

My father-in-law was having some real trouble with a lemon Pontiac. He wasn't making any progress with the dealership - until he called the BBB. All of a sudden, major things started happening. It's not totally useless.

You can also file a complaint with your state's Attorney General Consumer Protection Agency. They may be able to help you out. Here's the link for Ohio (assuming your mom is in Ohio too):

http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/ConsumerComplaint

Also, if any local TV stations have a consumer complaint line, give them a call, there's a good chance they've heard about it before and can help you out.

Bob

Success. Returned with proof witten statement on letterhead. more info to follow. writting from phone. Thanks

The area Kirby distributor recently pissed off quite a few people- they were hiring sales reps on CL, and in order to get people to show up for their pitch, listing the jobs as about a dozen different positions that had nothing to do with vacuum sales, including AutoCAD Drafters.

One time they came around our neighborhood, and the rep could have not been more thug looking or dressed any less professionally. Not to mention that coming around at 8:45 PM with his "boss" sitting in an idling minivan on the street watching was a little bit unnerving.

My dad made one of the sales women cry. My sister and I were laughing in the next room.

i went to "train" to sell them... made it though 3 days before I couldn't come back... 1st day they talk about all the money you'll make... 2nd day they show you the "product" (which honestly isn't bad IMHO) 3rd day they tell you that you can sell it to shrewd customer with cash for $800 but you can nail the old lady next door for $2400... I just couldn't do it and never came back

Tell her not to worry about it and dont embarrass her (Im not saying you would intentionaly) You dont want her to be afraid to ask for help again if she needs it.

Good work sir, in for the complete story.

Kirbys are actually very good vacs, it's just how they are sold/marketed that sucks. I've had one for over 20 years and it still works better than most new ones that you can buy at ChinaMart. If you want one, look on ebay. you can buy them for under $200 all day long.

EastCoastMojo wrote: Dyson FTMFW! I love it when the swirling tornado of pet hair builds up enough static inside the plastic cannister that it causes a static lightning bolt to jump from the cannister to the grounding strip on the side of the machine. Awesomeness! Makes me want to vacuum in the dark.

I got one that is 3 years old. It has definetly lost suction and dyson won't fix..

I got suckered by their marketing.. Ohhh well.

The closest I've come to punching someone out since I was a high school punk was when the Kirby salesman came around. I didn't want the damn thing but my wife wanted to let them vacuum for free. Two hours later after saying no half a dozen times the salesman said something pretty damned insulting. I think my response was "Get your berkeleying vacuum cleaner out of my berkeleying house before I beat the E36 M3 out of you with it." He got the message.

Anyone remember the I Love Lucy vacuum cleaner salesman episode? That had to be from the 1950's. Some things never change.

My kirby story goes like this..

I open the door and some guy goes.

"Here hold this" He hands me a 24 pack of paper towels and says if I listen to his sales pitch he'll give me the towels.

He says he has a great "Home maintenance machine he'd like to show me." I say... "O rly, I got a garage full of tools and I'm looking for a welder. Is it a welder?" Him: "No... It's a vacuum." Me: (Handing back paper towels) "Come back when you have a welder."

I never let him in the house.... Don't let them in the door.