Thread Number: 34272
/ Tag: Brand New Vacuum Cleaners
Future of Vacuums/Vacuuming? |
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Post# 371340 , Reply# 1   4/25/2017 at 07:39 (2,529 days old) by kirbylux77 (London, Ontario, Canada)   |   | |
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I agree with you. I can totally see how robotic vacuums will become more popular as the technology improves. The only thing really holding them back is they cannot clean as well as a regular upright, they can only be used for "maintenance" in between regular vacuuming. That will have to change if they want people to part with hundreds of dollars for convenience.
What I can see, though, is vacuums becoming more computerized & more digital. The innovation of dirt sensors & speed control is just the start. I am betting you will start to see sensors that will monitor optimize & help maintain consistent performance, warn the person operating the vacuum of the need to change bags, filters, belts, or indicating repairs or maintenance work is needed. It's also possible that the vacuum could even have sensors to monitor the condition of your carpets & indicate at certain intervals when carpet shampooing is needed, or even warn when your carpets are due to be removed & replaced & they are at the end of their lifespan. Some things we will definitely see, though, is the expanded use of Switched Reluctance (S R) motors. That's a technology that is definitely overdue & has only been used on a couple of brands so far, notably Rainbow. Eliminating carbon dust emissions, making motors more reliable & extending the service life of exhaust HEPA Filters will be huge for the industry. I can also see HEPA Cloth bags will have improvements in filtration technology, as well as possibly seeing improvements to washable HEPA Filters. Rob |
Post# 371425 , Reply# 8   4/26/2017 at 17:19 (2,527 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)   |   | |
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I think the more expensive door to door vacuums like Rainbow, Electrolux, Kirby may dwindle a bit because to me it seemed like their key market was to the older population. As they pass on, I think the younger generations who grew up with cheap plastic vacuums will not have any recollection of those brands and will not want to pay the price for a quality machine, or realize that other types even exist.
I think Walmart will gain more of the market for vacuums as it's possible stores like Sears may go away. Sears being one of the bigger markets for bagged vacuums may see the independent stores selling Sebo, Miele and such gain customers who are looking for a bagged or canister vacuum. It still seems to be the trend from what I can see that the big box stores continue to focus on bagless uprights and stick vacs, while they have little to none in the categories of bagged and canister vacs. Whether this is because those types of vacuums sell better, or because they are cheap, I don't know. It seems the younger population must want bagless uprights regardless of the flooring they have. I've probably said it before, that today people use a Swiffer or duster to do the dusting rather than a vacuum. To them a vacuum is just to clean the floor, or maybe behind the refrigerator and isn't really usable for anywhere else. Although the general trend I'm seeing looking at real estate, is a cheap bagless upright for inside the house, and a cheap wet/dry vacuum in the garage for cars or spills. |
Post# 371431 , Reply# 9   4/26/2017 at 19:05 (2,527 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Post# 371471 , Reply# 11   4/27/2017 at 14:32 (2,527 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)   |   | |
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While Robotic vacuums may become more popular I really don't think they will take over to the extent that their manufacturers are hoping. I remember their was a program on tv in the 90's called beyond 2000 , a look at what life would be like after year 2000 and you know what, it looks much the same as it did in the 80's We may like to think we are very innovative but in reality its a slow process, Cars still don't fly.
What I do see is the move to battery power, Their are also enough people out their to sustain the high end company's for a long time coming. No offence to any Kirby lovers out their but viewing a Kirby as a normal consumer and not a collector logic tells us that a Kirby should not sell now, They are antiquated, They are heavy difficult to use, fitting the attachments far more difficult than it should be , its a vacuum that is designed for wall to wall carpets, something that went out of fashion in the 90's and yet they still sell, still sell enough to keep the brand going strong But on the subject of technology, once the battery power has caught on like bagless vacuums did I think it will be a while before anything truly shakes up the vacuum market again Like dyson did in the 90's |
Post# 371490 , Reply# 13   4/27/2017 at 22:11 (2,526 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)   |   | |
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Post# 371507 , Reply# 15   4/28/2017 at 10:16 (2,526 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)   |   | |
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Just last week I visited an old friend, 60s smart lady who moved to retirement apartment from her huge 80s home. There I had given her a Lux canister ages ago. In the small space she had a Shark Rocket, I showed her how to clean it all out a few times a year, again smart lady, but movement issues, like me. I said be careful, NO parts for this. Her reply" Oh I just expected it was a throw away item not fix it. That's fine it was under $200." I was of course thinking what I could get used for that. I just said enjoy!
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Post# 371508 , Reply# 16   4/28/2017 at 10:40 (2,526 days old) by Real1shep (Walla Walla, WA)   |   | |
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great example. For $200, you get any number of used stellar vacs from the glory days that would last forever with a little bit of TLC. What did she do with the Elux canister?
Kevin |
Post# 371537 , Reply# 21   4/28/2017 at 20:07 (2,525 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)   |   | |
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Post# 371571 , Reply# 25   4/30/2017 at 08:40 (2,524 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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I've said it many times before and I'll say it again. Electronic circuit boards in most appliances are little more than de facto self-destruct mechanisms that cause otherwise durable appliances to fail predictably and expensively enough to cause customers to accept them as disposable so manufacturers can push us into a continuous replacement and 'upgrade' cycle. I buy good, metal, 'old school' appliances whenever I can. I have no use whatsoever for plasticrap.
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Post# 371575 , Reply# 26   4/30/2017 at 10:31 (2,524 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)   |   | |
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Post# 371576 , Reply# 27   4/30/2017 at 11:21 (2,524 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Post# 371580 , Reply# 28   4/30/2017 at 16:30 (2,523 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)   |   | |
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