|
Thread Number: 29980
/ Tag: 50s/60s/70s Vacuum Cleaners
Why Used Vacuums Won't Sell |
[Down to Last] |  |
Post# 333342 9/6/2015 at 00:58 (3,147 days old) by KirbyClassicIII  (Milwaukie, Oregon) |
||
Is there practically no one who wants any used vacuums now?
I ask because I'm trying to get rid of a few of my vacuum cleaners, and the dilemma I face over getting more is because the garage at my house is full to the brim. No matter what I do, my goals of getting something in the future may be at least temporarily dashed with two more Kirbys on the way from my sister and grandparents. I want to sell some of them but would like to get money from them as well in order to buy the ones I want in the future. I paid at most $25 for four of them. I thank you for any suggestions in advance. ~Ben | ||
|
Post# 333352 , Reply# 1 9/6/2015 at 07:44 (3,147 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL) |
||
 | ||
| Post# 333353 , Reply# 2 9/6/2015 at 08:00 (3,147 days old) by FantomFan (Rochester, New York) | ||
It depends.
I've sold over one hundred vacuum cleaners through craigslist since 2011. With four and a half years of experience, here is what i've learned:
-People haggle. Don't expect to sell it for your original asking price. -Bagless is king. It doesn't matter how old it is. Most people want a bagless vacuum and for a low price, aren't bothered as much by outdated cartridge filtered baglesses. -Don't expect to always make a profit. Some machines, I lose a ton of money on. Others I make a good profit or only a couple dollars. -Vintage vacuums are a HARD, HARD sell. I've never made much money selling vintage machines. Most people who buy vintage vacuums from me want it because of a vac from their childhood, or they are into vintage appliances. -Vacuums over $50 are VERY difficult to sell. I wanted $130 originally for my Filter Queen Majestic. I sold it for only $30. Nobody wants to pay that much, even for a great, high quality machine. I usually sell a vacuum for between $15-30. If I get lucky, I'll make a little more. The most i've ever sold an individual vacuum for was $100. It was a Kirby Ultimate G. | ||
| Post# 333360 , Reply# 3 9/6/2015 at 10:38 (3,147 days old) by lha1992 (Everett, Washington ) | ||
|
Hey buddy I'd be willing to buy those vacuums for what you bought them for! Just give me shipping price to 98204 an we'll get the ball rolling! | ||
|
Post# 333373 , Reply# 5 9/6/2015 at 13:18 (3,147 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon) |
||
|
lha1992 | ||
| Post# 333376 , Reply# 6 9/6/2015 at 13:37 (3,147 days old) by vacuumlover (UK) | ||
|
People want something for nothin' these days. . . | ||
| Post# 333402 , Reply# 8 9/6/2015 at 20:07 (3,147 days old) by stricklybojack (Southern California) | ||
You might also consider..
.
most people think of a used vacuum like a used mattress, kinda gross. So they don't even look for them in Craigslist etc. Also you can buy a new one (Bissell/Eureka) at Walmart for under $50. Which will probably work fine for the 18 months they need it until they move on to their next apartment, job, school, etc. And hard surface floors are extremely popular as well. If a vacuum is heavy, has a learning curve, or needs a belt or bag changed with any kind of regularity furgedaboutit . Miele seems the exception, Kirby has a fading(?) following, while Dyson /Shark are asked for by name. Tacony may be the one who reteaches America what a vacuum ought to be, they certainly have my attention. My off the cuff two cents painted with a very broad brush. And before ya flame me let me say, i love the quality vacs out there, but i understand why they don't sell like they used to. | ||
| Post# 333403 , Reply# 9 9/6/2015 at 21:42 (3,147 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina) | ||
We live in a germaphobic society today. Many people can't even stand their own dirt, much less somebody else's. No wonder they don't want used vacuum cleaners.
I am continually amused by the perceived "convenience" of bagless vacuums because if you maintain them properly they're really quite high maintenance machines and a heck of a lot messier than a bagged one. I mean, what could be neater and cleaner than having all your dirt automatically bagged up for disposal as you go. | ||
|
Post# 333404 , Reply# 10 9/6/2015 at 21:47 (3,147 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL) |
||
|
True! I was at Granmothers and the Kenmore canister (circa 2000) had a full bag. it packed hard as a brick before it lost suction. grandpa said he changes it 2 months ago, and the same thing happened! I taped the bag shut and pitched it. The only mess i made was that the bag cover on that vacuum never quite latched right. ill fix that one of these days. I prefer bagged vacuums. I dont have to mess with dirt or dust and there is the thrill of your Electrolux telling you the bag is full, or ejecting it!
| ||
|
Post# 333407 , Reply# 12 9/7/2015 at 01:56 (3,146 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC) |
||
|
At the Sew&Vac place I visit bagless machines DON'T sell there-they end up in the dumpster-no matter what brand.The higher end bagged machines are the only used ones he sells-along with used good condition bagged central vac units.I would NOT buy a used bagless vac of any kind presently made. | ||
| Post# 333418 , Reply# 13 9/7/2015 at 10:34 (3,146 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA) | ||
 | ||
| Post# 333422 , Reply# 15 9/7/2015 at 13:36 (3,146 days old) by dys0nb0y (Luton) | ||
 | ||
| Post# 333423 , Reply# 16 9/7/2015 at 13:37 (3,146 days old) by dys0nb0y (Luton) | ||
|
This post has been removed by the member who posted it. | ||
| Post# 333434 , Reply# 18 9/7/2015 at 15:56 (3,146 days old) by lha1992 (Everett, Washington ) | ||
|
Ben, I just replied to your email. Looking forward to chatting with you sir! Thanks, Laith | ||
| Post# 333435 , Reply# 19 9/7/2015 at 15:59 (3,146 days old) by stricklybojack (Southern California) | ||
|
My advice..
.
sanitize the vacuum and accessories. Put on Craig's with pics and state in the ad it has been fully serviced and sanitized by a professional. If the vacuum is anything of quality or vintage sell on Ebay. Make sure it is complete with bags, belts, etc. and/or is rare or for some reason desirable over and above the cost of shipping. Never use the words "needs" or "broken" and expect to sell it for any amount anywhere unless it is a certified collectors item. If anybody you know needs a vac and will take care of it, don't hesitate to give one away. I have noticed very few quality vacs for sale at a reasonable price on Craigs.. But the higher priced vac ads go apparently unanswered week after week. Also I have stopped acquiring net more vacs. Meaning i have to sell or dispose of at least as many as i come home with. These shows depicting people buying junk and selling treasures for a meaningful profit are mostly fake. Vacuum shops throw away much better vacs than many of us here on VL buy...there's a lesson there as far as economics is concerned i believe. | ||
|
Post# 333442 , Reply# 20 9/7/2015 at 17:00 (3,146 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon) |
||
|
| ||
| Post# 333447 , Reply# 21 9/7/2015 at 17:36 (3,146 days old) by blknblu (CT) | ||
|
It's funny. Some of the prices on ebay for a machine that is all rusty are ridiculous. I've noticed some of the vacs on CL are going for way more than they should also. It is a disposable society today. | ||
| Post# 333462 , Reply# 22 9/7/2015 at 21:02 (3,146 days old) by lha1992 (Everett, Washington ) | ||
|
Ben, I understand that the hand vac will be the easier of the ones to ship. But I am interested deff in one of the others. I just emailed you back. | ||
| Post# 333469 , Reply# 24 9/7/2015 at 22:16 (3,146 days old) by Impfac () | ||
|
I've had tons of luck selling vacuums on eBay. | ||
|
Post# 333470 , Reply# 25 9/7/2015 at 22:18 (3,146 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon) |
||
|
| ||
| Post# 333518 , Reply# 26 9/8/2015 at 16:32 (3,145 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
Ironically enough I've seen a surge in EBAY UK where older vacuums are concerned; seems like buyers are out to buy something more tried and tested than pay out expensively for a modern, fashionable low power energy efficient vacuum cleaner. There are some good models on sale in shops etc, but given the option based on better build quality or even wider spares etc, I would source older vacuums from certain brands.
| ||
|
Post# 333575 , Reply# 28 9/9/2015 at 10:39 (3,144 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640) |
||
"Ouch"!
They're not all horrible. A lot depends on the model AND how they were used OR abused.
A collector might be looking for a certain model to "fill in" his/her collection. Sometimes, I see a 'rare'(to me) model. I'll bid on it. Some are great, and were when they were new years ago. I recently got a HOOVER 25. at first, I thought it was hideous. After seeing an excellent specimen at my close friend, Tom (A.)'s house, the search was on. There was one on ebay in great shape. It was selling for MEGA bucks! Naturally, no one bid. It went down, I bid, and won! It is a stellar machine, as are many we find on Ebay. Some sellers have inflated ideas of the value of some machines. As we all know: a vacuum is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.I have machines others wouldn't take free of charge, calling Me 'nuts". (Can you see how upset that {doesn't} make me feel)? I've gotten pristine cleaners on Ebay. Others were dirty. Dirt still in the bag. Dirt is heavy.... at times, causing shipping to be more. Some also don't know how to disassemble, pack or ship an item. John | ||
| Post# 333583 , Reply# 29 9/9/2015 at 11:39 (3,144 days old) by blknblu (CT) | ||
|
my Olympia One was shipped to me with a dirty bag still inside. It also came apart during shipping, creating quite the mess. | ||
| Post# 333591 , Reply# 30 9/9/2015 at 13:21 (3,144 days old) by CharlesKirby66 (Manteca, CA) | ||
Why do people ship dirt?! I have received 3 Kirbys on eBay with dirt in the bags.
One of them was SO full of dirt, it was pouring out of the fan opening and all in the shipping box. This was sold for parts, but the parts were all trashed, cracked, or broken, and the box FULL of dirt. I returned it immediately.
Another from eBay seemed legit, but when I turned it on, a huge plume of dust was kicked up and I noticed the unhooked bag hardly inflated and did not lift off the floor (ODD behavior for a vintage Kirby). After opening the Sani-Emptor trap door, POUNDS of dirt fell out. It took about 10 minutes to get all the caked dirt out (before doing a proper deep-clean out).
Can we all agree not to ship dirt in our sales? I'd like to think we in this Brotherhood/Sisterhood of Vacuumland have a higher standard of behavior and service than the typical eBay money-monger. | ||
| Post# 333592 , Reply# 31 9/9/2015 at 14:07 (3,144 days old) by CoffeeCanMan (Ferndale, MI) | ||
 | ||
| Post# 333599 , Reply# 32 9/9/2015 at 15:52 (3,144 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina) | ||
|
Thankfully, none of the vacuums I've bought on eBay shipped with dirty bags. Ironically, I sort of wish the Kirby G5 I got last winter had been shipped with one. I received it with no inner bag and it appeared to have been run that way for some time. The outer cloth bag was absolutely caked on the inside with a fine, light gray (sheet rock?) dust. A lesser machine would have been dumpster fodder, but we're talking about a Kirby here. After trying several times to vacuum it out with my Electrolux 1205, I decided the bag was too dirty and too worn to mess with, especially when I got my hands on a complete bag/fill tube/mini emptor assembly from an Ultimate G in almost pristine condition for $20. It might not have been the "right" bag for the machine, but it was the right one for the job.
| ||
| Post# 333604 , Reply# 33 9/9/2015 at 18:58 (3,144 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA) | ||
|
I never try to resell any machines I pick up. I look for sturdy candidates on CL or sidewalk/ yard sales. Cheap enough I will pick them up, do a clean up / recondition and hang onto them until a friend/ family is in need. I sometimes get my purchase price back, but if not, vacuum was saved and I had a project, they have a very cheap and use-able machine. No money to be made that I can see.
| ||
| Post# 333615 , Reply# 34 9/10/2015 at 01:04 (3,143 days old) by cb123 (Mobile, Al.) | ||
 Unless, of course, it's one of these!
View Full Size
| ||
| Post# 333664 , Reply# 36 9/10/2015 at 17:20 (3,143 days old) by CharlesKirby66 (Manteca, CA) | ||
|
Calem! | ||
| Post# 333682 , Reply# 37 9/10/2015 at 20:43 (3,143 days old) by cb123 (Mobile, Al.) | ||
|
| ||
| Forum Index: | 
| Other Forums: |
|
|
|
|
|
Comes to the Rescue!
