I've thought about how to approach shops as well.  Frankly, I've been to three in the last couple of months and I wasn't overly impressed.

One is higher end. The others are lower end stuff.  I've told the two lower end places I collect and they seem dumbfounded, like they'd never heard of it.  More likely, the customer base they have, can't afford to be collectors.

I think we have to look at the owners from the way they look at their situation.  We are just one of many customers.  Over a period of a year, we spend a matter of minutes with them. They, on the other hand, if they are reasonably busy, deal with numerous repairs and sales of countless machines.  Unless you are planning to buy bulk lots or something, I don't know that we could expect them to "remember" us or our situation.

Frankly, I've thought about going into the vacuum store business, but it wouldn't be a good thing for me.  I couldn't handle that volume.  It would turn something that is all fun into drudgery.  I know the one store, the guy said he's been doing it for 30+ years now, and he says when he leaves the store at the end of the day, the last thing he wants to do is anything with a vacuum cleaner.  Like most people, there must be burn out.

The two lower end places I stopped, they seemed almost annoyed I was there.  Their mind set was like -find out what he NEEDS so we can sell the part and move onto next issue- type mode.  Which is probably reasonable.   These shop owners have both been in the business 20 + years.  Both of them I gave a list of what I was looking for and haven't heard anything from them, which seems counter intuitive to me.  I giving them a list and telling them 'this is how you can make a sale', yet no response.   They are probably too busy to peruse their stock for what I'm looking for.  And they have a set routine, like most people.

I fear being honest about being a collector will make them think they can jack their prices up.  I think it's best to be honest about being a collector though.  I mean if you stop in and buy parts for 3 different models, they are going to know somethings up, especially if you stop back a few months later and do similar.   And  if you buy a complete machine one month, then stop back a month later looking for another machine, their natural question is 'do you want to trade in the model you recently bought?'  Most people probably only own one or two vacs and they probably hold them for several years.

Another thing I think they are concerned about, as any shop owner should be, is liability and theft.  If you show up and then come back a month later, and so on, I think they start wondering if one is casing the joint to see if they can steal thing, or break in. 

The one place I stopped, where the guy has been in business for 30+ years, he's apparently had a bad experience at some time in the past where he let someone into the back room to view used vacs.  Don't know what happened but he mentioned that.  I asked him if I could see his used stock and a look of past provoked fear, rendered a negative response.     

I think it depends on the neighborhood and the socioeconomics of the products you're looking to buy.  It seems like he higher end shops, probably don't keep a lot of used stock on hand.  They are probably more motivated by commissions on new sales.  Stuff sitting in back taking up floor space, doesn't make money. 

I've heard owners say, on numerous occasions now "we have the entire upstairs FILLED with used vacs" or "we have 3 storage units filled with used items".  Really?   To a collector, this sounds like a dream come true,..... if it's true.    

1st time,  uneventful.  The 2nd time,  when I started speaking 'vac verbiage"... he changed completely.  After I told him I've all through TTI Headquarters..  he was most helpful.

   I've been to a local shop.. had 3 locations, now only 2.  They , a family business,  are very nice to me.

   The late Betty Fritz,  10 miles south of me,   was nice,  not "toasty",  but nice.  I gave her a lot of business. She wasn't thrilled when I stressed that I wanted "NO stickers on my cleaners'.  They'd drop one off, pick one up to service.

  Another in Wilkes-Barre,  Gnall Jones,  now deceased, was wonderful. He sold me all of the Guardsman vacs for the church.  I also got great repair service for years  in Scranton.

  They all knew I have a "collection".  Some were pleased with my "relationship" w/ the Hoover Co.  Others were a little afraid... that I'd not put "them" in a kind light. (like I had that power).

  Just sayin'

Another thing to consider is the realities of being a vacuum store owner in today's world.
The big box stores are always trying to take business, whether it's the grocery stores, pharmacies, music, hobby, photo processing, and yes vacuums. And of course these days, the throw away vacuum is very much a reality.

I remember when I was growing up, we had several of the 'mom and pop' stores in our town, catering to vacuums, plus a downtown Sears, a small JCPenny, A singer sewing machine center that carried vacuums.
I checked recently, all of them are gone. The last strong hold, passed away a few years ago. The others were gone long ago. And we're talking about a metro area that's constantly expanding.  A recent google search of vacuum stores came up with about six in that area, and only one has a working phone number and that is the upper end store I already mentioned.

I remember in the 80s, going to some of these stores, and the attitude was friendlier. I've no doubt the people working in these places these days, are thinking what else they could be doing, rather than isn't it great to be in business.


"On my days off, I could literally spend hours in either shop." lol.   I know.  When these sales people mention various warehouses I'm panting like a dog and saying  'show me'.    

You should figure out how far you want to take your collection, and how far you are to fulfilling it.  This might be easier said than done.

I started my recent collection in mid October of this year and to my surprise I'm about half way to getting what I want/need.  But then, I've been down this road several times in my life.  I have the benefits of experience and patience on my side.  I know pretty close to exactly what I'm looking for. 

For younger collectors, they may not know what they want or what they are getting out of their collection.  When I started out, I didn't have any of the information one can get these days.  There was no online reference libraries, no VacLand, no other people I knew who collected, no on line classifieds or shopping options, not even a public acknowledgement that there were people who collected such things.

By knowing what your limits are, and what you want from your collection, you can decide what and who you need to contact to help finish fulfilling your goal.  You also can avoid purchasing/acquiring vacs that aren't really going to help you.

Apparently there are young people who've have incredibly amassed huge vac collections, into the hundreds of machines.  I'm hesitant to believe this.  If it's true one has to ask if they know what they are getting from the collection and if they have any limits. 

I stopped at one of the lower end stores today, as I was in the area buying a dryer.

He mentioned that other shops were closing, as were his suppliers.  And odd, reduced store hours were tending to be the norm.

"The business is just dying" he said. 

It's sad to watch, being what it's meant to me.

Well, I suppose.   We no longer see horse shoe dealers, or candle makers, or people who deliver coal door to door.  Business practices change. 

Our memories of what we once had, will always be with us.