Request to the Miele Company - Lightweight Upright Please

As a dealer, and a salesman for 22 years.. I think I can offer a few insights here that may help to understand WHY Miele hasn't.....

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY.. read on. It's long, and you kinda gotta pay attention.

Firstly, in fewer words, Vacuumdevil above, has a pretty firm grasp on what is reality here. It is in fact how many companies view things: Yanno goofy stuff like markets/trends; profit and loss etc. And BTW they do have individuals that watch this site, and others on social media.. ALWAYS lurking just off to the left, behind curtain number 2. Don't worry, they arent judging you. Some may point and laugh at some of your suggestions, but how will you EVER know!!!

Here is kinda what most companies will sound when even us DEALERS throw ideas, complaints, or why don't we have... at them...Miele is our target here, so Ill screenplay the rest of this...

(Dealer Don)- An average Joe Salesman like myself..

AND--

(Miele Dealer Rep, or Miele US)-(MDR-MUS) for short-

Now...to the play...

(Dealer Don)- So, uh... When will we be getting a lighter weight upright from you fellows? We really could sell alot of them if you would!!

(MDR-MUS)- Well Don......Yah know...you MIELE dealers all over keep asking us this question. "WHENAREYAAAA gonna make this (lighter weight) upright". You keep telling us that the customer wants it. Our market research told us that many see weight as a feeling of durability. In our case it's kinda true. We also see you selling TONS of our former S7 uprights, and the current crop of U1's already. Clearly it must not be THAT big a deal. When we developed our current, upright, we did TONS of market research, and consumer polls that cost us millions of expensive dollars. We always gotta take into account what EVERYONE wants, even the dealers like yourself! Miele has to think about much, much, MUCH more...but our end goal is: WE must ALWAYS put out what the MAJORITY wants, NEEDS, and will BUY. Don, all this has to be factored in, while taking into account MANY standards and objectives already expected, and demanded of the industry. Most of them are some of our very own too, when contemplating a NEW model. This is including some that are higher than the norm, and most are likely self-imposed per company dictum; like the 20 year average lifespan... We put ALL OF THIS into the upright your saying you can't sell????

(Dealer Don)- Well Im sure myself, and thousands of other dealers.. keep asking for this... We are confused as to why you wont???....

(MDR-MUS)- Well there just isn't enough of a market there, believe it or not!!!

(Dealer Don)- Well, we do have a number of customers that won't look at your line, because your upright is too heavy, and they won't look at a canister. They say canisters are harder to use, and have always had an upright and don't want to change. Some wont look at a canister because of the higher price!!! What sayeth you???

(MDR-MUS)- Well Dealer Don, and all you other dealers, their are no, none, nada, ZERO, Zilchamundo, currently developed, or near future plans to make a lighter weight upright. In fact we may have told you dummies this at a recent dealer council meeting, or in emails, and company mailers.... We have sound reasons, most you will never learn of...but here we are again...

We figured this matter was shelved. We have shoved this matter off the table in previous discussion over the last 9 years we've offered an upright vacuum. At that time, we figured we had quelled this issue?

(Dealer Don)- Well what are we supposed to do when they complain?

(MDR-MUS)- Sell them on the rest of the features, show them how they only must tilt the machine back, how it EASILY glides around the house on the BIG back wheels. How when you DO have to lift it.. We have a convenient mid body grab basket handle grab to lift it up the stairs. See? It's not THAT bad when you grab it from there is it? IT's not like carrying a Hoover Convertible. No one needs pick up their vacuum by the UPPER part of the handle, although people have been doing that since 1908?? Anyway, it's your job to show them ways to AVOID lifting it... AND to most customers that should be a sufficient answer!!

(Dealer Don)- This still doesn't answer the growing complaints that your upright is too heavy tho...That may work for some, but not all. What do I say to HELP quell THEIR concerns that your upright is too heavy??

(MDR-MUS)- Well that is up to you to figure out... "LOOK our expensive ,and exhaustive research shows us that the U.S. market is already saturated with enough lightweight style machines, of various caliber, and option".

(MDR gestures)- "Look over here at your ********** or ****** line from the Tacony Company". "They have multiple models, over various price points, and levels, and the versions of course put out by your other competitor.. Oreck!!".

"Don, you should know that Oreck...well they have been making these things since God was a teenager". "And they are best known for this style of cleaner". "Then of course, we haven't even mentioned the Sebo Felix". "That too, is a fairly lightweight machine that you carry also". " So see Don, that there..thats a pretty light machine even with the Power Nozzle!!".

"In any case, this same research has informed us, that THIS market is already well tapped, and taken care of". "And all of these companies I've gestured to honestly....have fairly good degrees of quality in their product".

(Dealer Don)- "But it STILL isn't a MIELE machine"...

(MDR-MUS)- Well okay Don....our questions back to you, the dealers is this:

" If Miele were to invest millions into coming up with our version". "What will MIELE improve upon in regards to a technology that is in fact, obsolete, and in it's final form by those already marketing it? How can it be further evolved in it's current capacity? In our opinion the number of people in that market, are already happy with the choices already offered. They keep buying what they know". "Will you sell enough of them to make it WORTH our investment?" "With that in your mind, what is your question here"???

(Dealer Don)- "but it's NOT a Miele, and people want what YOU sell"!!

(MDR-MUS)- " Ok , look...out of all this expensive research, and listening to you, and thousands of pleads and cries from the dealer body"; "Here is our thinking and do with it as you wish to"...

Miele has been in floor care, and we have been doing it for a REALLY long time". Since 1984 in the USA, and 1927 in Germany". "Our RESEARCH has informed us that putting ourselves in this market segment will be a waste of our resources". "We wont be making good use of our development dollars".

(Dealer Don)- "Still we could sell a Miele version"!!!

(MDR-MUS)-"Look, It's a no go because we will simply be putting out another like machine, with no real purchasing benefit over contemporary technology". In short we wont be leading anything..just following. So stop asking us for this you silly dealers... Oh wait, just as a reminder, for you dealers that maybe aren't as well versed, we ALREADY have a lightweight upright machine in the Miele tradition. THe H1 Swing Series Quickstep Power Line series. Even though tis about the same as the machine that we introduced over here in 1984. And, because of the integrated power-socket, you can add a 228 or 236 nozzle to it; but now it's nearly as heavy as our U1 full size, and costs MORE!!! So you should sell them the U1 with TOOLS and a hose, a suction power control dial...(the U1 Twist is 499 you may remember). Our U1 features a bag thats four times the size of the Quickstep, has a longer cord, a hose to attach all THREE tools with.... "Sell up the larger series. It's NOT hard". "Explain further to your customer, that the weight is the built in durability"... (not untrue, but is to a degree).. "You will be better off". "Or really show off your sales skills, and TRY to sell them a deluxe C1,2,3 canister type of cleaner, which is a better machine anyway, and is a shade lighter than our upright, until you put all the hoses, tools, and thingamajigs in...."." But you never carry it all at once... Thats the ULTIMATE end goal!! Selling what we offer already!!!"

That all said...

My thoughts are this: Miele's NUMBER ONE consideration is their reputation for quality in their new developments. ANY NEW DESIGN, must pass the equivalent of TWENTY years of average use.. much as it's been since 1927 when they put out their first electric cleaner. This is NOT a move-able objective. It has to pass, and be close to former product, and at least meet the 20 year etc...

This is a MAJOR reason WHY it took Miele until 2009 to introduce their then S7 series uprights. It HAD to pass many objectives, including the self-imposed ones. And made to obtain the objectives of the multi-purpose design, and of course Miele's very well stated quality standard must be upheld.

So to explain a bit further: The full DESIGN OBJECTIVE, with the S7-U1 product was it HAD to do more, than anything before it in one, easy to use machine"... Yes a objective was WEIGHT.. it's still not super heavy like a Kirby and most Canisters are heavier, but by no means light....and it MUST make the floor clean both carpet and hard floor of any type, JUST like their canisters do.

PLUS it HAD to have decent tool suction to be like the canisters, but better than most contemporary uprights....Also, will the filtration be up to company standards, be easy to change the bag?? That's a HUGE reason Dyson, and all the others and their spinning dirt-buckets are SO popular now...Is it easy to change?? Yep, easiest of any really out there. Do they have a leading capacity average AND put out the ZERO emissions our machines with the sealed HEPA do??
Yep, as good as our canisters... but watch it, it's getting kinda heavy...

Something else we can ponder as we able thru this tome....

Miele didn't really even WANT to put out an another upright. After a very unfortunate run of badge built product by Panasonic, the earlier i170 and i180 upright lines.... They were perfectly content it seemed to just keep selling their high end drag around type canister cleaners. The ONLY thing that changed their mind is they finally had to bow to AND admit the reality, that the upright market was VERY strong here in the USA, and them ignoring it..was BAD for their business here. . And while the Panasonic built machines were junk and NOT up to Miele standards, the sales of them were fairly robust. And Dyson was steaming along at warp speed... And a DC- whatever was about 17 lbs. Okay...

This upright craze BTW is all thanks to Murray Spangler and his 40 pound, motorized sweeping pillowcase (B.T.W. Miele is just about half that). And that if they wanted to obtain a certain market share, for the USA they better come up with THEIR OWN upright quick, that met lots of consumer objectives.. but was well made, and more affordable than their canister lineup... So after * years of tinkering...

One thing that was ended up NOT being a major objective..was weight. They just had no way to make it weigh less and meet their well built criterion. Truthfully any well made upright on the market isn't much better in that regard. Only the Kirby to my understanding is higher, most of the rest are 20 and less. BUT no less than 16 or so. Even 16 lbs, is double the "supposed" weight of the lightweight market people keep asking for. No fondly remembered durable upright or canister vacuum was/is LIGHT. So the point to most manufacturers at this point... is really a moot one.

This should answer WHY. If not, you can always keep asking the question that dealers dont even get answers too. But most of this is what we are told.

In all, the traditional definition of insanity, is the same thing happening or being asked over and over again, with the same outcome every time.

It's not gonna happen. A lightweight Miele upright that can do all.. The End.

MY deepest sympathies to all that read this. It was rather long.

Chad, A industry insider...


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Post# 398141 9/12/2018 at 20:20 (2,042 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Dear President of the Miele Company...wherever you are, I have been thoroughly impressed with the quality and performance of your canister/cylinder vacuum cleaners. Because I dislike overly-complicated power nozzle canisters, I much prefer to have a second upright vacuum cleaner dedicated to deep carpet cleaning only. My request is that you consider designing a vacuum similar to the Oreck upright. If I am not mistaken, the very first version of this upright design (fan first, bag in the front, handle doubles as a dirt tube) was actually made in Germany in the 1960’s. It would be great to see a Miele fan-first lightweight upright that would be quieter than an Oreck or Riccar lightweight upright, lighter than a Miele U1 Dynamic, and feature Miele’s famous high filtration bags and filter system. Price this new upright at around $300 and it would make a perfect companion to any of your canister cleaners... creating a Miele cleaning team. You could even make a deluxe version that has an automatic cord reel to wind up its 40 foot cord. And maybe even have a swivel neck. Looking forward to seeing Miele bring this kind of vacuum to market soon. Sincerely, EurekaPrince :-)

Post# 398146 , Reply# 1 9/12/2018 at 22:42 (2,042 days old) by HonestJoe68 (Mansfield, Ohio)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *@eurekaprince* Hi Brian, I totally agree with you regarding Miele making a different upright vacuum. I Love my Miele S7 Swing Upright but wow is it heavy and bulky. I find it best for heavy thick wall to wall carpeting but it’s almost too powerful for area rugs and with the brushroll turned off it’s great on bare floors. Anyway, I wondered if you were aware Miele does have a great lightweight Upright Vacuum that might be perfect for your needs. The Miele H1 QuickStep Upright, model 194 is a great bagged vacuum option. The price is great too ($199) and there are a few add on options, like a powered brushroll for carpeting that you can choose depending on your cleaning needs. But I do love the lightweight bagged vacuums. My favorites in my collection are the Hoover Platinum Lightweight Bagged, the Maytag M500 Lightweight Bagged Vacuum, my Riccar Cordless Supralite Bagged Upright, my Sebo Felix Bagged is my all time favorite and last but not least, my Oreck Edge, Oreck Axis and my Oreck Forever Series! Thanks for the great idea.. we should all get together and email corporate at Miele and make our request known. Thanks, Patrick Photos... < > Photo 1 of 8 View Full Size

Post# 398153 , Reply# 2 9/13/2018 at 09:25 (2,041 days old) by Lux_Luthor (Tennessee)
Checkrate/Likes I would love to see a Miele lighter weight upright with onboard hose. I wouldn’t mind a smaller bags and motor, and fewer speed settings to accomplish this, as I keep a generally clean home anyway. The quick step still puts a lot of weight in hand I think. Something like their existing upright but in a smaller and lighter form would be perfect.

Post# 398154 , Reply# 3 9/13/2018 at 11:57 (2,041 days old) by luxkid1980 (Richmond, Virginia)
Checkrate/Likes *@eurekaprince* There are many good lightweight vacuums already in existence that clean carpet very well. As Patrick mentioned, the Hoover Lightweight Platinum bagged is a great machine and cleans well. I had it for a while but gave it to a family member since they needed a newer machine that was lightweight and I had several vacuums already. I currently have the Oreck Platinum Pilot and I love that machine. It weighs about 10 lbs, has two speeds and cleans the carpets well. It also has a great swivel feature so it glides around on the floors very easily. Hasn't given me a bit of trouble since I have owned it, and I picked it up used from a thrift store. I have seen used ones occasionally at Oreck stores too, so it might be worth considering if you have local stores nearby. Here is a good review when the vacuum was new: www.bestvacuumreviews.com/oreck-x...

Post# 398158 , Reply# 4 9/13/2018 at 13:27 (2,041 days old) by mariotron (Texas )
Checkrate/Likes *That would be great!* I'd love to see a Miele direct air vacuum.

Post# 398163 , Reply# 5 9/13/2018 at 15:34 (2,041 days old) by audreyestev (NewYork)
Checkrate/Likes *Brand New Vacuum Cleaners* Upright vacuum cleaners are good for covering large floor areas, particularly carpets. You should check out buying guide and find the suitable one for yourself. CLICK HERE TO GO TO audreyestev's LINK

Post# 398174 , Reply# 6 9/13/2018 at 19:44 (2,041 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Hi Patrick, Thanks for your post! I know about the Miele “QuickStep” stick vac, but it really could not fill the roll of a lightweight upright vacuum cleaner. It can’t stand upright on its own, has a bottom-fill bag that is small compared to the Hoover Platinum Lightweight, it has no headlight and a relatively short power cord. Indeed, I have paired my Miele C3 suction only canister with Hoover’s wonderful Platinum Lightweight upright. But I think Miele could even improve on Hoover’s design and be a worthwhile competitor in the market for these Oreck-clones. If Miele can invest time and money to compete in the bagless canister market, I just think they could do very well with a super-quiet, super effective lightweight fan-first upright. It just would be a great way to enhance their offerings in the stores and online. As much as I think their Dynamic U1 uprights are excellent cleaners, many customers might prefer a simpler carpet cleaner that is easier to carry up a flight of stairs - just like Eureka’s old Bravos and Hoover’s old Elites.

Post# 398176 , Reply# 7 9/13/2018 at 21:02 (2,041 days old) by pr-21 (Middletown, OH)
Checkrate/Likes 2 Hi, I have the Miele Stick Vac. It does stand up by itself if you use the full size Miele canister power nozzle with it. Sincerely, PR-21 Bud M

Post# 398177 , Reply# 8 9/13/2018 at 21:57 (2,041 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Really? I did not know that Bud. Can you attach the full size nozzle with LED headlight? I still think the bottom fill bag is too small for deep carpet cleaning...will fill up too fast, no?

Post# 398190 , Reply# 12 9/14/2018 at 04:21 (2,041 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)
Checkrate/Likes My Kirbys,Royals blow a "0" on an IQair particle tester!Just use the cloth "HEPA" bags in them.

Post# 398666 , Reply# 21 9/23/2018 at 22:32 (2,031 days old) by Vacuumdevil (Vacuum Hell )
Checkrate/Likes *@Rivstg1* As stated I was playing The devils Advocate. I have nice fluffy soft carpet in my house. Direct air machines cost more money to run and service. The Belt and fan cost alone. Unfortunately the world does not revolve around Kirby.

Post# 398719 , Reply# 22 9/24/2018 at 22:00 (2,030 days old) by Rivstg1 (colorado springs)
Checkrate/Likes *Very true vacuumdevil,* And that’s a good thing! I’m a big Kirby fan, the variety that’s out there for vacuum options...makes this site interesting !

Post# 398859 , Reply# 25 9/27/2018 at 20:07 (2,027 days old) by Vacuumdevil (Vacuum Hell )
Checkrate/Likes @eurekaprince @ll of that has been addressed in previous posts in this thread.

Post# 398181 , Reply# 9 9/13/2018 at 23:51 (2,041 days old) by Vacuumdevil (Vacuum Hell )
Checkrate/Likes *let me play the German devil point of view.* @eurekaprince why I agree with you that Miele could use a vacuum like the Miele art with a brush roller or a spider version of the U1/s7 upright. Let's take the American glasses off. (German accent) Upright Vacuums are pretty American concept. Mostly sold in the US and in the uk. When we look at the global market that buys canisters. up rights don't make any sense. The goal of an upright vacuum is to lesser production cost. Generally speaking up rights are heavier than canister variance. we're talking about a company that for a 110 years only made canister vacuums and stick vacuums . From a German Engineers point of view you are polluting the gene pool even thinking thst way . In the EU dust emissions of vacuums and Noise are regulated by the European Union. Direct air vacuums cannot meet the new regulations. Direct air machines are inferior to Modern bypass machines. Why do Americans have carpet? why do Americans insist upon a heavier bulkier machine? We have a lightweight machine for you already, we C1 canister . Oh wait you have carpets in your home stupid American. These are not my personal beliefs ! But these are the beliefs of Miele and most European manufacturers. one of the world's biggest appliance manufacturer does not care about a small part of the market. Let alone what some Chum with autism thinks on vacuum land. I love all of you guys on vacuum land ,but those are the harsh realities.

Post# 398188 , Reply# 10 9/14/2018 at 04:17 (2,041 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Not correct that new bypass machines are better than direct air-will pit my Kirbys or Royal metals against ANY clean air machine anytime,anyday!And the direct air machines can do the same job with a smaller,lower RPM motor!I have a Maile S7 upright and HATE the machine-its clunky,awkward,draws a light of power-like the Powercast,and its hose is awkward as well.My Meile upright sits at the back of the pile!Had great expectations for this one-my Kirbys and Royal metals are MUCH better!!!and easier to use!!!

Post# 398189 , Reply# 11 9/14/2018 at 04:20 (2,041 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes But the fact is that the “Oreck” style of lightweight upright originated in Europe. Click on the link to see the British McDonald upright from 1970. The rating plate says “Made in West Germany”. The concept would not be that foreign to Miele’s designers. And my Hoover Platinum Lightweight Upright boasts excellent filtration even though it has a fan-first configuration. The configuration allows for easier filtration as the dirt falls away from the airpath in the top fill bags. Kirby’s also have excellent filtration. I still think it would make a great addition to the Miele line-up. CLICK HERE TO GO TO eurekaprince's LINK

Post# 398192 , Reply# 13 9/14/2018 at 04:25 (2,041 days old) by pr-21 (Middletown, OH)
Checkrate/Likes Hi Brian, Yes, I have the full size power nozzle with led lights on mine. Works great. I use this vacuum mostly for in between full house cleanings. The bags are on the small size, but I don't have pets, so it isn't a problems for me. PR-21 Bud

Post# 398196 , Reply# 14 9/14/2018 at 06:55 (2,040 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Interesting, Bud. That Universal stick-vac can really transform itself! Update: I stand corrected about the origins of this Oreck design. According to their website, Dave was working for RCA in the early 1960’s when RCA had started to manufacture this kind of lightweight upright way down in New Orleans. Oreck took over the failing venture in 1963. Somehow the design ended up in Europe by 1970 - maybe McDonald Electric bought the European rights from Oreck to make and sell this design in Europe.

Post# 398212 , Reply# 15 9/14/2018 at 13:39 (2,040 days old) by Vacuumdevil (Vacuum Hell )
Checkrate/Likes *all vacuum land discussions lead to Kirby* @tolivac We have talked alot about this.... You like your Kirby that's cool . I like Kirby's too . I would love to talk more about this G6 I am restoring,but that's off subject. As with all director machines they tend to leak dust. Not only do the gaskets go bad between the fan the body. But then where the machine cools itself ,on that side vent it leeks carbon dust and eventually dirt. At the end of the day they're also too bulky. The tools are too complicated for most users. As for the direct air machines do provide more working water lift. (The practical airflow and suction test ) this is why even a Riccar Vibrance will clean as well if not better than a Kirby. you must also remember in the European Union the sound of a Kirby is too loud to pass. Direct air machines tend to be loud. I wonder how many of you have ever used a Miele art? Miele stole the casters from it for their s7 /u1 upright. The vacuum was a compact bypass machine that was straight suction with on board tools. The problem was that it lacked a brush roller. It also was priced originally the same as a S4 canster. It ended up being a $400 stick vacuum . But really if you had added a 217 brush roller/DC motor configuration to it it would have been a winner! @eurekaprince You need to understand Germany in the 1970s/1980s was plagued by communism. Making something in Germany was inexpensive on the western (free) side. This was a golden time for manufacturing in free Germany. You will not see dirty air machines for sale in 2018 Europe. Take a look at the newspaper ads they're all canister vacuums over there. CLICK HERE TO GO TO Vacuumdevil's LINK View Full Size

Post# 398233 , Reply# 16 9/14/2018 at 15:48 (2,040 days old) by n0oxy (Saint Louis Missouri, United States)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *central vac and direct air machine* I would think a central vacuum with a good power nozzle would clean as good as, if not better than a direct air machine, I have no way to test this since I don't have any uprights, but with the power that a central vacuum has, I don't see how a direct air machine would clean better than that. Mike

Post# 398424 , Reply# 17 9/18/2018 at 14:52 (2,036 days old) by dirtmaster37 (Ypsilanti, Michigan USA)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *Lets look at this form a dealer/professional standpoint.* As a dealer, and a salesman for 22 years.. I think I can offer a few insights here that may help to understand WHY Miele hasn't..... IF YOU REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY.. read on. It's long, and you kinda gotta pay attention. Firstly, in fewer words, Vacuumdevil above, has a pretty firm grasp on what is reality here. It is in fact how many companies view things: Yanno goofy stuff like markets/trends; profit and loss etc. And BTW they do have individuals that watch this site, and others on social media.. ALWAYS lurking just off to the left, behind curtain number 2. Don't worry, they arent judging you. Some may point and laugh at some of your suggestions, but how will you EVER know!!! Here is kinda what most companies will sound when even us DEALERS throw ideas, complaints, or why don't we have... at them...Miele is our target here, so Ill screenplay the rest of this... (Dealer Don)- An average Joe Salesman like myself.. AND-- (Miele Dealer Rep, or Miele US)-(MDR-MUS) for short- Now...to the play... (Dealer Don)- So, uh... When will we be getting a lighter weight upright from you fellows? We really could sell alot of them if you would!! (MDR-MUS)- Well Don......Yah know...you MIELE dealers all over keep asking us this question. "WHENAREYAAAA gonna make this (lighter weight) upright". You keep telling us that the customer wants it. Our market research told us that many see weight as a feeling of durability. In our case it's kinda true. We also see you selling TONS of our former S7 uprights, and the current crop of U1's already. Clearly it must not be THAT big a deal. When we developed our current, upright, we did TONS of market research, and consumer polls that cost us millions of expensive dollars. We always gotta take into account what EVERYONE wants, even the dealers like yourself! Miele has to think about much, much, MUCH more...but our end goal is: WE must ALWAYS put out what the MAJORITY wants, NEEDS, and will BUY. Don, all this has to be factored in, while taking into account MANY standards and objectives already expected, and demanded of the industry. Most of them are some of our very own too, when contemplating a NEW model. This is including some that are higher than the norm, and most are likely self-imposed per company dictum; like the 20 year average lifespan... We put ALL OF THIS into the upright your saying you can't sell???? (Dealer Don)- Well Im sure myself, and thousands of other dealers.. keep asking for this... We are confused as to why you wont???.... (MDR-MUS)- Well there just isn't enough of a market there, believe it or not!!! (Dealer Don)- Well, we do have a number of customers that won't look at your line, because your upright is too heavy, and they won't look at a canister. They say canisters are harder to use, and have always had an upright and don't want to change. Some wont look at a canister because of the higher price!!! What sayeth you??? (MDR-MUS)- Well Dealer Don, and all you other dealers, their are no, none, nada, ZERO, Zilchamundo, currently developed, or near future plans to make a lighter weight upright. In fact we may have told you dummies this at a recent dealer council meeting, or in emails, and company mailers.... We have sound reasons, most you will never learn of...but here we are again... We figured this matter was shelved. We have shoved this matter off the table in previous discussion over the last 9 years we've offered an upright vacuum. At that time, we figured we had quelled this issue? (Dealer Don)- Well what are we supposed to do when they complain? (MDR-MUS)- Sell them on the rest of the features, show them how they only must tilt the machine back, how it EASILY glides around the house on the BIG back wheels. How when you DO have to lift it.. We have a convenient mid body grab basket handle grab to lift it up the stairs. See? It's not THAT bad when you grab it from there is it? IT's not like carrying a Hoover Convertible. No one needs pick up their vacuum by the UPPER part of the handle, although people have been doing that since 1908?? Anyway, it's your job to show them ways to AVOID lifting it... AND to most customers that should be a sufficient answer!! (Dealer Don)- This still doesn't answer the growing complaints that your upright is too heavy tho...That may work for some, but not all. What do I say to HELP quell THEIR concerns that your upright is too heavy?? (MDR-MUS)- Well that is up to you to figure out... "LOOK our expensive ,and exhaustive research shows us that the U.S. market is already saturated with enough lightweight style machines, of various caliber, and option". (MDR gestures)- "Look over here at your ******** or **** line from the Tacony Company". "They have multiple models, over various price points, and levels, and the versions of course put out by your other competitor.. Oreck!!". "Don, you should know that Oreck...well they have been making these things since God was a teenager". "And they are best known for this style of cleaner". "Then of course, we haven't even mentioned the Sebo Felix". "That too, is a fairly lightweight machine that you carry also". " So see Don, that there..thats a pretty light machine even with the Power Nozzle!!". "In any case, this same research has informed us, that THIS market is already well tapped, and taken care of". "And all of these companies I've gestured to honestly....have fairly good degrees of quality in their product". (Dealer Don)- "But it STILL isn't a MIELE machine"... (MDR-MUS)- Well okay Don....our questions back to you, the dealers is this: " If Miele were to invest millions into coming up with our version". "What will MIELE improve upon in regards to a technology that is in fact, obsolete, and in it's final form by those already marketing it? How can it be further evolved in it's current capacity? In our opinion the number of people in that market, are already happy with the choices already offered. They keep buying what they know". "Will you sell enough of them to make it WORTH our investment?" "With that in your mind, what is your question here"??? (Dealer Don)- "but it's NOT a Miele, and people want what YOU sell"!! (MDR-MUS)- " Ok , look...out of all this expensive research, and listening to you, and thousands of pleads and cries from the dealer body"; "Here is our thinking and do with it as you wish to"... Miele has been in floor care, and we have been doing it for a REALLY long time". Since 1984 in the USA, and 1927 in Germany". "Our RESEARCH has informed us that putting ourselves in this market segment will be a waste of our resources". "We wont be making good use of our development dollars". (Dealer Don)- "Still we could sell a Miele version"!!! (MDR-MUS)-"Look, It's a no go because we will simply be putting out another like machine, with no real purchasing benefit over contemporary technology". In short we wont be leading anything..just following. So stop asking us for this you silly dealers... Oh wait, just as a reminder, for you dealers that maybe aren't as well versed, we ALREADY have a lightweight upright machine in the Miele tradition. THe H1 Swing Series Quickstep Power Line series. Even though tis about the same as the machine that we introduced over here in 1984. And, because of the integrated power-socket, you can add a 228 or 236 nozzle to it; but now it's nearly as heavy as our U1 full size, and costs MORE!!! So you should sell them the U1 with TOOLS and a hose, a suction power control dial...(the U1 Twist is 499 you may remember). Our U1 features a bag thats four times the size of the Quickstep, has a longer cord, a hose to attach all THREE tools with.... "Sell up the larger series. It's NOT hard". "Explain further to your customer, that the weight is the built in durability"... (not untrue, but is to a degree).. "You will be better off". "Or really show off your sales skills, and TRY to sell them a deluxe C1,2,3 canister type of cleaner, which is a better machine anyway, and is a shade lighter than our upright, until you put all the hoses, tools, and thingamajigs in...."." But you never carry it all at once... Thats the ULTIMATE end goal!! Selling what we offer already!!!" That all said... My thoughts are this: Miele's NUMBER ONE consideration is their reputation for quality in their new developments. ANY NEW DESIGN, must pass the equivalent of TWENTY years of average use.. much as it's been since 1927 when they put out their first electric cleaner. This is NOT a move-able objective. It has to pass, and be close to former product, and at least meet the 20 year etc... This is a MAJOR reason WHY it took Miele until 2009 to introduce their then S7 series uprights. It HAD to pass many objectives, including the self-imposed ones. And made to obtain the objectives of the multi-purpose design, and of course Miele's very well stated quality standard must be upheld. So to explain a bit further: The full DESIGN OBJECTIVE, with the S7-U1 product was it HAD to do more, than anything before it in one, easy to use machine"... Yes a objective was WEIGHT.. it's still not super heavy like a Kirby and most Canisters are heavier, but by no means light....and it MUST make the floor clean both carpet and hard floor of any type, JUST like their canisters do. PLUS it HAD to have decent tool suction to be like the canisters, but better than most contemporary uprights....Also, will the filtration be up to company standards, be easy to change the bag?? That's a HUGE reason Dyson, and all the others and their spinning dirt-buckets are SO popular now...Is it easy to change?? Yep, easiest of any really out there. Do they have a leading capacity average AND put out the ZERO emissions our machines with the sealed HEPA do?? Yep, as good as our canisters... but watch it, it's getting kinda heavy... Something else we can ponder as we able thru this tome.... Miele didn't really even WANT to put out an another upright. After a very unfortunate run of badge built product by Panasonic, the earlier i170 and i180 upright lines.... They were perfectly content it seemed to just keep selling their high end drag around type canister cleaners. The ONLY thing that changed their mind is they finally had to bow to AND admit the reality, that the upright market was VERY strong here in the USA, and them ignoring it..was BAD for their business here. . And while the Panasonic built machines were junk and NOT up to Miele standards, the sales of them were fairly robust. And Dyson was steaming along at warp speed... And a DC- whatever was about 17 lbs. Okay... This upright craze BTW is all thanks to Murray Spangler and his 40 pound, motorized sweeping pillowcase (B.T.W. Miele is just about half that). And that if they wanted to obtain a certain market share, for the USA they better come up with THEIR OWN upright quick, that met lots of consumer objectives.. but was well made, and more affordable than their canister lineup... So after * years of tinkering... One thing that was ended up NOT being a major objective..was weight. They just had no way to make it weigh less and meet their well built criterion. Truthfully any well made upright on the market isn't much better in that regard. Only the Kirby to my understanding is higher, most of the rest are 20 and less. BUT no less than 16 or so. Even 16 lbs, is double the "supposed" weight of the lightweight market people keep asking for. No fondly remembered durable upright or canister vacuum was/is LIGHT. So the point to most manufacturers at this point... is really a moot one. This should answer WHY. If not, you can always keep asking the question that dealers dont even get answers too. But most of this is what we are told. In all, the traditional definition of insanity, is the same thing happening or being asked over and over again, with the same outcome every time. It's not gonna happen. A lightweight Miele upright that can do all.. The End. MY deepest sympathies to all that read this. It was rather long. Chad, A industry insider...

Post# 398441 , Reply# 18 9/18/2018 at 22:19 (2,036 days old) by Mike811 (Finland)
Checkrate/Likes *US should have this* Vorwerk is the only upright what sells well in the Europe. It's light, maneuverable, very powerful, tons of attachments and fully sealed hepa filtration. Only con is that the hose is not onboard. Very much like the Sebo Felix, but lighter and more powerful.

Post# 398442 , Reply# 19 9/18/2018 at 22:24 (2,036 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)
Checkrate/Likes It's too bad Eureka discontinued the Boss F&G uprights. It fits the bill very well. It's lightweight, and easy to maneuver without a bulky plastic bin, just that soft bag. If they added a longer cord and a quick release cord hook it would be a real winner for a lightweight machine.

Post# 398443 , Reply# 20 9/18/2018 at 23:08 (2,036 days old) by Rivstg1 (colorado springs)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *vacuumdevil,* Silly Americans and their thick carpet? Why do we have carpet? because its good feeling to the feel.....thicker carpet feels nicer...richer. Thats a real reason we have it and many still have/prefer it. is that okay? Direct machines are easier and much cheaper to service.... those are pretty compelling reasons I"d offer. Just a preference

Post# 398729 , Reply# 23 9/25/2018 at 01:11 (2,030 days old) by kenkart ()
Checkrate/Likes 1 *To each his own...BUT* I use a straight suction canister about every day, uprights to groom the plush wall to wall carpet once a week or so..Usually a direct air machine, might not be modern but airflow is what cleans and nothing can move as much air as a open face fan..Right now im using a 1964 U 4 GE

Post# 398808 , Reply# 24 9/26/2018 at 17:22 (2,028 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes 2 I just think the concept of a “home cleaning system” that Hoover and Eureka and GE touted in the 1950’s makes a lot of sense: an upright for carpets only plus a separate canister for everything else. Each separate unit is a lot lighter and easier to use than the heavy, bulky combination vacuums. And I think if Miele invested the time and money to venture into the bagless canister segment of the market, why not try to improve on the classic simple fan-first upright? The Hoover Platinum works great and is easy to use, just like the simple Eureka Bravos and Hoover Elites of the 1980’s. And I don’t need 12 amps of screaming motor power to deep clean carpets...5 amps will suffice just fine, thank you. And I don’t need 21 lbs of complicated two motor vacuum to do a good daily cleaning of high traffic areas of my carpeting. Especially if I need to carry it up a flight of stairs. The Oreck/Bravo/Elite concept is great but could use some of Miele’s ingenuity to make it even better. Quieter motor, redesigned brush roll for excellent agitation, “gentle” slow setting for delicate carpets, plush air valves to make it easy to clean really thick carpet, combined with Miele’s excellent dust bags. I think it could be a winning addition to any suction-only Miele canister.