Thread Number: 42932
/ Tag: Brand New Vacuum Cleaners
Potential New Kirby Vacuum Model Discussion |
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Post# 449483   1/23/2022 at 12:46 (824 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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I decided to make a thread dedicated to the rumored new Kirby, since another thread was getting filled with comments about this.
As mentioned earlier, there is a rumored new Kirby model, that is said to come out this year. Take this with a grain of salt. There’s no guaranteed information here, it’s just a rumor until further notice. Feel free to put your thoughts, and opinions about this topic here. |
Post# 449484 , Reply# 1   1/23/2022 at 12:52 (824 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 449485 , Reply# 2   1/23/2022 at 12:56 (824 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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Post# 449486 , Reply# 3   1/23/2022 at 13:00 (824 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 449487 , Reply# 4   1/23/2022 at 13:14 (824 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Post# 449488 , Reply# 5   1/23/2022 at 13:30 (824 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 449495 , Reply# 7   1/23/2022 at 16:52 (823 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)   |   | |
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Post# 449500 , Reply# 8   1/23/2022 at 18:40 (823 days old) by juju93 (South Georgia)   |   | |
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What Id like to know is why is it supposably getting launched in June. Anything particular happening in June for kirby or the vacuum community as a whole? |
Post# 449513 , Reply# 9   1/24/2022 at 00:27 (823 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)   |   | |
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I know a Kirby distributer in Atlanta-He will let me know when a new model comes out-and sell one to me.We will just have to wait for what the future brings. |
Post# 449531 , Reply# 10   1/24/2022 at 10:42 (823 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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Post# 449534 , Reply# 11   1/24/2022 at 13:45 (822 days old) by robsmith1977 (Shippensburg, Pennsylvania)   |   | |
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I wish Kirby would do something about that suds tube on the carpet shampoo system. Ever since they went to a rigid 90 degree piece and not a flexible hose, I haven't wanted to use the Kirby for carpet shampooing. It's just not as easy as it used to be. I had a brand new Sentria (the first series) and it was great all around! The Zip brush was kinda worthless though for using in the car because it couldn't pick up larger particles.
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Post# 449544 , Reply# 12   1/24/2022 at 21:50 (822 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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The spinning Zip Brush is a novel design but its performance is not particularly impressive. I think it's designed more for spot scrubbing than for sucking up dirt. Ironically, Kirby got it right with the Turbo Brush that preceded it in the Heritage era and then abandoned it. Those brushes are far superior to the Zip Brush for actually sucking up dirt. For my money, they're about the best non-motorized revolving brushes I've ever used.
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Post# 449547 , Reply# 13   1/24/2022 at 22:20 (822 days old) by RegularRett69 (San Clemente California, USA)   |   | |
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A little patent research and a lot of y'alls questions would be answered. Did the work for you, these are Scott and Fetzer patents from 2009. It's clear that by now they would've improved the design, and had well enough time to design a new Kirby, having released the Sentria, Sentria II, Avalir, and Avalir II while having this patent still active to this day. Direct air still, but has handle controls, still a self propelled mechanism, and hose options too.
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Post# 449554 , Reply# 14   1/25/2022 at 01:43 (822 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)   |   | |
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I agree with reply #12, those turbo brushes are really awesome! It's a shame they quit selling them, I like them MUCH better than the zip brush. But luckily you can still buy those turbo brushes brand new today under the Rugrat, they're mainly for central vacuums but they can easily fit on any Kirby hose with no problem. I also think it's a shame that they quit making the Vacuette, I also like those hand vacs better than the zip brush. Who knows, maybe they may reintroduce them when the next Kirby model comes out.
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Post# 449562 , Reply# 16   1/25/2022 at 09:05 (822 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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Those patents have expired because Kirby didn't pay the yearly renewal fee. They will not be making the machine shown in the 2009 patents.
There has to be an investment of substantial amounts (millions) of dollars to have a new model launch that's truly a 'new' model. When Warren Buffet gave Kirby the old flush down the tubes, there went that kind of money. All we'll ever see is a color change. With their door-to-door sales methods Kirby doesn't have to change anything about it. No one wakes up thinking "I'm going to spend two thousand dollars on a vacuum today". The Kirby only has to beat whatever machine is in current use by the prospect. It's not like they're sold at Wal-Mart and you pick it out of a line-up. |
Post# 449567 , Reply# 18   1/25/2022 at 10:50 (822 days old) by KirbyG6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 449570 , Reply# 19   1/25/2022 at 12:06 (822 days old) by Oreck_XL (Brooklyn, New York 11211)   |   | |
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With this RightLane Industries now at the helm of Kirby, I would say there's a better than not chance that there WON'T be an all new model. Now the purists on here will tar and feather me saying "if it's a proven design why change it." Well, maybe. But it's the SAME PLATFORM from 32 years ago. Kirby got 20 years out of the Classic series. When is enough enough? There may be another trim change in a new model but with Kirby in danger of extinction I doubt RightLane is going to subsidize new tooling to manufacture a new model from the ground up. Just my 2 cents.
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Post# 449572 , Reply# 20   1/25/2022 at 18:49 (821 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Post# 449658 , Reply# 23   1/27/2022 at 21:24 (819 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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Post# 449669 , Reply# 25   1/28/2022 at 07:59 (819 days old) by Oreck_XL (Brooklyn, New York 11211)   |   | |
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Post# 449698 , Reply# 26   1/28/2022 at 18:50 (818 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 449705 , Reply# 28   1/29/2022 at 01:36 (818 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)   |   | |
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I've been on this forum about 10 years now. And I just think it's funny how many times we've talked about a new Kirby model coming out, looked at patents, discussed improvements we'd like or what changes might be coming, and when the "new model" comes out it's just a slightly updated model with new colors, some different trim, and a new handle style and bag pattern. LOL
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Post# 449711 , Reply# 29   1/29/2022 at 05:34 (818 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 449759 , Reply# 31   1/31/2022 at 07:12 (816 days old) by electromatik (Taylorsville, North Carolina, U.S.A.)   |   | |
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I'll believe it when I see it... |
Post# 449767 , Reply# 32   1/31/2022 at 14:37 (815 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 449770 , Reply# 33   1/31/2022 at 18:41 (815 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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Post# 449771 , Reply# 34   1/31/2022 at 18:56 (815 days old) by juju93 (South Georgia)   |   | |
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All I got to say is.... Why June? And its a neutral question, in reguards to if its a new platform or if its another G-series. Why launch it in June? |
Post# 449772 , Reply# 35   1/31/2022 at 19:55 (815 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Why launch in June? Easy! They're banking on COVID subsiding in the summer months so they can unleash their strong-arm sales enforcement shock troops to muscle their way into unsuspecting--and otherwise unwilling--customers' homes to coerce them into shelling out obscene amounts of cash for a vacuum they would not otherwise buy.
Sorry. As much as I love their products, Kirby really needs to come up with a more ethical and humane sales method. I would never allow a Kirby thug to cross my threshold. |
Post# 449786 , Reply# 37   2/1/2022 at 10:24 (815 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 449787 , Reply# 38   2/1/2022 at 10:45 (815 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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The outdated sales method is holding them back. Kirby makes the machine and sells it directly to a distributor. After it's sold, it's out of Kirby's hands and the actual demonstration and sale to the consumer is not done by them. There's where the problem comes in. Gaining entry to the home. For the most part, people have no idea what a new Kirby looks like or does. They might know the name, but most people think of a vacuum like a Shark when thinking about a vacuum at all.
Would changing the machine for the sake of change sell any more machines using their current sales method? No. But,what if Right Lane Industries wants to make a Kirby-like cleaner in China and sell it on QVC? "The new Kirby on 5 payments of $129 a month". They have the right to the Kirby name. It can be anything they want. They did that with Electrolux. After the Aerus name change, QVC "Now selling Electrolux" didn't tell anyone that it wasn't actually your grandmother's Electrolux. "It's a Kirby" but not your mother's Kirby. |
Post# 449799 , Reply# 40   2/2/2022 at 08:02 (814 days old) by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN)   |   | |
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Some former Kirby salesmen turned out OK.Willie Nelson for example. |
Post# 449800 , Reply# 41   2/2/2022 at 10:36 (814 days old) by luxlife (Under a Pecan Tree)   |   | |
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Duane Chapman (Dog the Bounty Hunter) is another one. |
Post# 449804 , Reply# 42   2/2/2022 at 12:29 (814 days old) by Bisonian (Where the buffalo roamed! (Ocala, FL))   |   | |
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Dog the Bounty Hunter sold Bisons as well. |
Post# 449808 , Reply# 43   2/2/2022 at 14:58 (813 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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It’d be very cool to see Kirby make a change regarding their sales method. I think maybe they should have vacuum shops, and janitorial suppliers sell them. As well as have them available on their page. That would be a cool thing to see.
Back to new models. This is very unlikely to happen, but it would be very cool if they resurrected an older Kirby design and sell it as the budget/economy model. Then have the G series, or this new model if it really happens, as the higher end premium model. Just an idea worth mentioning. |
Post# 449829 , Reply# 47   2/3/2022 at 00:46 (813 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)   |   | |
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I'd also love to have Kirby reintroduce some of their older models as well. Preferably the ComVac line. I think there is still a market left for commercial vacuums since more buildings are having carpets than more homes that do. It's like when Hoover quit making the Guardsman line for residential use but still made them for commercial use. And now that Royal's metal uprights are gone, Kirby could fill in the spot and not have competition anymore.
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Post# 449830 , Reply# 48   2/3/2022 at 00:49 (813 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)   |   | |
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Yeah I really would like to see this line again.
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Post# 449842 , Reply# 50   2/3/2022 at 14:30 (812 days old) by juju93 (South Georgia)   |   | |
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Look, all I got to say is, June needs to hurry up already. |
Post# 449848 , Reply# 51   2/3/2022 at 16:30 (812 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 449882 , Reply# 53   2/4/2022 at 22:39 (811 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)   |   | |
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Actually Kirby already developed a cordless vacuum, it's called the Split Second hand vac. It originally came out to compete against Hoover Concept Two's Help Mate hand vac but they've sold that cordless machine for many years. I wouldn't mind if Kirby developed a cordless stick vacuum. But if they wanted to replace their main vacuum with a cordless, to me that's risky. I've been into homes before where they took more than two hours to clean and my first concern would be not finishing a whole big house with a cordless Kirby. My second concern would be performance. I know Kirby won't release a new model until it is proven to be better than their predecessor. And I know I've used many cordless vacuums that are not as good or even better than their corded versions. My last concern would be marketing. Could they pull it off? Maybe. But I know there are many consumers out there that would still prefer to use cords over cordless, myself included. Especially in situations where I would have to use a corded machine over cordless. Example, I would pull my camping trailer out of storage and first thing I would notice is how dirty it is inside. I'm also in a hurry to clean it out so it's something where I have to vacuum like right away with a corded machine versus waiting several minutes or even hours to charge a vacuum battery because I wouldn't have electricity running through my trailer when I would have it sit in storage. If Kirby could pull it off, then great! But at least though I wouldn't discontinue the corded one, I'd sell both to give each consumer an option like you said to go for either corded or cordless like the ProTeam FreeFlex for example.
Also for removing the nozzle to be eliminated, well how else could I change the belt or use the other accessories for it? I would've may as well just buy a metal Royal upright instead. I wouldn't mind if Kirby develops a machine that uses plastic all over the body. Electrolux was able to pull it off on their canister machines and if they could do it, so could Kirby. I didn't mind that their Kirby Vacuette hand vacs were all plastic. But I still like the idea of having metal on a Kirby, they even look pretty anyways. Lastly but not least, I think eventually Kirby would change the way that they do on sales, at least have like what Filter Queen is doing nowadays. I'd rather buy a Filter Queen or a Kirby online than have a salesperson come to my house. Anyways that's just in my opinion.
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Post# 450000 , Reply# 54   2/10/2022 at 13:21 (806 days old) by RainbowD4C (Saint Joseph, Michigan )   |   | |
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A lot of people are saying the same thing about the Kirby. That it's a dated design. But at the same time I get why it hasn't been changed. I bought a Avalir 2 back in May 2021 and to be honest. I actually really like it. Yes it's a pain in the *** to attach the hose and attachments. But in all honesty the way they have it set up is how you are going to get the best suction. And lets face it nothing has suction like a Kirby except maybe a shop vac or Central Vacuum System. I also got mine at a dirt cheap price. I only paid $844.82 for it and I didn't trade anything for it. I just completely controlled the sale. I only bought the day to day attachments and nothing else. And I made it extremely clear to the sales man that if he wanted the sale that he was going to follow my direction or it was over and he left empty handed. Yes it's heavy and loud. But that what they are known for and maybe why they clean so well.
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Post# 450005 , Reply# 55   2/10/2022 at 15:52 (805 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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What if you were a consumer who didn't know anything about Kirby? No one would pick it up out of a line-up of current vacuums, especially for even half the MSRP of $1997.00
Which is why it makes absolutely no difference if the machine is updated, lighter, vintage looking, etc. Also, do any of you seriously think that the salesmen (who work a week or two) are going to learn about a second, cheaper model we well as the more expensive one? And carry both of them in their car? No. Not gonna happen. They have enough problems selling one model. I sold Kirbys door to door. I know that it made no difference what kind of vacuum the consumer had, the Kirby only had to beat that one. The secondary market of used Kirbys is immaterial to the salesman in the home. They are either going to buy the new one or not. Think of the consumer who actually (in a pandemic) opens their door to a salesman? Who does that? And lets a stranger (or strangers) into your home? The salesmen have enough trouble getting into the home. The Kirby never has to change models ever again, and they'll still sell. The average is one in three people buy - you just have to get inside the house. |
Post# 450006 , Reply# 56   2/10/2022 at 16:50 (805 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 450024 , Reply# 58   2/11/2022 at 21:29 (804 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)   |   | |
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1. change the styling to something innovative and sleek. More than just retooling the shape of two parts. Even making a canister model as a partner to the upright would be a huge help.
2. Drop the weight down a few lbs. If Kirby would tweak the design to be more similar to the Bison (which was already futuristic for its time) and make it even more streamlined and flatten it a bit more it would be really cool I think as well as shedding some weight. 3. Quick connect easy tool changing from hose to brushroll (magnetic attach/detachment?). while at it, make a more easy to understand nozzle height adjustment and have onboard tool storage for most commonly used tools. 4. Make it possible to come in other colors or bag patterns. 5. sell it retail and online, ditch the door to door garbanzo. 6. make it battery powered, or both corded and cordless at the same time, in a way similar to a laptop. automatic switching to battery power when the machine is unplugged, or running off battery entirely and plug in to recharge 7. have a hard floor nozzle that is padded or with soft brushes that can sweep the floor and suck up debris Those are some fast ideas that I think will help the company get out of the bleachers and back onto the court. The price being around $1 grand is not a big deal if the quality and reliability is there. Same for being bagged. People will drop that much cash for a Miele or Sebo and they do not even have spare parts available for most of their vacuums. They will use it for a couple years then when it gets clogged or someone says they can't fix it, it gets trashed and they buy another and have no hesitation about the cost. |
Post# 450063 , Reply# 59   2/16/2022 at 00:32 (800 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)   |   | |
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Post# 450065 , Reply# 60   2/16/2022 at 00:41 (800 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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Post# 450135 , Reply# 61   2/18/2022 at 14:15 (797 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)   |   | |
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I think Kirbys R&D centre must be a incredibly boring or at least very frustrating place to work
We know the prototypes exist, their have been enough patents and enough people ( insiders like the guy that worked for UL ) who saw actual working models. Just before the launch of the sentria II, their was much talk of this exciting new model here on vacland and amoungst dealers, but what came seemed to be a stopgap, then again for the avalir so much fan fair and just another rehashed g3. I know of two dealers who switched brands already and the owner of another one here locally said they need something new he cannot keep selling these things. He said to me he has been with Kirby for 30 years and all he has sold is the same machine in different colour schemes with very minor updates. Their is no reason for any G series customer to upgrade to a new model as they are built to last forever and their is no real advantage of a new one over the older models that justify the costs involved. Here is to hoping we finally see a new model soon |
Post# 450144 , Reply# 63   2/18/2022 at 15:57 (797 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)   |   | |
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Like you say,If they do have engineering department what do they do all this time. prehaps their is just one lonely engineer their with his Cad system trying to finish the new kirby for the past 20 years, almost his working lifes work.
It doesn't take 12 years to change the colour of a bag and trim. with rapid prototyping and other new design aids designing a new vacuum would take weeks ( if not complicated ) to a few months. the most time consuming part of any design process is the development testing to make sure it works as it should and lasts as it should. I have to wonder if they dont employ a outside design house to do a new model, like they used to in times gone by. it doesn't make sense for kirby to have a huge design department when their design progression is so slow |
Post# 450201 , Reply# 64   2/19/2022 at 23:15 (796 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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Post# 450237 , Reply# 67   2/21/2022 at 17:40 (794 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)   |   | |
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Not every year but atleast a decent upgrade every 5 years and a new design every 10.
Salesman will always sell but they are hitting a new problem now. The machine hasn't really changed since 1991 . My mate told me of two situations that arose recently and he said its fairly common. In the first one the guy asked after the demo, what would it cost to do a full rebuild one one of these machines so the rep did some numbers and gave him a price, around a quarter the price of the new one, so the guy went to the garage and pulled out a old g5 and said here fix this one then its cheaper and its the same machine. Another asked the same question and then right their bought a second hand one online . The product needs to change enough to keep competitive with its predecessors too. Why buy a new Merc over a old one, its still a Merc but the new one is safer more efficient , looks newer ( looks count allot ) has new features. The world has changed allot since 1990, most homes back then still had wall to wall carpet, most modern homes have very little to none. Your average cordless vacuum can vacuum hard floors as well as a Kirby can, possible even better. Kirbys big deal was it could suck dirt from under your carpet, very few of its competitors could do this and almost nothing bought in a wallmart could, that's what made them great but without carpet they have nothing special about them apart from their build quality but they are bulky to use on hard flooring and thats why so many new ones end up at goodwill. Its time for a rethink |
Post# 450423 , Reply# 69   2/27/2022 at 20:03 (788 days old) by Ohiokirby (Ohio)   |   | |
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Would anyone out there in the VacuumLand realm care to share what KIRBY attachments they like, OR what new-redesigned attachments they’d like to see with a new model KIRBY? |
Post# 451385 , Reply# 71   4/8/2022 at 00:57 (749 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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Post# 451420 , Reply# 72   4/9/2022 at 14:52 (747 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 451513 , Reply# 74   4/12/2022 at 13:21 (745 days old) by Juju93 (South Georgia)   |   | |
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Hey y’all, maybe this new model is coming sooner than expected. I say that because Kirby just updated their website with a new design and layout which is nice. They even have it where you can by the machine online directly through them. |
Post# 451514 , Reply# 75   4/12/2022 at 13:29 (745 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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Post# 451580 , Reply# 76   4/14/2022 at 04:42 (743 days old) by cleanairhybrid (Maryville, IL, USA)   |   | |
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Just wondering what y'all think about the new online ordering option for Kirby machines and the new site design?
Kyle
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Post# 451583 , Reply# 77   4/14/2022 at 07:13 (743 days old) by Dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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Post# 451724 , Reply# 78   4/17/2022 at 19:00 (739 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)   |   | |
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The door to door sales method was obsolete even by Y2K and after 2010 it became exploited greatly by scammers and people using it as a ponzi scheme. I have seen many Kirbys in pawn shops and Craigslist with their serial numbers filed off, I can be sure they were likely used for commission fraud by someone. Many reports from dealers that got caught scamming buyers so it doesn't surprise me at all.
It was long overdue to stop beating a dead horse and bury it. This is a major step ahead for them and a way to get these sold to people under 60 years old. They are excellent great quality vacuums and are totally undeserving to be sunk into the mud over long outdated sales tactics and bad PR. It seems like whoever bought Kirby (if it has been bought?) is headed in the right direction with their plans. |
Post# 451891 , Reply# 81   4/22/2022 at 15:50 (734 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 451892 , Reply# 82   4/22/2022 at 16:51 (734 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)   |   | |
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Post# 451899 , Reply# 83   4/22/2022 at 20:04 (734 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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Post# 453979 , Reply# 84   6/20/2022 at 16:04 (675 days old) by juju93 (South Georgia)   |   | |
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so we're more than 2/3 of the way through june and still no signs of a 'new kirby". Has anybody heard anything? |
Post# 453983 , Reply# 85   6/20/2022 at 20:57 (675 days old) by Kloveland (Tulsa)   |   | |
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Post# 453987 , Reply# 86   6/21/2022 at 02:44 (675 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 453996 , Reply# 87   6/21/2022 at 11:19 (675 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)   |   | |
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All right just to settle in with this thread, I'm going to go talk with my Kirby dealer later this week to see if a new Kirby is coming out at all anytime soon. But I do know one thing for sure, Kirby has been short on fans as what one user pointed out here. Assuming that because of alot of issues we have going on around the world, I don't think Kirby has time to release a new model anytime soon.
Now lets say that they did, if I were to take a guess, Kirby would do exactly what they did on the first Avalir where after a while, they'd put in more colored parts on to make it look more pretty. I could see Kirby replace some of the black and grey parts on the Avalir 2 with blue ones like what Kirby did on the first Avalir where they replaced those same parts with red ones on. |
Post# 454040 , Reply# 88   6/22/2022 at 19:22 (673 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)   |   | |
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Just because there's no news don't just assume it was a hoax. Many many many many companies are VERY aggressive and VERY protective about their products and will silence anyone to stop leaks.
The thing to do is say "oh there might be a new Kirby coming out" and then keep that in your mind and then stop talking about it. If it happens it happens. If they are having supply chain issues they most certainly will not be launching a new Kirby. They will wait until supply is met and they have already made at least a few hundred before announcing it. |
Post# 454041 , Reply# 89   6/22/2022 at 19:27 (673 days old) by luxlife (Under a Pecan Tree)   |   | |
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Isn’t that always the hardest part??? |
Post# 454073 , Reply# 91   6/24/2022 at 00:40 (672 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)   |   | |
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Alright so I went over to my Kirby dealer today and this is what they've told me. They're not aware of a new Kirby that's coming out anytime soon, otherwise they'd know already from Kirby themselves if there is one that would be released in the near future. They also told me that Kirby did tried to design that Kirby with a hose onboard on reply #13 but they couldn't figure out to get it working right.
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Post# 454075 , Reply# 92   6/24/2022 at 05:48 (672 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 454081 , Reply# 93   6/24/2022 at 12:12 (672 days old) by luxlife (Under a Pecan Tree)   |   | |
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I suspect that they’re denying a new model and not saying anything in order not to interfere with selling more of their currently available inventory. Anyone holding out for the next model wouldn’t want to buy the current one. |
Post# 454094 , Reply# 94   6/25/2022 at 05:08 (671 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)   |   | |
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"Kirby did tried to design that Kirby with a hose onboard on reply #13 but they couldn't figure out to get it working right."
Look at it this way - that means they do have people that are - or were - indeed working on a new model at some point in time recently. Regardless of it coming out this year or next year or in 2 years there is a new Kirby in the skunkworks in some shape or form. So there will be a new model - just not with any definite time frame. |
Post# 454143 , Reply# 95   6/27/2022 at 15:14 (668 days old) by vaclab (Pickerington, Ohio)   |   | |
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Would us enthusiasts really be that satisfied with an all new Kirby that wasn't much...of a Kirby.
I think of the Hoover Convertible or any other machine of that type. Decades went by and the basics changed very little. Cosmetics sure, but the basic direct air design stayed the same. While I'm definitely not stuck on any particular shape or color scheme, I'm certainly performance oriented. The last few years of Kirbys hover around 150 CFM and 30" of suction at the nozzle and a whopping 120 CFM at the hose end. All that useful cleaning power and it only consumes under 730 Watts (I literally just tested my Avalir 1 running on medium pile carpet for this post). Yeah, I know it's rated a 7 Amps (840 Watts), but it consumes far less power. I'm much more concerned about all-new design completely wrecking the Kirby's cleaning ability. "Be careful what you wish for. You may just get it." Bill |
Post# 454177 , Reply# 97   6/28/2022 at 11:43 (668 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)   |   | |
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They need to go back to the basics. No tech drive, no giant handle, etc. The D50 was probably their magnum opus. It was still lightweight like the early 500 series and had the comfortable, small handle. But it also had 2 speeds, a better bag connection, and a more powerful motor. I think they should modernize the D50 design, maybe add paper bags, plastic fan, and a cord that is harder to remove. It would make it alot easier for many people to use, young and old alike. Maybe do away with the hose and attachments too, not many people care enough to use them for the effort they take to connect. Being as it is a direct air system, there really aren't any ways to have a good, quick way to use the tools unless they are on board, which is another can of worms. They should probably sell a companion mini canister vac, like Oreck did.
The amount of people I have met that have stored, chucked, or given away their Kirby as it was "too heavy" or hard to use is astounding. Said machines are always Classic, Heritage, and Generation body styles. |
Post# 455578 , Reply# 99   8/8/2022 at 10:19 (627 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 455580 , Reply# 100   8/8/2022 at 11:04 (627 days old) by Ilovehoovers (England)   |   | |
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Post# 455606 , Reply# 101   8/8/2022 at 16:47 (626 days old) by Dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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Post# 455607 , Reply# 102   8/8/2022 at 18:03 (626 days old) by Blackheart (North Dakota)   |   | |
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Post# 455609 , Reply# 103   8/8/2022 at 20:05 (626 days old) by Dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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Post# 455615 , Reply# 104   8/8/2022 at 22:56 (626 days old) by repairman (Woodridge, IL)   |   | |
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Tom. I noticed CWP Hoover Elite Brushrolls are discontinued. Does that have something to do with this? |
Post# 455650 , Reply# 105   8/9/2022 at 18:48 (625 days old) by juju93 (South Georgia)   |   | |
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god forbid avalir 2 is like sentria 1, 6 years in the production line. I mean hey its already been out for 4.5 years, mines well keep it going. (not really wanting that) |
Post# 469585 , Reply# 106   2/13/2024 at 22:40 by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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Here we are in 2024, still no new Kirby. The Avalir 2 has now been out for the amount of time the Sentria was out for (six years). But this year being the 110th Anniversary of Kirby, I wonder what they'll do for that? I think they’ll either make a 110th Anniversary Edition Avalir 2, or finally release a new model. And mark that an anniversary edition, before going to a non anniversary version in 2025. Only time will tell.
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Post# 469586 , Reply# 107   2/14/2024 at 01:32 by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 469611 , Reply# 109   2/15/2024 at 14:27 by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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Post# 469619 , Reply# 110   2/15/2024 at 18:30 by Lesinutah (Utah)   |   | |
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Post# 469646 , Reply# 111   2/16/2024 at 07:10 by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 469653 , Reply# 113   2/16/2024 at 18:36 by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)   |   | |
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Post# 469715 , Reply# 114   2/19/2024 at 22:39 by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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Post# 469724 , Reply# 115   2/20/2024 at 19:51 by Lesinutah (Utah)   |   | |
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Post# 469728 , Reply# 117   2/20/2024 at 22:24 by Lesinutah (Utah)   |   | |
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Post# 469733 , Reply# 118   2/21/2024 at 09:15 by juju93 (South Georgia)   |   | |
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yes the black and blue is a nice color scheme but after 6 years its time for something new. |
Post# 469736 , Reply# 119   2/21/2024 at 13:45 by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)   |   | |
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From my understanding, Kirby went back to using black as their primary color because it's one of if not the cheapest colors to make. You'll notice for example that replacement cords are now black for the Legend II, the G5, and most other models. So if we're getting a new model from Kirby, chances are it'd still be black but with a different secondary color. I'd love to see a Kirby that's green because we haven't had a green Kirby in a very long time and it's my most favorite color on a vacuum. Or at least a color they haven't made before like purple, orange, yellow, etc. I'd also love to see another Kirby that's for limited production only like the gold plated ones. That'd be awesome if they had a pink breast cancer edition one just like some other brands have done before like Oreck, Dyson, Riccar, Simplicity, etc. My aunt survived from one so that's why I like it when companies help donate, not to mention they do look pretty in the pink color in my opinion.
Anyways with that being said here, I mention "if" we're getting a new model because I'm not so sure anymore that we'd get a new model from Kirby anytime soon or ever at all. With the acquisition, more dealers signing up to be warranty centers, price increase, and now allowing Kirby to not just be sold through door-to-door anymore, I think Kyle has made an excellent point here. The Avalir 2 may be the last Kirby we'd ever see in our lifetime. But if we ever do get a new model, chances are the only differences would be the name and color change. If you look at Aerus for example, their Guardian Platinum unit is now white but still the exact same thing as the black version. Heck the rest of the canisters are still the same after 10 years. If you think 6 years is too long for Kirby, some other companies like Aerus is doing it far longer than Kirby. There's also chances that we'd see the Avalir 2 being sold for many more years to come. I wouldn't mind if the Avalir 2 gets updated with more blue colored parts just like what they did with the first Avalir with more red colored parts before it got discontinued. |