"Vacuums Suck and Cars Don't!"

(PART TWO of a short series using cars to understand vacuums)

We hope you enjoyed last month's lead article "If cars were built like vacuums - we'd probably be dead." If you missed it or didn't finish reading it CLICK HERE to catch up!

So far, we learned that cars have significantly improved in critical areas like comfort, safety and fuel efficiency over the years. However, the mass majority of popular vacuum cleaners have suffered a serious decline in quality and performance to consumer demand for low prices and weight!

Now that you're warmed up to my train of thought - using something familiar like cars to better understand your vacuum - let's explore another commonly misunderstood factor: PERFORMANCE QUALITY. Following are 3 key factors to consider….

Every machine is designed to do a certain job, or set of jobs. To share the same classification, machines must obviously share specific performance criteria: Calculators have to calculate; Toasters must toast; Cars need to move, steer and stop; Vacuums cleaners have to suck and hold dirt in side. If a machine doesn’t perform the expected tasks, we either consider it broken, or we just have to find a new name for it!

Yet within those categories of machine, we often see numerous variants, brands and types. Sure, shapes and colors may vary, but most often a machine will be separated from others of its kind because of a claim to perform somewhat differently. It’s important to look carefully at these differences in claims, as it may drastically affect the machine’s ability to perform the tasks we expect.

The first part of what makes up a machine’s quality of performance depends on how well it is tailored to the task at hand. Do you have the right “tool” for the job? You can’t roast a small chicken in a regular, sliced-bread toaster. I don’t expect you’d buy a Toyota Prius to go off-roading in the mountains. And I would hope you’d know better than to buy an upright vacuum with a non-stopping brushroller if you have only hardwood floors.

The second factor falls in the realm of finer details. Two widgets may claim to do the exact same task, but have very different prices. Why? Quality is usually the one of the main reasons, yet this can be cocktail of several factors. “Better” quality usually indicates a products ease of use during the performance of its given task. Also, the better product can usually be expected to last longer or break less, providing a greater value for your dollar over time. Perhaps this product also does the particular task “better” than the other: Computes faster; Toasts more evenly; Is safer in a crash; Allows less dust escapes into the air, etc. Esthetics often plays a role too. Ultimately you need to decide how much those subtle factors affect the completion of your task, whether you feel they are worth the price, or which is just a better fit for your personal preferences. So if the next vacuum you buy is only $50, that’s fine - It may be just right for your situation. What I hope is that you will NOT BE FOOLED by the commercials and colorful packaging into believing that it will last very long or is “great for allergy sufferers!”

By the way – I finally found that Mercedes-Benz commercial I was talking about. “Everything Matters.” CLICK to WATCH:

This brings me to the third aspect of discussion: How to maintain your equipment’s level of performance. Everything has an “Achilles Heel.” You wouldn’t dream of buying a car, whether a Hyundai or a Hummer, and never change the oil or brakes…You’d either blow up the motor or get killed in an accident! Similarly, you can’t buy a vacuum and not replace the bag or filter for 6 months without risking blowing up its motor, or you at least suffering a serious allergy attack! Just remember the KEY WORD: MAINTENANCE. All machines, especially those with moving parts, need it now and then! Otherwise, your car, vacuum, etc., cannot be expected to perform as well as it is intended to. You'll need to understand what it takes to keep it going, and whether or not you're willing and able to keep up with it!

At Queen Vacuum, we play “matchmaker” all day! It’s our job to listen and match each customer up with the right vacuum for their specific needs. Sometimes it’s a $69 Dirt Devil, sometimes it’s a $699 Miele. When you know a lot about a given type of product it’s easy to spot the differences between seemingly similar items. You can discern the main criteria: WHAT it does, HOW WELL it does it, and HOW LONG will it last. Most importantly, you can translate those differences into the potential benefits or detriments in your experience with that product. When you don’t know much about something you’re looking to buy, please do your research. But if you just can’t wrap your mind around the differences in the products you want – have an expert explain it. Or try the old trick of relating it to something you already understand well like food, electronics or (our favorite) cars!


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LET’S TEST THE LOGIC: "Cheap is Expensive"

TRUE or FALSE?
It’s “better” to keep buying cheaper new vacuums than getting the old one fixed. (Let’s establish that in general, the more expensive the machine is the higher quality it is.)

[SCENARIO 1: Always buying new]
• Your vacuum cost $400, 3 years ago. You sucked up water by accident and the motor blew. It will cost $150 to fix. You say “No way – I can buy new vacuum for that!”
• Your new vacuum cost $200. After 2 years it broke and will cost $75 to fix. You say “No way – I can buy new vacuum for that!”
• Your new vacuum cost $100. It’s now 2 years old and just isn’t working like it used to. All it needs is a belt and standard servicing for $39.99. “No way – I can buy new vacuum for that!”
• Your new vacuum cost $50. It’s a bagless upright model and is due for its first HEPA filter change after 1 year. A filter costs $29.99. DON’T SAY IT: You cannot get a “full-sized” vacuum for that price. (Perhaps a Dustbuster or broom though!) So you buy one more new vacuum for $50.

Let’s take a look at what you spent buying new vacuums instead of fixing them (and more importantly) what you got for your money:
• You’ve spent a total of $800 in an 8 year period. That’s $100 a year average. You’ve gone through 5 vacuums, 4 of which are in the landfill. You now have in your possession a poorly performing, $50 toy-sized vacuum that cannot clean your whole house well.

[SCENARIO 2: Fix & maintain what you have]
Let’s say you’d kept your original, $400 vacuum running. Factor in that first major $150 repair. Let’s also allow for $20 per year for bags and belts ($160) PLUS a $30 standard servicing every 2 years ($120):
• You’ve spent $120 LESS! A total of $680 in an 8 year period (averaging only $85 per year.) You’ve contributed no excess waste in the landfill. Best part is you STILL have in your possession a higher quality, $400 machine that cleans your house very well!!

CONCLUSION: FALSE! Cheap IS Expensive. It is far “better” to buy a quality vacuum and keep it running for many years. It’s more economical, ecological and provides a higher level of cleaning performance in your home!