Kirby vacuum cleaners innovative in many ways

Buying a Kirby vacuum cleaner isn't like buying a Hoover. You don't head down to the local Wal-Mart or Target, put a vacuum cleaner box in the cart and go. It's usually a purchase you make in your home after consenting to a demonstration.

Kirby vacuums are essentially the first electric vacuums known. Invented by Jim Kirby, they were designed to reduce what Kirby saw as drudgery in home care. A longtime inventor, Kirby decided at a young age he wouldn't toil and work hard for little money, so after beginning his life as an inventor, he developed an early version of a Kirby vacuum cleaner in 1907.

Unique Kirby Sales Method

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Kirby vacuums is the way the vacuums are sold. Kirby decided early on he wouldn't work for anyone but himself and so it seems using a direct selling method worked within this philosophy. Kirby vacuums are part of a direct-selling organization and are generally sold door to door by salespeople who either demonstrate the Kirby vacuum on site or schedule a time for another salesperson to come back and demonstrate the vacuum.

Kirby vacuum demonstrations are unique in that they are done in the home, and often after the homeowner has been asked to vacuum their floor with their own vacuum. The salesperson then follows by using the Kirby vacuum on the same floor. Homeowners report they are often astonished by the debris that it picked up by the vacuum, essentially indicating the need for the more powerful Kirby vacuum.

Kirby Prices

Once the homeowner is enticed, they might be surprised to hear the price of this fancy piece of vacuum equipment. This is where the controversy over Kirby vacuums can come into play. They aren't cheap; depending on the model chosen, they can run from $1,500 to $2,000 for the full-size canister vacuum. The upright vacuums are less, coming in around $500 to $1,000.

Although the Kirby vacuums generally last many more years than a store-bought vacuum cleaner, many critics have argued they are just too expensive. Kirby does often offer financing so homeowners can pay for their new vacuum over a period of time.

Before purchasing, homeowners are advised to educate themselves about the various models. A good place to start is www.epinions.com. For more information about scheduling a demonstration, visit the Kirby vacuum website at www.Kirby.com.