Kirby Vacuum Cleaners

Kirby Vacuum Cleaners • In-Home Demonstration • Three-day Return Policy • "Trade-In" Policy • Warranty Service • Poor Quality • Elderly & Infirm • Home Alone • Neighborhood Pests • U.K. Complaints • South Africa Complaints • Andrew's Kirby Adventure --- • Kirby Sweeps Up in West Virginia • Arizona Sues Kirby Distributors • Kirby Salesman Arrested • Salesmen Respond

The door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesmen has been the butt of many jokes. But unfortunately, the customer is seldom the one who walks away laughing. Best rule of thumb: never let any salesperson or solicitor into your home. If you ask someone to leave and they don't do so, call the police. It may seem harsh but it can avoid many problems, like those catalogued below.

Even a 15-year-old can see through most of the Kirby pitch, as Andrew recently demonstrated.

Heed this word of advice from Christie:
I worked at United Financial Consumer (a loan company for Kirby vaccums) office. The sales tactics used to sell Kirby's are much the same as Mattress Warehouse in that they mislead customers into thinking free financing when in fact after signing the bottom line you have just taken out a loan.

People they target are often elderly and they train young men and women that these customers are the ones to persuade. People who fall into debt often think they need to pay their car loan before they pay for their vaccuum, not realizing the type of loan they have signed is just as seriously detrimental to their credit rating.

Heads up on getting any type of financing: Look to see what company is actually doing the financing and before signing call the finance company and have them reiterate what the terms are!

We would add that every loan transaction must include a Truth In Lending statement that spells out the terms. Consumers need to read this carefully. It's almost always better to arrange a loan elsewhere, pay cash or do without.

George of Juneau , AK June 24, 2009

The Kirby Vacuum sales man Curtis came to our home and sold us a Kirby Vacuum cleaner on 1/23/2009. He told us since there was no kirby store here that we would not have to pay shipping on any products we order for the kirby vacuum. He also told us quote on quote Kirby vacuums had bumper to bumper warranty for the first 3 years. He said if the vacuum broke in the first 3 years that they would replace it for free no questions asked. After the 3 years were up they would fix it and send it back to us. He also told us that they would rebuild our kirby and failed to put the 170.00 charge in there.

I vacuum just recently started to go backward when I put it in drive and doesn't stop. This is when it started to come clear this guy lied about everything. Now they are telling us that basically there is really nothing they are going to do for us and they will report this salesman. I feel after we spent 2000.00 on a vacuum it should not be breaking. I also feel that when you are told nothing but lies we should not of been told oh well tough.

This guy came into our home and said anything to make us buy this vacuum. The company that sold us the vacuum and the Kirby Company itself told us there is nothing they can do. As a employer, I know that something like this should be made right. Oh by the way beings though they keep saying it's not on the contract there is nothing they can do. Does this mean since he messed up and wrote the total price out to be 350.00 on the contract that we all signed, that it would only cost 350.00.

Jeffrey of San Jacinto , CA June 24, 2009

Around the end of April 2009 a company (Kirby) came to my home saying they are a carpet cleaning company and asked if they could clean my carpets for free. i was on my way to work but said yes because my wife was going to be home. i found out they were not what they said that they were selling Kirbys. in turn. they convinced my wife that if she bought one she could return it before the payments where due.

the next day i called Kirby and asked them to come get it. they never called back my repeted calls were ignored. then when i found the contract i was shocked to read we had 2 days to send a letter to return it to them. in lue of that i took it myself to there office and returned it to them. they sent me a letter stating if i didnt come pick it up i was going to be charged storage at 25 dollars a day for them to store.

i believe it was sold to my wife in a fraudulent way The sales man RAY told my wife lies to make a sale. i have done research on this and found at least if not more complaints of the same manner. that they lie to make sales on innocent people. this pratice is disgusting. and i would like the contract disolved and this company closed if you have the power to do that. i know my wife signed the contract but it was signed without my wifes knoledge that what Ray said was not true.

Sean of Charlotte, NC June 26, 2009

Well, I just moved back to the Charlotte area from Chicago, so I've been looking for a job...found an ad on craigslist.com saying that you can earn 800 every two weeks. Needless to say, I was interested. I sat through a 10 minute interview, and got a job (wtf?) along with about 15 other people, and they said we were "special" because they had about 60 applicants...big woop. I've never had any sales jobs before, I mainly work in restaurants, but I decided it was still worth a shot.

The training is ridiculous, they just teach you how to pack and unpack the box, tell you about all the stupid attachments that you'd never need....honestly, who the hell wants to use a vacuum as a leaf blower?? Or to remove a lightbulb? or my favorite...a dog groomer. Usually normal dogs cower at the roar of a vacuum, especially this "super" vacuum they claim to have. I stayed in training for 2 days, and on the third day (today) I decided to leave after one of the other trainees had come in demanding his appointment sheets back and all of his information. I started to text my friend and get him to google this company, and he found nothing but bad news. So when the trainer Katie lured everyone into the break room area for disgusting little ceaser's pizza, I used the excuse of not liking pizza, said I was going down the street for lunch, and drove home. I feel like I just got screwed out of 3 days of my life, definitely got screwed out of about 50 in gas, and I did not want to be the one who goes around selling vacuums for 1800 dollars. Their finance plans are totally bogus, 20 dollars down 67 dollars a month for 36 months....Wow. Adds up to about 2431 dollars after interest.

Please, don't buy these things, it's a total scam, and I think the best thing I've done in a while is walk out of that place.

Betty of Xenia, OH June 26, 2009

A Kirby Vacuum distributor came to my house after I "won" a free carpet cleaning. The 18/24 year-old women showed up the day of my appointment. This was the 18 year-old's "first" appointment. Right. She was also working for a trip to the Bahamas (if she sold 15 vacuums in a month). They believe that stuff?

So they proceed to lay out all their equipment all over my living room. The manager left the 18 year old there while she went Lord knows where. The young girl proceeded to tell me about the vacuum (with various information included about dust mites). She did a few demonstrations with my vacuum cleaner (a Dyson) in comparison and I couldn't tell the Kirby doing "better" like she said it was. A few hours later, she called her manager. (She had to use my phone! What 18 year old doesn't have a phone!?) I could hear here being directed on what to say over the phone by her manager. "Now say, Miss Devon, does this deal include the discount for my contest? She gets to benefit from that? Thank you, Ma'am!" GAG ME! Her manager asked the girl to call her back after she'd talked to me a bit more and cleaned all her equipment. The manager then showed up WAY later then she said she would and continued to badger me to buy the vacuum and guilt me. I explained how I didn't want to purchase a vacuum because I was trying to save for a wedding.

As I am in the Air Force, I am set to PCS overseas, and getting my dogs into the country is going to be expensive. I explained that. And her reply was, "I'm SURE you can afford a nice vacuum AND still be able to pay for your wedding and getting your dogs into the country." I was rather taken aback by her tone. I continued saying that my fiance was deployed and I didn't want to make any purchases without talking to him and he hadn't had a chance to call for several days. With that, she replied "I'm SURE you can make the purchase. You don't need to talk to him. Why not take advantage of this low cost and THEN you can talk him into the lower price AFTER you've bought it." WHAT!?!? Who in their right mind would fall for that! She just crossed the line and I was very upset. That is the man I am going to spend the rest of my life with! Why would I gang up with SOMEONE I DON'T EVEN KNOW against HIM?!?!

Especially while he is over in the desert fighting for our country! FOUR hours later, she continued to drop the price. It went from 1989 to 999 and said the offer stood for "that night only." They threw in ALL KINDS of discounts (military, late night - since it was after 8, for her Bahamas contest, since I was her first customer, since the sky was blue that day = exaggeration, but you get the picture...it was ridiculous) So they wanted to con me into an impulse buy. A price is a price. If you are willing to offer a price, offer if everyday. Their selling tactics speak to the credibility and trustworthiness of this company. I am going to tell all my friends about this and I am SURE that isn't the kind of publicity they want spread. They crossed the line. I hope people read this site before their "appointments" and see what they are getting themselves into. Be prepared to stand your ground because these salespeople are ruthless and will try ANYTHING. It is NOT worth the free carpet cleaning. This was a dreadful experience.

lisa of Half moon bay, CA June 25, 2009

Salesgirl knocks on door and offers complimentary steam cleaning of one room. She states she receives 25 if we do this. I tell her fine, but I will not purchase a vacuum. She says this doesn't matter, they will clean one room's carpet for free.

Next, two men arrive and give a short talk and the "team leader" states that the sales guy will clean the carpet. Two hours later, I tell him repeatedly I will not purchase. Just like the game show "deal or no deal", he keeps phoning his "boss" from my home phone to get "new and better" deals. I emphatically tell him "NO" and that I need to pick up my child. He still has not cleaned the room's carpet. I tell him to do so and go downstairs instructing my college student that I am picking our son up.

I call 1/2 an hour later and he is still there.In the course of 3 calls to his boss, the price dropped from 3,500 to 1,500. Plus, they have a "payment" plan. I still refuse-furious I have been badgered and led on for hours of my precious and rare free time. I felt this went beyond the stereo type of a used car sales man and, felt I could not get him to give up or leave. When I returned home, he had dumped dirty water filled with cups of dog fur down my daughter's bathroom sink. Not only is this a complete and disgusting mess, I will need to take apart the p trap (pipe) under the sink to clear out all the dog fur. I had vacuumed the room before this salesman's and after he shampooed the room there are new spots that were not there prior to the "cleaning". I am grateful I do not buckle under pressure, but worry for all those that do.

Additionally, I worry about who these people are that have now spent hours in my home and know personal information. This is deplorable.

Joel of Klondike, TX June 18, 2009

Hello, Im writing to you today to tell you about a door to sales rep. from your company selling spot remover. He was very nice and polite but the trouble I had was as he was leaving he drove right across my lawn. I have a complete circle drive. My vehicle was park in the drive so when he left he drove between my car and some fruit trees over my lawn which I had just mowed. Im guessing he might have been a bit put off by the turn down on his product. He should have backed out to the hwy which was only about ten feet behind him. I thought that was very rude and I wouldnt want this to happen to other customers. I know this is not any type of a big deal but it does need to be addressed. thankyou

Laura of Orland Park, IL June 10, 2009

I was contacted by phone by an indepent Kirby Distributor for an in home sales pitch and they would clean my carpet free. I really was not in the market for a new vacuum, but I agreed to a date anyway. To make a long story short, I bought one in hopes that I would learn to love it. I now feel I was pressured into this sale by the sales Rep.

I am a very busy person like everyone and didn't get to try out my Kirby until after the three days. I am not happy with the vacuum because it takes me twice as long because of the hose not being right on the vacuum. I didn't relize this until I cleaned my house that next week. I called the distributor that I bought it from. JJR Distributors. They said they can't help me.

I called the Consumers Relations, They said they can't help me. This is a major investment on my part and I want to return it. I called 10 days after the purchase. I feel this is still a justified time for a return. How does one know whether they will like a vacuum until they use it once or twice? Please help!

Ken of Spring, TX June 1, 2009

A complimentary cleaning sample and a free cleaning as an advertisement for their new store opening. This will only take 15 minutes. Two hours later (Sunday night 10:30pm) I demanded that they leave. These people are ruthless.

Yasmin of Mount Angel , OR June 9, 2009

At about 2 o clock on a sunday afternoon a young man knocks on the door and says that if i let him remove a spot in my carpet that he would get 25 dollars for college. I said sure why not he said it would only take 25 minutes and i had a little bit of time. he came in and looked at the spot and told me that he would need more time and i told him i had to go to the store because my one year old was out of milk and i needed it pronto. he said he would come another time and left.

2 hours later he comes back and we are in the backyard doing some gardening and saw him come to the door i decided not to answer because my husband and i had dinner plans and a BABYSITTER! so i was much looking forward to that. but the young man came around the house opened the backyard gate and just invited himself back in.

I said fine and thought that he can clean the spot while i was getting ready to go out, but that wasn't the case he informed me that i needed to watch him do it so he can get paid.. i then explained to him my plans and asked him to leave. as i did that his boss handed him a box and drove off in a van. he said he had to stay until it was finished

Anyway he does this looooonnnnggg demonstration of this vacum and never got to cleaning the spot. I kept politely trying to tell him that we have no money as i am 8 and half months pregnant with a one year old already and am not interested. he was baffled by this and kept trying to pressure me into buying the pile of junk for 2600 dollars.

he then called his boss and had him come over to double pressure me.. this time it was 8 o clock at night and any dinner plans i had were ruined.. My day was ruined by these gross people and i never felt so violated in my own home before. Finally i had to threaten to call the police to get them to leave where the two of them sat on my porch and waited for the van to come back.

carol of phenix city, AL June 7, 2009

Yesterday(june 5), my only day off in 2 weeks, a man knocks on my door with a free 2 litter coke sayin that its a token if i just listen to him in reference to a new product and recomend the product n that it wont take long. i agree. figured y not. id just laid my 7 mo old to sleep whos teething and i was DEAD tired. so he walks to a van n i figure hes getting brouchures... so i go inside to put up the volume in the baby monitor, next thing i know, hes walking into my home!!! with a crapload of boxes as the van drives off!!!

im all alone with this guy in my house! long story short, a 15 min presentation turns into a 3 hrs battle! he "did me a favor" n brought the price from 2300 to 950 at 37 a mo! i just switched jobs n took a paycut, this man tells me that i can surely afford 37 a month... im currently living on my savings... told him my priorities r my fam... all of this during the presentation which he wont quit even when i repeat that i cant afford it even if i wanted it. he then says hell demostrate in my bedroom!!! without asking!!! he starts walking to my stairs where my baby girl is sleeping! im horrified! he keeps insisnting on that i can spare 37 a month.. when im counting pennies as it is. these ppl prey on the low incom fams... be aware... once theyre in ur home they wont leave.

i actually felt threatened by his behavior... felt violated in my rights at my own home. while he was tlaking away, i logged on n googled kirby vacuums n lord be hold i fou nd this web site! i proceeded to kick him out, when he refused, i used my best defense i have... im a police officer in the military n know when people are soliciting illegally and r violating peoples rights. he paled considerable, experience tells me he was new at this since he was nervous and sweating the whole time. i got the impression he was affraid of his boss. felt sorry for the guy for a split second. people, be aware. my biggest fear was with what bout all the kids that r left home alone during the summer???

warn your children, somthing tells me these people dont screen their employees... n ppl, realize, do u really need a kirby??? stay with the nesesities... n if u wana splurge? go for a steam cleaner... no chemicals and deep cleans as it disenfects.

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