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.

Terri of Decatur, MI July 17, 2009

4 salesmen came down our PRIVATE Dr & when they couldn't get through the gate, they turned around and found their way to the houses by another road. They were told that we were NOT interested in their products & was asked and then told to leave the property and if they didn't, the police would be called. They mocked & made fun of the home occupant -- didn't want to give up trying to sell their product. No name was given but they were driving an older Blue Astro van with the Michigan license plate # 4HY849. They were very rude and didn't pay any attention to the PRIVATE PROPERTY signs nor being asked/told to leave.

Jeannette of Fort Collins, CO July 17, 2009

A salesman for Kirby came to my door at 8:00pm, 6/29/09. I told them that I could not afford to buy anything but they came in anyway and when I asked them to leave they didn't. They sold me a vacume they took my old Kirby in for trade giving me a 1700.00 intrade off the price. Five days later they came and got the new vacume from my roommate saying that they couldn't finance me. I had also given Dan the salesman a check for 100.00 that was to be deposited 7/29/09. When I called the next day to find out when I would get my check and old Kirby back they said I would have to call the Loveland office. When I called the Loveland office I talked to Shawn and he said he didn't know anything about it but would talk to the manager and call me back, after three hours of waiting I called back and he said he hadn't had a chance to talk to her, that he would and call me back.

Well that never happened so I drove to Loveland and went to there office but no one was there I left phone messages and left a note on the door that if they didn't call I would talk to the attorney general's office. They still have not called. The office in Wyoming says that they do not have to return my check because they haven't cashed it. They also threatened to charge me for the new vacume that they took back. They have given me a run around for the last two weeks. The girl Wendy that came to pick up the vacume left her no. but when I called it it was no longer in service.

Brandi of Lovilia, IA July 11, 2009

I bought a Kirby vacuum a few years ago ( witch was a bad experience in itself) so on Thursday July 9th 2009 the salesmen came to my door I said I was not buying another one(vacuum) he asked if I would let them in to do a presentation to help them earn points for a trip I said yes(big mistake) the salesmen left and brought back another kid to do the demo his name was Kyle.

Kyle started cleaning the furniture and floor in my living room then insisted on doing a mattress so he went into my bedroom and vacuumed my mattress they came around 4pm and left around 6pm so I was in the process of fixing supper for my family so I was in and out of the room but for the most part he was in there by himself as I had already told them I was not buying one so therefor I was not interested in watching the demo.

Then Friday I went into my room to get 52.00 cash that was on my dresser under a 15.00 check and the cash was gone the check was still there. I called the number that the salesman had called from my phone while he was here (which he said he was calling the company to see what deal he could get for me and I found out by calling this number he was just calling the guy in the van that dropped him off) I got a hold of Kyle's boss Micheal he said Kyle didn't even show up to work on Friday so he wanted me to call back at 9am on Saturday and he would get it taken care of so I did and I got a message that the phone was dead to call so I did I got a female who said she would get a hold of Micheal and have him call me and I haven't heard from anyone.

Everything he told me while he was here was a lie. I should have learned from my last experience from the Kirby guys that lied to me about the price of the vacuum I did buy but I guess I am a trusting person that has definitely had a change of attitude when it comes to trust.

Julie of Carmichael, CA July 10, 2009

The Kirby sales people came to my mentally disabled mothers apartment and told her that they had the best vacuum around with a complete lifetime warranty. Because of her disability, she was unable to understand exactly what she was getting into and ended up buying the vacuum for the outrageous price of 2500 and they took her vacuum, a 150 value, to "offset" the cost. She is on SSI and the price of the vacuum was nearly two thirds of her monthly income and left little to pay rent and buy groceries with.

When I contacted the Kirby headquarters as well as KCNC inc, the local distributor, and both told me there was nothing I could do because it was outside of the three day window that they allowed returns. They said my only option was to write a letter and get a doctor's note describing the details of her disability and they would give it to the boss, not that he would give me a refund or anything.

I tried to tell them that they were committing fraud and that the sales agreement should be null and void because my mother lacked the mental capacity to understand the agreement, but they said to me "Listen, we told you what to do, If you say one more word I'm hanging up and won't accept your calls anymore." I conceded by saying ok, and they immediately hung up on me.

Eddie of San Jacinto, CA July 10, 2009

Today, I got a visit from the Kirby sales people and pretty much went through the same song and dance that everyone else has experienced with the sales tactics. I must say, the demo girl was professional except for her manager. The dude was rude at the end when I didn't buy the Kirby. On their way out when the girl was cleaning up the sample dirt pads, the manager said to her, "just leave it so he can see how dirty his house is." It's amazing how many complaints there are about the rudeness of these people.

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.

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.

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