Best Vac

Know your vacuum

2011-08-28T12:59:00.001-05:00

Without an official study I estimate that over half of vacuum repairs are caused by customer abuse and misuse. Misuse that is no intentional but comes from a lack of understanding of how a vacuum works. Read your owners manual. If you do not understand something then contact the store you purchased it from or call the manufacturer.

Tips:
Do not pick up moisture.
Do not vacuum over your power cord.
Do not over extend your power cord.
Change belts, bags, and filters regularly.

Online Reviews

2011-08-09T16:13:00.000-05:00

Before going online and giving a business a negative review at least allow them the opportunity to rectify the situation. Remember everyone has a bad day. Don't bash someone without giving them the opportunity to fix it. Negative reviews can really harm a business. I believe most businesses mean well and do their best to be fair and honest. If you are going to leave a negative review make sure you mean it and it is warranted.

Are online reviews helpful?

2011-07-28T13:08:00.000-05:00

I just bought a new car from a local car dealership. My wife and I did our research and knew what car we wanted, what we wanted to pay, and what we wanted for our trade. I visited the dealership closest to us and looked at the car. Then we came back to test drive it to make sure it was what we wanted. We went home that night and checked out the dealership. The online reviews were split right down the middle. It was either 5 stars or 1 star. They either hated the place or loved the place. I figured we needed to go find out for ourselves. We had a great experience. We got more for our trade then two other dealers offered and the car we wanted for thousands less then were willing to pay. The buying process could not have been more enjoyable. I thought back to those online reviews and could not imagine anyone giving such bad reviews based on the experience I had. The problem is most people cannot give a truly honest review. The good and the bad. Most people only leave reviews if they had a bad experience. Especially if they feel they have been wronged. It is hard to take the emotion out of it. Plus most customers never want to take responsibility for their part in the transaction. Customer demands can be unreasonable and expectations unattainable.

What can I pick up in my vacuum?

2011-07-18T17:17:00.000-05:00

This question can sometimes be answered by reading your owners manual. However, other then specifying wet or dry pickup, vacuum manuals can fall short. Use common sense. My rule is not to pick up anything bigger or harder then a penny. If you vacuum has a hose it may appear that it could pick up something bigger then a penny. Most vacuum hoses as they enter the body of the vacuum get smaller in diameter. To be really safe just pick up anything on the floor.

Vacuum cleaner. A small appliance?

2011-04-28T21:45:00.000-05:00

In virtually every ad containing a vacuum cleaner it is listed in the small appliance section with toasters, razors, and blenders. A vacuum is the most important appliance in the house. It keeps your floors clean and should help keep the air clean. Bad vacuums will do the opposite. You will replace your carpet more often and your indoor air quality will be very poor.

Brand Loyalty

2010-11-01T20:32:00.000-05:00

We hear it all the time. I have owned a Hoover for 20 years and I will buy nothing but Hoover. Until we inform the customer that the Hoover they knew for the last 20 years is not the same company and is not even an American company anymore. Hoover, Dirt Devil, Electrolux, the list goes on and on, have all changed hands recently. The vacuum industry has changed drastically in the last 5-10 years. Many of the "name brands" have been bought and sold so many times it is hard to know who is who anymore. My only advise if you are going to remain brand loyal is make sure the company you are supporting is the same company and still has the same company philosophy that made you a follower in the beginning.

Vacuum Cleaner Maintenance (Tips to make any vacuum last longer)

2010-10-28T09:20:00.000-05:00

90% of vacuum repairs are a result of poor maintenance by the owner. Typically consumers want to blame the manufacturer or the store they bought the vacuum from when a vacuum breaks or is not working properly but the reality is that it is from lack of maintenance. Now you may read this and say "how dare you blame the consumer". Well read the tips below and see how long you last before you get to one you do not do.

#1 Read your owners manual. (Just eliminated 70% of you on this one)

#2 Change your vacuum belt every 6 months. (Just eliminated the rest of you)

Rubber belts every 6 months
Kevlar and geared belts do not need to be changed unless they break.

#3 Remove hair and debris from the brushroll monthly.

#4 Change (don't empty and reuse) paper bags when they are 75% full and hepa bags when they are 90% full.

#5 Bagless vacuums that have filters inside the dirt container should be vacuumed off weekly and changed annually.

#6 Bagless vacuums with foam filters (Bissell & Dyson are most common) should wash these filters monthly.

#7 On all vacuums with exhaust HEPA and/or micron filters they should be changed as instructed in the manual but on average exhaust HEPA filters should be changed one time per year and micron filters should be changed 4 times per year.

All the air that enters a vacuum must exit the vacuum. Filters and bags are used to trap the dirt and particles in the vacuum. Bags and filters that are left in the vacuum to long restrict airflow resulting in the motor having to work harder and hotter. This reduces the life of the motor and the vacuum.

#8 Do not over extend the power cord, run over the power cord, and walk up to the outlet and hold onto the plug as you pull it from the wall. Always turn the vacuum off before unplugging it.

More than half of our repairs are related to the misuse and abuse of the power cord.

No vacuum is maintenance free. Let me repeat that. NO VACUUM IS MAINTENANCE FREE. So use these tips and you will prolong the life of any vacuum thus giving you a better value for the money you spent on it.

What kind of deal can you give me?

2010-10-21T09:00:00.001-05:00

We hear this question almost every day. We spend time with a customer asking the right questions and demonstrating the products we feel are best for their needs and right before the buying decision is made they ask "what is my price", or "what kind of deal can you give me?". My response is, if I have already explained our LVS plan, I have already explained our deal up front. If I have not mentioned our LVS plan then I explain. On almost all of our premium brands and models when you buy from Best Vac you get our Lifetime Value and Service Plan. This includes the following:

FREE Annual Tune-ups
FREE Lifetime Labor Warranty
FREE Service Loaners
FREE Carpet Cleaning Rentals
FREE 10 Year Motor Protection Plan

Usually the next words out of the customers mouth is "WOW" or "I'll take it".

Value, Value, Value. When you compare apples with apples, Best Vac will always give you more for your money.

http://www.vacguys.com/lvs_program.htm

Sales are a myth in the floorcare industry

2010-10-20T14:58:00.000-05:00

Many times when customers come into our store and look at vacuums they ask if our vacuums ever go on sale. I usually tell them that our store is built around value not mythical sales. Let me explain what I mean. Pick any big box store that sells vacuums and start clipping the Sunday ads for vacuums. Most of the ads will have a "list price" or "MSRP" in small print and the "sale" price in large bold letters. After several weeks of clipping the ads you will start to notice something. The "sale price" never changes. Shopping online? Many manufacturers have MAP pricing or minimum advertised price. If you have ever shopped online and noticed that everyone is the same price on a particular model that is why. Now around the holidays you may see stores actually discount prices or offer gift cards back and sometimes if a store is discontinuing a model it will be greatly discounted. Otherwise the rest of the year sales in the vacuum industry are a myth.

Do's and don'ts of buying a vacuum.

2010-10-19T19:39:00.000-05:00

#1 Don't buy a vacuum just because your friend, family member, or neighbor has one unless they live in the exact same house, with the exact same flooring, same number of kids, same allergies, same pets, same...... well I think you get my point.

#2 Don't buy or not buy a vacuum based on consumer opinion sites. (see above)

#3 Try it before you buy it. Shop at a store that allows you to try it in the store on various surfaces that best represents your environment at home. Also make sure you have at least two weeks to try it in your home and you have the ability to bring it back if it does not work for your. There is know better test than your own home.

#4 Know your wants and needs. Do not ever sacrifice a need for a want. You may want a blue vacuum, but if the perfect model for you only comes in red, take it. You may want an upright vacuum, but if you have 90% bare floors, a canister is a better performer on bare floors. Remember your vacuum should make your life easier.

American Made Vacuums

2010-08-07T12:18:00.000-05:00

There are very few vacuums being made in the United States. Kirby, Riccar, and Oreck are the only known brands with active manufacturing plants in the U.S. Rumors are swirling that Oreck is now majority owned by a Chinese Holding Company. If this is true the writing is on the wall as to where they will be making their vacuums in the future. If consumers are really serious about supporting the U.S. economy then they need to change their buying habits. Over 87% of all vacuums sold over $350 are Dyson vacuums. Dyson is a British company that makes all of their vacuums in Malaysia. How is that supporting the U.S. economy. Riccar just added thousands of sq ft to their plant and created about 25 jobs to start producing more vacuum here and not over there. This is the type of company that we need to support. Have you heard of any other U.S. companies bringing jobs back here in other industries. Share your story.

Can't out cheap China

2010-04-03T12:01:00.002-05:00

I heard that on the radio the other day. It was from an unnamed economist responding to a question of whether manufacturing jobs will ever come back to the U.S. He commented that the U.S. can never "out cheap China" so we need to focus on building better products and "out quality China". We sell American Made Riccar vacuums. One of the things I tell people is not to buy Riccar because it is made in America but to buy it because it is good quality. If "American Made" becomes synonymous with quality again I think we will be in good shape for the future.

Dyson Vacuums

2010-03-27T13:45:00.004-05:00

The introduction of Dyson vacuums into the American market has really sparked some controversy in the industry. Even though Dyson holds a large share of the market most independent store owners do not recommend them and they have never been rated highly in a respected consumer magazine. We simply believe that we can sell a better vacuum for equal or less money. I do not want to argue with people who like the Dyson they own because it certainly has some unique features and in most cases it probably is the best vacuum that they have ever bought. I can say that because over 90% of vacuums are sold in mass merchants and most of those vacuums do not last more than a few years. The facts are that Dyson is over 30% of our stores total repair volume. I actually had to hire a full time employee just to keep up with the extra volume of repairs. We have never seen that before in our 33 year history. And remember, Mr. Dyson tells you that his vacuums never loose suction, but he never tells you how much suction his vacuums start with. Think about that.

Do you shop for value or low price.

2009-06-22T15:56:00.003-05:00

A low price on a poor quality product is NOT value. The biggest hurdle we face as a small retailer is that we are more expensive then big box retailers. The flaw in that perception is that we simply do not sell the same products. The average big box store vacuum only lasts a few years at an average price of around $100. I can sell you a vacuum at $199 that has the potential to last 15+ years. You do the math. That is what I define as value.

Give us your funny vacuum story.

2009-05-05T07:44:00.003-05:00

Tell us any funny vacuum stories. The best I have heard in recent years was from a mother who's kids tried to unclog her toilet with her $1,000 Miele.

What role does your vacuum play in your life?

2009-05-05T07:41:00.002-05:00

Many people cannot go a day without vacuuming. Others do not even remember what color their vacuum is because they use it so little. What type of person are you and why?

Spend a little more now and save alot in the long run.

2009-04-22T21:57:00.005-05:00

With the current economy it is obvious people are hanging on a little tighter to their money. I have noticed a significant shift in buyer behavior. For many years it was not uncommon for a wife or a husband to come into our store on a weekday and buy a $500 vacuum for their home. Now couples are coming in together and making the buying decision together. Our evenings and weekends are much busier because that is when couples are together more. What I am also seeing is a lot more big box, cheap, disposable vacuums coming in for repair within a few months of being purchased. You can buy vacuums at Walmart for $40. However, you will be lucky if that vacuum outlasts its one year warranty. I understand people are nervous about spending any extra money right now. However, buying cheap may not be the answer to long term financial security. If you are buying a $40 vacuum every year you will have spent over $400 in ten years on vacuums assuming you never paid for repairs and just tossed them when they broke. Plus, let us be realistic. How well do you think that $40 vacuum really cleans? Your carpet is now beat up and worn out from improper maintenance. This means thousands in carpet replacement costs. Getting a good vacuum can ultimately save you more money in the long run. Check out our American built Riccar sale. At $199 you are getting a high quality vacuum that has the potential to last 10+ years. Plus, by buying American you are putting more money back into the U.S. economy than if you bought something made overseas.

My vacuum has a belt?

2008-12-15T13:22:00.006-06:00

And it needs to be changed at least twice a year? Most complaints and customer dissatisfaction with a vacuum comes from a lack of understanding of the product. ...Now don't get me wrong, if you asked me the last time I opened a users manual for anything in my home, I would be the first to admit it has been a long time, but getting back to the belt... Most vacuums on the market have a rubber belt. This belt is exposed to an extreme amount of pressure and heat. Naturally, they will stretch out over time, and that time is very short. Usually within weeks the belt stretches just a little every time the vacuum is used. It is even stretching when the vacuum is off and in the closet. To maintain an aggressive brush action on the carpet you should replace the belt no fewer than one time per year. This will allow the vacuum to properly remove surface litter, like pet hair, and spread the carpet fibers apart to allow the suction to clean out the deep down dirt. We suggest changing your belt every 6 months. Too much hassle? To avoid this type of maintenance look for vacuums that use geared or Kevlar belts. These belts do not slip or stretch and will maintain constant performance with no maintenance. There are also different qualities of geared and Kevlar belts. Look for models that the manufacturer warranties the belt for life, two examples of these are Sebo and Riccar. This will give you the confidence that you will never pay for a belt ever again. See the "Why change your belt" video on my blog or at www.vacguys.com to understand more.

How big box changed America

2008-12-13T11:36:00.011-06:00

As in many industries change is inevitable. With the introduction of "big box" retailer, where we buy our products and how companies market there products is very different. Instead of an abundance of small locally owned specialty stores towns are now dominated, not buy one, but many one stop shop mega stores. You can pick up a gallon of milk and a 50" HDTV all in the same store. Certainly the selection is greater and the convenience is unmatched. However, what has been lost in all of this is service. And I do not mean having a service counter, run by a part time employee, at the front of the store. I am talking about buying from a "Ma and Pop" store when Ma or Pop recommends, sells , and services the products they sell. That they are available when you need them. And most importantly they have to look you in the eye if you are not happy. Ma and Pop are certainly more selective in the products they sell because they do not want that unhappy customer walking in the door. As a store owner, unhappy customers ruin my day. It makes my stomach turn for a week. That is because they are not only my customer but they are part of my community. I drive by them every day. Eat at the same restaurant. Our kids go to the same school. With a big box store, the person that made the decision to put that low quality vacuum in his stores, that you just bought, and it broke after 2 months, never has to look you in the eye. He leaves it up to the hard working employees out in the field. But the key to that statement is "employees". The greatest employees in the world still will never care as much as an owner of a store or shop that has to face his or her customers everyday.