About Kirby Vacuum Cleaners Reviews
For nearly one-hundred years, The Kirby Company has manufactured superior, American-made home cleaning systems. Kirby does not sell directly to the public but continues a long tradition of distributing its home cleaning systems through independent distributors, who are responsible for running their own businesses. Over the years, this distribution system has afforded thousands of men and women the opportunity to live the American dream of owning and operating their own businesses.
Overall Satisfaction Rating
- 5 stars
- 4 stars
- 3 stars
- 2 stars
- 1 stars
Kirby Vacuum Cleaners Reviews
A link has directed you to this review. Its location on this page may change next time you visit.
Like many other reviews I read, their "quick presentation" turned into 2 hours of overselling and I feel like the only way to get it over with was to buy. Now I'm stuck with a overpriced and not practical cleaner for my home. I have close quarters to work with and I can't use the sweeper on my rugs like I could with my old sweeper. I told the salesman I just bought a new vehicle and didn't feel like it was the right time for me to buy but he kept pushing. I called and try to return it but they said there was a 3-day grace period and because of my age I couldn't return it. I would of gave them 0 stars if I could!
Last Tuesday around 6pm I responded to a knock at the door. A tall man with a new bottle of dish soap in his hand, shoved the dish soap into my hand the second I opened the door. He then said, this is just a free gift for your honest review, have you heard of Avalir? Now keep in mind I am a previous Kirby owner, and I hated that vacuum. It's heavy, it's bulky, it is hard to maneuver and it not at all as glamorous as they make it sound during the sales pitch.
But I had never heard of Avalir so I felt this an attempt to get into the house without mentioning Kirby. When he sent for his sales guy, he appeared with the Kirby and came into the house, now....I don't have carpet I have a few rugs and vinyl flooring. I have no reason to own this monstrosity for the price they are going to try and sell it to me for. The Salesman, Joseph was very nice. What I found disturbing was the shaming factor of the sales pitch. They do this demonstration with a little filter contraption that allows the device to present a much more powerful suction during the demonstration. The reality of the matter is with the bag on it does not produce the same suction.
He went through this entire demonstration, repeatedly ignoring my declaration I was not purchasing this vacuum, he repeatedly almost sort of shamed me for not being interested as if I were just dirty. As with most he was begging for help to go on a cruise. This went on for hours of me saying no. I was told they would show me the demonstration and it was either a yes or no and there would be no pressure. This could not be farther from the truth. The truth is I was repeatedly shamed for saying no as if I was just a filthy person. The price he started at was 3k and there was absolutely no way I was buying and then after several calls and visits with his boss all of a sudden it was 1200 and he was proclaiming to me he would not get any commission at that price (guilt tripping).
A couple selling points that he mentioned and demonstrated that were false or misleading. He mentioned the lifetime warranty several times, there is in fact only a 3 year limited bumper to bumper and a Lifetime rebuild program which is done for a fee so there is no lifetime warranty. At one point he had my current vacuum out and to demonstrate to suction power of the Kirby (with that little suction optimizing single filter contraption) he declared if my vacuum could pick up the Kirby accessory box and the Kirby couldn't he would give me a free Kirby. Obviously mine didn't and the Kirby did. However The Kirby cannot accomplish the same feat with the regular old bag on it.
To get to the point this went on for hours until it was 9 or 10pm, and I was ready for him to leave. It didn't seem as if he was leaving without a sale, so I wrote him a check for the full amount. Once he left I attempted the box pick up with the bag on and it didn't work, I immediately called the bank and put a stop payment on the check. Exercised my right to cancel the transaction and yesterday they showed up to pick up the piece of junk and returned my vacuum which works just fine.
The moral of the story is that the sales practice of these distributors borders on unethical and deceitful. DO NOT finance with them. Had I not paid outright I likely would have been given the run around to stop the sale. In Paying outright with a stoppable payment form I was able to control to financial outcome of the transaction. Also MAKE SURE they give you the 3 day cancelation contract. And finally if you open the door and someone shoves a free cleaning supply in your face get ready to sacrifice the next 3-4 hours of your life to get rid of them. My Best suggestion is to not even open the door. If you want a Kirby, you can get one on Ebay for $300...that in itself is all the proof I need it is not worth a grand.
Thank you, you have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations.
The lost star is for the sale, not the product. I originally purchased my Vacuum in 2016. The salesman was a bit sketch. When I first purchased I paid double the amount, but I threatened to return it because I didn’t like the price. I haggled him down to 1200$ which I don’t regret and which I feel is fair. I wouldn’t recommend the payment plan, but if you’re in the market to pay outright this is the best investment. I have two old dogs that constantly get diarrhea. They go on my carpets sometimes and when I say my Kirby can lift blood out of a carpet I mean it’s seriously saved me replacing my whole rug. I included pics. I highly recommend this vacuum for people with pets, allergies, and small children. It may be heavy, it may seem in the way, but when you need it, it is there for you. No regrets.
I was busy working in my garage when a man came up and asked if I he could have 10 minutes of my time. I didn't get his full name, but his first name is Ron and he said he was from Portland, OR (I'm in UT). During his presentation, he went on and on about what a great salesman he is, how he already made many sales and doesn't need this sale, what a great fisherman he is, how he loves to play golf, blah, blah, blah, etc. He did shampoo a rug and did get the stains out. My wife and I were impressed with the vacuum cleaner.
But after exhausting us with his stories and bickering about a price, he finally agreed to sell us the older model, brand new, for $1000 plus tax. We agreed and he brought the vacuum in. My wife and daughter immediately saw some human hair wrapped around the brush roll and said that this was not a brand-new cleaner. Then my wife and daughter found some spider webs and residue from prior use in some parts. Also, some parts definitely looked used. He said he would swap those parts out with the demo vacuum he used which he claimed was brand new. My wife no longer trusted him and said we're not interested.
He tried to shame her by insinuating that she likes a dirty house, that she lied to him when she said she'd like the carpets to be clean and not just look clean, and then he tried to shame me for not overruling my wife's decision and that I should just buy the vacuum cleaner. It was OK for him to get loud and make accusations, but when I got loud, he said there was no reason to yell. My wife finally told him that we are not buying the vacuum and to please leave. She offered to help him pack up, but in an angry voice, he said that if we touch any part, we will have to buy the vacuum and that he has rights too. As he was leaving, he sort of said to himself "So it was those hairs." Meaning that if it wasn't for those hairs, he would of had the sale.
This is long, so if you make it to the end, thank you. I had a salesman come out late last night. Okay, fine. Even though I told you I wasn’t interested, you pushed to do a quick demo. You asked me if I had decision making power, and I answered truthfully. You kept dropping hints that this sale would help you win the vacation contest. Sir, you should know that not only do I not care about the vacation contest, I also grew up in a salesman family. Your insistence on the vacation would never have swayed me. You also tried the good old “Spouse Free” discount. As if telling me to make a large purchase without considering what my partner would feel/think about it would be alright.
You went on to show me all the bells and whistles of your product, even shampooing a corner of my rug and cleaning my glass door. Cool. Except for one problem. By the next morning, the smell from the shampoo that you used on my rug was so strong I had a headache all day and ended up having to pull out my own carpet cleaner to deep clean my rug in an attempt to make the smell disappear.
However, my favorite part of the whole experience was the end. You hand me your sheet with the price tag on it, you give me a great offer, and when I pause, you tell me you forgot to mention the 3 day cancellation for free. No questions asked. You tell me all I have to do is call and that’s the end. You dropped more about this amazing vacation I was going to seal for you. But here is the problem.
You didn’t realize you had already lost my trust. When you showed up at my door near 8 pm, I had zero intention of letting you in. But you wouldn’t take no for an answer. You didn’t realize that I had already made up my mind, and had zero interest in a vacuum when 90% of my house had tile floor. You didn’t realize that I had zero interest in winning you a vacation. You failed to catch on when I made an excuse as to why I couldn’t get to my Dyson, and handed you our cheap Shark stick vac instead. And that dramatic pause? It was not me contemplating purchasing the vacuum. It was me calculating what I would need to say to get you out of my house as we were nearing 9 pm last night.
And the end all kicker in all of this? Little did I know that my husband’s family actually had a Kirby growing up. He hated it. He told me it was bulky, hard to maneuver, and despite the demo you did, truly didn’t suction as well as what they had expected it to. So, sorry sir. I will not be calling you back to buy this amazing shiny vacuum. I will not be using your amazing, organic soaps that have left me with a splitting headache all day.
I am not impressed by your tactics, or by the last minute drop of a cancellation policy - which by the way, when I called the main office phone number today to ask about the soap, the recording talked about the cancellation policy. You were wrong. It would not have been able to happen over the phone. The message clearly states by mail only, and it also states how they track it, although I didn’t pay close enough attention to know if that was from the date I mailed it or the date they received it. Regardless, your information was incorrect.
My story is not unlike most I have read today. Except for the part where I managed to get the salesman out of my house WITHOUT making a purchase. I simply told him that although I do have decision making power, I also respect my spouse enough to do what has worked for us for years. Not spend more than a certain amount WITHOUT talking to the other person first. And I would not budge. Don’t be afraid to say no, stick to your answer, and kindly show them the door. Don’t feel pressured into buying something you really don’t want or need. I didn’t, and I’m glad.
The Sales people are liars, robbers and VERY pushy. Firstly, they said the presentation would be quick, after I told them I had another appointment. They would not leave or take no for an answer. The salesman spent so much time talking, doing the demo vacuum and never shampooed. I was so upset, because they only cared about making a sale, and was not respectful of my time. Also, I told them all during the presentation, I am on a strict budget and could not pay over $1,000. They said no problem, and that it would only be $700. Be aware, they lied about the actual price, the $700, became over $1,200. I decided to pay them off just so I wouldn’t be paying for the next 2 years, by that time, the vacuum would cost over $3,000.
My brand new floor wood vinyl floor messed up by an over-pushy rep trying to win a trip to Vegas! Showing too much of her body parts, displaying the wet cleaning portion of the vacuum, left a horrible smear! See pic in next review.
Sales people were VERY pushy. They stayed for hours after claiming it would be a "quick" presentation that would help them with their job. Immediately regretted this purchase. It is so heavy and difficult to use. The sales people make sure not to mention the initial price but instead focus on how "small" your payments will be. It is not worth the price. Not at all. They also make sure not to mention their "return policy" (if you can even call it that). You only have 3 days to return! This company only cares about the money. They pressure people to buy their product, fail to inform them of the full price and the return policy, and obviously don't care whether their customers are satisfied with their product as you only have 3 days to change your mind. I am so unhappy with this product but even more so with this company. I'm sure most would return if given more than 3 days. I will never recommend this company or product.
I feel like I got scammed. The most inconvenient vacuum ever! The demo made it look amazing, but the key thing is they don't have you try it and also they do not go over the cancellation or return policy, so once you realize you do not like it you are screwed and neither Kirby direct or the distributor will do anything to help. Besides troubleshoot, which trouble shooting won't fix the problems. It is way too heavy to carry up any stairs, and to lift onto the couch to vacuum. The carpet cleaning attachment ruined my carpet and didn't even get the stain out. I just want it gone and my money back but unfortunately these companies are not good to work with if you are unsatisfied.
Sales persons were pushy even though they seem like nice guys, promised all kind of things, never mentioned it was going to take long time for the demo.... I mentioned several times to the guys that the machine looked bulky and heavy...I am a senior citizen that I barely have strength to push around such a bulky machine... Also told them on various occasions that I am retired on a fixed income and every little penny is already budgeted and that I did not have any disposable income....
An medical emergency occurred in my immediate family that required me to contribute to the care of person (hospital bills and nursing home costs).. I called the company to explain my situation....they said they did not deal with that to call the financing company....Called the financing company, Merchants, they were not interested and kept enphazing that the contract was legally binding...so I inquire one more time if the company provided for emergency situations...
The company kept emphasizing that the contract was legally binding and did not volunteer any solutions...I mentioned that I could not meet the payments and they said was that if I defaulted I was going to be reported to the credit bureaus.... I will say stay away from the Kirby vacums and the financing company Merchants.... I believed I was taken advantage because of age....
Kirby author review by Sandy Baker
The Kirby Company is a division of the Scott Fetzer Company, which was founded in 1914. It is named after Jim Kirby, who designed the company's early vacuum cleaners.
Scheduled demonstrations: Potential buyers can schedule demonstrations to help them decide whether they want to own Kirby vacuums.
Useful tools: Kirby home care systems have tools that let them convert into everything from air pumps to carpet shampoo systems.
Customer service: Kirby offers a wide range of customer services, including online how-to videos and phone support.
Limited warranty: All Kirby vacuums come with three-year limited warranties.
Maintenance services: Rebuild and maintenance services are available to lengthen the life of Kirby vacuums.

Sandy Baker has written for ConsumerAffairs since 2021. Along with the advice and information her articles provide to consumers, she’s written several books that focus on topics such as retirement planning, bankruptcy, business finance, estate planning and personal credit health.
Kirby Vacuum Cleaners Company Information
- Company Name:
- Kirby
- Year Founded:
- 1914
- Address:
- 1920 West 114th Street
- City:
- Cleveland
- State/Province:
- OH
- Postal Code:
- 44102
- Country:
- United States
- Website:
- www.kirby.com
You’re signed up
We’ll start sending you the news you need delivered straight to you. We value your privacy. Unsubscribe easily.