Kirby Vacuum Cleaners Reviews

It was late in the evening when they stopped at my home and demonstrated the Kirby. I told them that I am my mother's caregiver and that I have restrictions with both hands due to an injury and was assured that the Kirby was easy to use. If I lower the Kirby lower, it causes me pain to use the Kirby. I was under the Impression that Kirby was the same trustworthy company that my Grandmother purchased her Kirby from. I was wrong. I will be sending a copy of this e-mail to Better Business Bureau and to Consumer Affairs to inform them of Kirby's practice of saying anything to sell you a Kirby and not telling the whole truth when specifically asked a question.

I only used the shampooer once or twice. I went to use my Kirby one particular time and I kept smelling smoke... I checked it, took it in and had the belt changed. Next time I smelled smoke again and next thing you know there was fire and sparks coming from my vacuum. We have always kept up maintenance on it and I feel that my family was cheated. The repair place just shook their head and offered to sell me a newer model. (Yeah, right!) I could not find out about the warranty. I have just been holding on to a piece of junk. When I finally decided that there was no hope and would part with this piece of metal, I decided that I might be able to sell it for the metal. (Why not? $10 back on that thousand dollar investment would be something.) I was new to this. I had just heard of someone doing it.

I asked this guy who I thought might know how to do it and he said just hold off for a minute. Those vacuums are supposed to have a lifetime warranty. I am going to go online and look it up for you. Well this sparked my interest, again. I went online, got the number for Kirby, called. The guy could not have been shorter with me. He just said in a quick voice, "Kirby's have always had a three year warranty. Thank you." He offered no assistance. I immediately felt that he got this type of call all of the time from dissatisfied customers like myself. In conclusion, I would like to say that the Kirby co. boasts about having been in business for sooo.... many years. (GREAT) Be responsible for who is selling your product. Be responsible for all things concerning your product. Do not stay in business off of the backs of the young, disabled and elderly.

I give him a look and he shuts up for a minute. He then continues to ask questions how long have I lived here, I tell him 2 yrs I said that already. Then he goes on about education and how he used to have 10 college scholarships and he got hurt so he had to work a dead end job.. I don't want to hear his job story but he goes on. Then he pros and asks what I do and has the nerve to shout why did I wait. Like there are no possible circumstances for a person to wait to go to school. This is the most unprofessional, rude person I've came across in a long time. He ran his mouth about himself and his life until thank God Jack came along.

They left no business card so I had a hard time tracking down the exact office. I haven't yet. I speak to customer service, they tell me they need an exact office location and I tell them I don't have it. They tell me when I do, they'll assist me. Those ** want me to call every Kirby in America.. So I write the PR and CEO and haven't got a response yet but I will stop at nothing. Scum like these people need to be identified and disciplined. No one deserves the kind of treatment I got. Had I been someone else, I would've cracked that piece of filth's head. He harassed me and when I find out his personal information, I'll be filing a report with his local police department.

Ok so she yells at her boss to come in and I see this huge man dragging in a huge box. The Kirby Vacuum! She introduces him as John. She never gave her name, and then says SHE is going to leave to check on another MAN?! That he will call when he is finished. So he proceeds to start unpacking and asks me to get my vacuum. He starts Vacuuming and counting. All the way to 100. I ask him how long he's going to count. He goes over my floor again with the Kirby. So that is when the sales pitch starts. about the mites, the asthma, the TB, the doom and gloom of my vacuum and my dirty house.

I ask him how much the Kirby is and he says $1895.00. Right then and there, I shut him down and told him he would not be making a sale. He just kept right on vacuuming. I told him over and over I was not going to buy and he kept right on vacuuming and changing those stupid filters. I even told him I had somewhere to be at 4 o'clock. Not to mention I had 20 scattered all over my room. I finally had to literally pull the plug on him and say to get out. He then called his boss and when he showed up, he started in on me. They took their sweet bippy time packing up too. BUT!!! They did not make a sale!! So NEVER, EVER, EVER, answer the door if you do not know who is on the other side. This company needs to be SHUT DOWN!

The sales lady looked like she just got out of prison and just keep vacuuming our carpet and telling us our Dyson was not good. Well we didn't fall for all the crap she said. And then she told us that she need to vacuum the bed upstairs to show how it got dust mites out. By then we had enough and told her she need to leave. She would not leave and keep vacuuming our floor and telling us that our toddler would die if we didn't get the Kirby to clean her bed. Luckily my husband is a big bald bounce looking guy and told her she need to leave but she keep vacuuming.

After the 4th time she decided to pack her vacuum and leave because my husband was looking at her like he was about to throw her out. She was a big bully and scary and she was mean too. We didn't like her the second we talked to her. We thought the lady at the door was going to do the demo but no she jet really fast. I think if you believe in a product you don't have to force someone to buy. I'm a hair dresser so I'm telling everyone that can about how bad this company is.

Our village is very small (<250 people) so it would not take 10 minutes to travel from one side to the other (max of 3 min and that is stretching it). After the boss arrived (in nice attire and huge Chevy Suburban), he told us that we needed his vacuum product and that this was all going to go for a trip for his sales people to travel to Las Vegas. After the boss showed up, it still took us another 5-7 minutes to get them out of our house. Total time they were here: about 40 minutes (this must only be a few minutes to them). The one salesperson was just starting out (Jared) and he only cleaned the carpet, while the lady with him (never told us her name) just sat on the floor with a clipboard in hand and kept telling us how important it was to get these points earned. As soon as they loaded up their equipment, threw away their trash and discs in our trash can, and left, the license plate was written down and called into the sheriff's office.

Next time I heard from them I was getting my wages garnish. I filled out a paper to the courts and then he said, "No you should stop your Retirement until we get paid. Retirement is taken out from your controller you don't have a choice." Okay the thing I don't get is why is this guy so rude. And if he already took $100.00 how do I still owe him $1600 if this is what he asked for in the first place. He has place a lien hold on my credit. I have worked very hard this year doing odd jobs to pay off credit cards and with gas prices, food going up, how can this help? I just think they are trying to rule the world through me.

I am a little person just trying to make ends meet. I will never open my door to a salesperson ever again. The boy said sign this paper, that your payments will start with this voided check. I think this is pretty wrong of the company to assume that I am the one lying. Everybody I know has been tricked by Kirby or Rainbow. I have been taken to the cleaners, it was just bad timing. But I will come back even stronger. It's like bad food. What doesn't kill you will make you fat.

After several minutes two other men showed up at the door carrying boxes, stayed for a few minutes and finally the salesman showed up to do the demonstration. They started unpacking their boxes, and turning the house into utter chaos, then one of the men received a "phone call" from the "boss" and four of them left rather quickly, stating that the girl would bring back the zip brush and floor care kit for the salesman to demonstrate. We thought it was very odd that so many of them showed up all at once and ran out very quickly. The salesman did more talking and "visiting" with me than demonstrating. He dusted a vent on the front of the t.v., and cleaned one spot on the floor with a floor vacuum attachment, which my wife explained to him we have since we bought a Kirby 15 years ago, the only thing we don't have is the zip brush and that is the only thing we are interested in.

He then asked us for a glass of water stating he was thirsty from the work (which he hadn't done any of). The salesman then used an upholstery attachment to vacuum the ottoman, kept hounding us to let him vacuum the beds which I was adamant that he was not doing. I kept telling him that the only thing I was interested in was the zip brush that the gal never returned with. I told him I was NOT buying a vacuum from him repeatedly. He then said "how about you give me a beer and we'll just call it good." I thought that was odd but since he seemed like a nice guy I gave him one and told him to stop trying to sell the vacuum to me and just drink the beer and then call his boss to pick him up.

The whole time he was complaining about his boss and other salesmen and saying he had only been with the company a couple months and has a job interview in a couple days to get away from the Kirby business. Mind you this whole time he was still trying to sell us the vacuum. His last offer was $1,900 without the shampooer. Finally after watching him "try" to get a hold of his boss multiple times and receiving multiple text messages from "the boss" I asked him for his boss' phone number. He reluctantly gave it to me and I called and told them to come and get their salesman and they offered to come talk to me and to write an apology letter. I told them I didn't want them to come back, just pick the salesman up because the only stuff he was supposed to demonstrate for us was never brought back and that it was late and we were going to bed.

Finally at 9:30 pm they showed up to get him. At 10:00 pm our house was egged. After reading on consumer affairs and seeing complaints written about JWL Enterprises and the one from Tacoma that had the JWL Enterprises rep. threaten to "Egg their house" I knew it had to have been them that did it. Those people will NEVER be allowed in our home again! I own a Kirby, have for 15 years and it still works and has never broken down, but I will not buy another one. People need to be aware and not let these people in the door!

My husband & I were just saying how we wanted the carpet cleaned so we thought a good opportunity came our way & let them do it. Well, the man who came to the door (their manager) sent in two men in their early 20's. Scott & Mark. Scott did all of the demonstrating, Mark was just learning. Scott did not care at all about cleaning our carpet. We stood there for an hour watching him give his speech, showing us how dirty our carpet was with the Kirby vacuum. He was supposed to DEEP clean our carpet with the vacuum & then scrub it.

Well he just barely went over our carpet with the Kirby to get out some dirt, missing spots, not doing a through job. He left dirty disks all scattered throughout the house that he NEVER cleaned up! He even asked for a bottle of water! How about bringing your own?! Finally, after 1 1/2 hours got to the scrubbing part he went over the rug - not good at all, not even all the way to the wall. He then said after the it dries I had to vacuum it. WELL!!! My carpet is no cleaner than when he came in to my house. Now it smells like dog pee & has a greasy film on it from the soap!

I'm so mad I let them in. If they are going to promise a free carpet scrub for listening to them, they should do it and do it right! I didn't buy the vacuum and encourage anyone reading this not to buy one and not to fall for the free cleaning scam!! I'm so, so, mad! Never again will I let a salesman in even if they say they have something free! He also sat down at our brand new table we had delivered less than an hour before he showed up. Thanks to him using a pen to write & not placing anything under his paper we now have what he wrote carved into the brand new $400.00 table!

Rob came to "clean" the carpets. He did demonstrate the entire product, every attachment, every perk the machine had. I told him upon walking in the door what "Jessica" had said, that we have hardwood floors, and only the one rug. He said he enjoyed showing the product. He did a small portion of a mattress, how it was on "black" paper to show bed bugs, and our ceiling fan. When he used an attachment on at the floor of the hardwood, which I sweep once a week, there was just a few specks of any dirt, SO he tried harder. When he did the rug, he pulled out his pricing sheet, which I still have because he left it in my son's room when I handed it back and he was showing the mattress.... I'll come back to the next part of that.

Then he started the rug, mind you, I thought he was learning ropes for something so I'm being very positive, but told him I will not be buying a vacuum in the next 2 years, he vacuums parts of the rug, realizing he wasn't going to be selling his vacuum, he starts acting like he was packing up and going home! My rug had bits and pieces vacuumed.

SO.. I get my stern parent voice out and tell him Jessica said there was no obligation to buy and I was doing him a favor. He stated something like he doesn't do this for nothing and meekly asked for me to refer people. I said I didn't give out numbers of friends unless I ask them first. He also said they didn't give the name of who referred out, so I compromised and looked up friends that were in the phone book, had kids, or dogs, etc. Thankfully this took time because he then started taking the vacuum out, no longer explaining it's use or anything, just doing the job.

When I had put down friends I knew that had pets or kids that were publicly listed in the phone book, he almost stopped the job. When he was done, he asked to use my phone (why he didn't have a business phone bothered me a bit but now I have the phone number on my records to call back) his "manager" I believe he said was "Mike **" came on, asking questions, about whether he sold it, most likely because of how he answered, especially the referrals.

First, there was no stain treatment, no free bottle of remover, nor any used on my rug. It took quite a bit longer than he stated. And although I liked the vacuum, I stated to Jessica and Rob that I had no fiscal ability to responsibly purchase their vacuum FOR THE NEXT 2 years. Rob still pushed the payment plan pretty hard even with that knowledge. He gave the name of the person who referred them, AND lied about the amount she had paid to purchase the vacuum (I didn't know she HAD purchased one until the very end when he was pushing so hard) which was $1000 less than the quote sheet.

When he had been given the quote sheet, he came back at 9pm that same night and acted as if I had taken the price sheet, he looked in the couch cushions where I had been sitting. I had no clue that he had left it in my son's room until I was making the bed the next day. I did call him at the phone number he had given me but he never did call back or try to pick it up. I was glad my husband was home when he came back without calling or anything that late at night. He didn't clean the whole rug, he left out an entire foot on one side. It's not a huge rug by any means! I am glad he did what he did because I was able to move my couch to hide what he didn't do this weekend when I had company.

I am horrified of the guilt trip and fiscal irresponsibility they try to encourage. If you like the Kirby and can afford it, great. I don't think that it is a bad vacuum, it cleaned okay. But they LIED, PUSHED and MANIPULATED worse than a car salesman ever had! They started calling the list right away (he said it would take a week or two, it took THAT DAY) AND gave the name to everyone before I could call and let them know. I didn't know they were such liars until they told a good friend that I bought one!!!! Hello? Does the company have any integrity? I've talked to 10 of the people out of the 20 and am afraid the others may be mad/upset for what I started with this irresponsible company. I wish they would do what they say and say what they mean. Although I had no problem with the vacuum and would have considered buying one in the future I will NOT buy from a company with no moral value or ethical conduct.

I will never have anything else BUT a Kirby; you people are really ignorant about this excellent, thorough, and extremely RELIABLE home maintenance unit. You weren't ripped off; rather, you just weren't paying attention, like most lazy Americans today, during the demo, you don't want to read the book, so start whining and try to give an excellent company like Kirby a bad name. They have ALWAYS provided me with EXCELLENT warranty service, a level of service unheard of with Oreck, Hoover, Eureka, etc. I'll put my 27-year-old Kirby up against your cheap, plastic, department store stuff ANY day.

He left to get his manager and come back to shampoo our living room since I just got a new puppy and said yes. While he was gone I looked up Consumeraffairs.com and didn't like what I saw. When they returned I tried to nicely bull crap them that I didn't need them because my landlord has specific people that he wants me to use and no one else is allowed to do it. I thought that would be the end of it but oh no. They then wanted to just vacuum my couch or a few steps of my stairs. I told them I just did it the day before and they told me they were trying to win a trip and if I let them in to just do a couple of stairs that it would help him win.

I persistently said no thank you and they persistently wanted to come and vacuum a bit. I told them that they could just say that they did it and I would sign off on it to help them out but they told me that they were honest and couldn't cheat the system like that. I told them to use the dirt in my yard to fill their meter thingy that they insisted that they had for proof if they wanted but I was not going to let them into my home for anything. After reading reports on this site before they came back, I was prepared for the bull that they were going to try to fill me with when they returned. Finally they left and I watched them drive off in a van that just had temp plates on it so that looked fishy as well.

My husband is somewhat senile. These 2 ladies saw that and proceeded to take advantage of him after I left them downstairs and went upstairs. (I have a home office upstairs, that is where I work). I assumed that they would leave in a reasonable amount of time. A few hours later, when I realized that they were still in my home, I went downstairs to check on what was going on. One of the women had taken their shirt/Blouse off! The upper portion of her body had nothing but a bra on! I was totally disgusted! They came back again around 8 pm! They coerced my husband out of close to a $1000.

She did a very low pressure demo, but there were like ten of us wandering in and out. We took the demo, and the attachments, for cash... The receipt is marked paid in full... and while they DID try a li'l pressure on my grandmother, once they realized it was a cash sale or NOTHING... I got a decent price. Of course, it was useless to push very hard... I saw the one girl choke when my little sister informed her, quite innocently, that my dog cost more than the vac...

Not to say that SOME of the salespersons aren't quite bad! Three or four years ago, I got a scream from my middle sister... COME PROTECT ME FROM THE KILLERS! HUH? OKAY. Oh my, it was just a vac salesman she couldn't figure out how to get rid of :) I tossed him out the door... as I laughed at my sister.. but he was a bad apple, or training has gotten better. Oh.. NOTE: if there are any salespersons reading, we liked the vac, not the attitude, and she would have bought one if the salesperson wasn't an idiot.

The next day I examined the vacuum and its attachments. There are lot of hair, accumulated dust inside hose. The hose has bending mark on them. I was under the impression of spending $1000 to get a brand new home clean system. They never mentioned I get demo system. If that's the case I would not have offer $1000 and not purchase it at all. I have called local office and a lady name Belesty ** is going to have someone call me tomorrow and come by to look at it.

I want to return the product and regret the purchasing because they are not honest. Who knows if the lifetime warranty, customer service ever exist. I don't trust this company anymore. I don't care how good the product I thought it was, but the lady said there's no way they are taking back this vacuum. I am stuck with it now.

At the time that the phone calls occurred a Kirby Salesperson was demonstrating a new model of the Kirby vacuum cleaner to my mother. It was a mystery to me who made the calls until my daughter said she was on the porch and she saw a group of the Kirby salesmen parked in a van using our phone while they waited to pick up the last Kirby salesperson who was in my parents' home.

No one in our household gave the Kirby salesmen permission to take the phone outside the home to make international phone calls. Although my mother was aware that the group of salesmen were parked in a van in front of the house, she was not aware that the Kirby supervisor took the telephone outside the home and gave it to the other Kirby salesmen to use. I feel outraged that the Kirby salesmen took advantage of us by making a long distance call to Texas and two international calls to El Salvador and spend a total of 35 minutes on the phone without any authority to use the phone to make these calls.

I was not interested in the installment plan because the finance charge was $532.70 and would cost me a total of $1,952.70. But I was interested in the 3 month deferred payment because Jason assured me that I would pay only the selling price. To avoid the interest, I informed Jason that's what I want to pay, the selling price that totaled $1,420.00 with a trade-in of my Rainbow vacuum cleaner.

The deal got ever better when Jason told me that he would make the first two monthly payments for me. He instructed me to send him the first two coupons in the payment book when I receive it by mail and he would take care of the payments saving me a total of $130.18. So on 5/30/02, I sent Jason a letter enclosing the first two monthly payment coupons to be paid on the account. On the following day, I sent United Consumer Financial Services a check for the remaining balance of $1,289.82 to have my Kirby account paid in full.

Once settled, I offered to return the merchandise, but I do not feel that it should be at my expense (or my paying upfront and hoping that he will then issue a credit after the fact). I further informed the seller that I would return the merchandise once the claim has been settled but that if I had to return it, at my expense, I would file a claim with Better Business Bureau and Internet Fraud (as he has threatened he has done with me). His last reply was that he would refuse shipment of the return even if I returned it at my expense. Please indicate how I can provide you with documentation of the transaction. I have the item at home in the original box that has not even been opened. Should I attempt to send it back anyways, despite his threats? Would sending it back at my expense hurt my claim against him? I'm not sure what the next step in resolving this dispute is? Could you possibly advise?

I have done a little research on this, and top of the line Dysons and Electroluxes start around $500, plus all the attachments which, depending on what you get, could be another few hundred bucks. I feel like we got a great deal. Who knows, maybe this thing is a piece of crap and breaks in 2 months. However, I read a lot of bad stories on here, and I wanted to share mine. Yes, he was a salesman trying to make a buck, but at the end of the day, who isn't? The salesman was cordial, polite and unassuming. And I got a (hopefully) great product at a great price. Sorry some of your experiences weren't as good as mine.

The delivery confirmation confirmed that they received it, but to this day I have not been able to get in contact with them. I left several messages on their answering machine and even spoke with a person that said they would call me back the very next day and take care of it for me. Finally, after waiting over a month and still calling with no response, I contacted the Kirby Vacuum Consumer Complaint Department and spoke with Susan at 1-800494-8586. I have talked to her several times and apparently, they are having trouble contacting them as well. She told me that I have to wait for this company to resolve the problem and that she contacted the Kirby district office for that area. It has been two months with no resolution from this company.

He cleaned our carpets, demonstrated every aspect of the vacuum and even partially cleaned one of our cars to show how it converted to a hand held. I then proceeded to look up the main Kirby Company number, called them and verified the vacuum that they were selling was the one that we were looking at in our home. I can not remember exactly what the price of the vacuum was, but it has been the best purchase I have ever made.

After 7+ years of use, it has not lost its super suction strength and has not broken once (except for an attachment that I broke for being too rough with it). If you are going to buy something, be smart and research it first. It's your own fault if you get scammed. I was living in Killeen Texas when I first purchased it and being a military family have moved 4 times since and it has survived everyone of them. My ex mother in law even has a Kirby from back in the 70's that still runs like a champ. Kirby's can be very industrial looking or seem old fashion, but if its a real true Kirby, you will never need another vacuum.

Later as I was going to work, he yelled from someone else's yard, loudly, Panasonic. . Two days ago another Kirby salesman come to our house. Same story, but I explained we weren't interested. He didn't take no for an answer. He said that they were just in the neighborhood and wanted to steam clean our carpet. I asked him to leave. Today, this afternoon, another Kirby salesman came to the door. He was talking with my wife as I was coming home for lunch. He asked if he could give my wife a hug. She complied reluctantly. He used the fact that we are Christians and she went on a mission trip to Mexico and build some bond so he could hug her. I asked her later and she said she was uncomfortable with this. How manipulative can they be? I asked him to leave and not return.

I asked that they send no one else out to our house. He explained that there were other companies selling Kirby that they couldn't control what goes on. I explained that they were the same company, J.W.L. Enterprises was the fliers they kept delivering. I couldn't believe it, but later that night, I come home at 8pm and there was another team of Kirby people in my house demonstrating a vacuum cleaner to my wife. I was very upset to learn that my wife let them in. They stepped into our house without her verbal permission. I have shared my frustration with her. She is no push-over, but these people are beyond belief.

You would think after being confronted about hugging my wife, told that we never wanted to see them again, that they wouldn't send out more people. I asked them to leave. I told them they have 5 minutes to get out of my house or I would call the police. The guy smiled, while the girl selling the vacuum looked nervous. He made the comment that the quality vacuum that was selling for $2300 needed a little bit longer to be put away. When they left, I found out that they were there two hours. I then talked with the business owner in a van and he kept telling me he was a Christian and that they do good things like charity work. I explained the whole story to him and asked that the leave us alone or I would call the police and publish this in a local newspaper to warn people.

I told the man (along with my sister, who was visiting at the time), that we just bought our home two years ago and could not afford such a luxury. Then I told him no again, due to the fact that I had two small children and no extra $. After that I told him that I could make such a big financial decision with out my husband. He wouldn't leave he was pushing papers at both my sister and I demanding that we finance this vac. While he did this he called his supervisor and told him that he had just sold 2 vacs.

When he got off the phone he yelled at us (face red) saying that we were obligated at this point to buy, and we were trying to take food off his table...We said no again. At this point he told me that we looked like trash anyway and couldn't afford this vac. We would NEVER qualify for their credit. I repeatly asked him to leave my home. He ranted that my kids would die of kawaski disease, and how that was my fault for now buying their vac. I had to physically take his things and throw them out my front door, then help him out as well.

I didn't call the police because I think the whole ordeal was so shocking. Nothing I'd ever dealt with before. Their company still calls 2x per week, but I was never home to recieve their call. On 9-20-08 they called again. They informed me that WE WON A FREE SHAMPOO! I told them this was a scam, and never to call me again. I wrote to Kirby first to express my concerns, but they never responded.

I think that every housewife is in danger of this company. Their methods should not be legal

I balked at that and got the old Let me call my mananger trick. He came back with $1700.00 and I'd have to give him my old Dyson and they'd throw in the shampooer. $100 down, $75 a month. Back and forth and he took forever cleaning up the machine and putting back in the box. I balked at that and another call was placed.....(he was calling his boss from his cell phone and my wife raised a good point.....was he really talking to anyone?) Anyways, the final offer was $1000.00 cash, plus he'd still take my old vaccum. I didn't bite and he left without incident.

When I asked about the warranty it was kind of brushed over quickly and seems to be a 3 year thing and you can get it serviced for about $175 a shot every few years after the first 3 years.

In any event, I have since completed the payments with the exception of approximately $200 which I have arranged with United Consumer to pay off by October 2008. My complaints are as follows: 1) I felt pressured (extremely) into buying the darn thing in the first place; 2) Due to circumstances beyond my control, I got a little behind on the payments, but I made an arrangement with United Consumer several months ago to restructure and pay the balance, which I have been doing. However, they continue to submit derogatory information on a monthly basis to the credit bureaus. What was the point in making the arrangement if this is continuing to happen?

I disputed the information with the credit bureaus and United Consumer responded and verified information, so I cannot dispute the information again. Furthermore, there is a note on my report that says it will remain on my report until Nov 2014. The report shows numerous continued late payments after the arrangement even though I have held to the arrangement made with them. I do not know what exactly is allowed under the Fair Credit Act; however, I do know that the intent of making an arrangement with any creditor to fulfill an agreement is to correct deficiencies and avoid serious derogatory comments such as the ones made by United Consumer Finanacial Services.

I bought a Kirby once. It was $1200, back in 1986, a huge amount of money and I was young and stupid. I tried to cancel the sale within the 3 days and got some sob story about how it was the salespersons first sale and she wanted to keep her job. This was from the manager! I stupidly kept the thing even though I had a tiny little house which did not need a hmongous vacuum! Eventually I sold the machine at a garage sale for pennies on the dollar. I will never make such a mistake again!

When their van finally pulled up, a man came rushing up to the door and knocked very loudly and rapidly. I opened the door, handed them their paperwork, and said, There is absolutely no way I'm buying anything. It's just not going to happen. His very sarcastic and negative response was Well thanks for putting my $2,000 equipment on the porch, to which I responded Thanks for leaving your [vacuum] in my house and trying to use my wife. He then began to get very aggrivated and started to say some things that were in english, but didn't really make sense. Not wanting the situation to progress, I said Sir, get off my property, or I will call the police. He began taking his things. They also left the trash they had created by giving their demonstration that we didn't want at our house.

If I ever see a Kirby salesperson coming to my door, I am going to call the police b/f I answer the door. After a 13 hour day dealing with students, it's very aggrivating to come home and deal with a pushy, angry salesperson standing on your porch. I don't know the guy. What is he capable of? Now he knows where I live. Now my wife is sitting at home trying to do homework for college, worried about some psycho salesperson coming to the door while I'm not there.

On Sunday I called several times to try and cancel my purchase. I left so many messages their inbox was full and I couldn't leave anymore messages. On monday I sent in the papers to cancel my purchase. Not once did they mention I should send this priority mail. Now they are saying they never received my letter (I found out thru the billing company) and they still have not returned any of my phone calls.

I am a young mother with a baby. My husband is out of work and we can not afford this purchase. I don't want my credit damaged, but I can not afford to make these payments. I have never used this vacuum and I don't want it. I just wanted to get rid of these unwelcome high pressure sales people. Please help me.

I have been threatend to be turned over for collections for a payment I can't afford. My emotional stress about this has made me physically ill.

So the very next morning i got on the phone and finally someone was able to take my call. Her name was Kelly. I explained to Kelly that i tried to cancel the policy the day before, 8/11/08, and was not successful because i was placed on hold twice for over 20 min. Kelly said that their is nothing that she should about that and the vacuum is now my responsibilty. I told Kelly that i needed to speak with someone that would understand my situation so she referred to Eric. Eric called and said the same thing Kelly said. I told Eric that the employees were not proffesonal and i belive that i was taken for a ride and i will be dropping off the vacuum that very next day at the address that is on my contract. I asked Eric to verify the address and he refused and said the address that you see on the contract is the correct address.

On 8/12/08 i drove to the location and come to find out that the address that is written down on the contract is incorrect. That address was an abondon building that was in the process of being refurbished. I decided to circle the block and needless to say the office was at a different location. Once i got to the correct location i spoke to Kelly and told her that i no longer want the vacuum. I gave her the vacuum along with all of the the attachements and walked out the door. I got on the phone and spoke with the companies finacial insitution and told them that the order was cancelled and im no longer responsible for the payments.

The conseqences that im going to be facing is bad report on my credit report.

i am now screwed when i put all of my time and posessions into this company and all i get is eighty two dollars for four two thousand dollar vacumn cleaners

The male representative asked for a drink, used our bathroom and our phone. I kept telling him I could not afford the vaccumm and would not even consider purchasing it without talking to my boyfriend first. He told me that he just wanted to demonstrate the product to get his points and there was no obligation to buy. But the second he walked in, he kept trying to sell it to me aggressively. He continually stated that its the 21st century and a woman can make up her own mind without the consent of her significant other which I thought was completely rude. Every time I told him no, he said let me call my boss and see if I can get you a better deal.

When he arrived to the house the product was $2100 and when he left he got it down to $1600. Every time he called his boss, he would use MY phone and say hi boss this is JARED, the customer cannot afford this much but is really interested . . . To make a long story short, after the 5 hours the only way I felt I could get them out was to buy the stupid thing. I paid in full in cash. He didnt know what to do with the cash and had to call his boss to see how to write out the receipt. Then when he left he asked for a drink to go and a beer. Once he left the two of them were sitting on my porch for a good 30 mins waiting for their ride. The next day I decided I did not want this Kirby so I called the office and said I wante dto cancel my purchase. They said you must have your cancellation into our office within 3 days. I said i know thats why I'm calling today, i purchased it last night. But they claimed you had to have the cancellation sheet in their office w/in three days.

So I fed ex'd their request and it arrived to their office the next day. They told me someone would call to pick up the vaccuum. They did- 7 days later. He said I'm coming to your house to pick it up now. He never showed up. Called me two days later and finally picked the vaccumm up. I have been on the run around ever since for my money which i paid in CASH. I purchased the vaccum on 7/8/08, sent my cancellation on 7/9/08, they picked up the vaccumm on 7/17/08 and today 8/28/08 I am still trying to get my money back ($1665)! Their cancellation policy states it will be returned within 10 business days.

Economically, I will have to pay someone else to clean the carpet because we are on a tight schedule and going away I do not have the time to finish the carpet and cleaning tonight. The house is for sale, and it is being shown less than 24 hours from now.

The first day of orientation we find out we're not getting paid for the 5 day training which equalled up to around 20 hours of my life that i will never get back. The product was great and well worth the money but the recruiter told us on our 1st day of training that we would all be going on an all expenses paid vacation to ft.lauderdale, fl. Then we find out the two training days later that we actually have to sell 15 kirbys in one single month to be eligible for the ALL EXPENSE PAID TRIP TO FT.LAUDERDALE, FL. All she did was talk about doing drugs and it was ok if people she recruited did them but she didnt wanna know about it. We would all be going out to Torch's the bar that next friday in hummer limos for free, but we discovered we actually had to make 55 then they changed it to 35 sales in our little measley 5 day training period between about 20 of us to be eligible to go to Torch's.

She also told them that she knew some of them are underage but as long as they didnt tell their parents how they were drunk with the company thats supposably in the BBB and a fortune 500 company then she didnt care. Are you kidding me, shes planning on allowing minors to drink, isnt that a felony or something? I finally walked out alongside of a few other people who got tired of the lies. Some of their demo salespeople are actually truly sincere and nice, but I guess you dont always get the nice ones.

I like went through a depression phase in those 5 days because I was finding out we werent all going to get the things we were ALL promised. Also because I was told we would have a lot of free time to spend with our families which was obviously another lie or else I wouldnt have quit.

Bob and Nicole then came into my house, Nicole left, and Bob began to set up the Kirby. I told him that I already owned one, and that I was not interested. He then started searching my house for my Kirby. When he found it, he began to show me some problems with it, that were false. Then he BROKE IT! The powerhead, hose, shampooer or whatever attatches to the Power Plant won't stay because the metal latch that holds it broke. He then said that that was a problem for that vacuum, and it had been improved with the sentria. I still refused to buy it, yet he tried to push a bill of sale, and a contract to me.

I took his vacuum, put it outside, and told him to leave. He said no, went out and grabbed the vacuum and got back in faster than I could close and lock my door. He said he had to go to the bathroom, so I let him. While he was in there, i called the police. When he came back out, I let up and let him do the sales pitch. about 10 minutes later, the police then came through my door, and arrested the man, and everybody else. They told me to keep the sentria, so now I have a Kirby upstairs, and downstairs. Keep in mind, Kirby's are ABESOLUTE GREAT vacuums, but their sales tips are horrible

I was determined to give Kirby my best shot and to see for myself if it was true about being scammed....2 months later and 1500 dollars in gas money down the drain, I NEVER RECIEVED MY BONUS! WHY YOU MIGHT ASK? According to the owner he said that I didnt turn in enough leads to recieve the bonus? Now keep in mind during these two months I worked 7 days a week, missed my family and dropped every dime i had into the gas tank to get this bonus and [he] says Im not getting it do to leads? They never tell you that in the orientation all they say is sell 13 and recieve your bonus! I was later told that they wont pay it out and WILL FIND ANY EXCUSE IN THE BOOK TO NOT PAY YOU!

I'm fed up with Kirby and I know that there are honest distributors out there I met some of them at Kirbys annual sales rallys so I know there not all bad. They might even treat you nice for a while like they did to me but the second any type of bonus is on its way to your pocket......SOMETHING will come up..The Kirby is a great machine and well worth the money, I think Kirby needs to take a look at whats really going on at there Concord N.H. Branch.

Damages done were that I lost my secure job I had as a manager at a bar, I got evicted from my apartment due to no money (Half went into my gas tank from driving a thousand miles a week) And just the brain damage done because from now on Im going to think that all my bosses are going to try to screw me over like [this one] did. I forever have a sour taste in my mouth about Kirby and it has nothing to do with the product...Just that distributor.

Sure enough, 10 minutes later 2 men showed up at our door with the Kirby vacuum cleaner. We said we didn't want to buy anything. The manager response was, Sir this is a $2,000.00 machine, are you ready to spend that kind of money for it? so, we let them in...

I was truly impressed with the machine. I think it does what it supposed to do, and very well. I was convinced that the it has better suction than my vacuum cleaner and it does all the other stuff the salesman said it did, including spray painting and blow off leaves from gutters, but I wasn't ready to spend $2,000.00 on it and even after the salesman's manager came over and try to make me feel bad about what he called my broken vacuum cleaner I did NOT give in to the pressure. Even after he brought the price down to $1,500.00 I said a big NO.

In my opinion all they did was to taint the image of this product, by using high pressure, lies, and gimmicks. I think if they didn't pressure people in their own houses they would sell a lot more products. I just cannot believe that a company of this caliber would use such tactics to sell their products. I checked them out on BBB and the 36 complaints that they had were resolved. Very strange due to the number of complaints in the Consummeraffairs.com. Maybe more people should speak up if they feel they were ripped off.

The stories were pretty much the same, don't they (Kirby) company get it? people don't like to buy something they don't want, and most of the time when they buy it they return it because they feel guilt by buying an overpriced piece of machine, which then, they have a hard time returning it because of terrible customer service. I wonder what will take for them to change their sales tactics, maybe slow sales for 3 quarters straight, massive law suits?

For all of you who have had a terrible experience with the Kirby salesman, there have been thousands who have had fantastic experiences, and own and use their Kirby today. The reliance on the internet, and the easy access to information will not kill the door to door sales. The Kirby business in its door to door sales has worked for almost 100 years, and will continue to work. Millions of Kirby vacuums are sold a year, to satisfied customers.

The pitch is one of truth. There is no lying in what we tell you, unlike the used car salesman. If you are not interested, then tell them so. The Kirby company and its distributors employ countless people who are attempting to make a living just as you are, by selling you a product which is far superior to anything you can purchase from a store. I understand the horrible experiences you have had because of the bad business people have done in the past. I ask you to not look at the past, because it does not dictate the future.

If you have someone who is attempting to shampoo your carpet from Kirby ask them who they are with and give them a chance. By slamming your door it does nothing but make you ignorant. See what the demonstration has to offer. If you are not satisfied, that is your opinion, and you can voice it however you wish. But please do not rebuke the man who is attempting to make a living selling a product in the only fashion that truly works.

His cell rings he answers it. I finally say to him that I will not be buying a vaccuum cleaner and that frankly the girl was misleading when she came to my door as this is clearly not a carpet company cleaning promotion. He continues to clean the carpet. After cleaning the parts of the vacuum in my kitchen sink. He asks if he can use my phone to call his ride (remember, he has a cell phone). I said no as I don't allow anyone that I don't know use my phone. He then proceeds to state that he won't be able to get a ride. I ask him why doesn't he use his cell phone. He claims the battery is dead. Then he asks if I can call. I said no, use your cell phone.

My husband walks in and then the salesman asks him and I interject and say that I just told him no. He then proceeds to make rude comments such as What's the matter are you guys cops or something. In absolute shock I asked him What's with all of the questions. He continues to ask if my neighbor will allow him to use the phone. UNBELIEVABLE!He finally left muttering he now had to go find a phone.

We were so shocked by the whole ordeal that my husband immediately jumped on the internet searching for any complaints regarding Kirby. Surprise, surprise we found this website. I have never puchased a Kirby product and frankly after this, never will. I will also tell everyone I know about this so that they are not subjected to this type of treatment and disrespect in their own home. Kirby is absolutely responsible for these sales people. I highly doubt it's simply a coincidence that all of these complaints (going back as far as 2002)are so remarkably similar. TRUELY DISGUSTED!

We did manage to get out of our purchase and I'd like to let others know how to as well. There are two things you should do. First, you should fill out the cancellation slip and mail it in within three days of signing the contract. Just sign both spots and send the whole contract back. If you'll notice there is no name or account number or any way for Kirby to tell who is canceling what on the actual cancellation slip, SO MAIL THE ENTIRE CONTRACT. (It's probable a good idea to make a copy first, if you can, but more than anything just get it signed and postmarked.)

Secondly, and most importantly, when the finance company calls you a few days later(after the day of the sale, not the day you mail the cancellation) tell them you've canceled. The sales man was back, unannounced, the very next day to pick up the vacuum cleaner. We haven't heard from them since. I'm assuming the finance company will call, they did us, but if they don't, try calling them. That's all I had to say. Maybe my advice will help someone wondering, "What just happened? And what do I do now?"

I paid way too much for the vacuum first of all I really couldn't afford it but they were very pushy, and hid some facts about financing.

I gave the young guy 15-20 minutes to vacuum the floor. He'd vacuum for 10 seconds, then change out the filter disc. He did this probably 25 times. Then he said he needed baking soda and salt so he could do a demo between the Kirby and my vacuum. (Why would I give him something to mess up the carpet when he's supposed to be cleaning it??) When I said no, he said he wouldn't get credit for the demo unless he did baking soda, salt, and mattress tests. MATTRESS TEST? No way! None of that was part of the deal! So, I refused. I reminded him that this was supposed to be a quick simple carpet cleaning -- not a sales demo. Suggesting this was just a waste of his time, I told him to pack up to find a willing customer because I wasn't buying anything.

Of course, he couldn't just leave because they'd left him! I finally got the number of his "manager", Margie, and called her myself to explain I wasn't proceeding with the cleaning and to come get her guy. She came a few minutes later and tried to convince me to let him finish so he could get paid his $15. I refused (over and over), they finally packed up, and, because I'm not normally that assertive and did feel bad for the guy, I gave Xavier $15 cash to compensate him for his time. I didn't feel he should suffer because his managers misrepresented themselves.

The carpet does look cleaner just from the little bit of vacumming, but the room reeked of the cigarette smoke emanating from these guys.

I don't know what I was thinking -- I should have known better. I let strangers into my house with no knowledge of who they actually were. I told my husband I'm never allowed to answer the door for a stranger ever again!

The other time I was another residence, instead of staying in the van, the man was waiting in the walkway outside with the box. As soon as they heard that the consumer did not ever here of Sentria they came closer to the door. I then told them they were not welcome because of the experience I had with them a few weeks back. They denied the prior experience and left. A few minutes later I met them in the road as I was leaving. I asked them if they had a license or permit to do what they were doing. They said they did. When I asked to see it they would not show it to me. They said they did not have to show it to me because they were not on private property.

One of the men then asked me if I didn't have anything better to do than harass them. I then said to them that they were the one's harassing me at 9:15 at night. They then said they could go door to door until 10:00pm. I told them they were not welcome in this neighborhood. They would not leave and said that was not my decision. The first time they tried to give me a bottle of cleaning liquid, the second time was a bulk pack of paper towel. They were driving a beat up Astro type van.

I am a senior citizen who lost her job in Nov 2007 and have only social security on which to live, pay my mortgage, etc etc. I want to be out of this contract and return the vacuum.

If someone comes to your door asking to come into your home for any reason demand who they are with and if they say Kirby close the door, pour yourself a glass of Chardonnay, and smile at the realization that you just saved yourself 2 hours, $1750, the cheesiest sales pitch you've ever heard, and a slew of belittling remarks.

First of all, this is in regards to the girl who wrote about she wouldn't be paid if she didn't do 15 demos in a week, or 60 total in a month. If she worked 5 days a week, as you do in any full time position, and performed 3 Kirby demonstrations a day, which is standard, that equals 60 demonstration, and she would be paid. Obviously she didn't take her job seriously and didn't apply herself because I can assure you that there are PLENTY of people in the world to demonstrate this amazing product for. Like any other job, if you don't apply yourself, THEY WON'T PAY YOU!

Second of all, for all of the people bashing all of the sales representatives in Kirby, you need to remember that all people are different, including sales men/women! If you are walking down the street and someone is very rude to you, do you automatically assume that EVERYONE on that street is rude? No, you think, "Wow, that person was a real jerk." Yes, sometimes people can be mislead in some way so that a Kirby representative can enter the home. This is only because in todays world, there are so many scams and faulty products being sold, that when there really is a good product that is extremely beneficial to everyone, PEOPLE WON'T EVEN GIVE IT A CHANCE! And why is this? Because the REAL scam artists have made it impossible for truly kind-hearted sales people to make a living today without dealing with such obstacles. The REAL SCAM is all the 150 other vacuums on the market charging you hundreds of dollars to pick up 10% of your dirt and leave 90% behind! If you think that selling a product that is more expensive because it gets the job done is bad compared to selling a product that doesn't work at all, then you are either stupid, or insane!

I sell Kirby vacuums because they are a necessity in the cleanliness of every home and healthiness of everyone's family! I would never sell a product that was not worth every penny or valuable to anyone who owns it. I personally believe that EVERY home should sit through one of Kirby's demonstrations and make a decision for themselves as to whether or not they want to buy a Kirby to rid their homes of this filthy condition we call DIRT. It contains germs and bacteria which belong outside, not in your house!

If you think of it this way, how many of you people complaining about the Kirby or saying it's not worth the money, have slept in hotels? How many of you know anything about dust mites, millions living in every mattress just from ONE person occupying it? And how about the fact that it is one of the leading asthma, allergy and skin irritation causers? Does it make you feel nice knowing that thousands of people share hotel beds, shedding dead skin for dust mites to feed on and regenerate, making hotel beds the DIRTIEST mattressed anywhere!! OR would you feel better knowing that a hotel mattress is cleaned with a Kirby on a regular basis to prevent this condition, therefor keeping you healthier and cleaner? Every hotel should own Kirby's specifically for this, and mostly every hotel DOES NOT! So you can enjoy this thought the next time you're on a lovely family vacation.

In closing, people need to open their minds to what is in front of them. If you don't care about having a filthy home and mattress (which everyone does, without this machine), then that is your unfortunate choice. But do not ruin this company's good name because you get aggravated sitting for too long, or would rather have pizza delivered and have On Demand than own a product that will keep your carpets and furniture beautiful and fresh, and your dirty mattresses clean, which saves you MONEY IN THE END!

For those of you who have honestly just experienced rude sales people, I apologize for their behavior. Do not penalize all of us for their disregard for your respect or space. Most of us just truly care about the quality of others' health and homes and love to offer people a great product that really works.

we read about all of your terrible expierences and were shocked. the first part of all of your stories sounded just like ours. So i went outside when they arrived and told them my girlfriend and i had to leave, there was a family emergency. The gentleman (who looked like a 15 year-old in a shirt and tie) was not responsive for HIS phone number so i could call when it was convient for us.

he offered to come back later, and i responded with, no we wont be back today. GUESS WHAT HE SAID! - what in new hampshire? A very rude remark, wouldnt you agree? WHY would i have ever let this person into my house in the first place? Very rude people. And again, thank you for sharing your terrible expierence's with KIRBY home cleaners, or vacuum's or whatever they want to be called.

Five minutes later the doorbell rings again and the female, accompanied by a young, very clean cut male enter along with the 2 telltale boxes. I've never been solicited by a door-to-door salesman, but figured this was it and told them I had very little time (it was almost 8:30) I asked how long this would take - more than 10 minutes? more than half an hour? they looked at each other and confirmed that the presentation would take less than half an hour. All I have to say is HAH!!! Xavier my salesman was a lovely person, allegedly a junior at Trinity College in Conn and supposedly would be earning credit for this job. I weeded out that they were actually promoting a scholarship program (incentive for me to spend $2000 on a vaccuum?) for the salespeople.

This presentation would have taken at least two hours if I hadn't chased him out of here. But at 9:30 when I told him he had to leave, he called his supervisor to come discuss/confirm that the presentation had occured and it took him another 30 minutes to pack up - but he left me presents - the dirty disks layed out all over the room. I can not believe that this company is actually having their sales reps LYING about earning college credit to get into your house. This is ridiculous. I owe alot to those who participated in my surveys and presentations throughout school and I thought I was just re-paying the courtesy. Never Again. Kirby, thank you for ruining it for students everywhere.

they drop people off in vans and hand out flyers for free vaccume shampooing. they dont even shampoo your carpet. they just do a demo and convince you to buy it. this place is not a reliable place of employment. I feel bad for people that dont know about this terrible company. i have wasted 4 days of my life. UNPAID. they probably wouldnt even have paid me in a month like they said they were going to. these people make 2400 a month supposively to do 60 demos a month and its like... what if i dont make the 60 demos? I DONT GET PAID.

no response to question on yesterday

Despite being repeatedly told by personnel that all appointments with customers were prescheduled, the manager training us talked several times about what to do during impromptu demonstrations, and how to make a sale when a potential customer only has a few minutes to talk and wants us to leave. Obviously, the appointments are not prescheduled, and the company managers fully expect that some people will not even want to see the demos. Furthermore, I was told by the hiring manager that the training was paid, only to find out during the training that paychecks are contingent upon completing 13 demos a week. As I previously mentioned, the demos were clearly not prescheduled, which means customer service reps would have to arrange their own demos, and would not necessarily be able to arrange 13 in a week.

We were told that we would give demos between 1 pm and 9 pm, but the fact that the demos would be out of town and we would not get back to the distribution point until 10 pm was overlooked until the end of training. We were also encouraged to attend unpaid meetings at 10 am every day, making work days 12 hours long with no lunch or bathroom breaks. Personnel additionally encouraged us to work AT LEAST 6 days a week, Monday through Saturday. Finally, they told us that if we worked hard, we had the potential to make $10,000. a month, which was perhaps the greatest lie of all.

Kirby's business practices with potential customers are equally, if not more, disturbing than their treatment of employees. We were directed to enter people's homes under false pretenses, by telling them we were offering free carpet shampooing. The sample Kirbys that we used for 10 hours during training and for the demos are also the ones we were supposed to sell to customers. During the training, we spent an hour learning how to clean our Kirbys and repack them so they look like they've never been used. And, one of these "new" Kirby Sentrias costs $650 to manufacture, but is sold for approximately $2,500. to $3,000! The "lifetime warranty" is also a sham: the warranty is only three years and excludes normal wear and tear; after three years, the owner has the option of having their vacuum restored to its original condition, but FOR A FEE.

Overall, Kirby has the most unethical practices when dealing with employees and customers that I have ever experienced, as an employee or a customer. I advise people to absolutely avoid working for Kirby, and to avoid purchasing Kirby products so as not to support the company's deeply unscrupulous business practices. As for myself, I most definitely regret the 4 days I wasted dealing with this company, when I could have been looking for work with an honest business.

I only left Kirby because I simply put too much pressure on myself and didn't trust other people to help do my job, and I was just overworking myself because I cared. I won 5 trips, so yes, the contests are real and very attainable. Look, my thought was, if someone really didn't want me in their house, I didn't want to be there, I will just go to the next one. I apologize for all Kirby Distributors out there. For every one bad apple, their are 100's of good natured, positive, and good hearted sales people out there.

To all you straight Kirby sales people, stay that way. And to you possible consumers, you don't know you need a Kirby, but one demonstration and an open mind, you will see you do. If you don't like the Kirby guy or gal when they come in, call and get a different one.

I told her that I already had a Kirby and she told me that it was old. I asked her to put the lid back on the box - our conversation was over. I told her that she totally misled me and asked her to get out. She told me not to be so aggrivated and kept talking. I asked her again to get out. She then told me that I was being a jerk and wanted her free soap back. I showed her the door. She stood at the end of the driveway until her ride came back. They barely slowed down long enough for her to get into the van, then they sped away.

I called the sheriff's office and they said that every summer this happens and a group of these people are arrested for soliciting without a permit. The sheriff explained that these young people are recruited by Kirby and put up in a hotel and trained. They are told that if they sell 10 cleaners they make $5000. If they don't make their quota, they are kicked out of the hotel and have to find their own way back home.

I wouldn't have purchased a Kirby from her even if I was interested. I'm going to hand over a check for a couple thousand dollars to this person? She was totally unprofessional and very, very pushy. She was poorly dressed and unclean. I called all of my neighbors to warn them about this scam. I, for one, will never buy another Kirby product... ever. This is disgraceful.

For example, when they go to your door and knock, they wont identify themselves as who they really are. It is also true that they go into homes and persist consistently for a sale, even if it means keeping the owners busy as long as possible. They also constantly ignore the no soliciting signs, although they are better than nothing. They are even trained to act when they are cleaning your house, to create excitement in a potential customer, so that when they pull dirt from your carpet or matress, you can get grosed out. They know tricks to get to customer into a buying mood, such as giving them yes answer questions so that their thought process gets trained to say yes.

The female took off in the van to scout the neighbor so as the gentleman said.That really alarmed me because I had never seen such progressive selling tactics. The guy then proceeded to get out his dirt pads and started cleaning everything from the living room sofa to the carpets. He then collected in total about 30 demonstration dirt pads and laid them on the dining room table which I did find to be rude. He never gave any though to collect them seeing as they were part of his sales pitch.

The real shocker came in near the end of the presentation. I stepped outside for a brief moment to speak with some visitors my grandmom had. I came back to find that he had made his way all the way to back of the home in none other than her bedroom. At this point I got extremely annoyed. The total presentation time was about 2hrs which I felt was too entirely long to be in anyone's home. Overall it was an unwanted as well as a bad experience. If you ever see a Kirby vac van or vehicle in your yard. Please duck and hide. These are very high pressure sales tactics.

There was no real harm done. I wanted everyone to know to Please be wary of these people. Dont let them in if you should see them in your yard.

The economical affects by this company was that , I quit my steady job that I had to work for this pathetic company and all I ended up doin was wasting my gas, and losing my apartment and my car. I was yelled at by the owner on a daily basis and now that I know that there is a group fighting back to shed some light on what is going I can finally relax. I'm tired of hearing horror stories from that company. Lets put a stop to it!

In about a month the finance company FRA LYN called and we talked about my fact that I had traded in the vacuum , it seems that the vacuum was not paid for, as a matter of fact my husband still owed $800.00 on it and FRA LYN was never contacted about any trade in. But they do have the contract for the new vacuum.

Both myself and the FRA LYN company have contacted the store, spoken with the manager and have been promised that they would return the vacuum to me. This has not happened yet and it has been since January, This is now July! I would definitely consider this situation to be THEFT BY DECEPTION!

The FRA LYN company is holding me responsible for the $800.00 and the owner of the store will not budge. He says that if he pays for it he loses money. Meanwhile the account is in mine and my mothers names, it is delinquent on our credit reports since December 2007,and we dont have the vacuum cleaner!

Next thing I know- she leaves and a young man comes in with a Kirby vacuum. Over the next THREE hours he continued to try & sell this machine to us even after we told him vehemently that we were not interested. I asked him three times to leave my house. He ignored my requests and then entered my bedroom where he proceeded to vacuum my bed. i told him to leave again. He agreed and called his boss. listening to his conversation he began to tell this boss personal information about me & my home.

I finally had to threaten to call the police if he did not leave. I never did get my carpets cleaned as promised- He was too busy selling the cleaner.

Again, I'm bombarded by two young people...the male removed my barrier that was placed across my front porch, and proceeded again, to tell me of my free gift. I told them I had cancer, and was not interested. I then proceeded to call Kirby, to again, ask them to remove me from the no-call list. I am told, this might not be possible. You mean I don't have a right to tell solicters not to come to my home? I was given a phone number and reached a Ryan who proceeds to tell me that what I call a barrier on my porch is not considered a barrier. He was rude and argumentative, and I wouldn't buy a Kirby if you gave me one now. I ended up hanging up on him, after I told him what I thought.

I proceeded to call back and report Ryan for his unprofessional behavior, and guess what? I got him again, and he hung up on me. I then called, and asked one of the girls who answered the phone to give me Ryan's superior, so I could report him.....guess what? He must be the manager too....because he answered again, and when I asked for a manager, he switched me over to his voice mail. I am terribly upset. I do not need this kind of treament from a vacuum company. He was worse than being bothered by the sales people. Ryan needs to be reprimanded. He was un-cooperative, un-professional, unkind, and unsympathetic, to a woman who is dealing with breast cancer and it's setbacks.

I am mentally and emotionally upset.

once you get the hang of it you'll find that its so much more than just a vacum cleaner, the sales reps in the UK are not as agressive as in the US mainly because they want to lose the old image of pressurised sales, the Kirby sells itself because of what it does, its so many machines in one and beleive me its not a gimmick, and yes it is expensive but you can always negotiate a deal, I'm really pleased with mine

6-24-08 Dug and Corey come out to the house. I was very nice. While they were setting up the vacuum I offered them a beer or two. We joked had a good old time, then they started their little show. They vacuumed most of my carpet and got a bunch of dirt out that I did not know was there. I was impressed and told them that I have one stain to get out of my carpet. I said, "If you could get this stain out, I will be really interested in you product". Well, sure enough they did. They started out with a price of $2400.00. I said that was far too high for anything thats going pick stuff up off my floor. Then, he calls his boss Mike who gives him permission to go down to $1600.00 with two years of bags and a free gallon of shampoo. Now mind you, this is all before my ONE room is complete.

I offered them another beer and that I still thought the price was too high. Again, on the phone with Mike asking for another reduction in price. Well, this went on until about $1000.00. At that Price I stated that I would have to sleep on it. I will not make an impulse buy with such money. Corey started talking about some contest that the Kirby company has going. I dug or Corey were to sell a vacuum the day of the demo they would be entered into a contest for a free trip. I still said no. It was about then that Corey offered me a used Kirby that has only been used once. He wanted to sell it for 800.00 plus my old G4 kirby as a trade in. I would get a Five year guarantee plus the bags and shampoo. So I did it.

I awoke the next morning to the magic stain that just won't go away but some how kirby was able to get rid of it, so I thought. 6-26-08 I went to the Crystal Lake post office and handed them my envelope with my notice of cancellation. Asked the post office of when it would arrive. On Friday the very next day they told me. 6-27-08 Called Kirby and asked if they recieved my notice. Dana said that they have not and that I should try again tomorrow. 6-28-08 Called Kirby asked if they recieved my notice and again Dana said, no we have not. What is your name she asked? I told her and she said that she would lookout for it. 6-30-08 Called Kirby and asked as before. My name is so and so did you recieve my notice. This time I spoke with a Malania. She said as her coworker stated, no we have not please try again later.

7-01-08 Called up Kirby. Asked the same thing as always. Have you recieved my notice of cancellation. This time Dana tells me that she has not gone outside yet to check the mail. I should try back in a half hour or so. Well, this got my spouse fed up and she called up K&G Distributing. They are the ones that sponsor such companies. She told her story about the vacuum and how upset her and I were. K&G (Gina) said they would fax over a complaint and call them to take care of this matter. One half hour later I call back and they are opening my notice as I speak to Malania over the phone. She states that someone would call me the next day to arange for pick up and drop off of the trade in.

6-2-08 Mike calls me up from kirby asking me why I don't like it and what he can do to make me happy. I just wanted the machine to be picked up and the money returned along with the trade in. He offed free supplies, to drop the price. He also stated that Doug and Corey were kinda new and that maybe someone with a little more training could come out. I still said no and asked for a day of when they could pick up. He said the next day would work.

6-3-08 Corey and Doug come to my home wanting another try at the stain. I refused and so they went on to take the new kirby. As they were doing so, Corey told me that he forgot to bring all of the attachments that went with the trade in. I told him that he can come get the new vacumm when he has all of mine. He asked if I was serious and I said Yes I am! He said that he would have to come back the next day with all of my vacuum. I agreed. 6-4-08 Corey never showed. I called his boss Mike and instead I spoke to nick. I told him I had an appointment with Corey to exchange vacuums. He said Corey would call me back. And he did only to tell me that thing were busy and he could stop by on monday.

6-07-08 Monday, Corey is a no show. Corey doesn't return my calls. To be Continued....

To make a long story short, it was a total waste of my time, the sales lady kept going to the bathroom, taking smoke breaks, outside of course, (which we do NOT smoke) but this was still not professional at all, and still made my whole house smell like smoke. I think she took a total of 3 smoke breaks, and two bathroom breaks. She used my phone a total of 6 times, calling her boss to come back, other people for advise, ect. This was not what I expected at all. 4 hours later the hallway she was cleaning was still not finished. I finally asked them to just take their things and leave. They kept pushing, changing the price and trying to sell their product. At 4 hours and 26 minutes they finally exited my house.

To top it all off, they hit my car pulling out of the driveway, and guess what, they didnt stop and let us know, they took off full speed down the road. Of course,the police has since ticketed them and taken care of the issue, they are currently in the process of fixing my car. Come to find out they didnt have a liscens to solicit in my town or county. Then to add more to it, the owner of the store would not even call me back to listen to my complaints. So here my story is heard.

I went up to Selmore Systems in addition to calling multiple times. No one could give me any information regarding my shampoo syster so I left multiple messages in which the owner was to call me back the next day. I never received any phone call. I have a signed contract stating that I paid for the shampoo system and have yet to receive it. I had the Better Business Bureau contact the company and they also got no response. I still have not received it.

I will continue to use Kirby products as long as I can afford to do so; however, I have to agree with most comments regarding the salesmen. Unless you have made the initial contact to setup an appointment (realizing it will be at least 2 hours of your time), do not let them in your home - regardless of what anyone is selling (not just Kirby). If you have anyone in your home that does not leave when asked, call the police immediately. I am not required to be nice to anyone that does not respect my space and privacy. Unfortunately, I have had to use this tactic - just the threat of calling the police was enough to get the person to leave.

The young man salesman was professional,and polite,(Antonio) and there was nothing objectional about his behavior,but I told him that I had just bought a vacuum,and was both happy with it, and not in the market for another one. He took an hour and a half of my time, then his boss showed up. I have never been treated so rudely in my own home as from this lady. She called me names, spoke insultingly about me on the phone to her boss,refused to stop pressuring (threatening)me even after repeated refusals and requests for her to stop. There is no machine nice enough for me to associate with a company who enters my home without permission, insults me and refuses to leave.

Well, she saw a rug and asked if they could fluff it up also stating that they only needed to do one more house and then they could go home. I said as long as it didn't take to long because we needed to put the kids to bed. So she called the boss in the white van, that had NO company logo on it anywhere, and told them to come back. Mind you, she never once mentioned that she was with Kirby Vacuums. I had no clue of that until two guys came up to the door carrying two boxes that said Kirby on them. When I saw that I knew I was in for it.

The guy went into his Kirby sells speech which lasted for 2.5 to 3 hours. By the time he was done I was so exhausted I would have done anything to just get them out of my house. I told them I could not afford this vacuum. The price started out at $2499 and each time I said no they kept lowering the price. They finally got down to $50 payments and I said ok. And I was also promised a floor buffer, since I have hard wood floors, I was promised that within 5 days. They never mentioned I only had 3 days to cancel the contract. Smooth move, huh?

Needless to say they never brought me the floor buffer and when I called to tell them about it they said they tried to deliver it the next night at 8:30, which I know was a lie because I was home all night, we have 3 kids, where would we be at 8:30 at night. They were very rude to the point where the 2 secretaries had me on speaker phone and they were mocking me in the background and eventually hung up on me. I then called back and got The Owner on the phone and he was very charming in the beginning until I told him I wasn't gonna pay for the vacuum and I didn't care if it hurt my credit or not. He went so far as to call me a liar and he said the the sellsmen never promised me a floorbuffer.

I was shocked. I couldn't believe that the owner of the company would treat a costumer like that. I'm still at battle with them over this stupid vacuum cleaner. But I'll be [expletive] if I pay any kind of money to Kirby. And I also failed to mention they didn't have a peddlers license to be selling stuff from door to door and where I live you must obtain one before you can sell anything.

It is now June and I still have not received credit for the return. I called the number they gave me many,many times. I was told they would get back to me, which they never did. I would like the credit of $1,400.00 returned to my charge card or I will take further action

I have been charged a fee from my credit card co. I have taken time out from work to call a number of times. Loss of money, Loss of credit.

I called back on the 11th to check in and see if I got the job. They answered as East West Enterprises... But it was said very quickly, much like in my interview. I'm not sure if that's the name that was used during the interview even. Cheney said it very quickly and immediately moved on to mention that NASA is on their payroll and does their ventilation...

Hours were very vague. She said we could pick our own days off each week, but was vague as to when we'd get there and how late we'd be there.

Also, she said this was the #1 branch in the country or something. For being #1, it sure is a ramshackle dumpy little building. I suppose they're all number one when an orientation is going on?

She also mentioned that they've never had a lay-off, etc etc. Well when everyone helping your company are actually self-employed DEALERS, you don't really have any employees to lay off, now do you? I'm especially glad that I found THIS bit of information before I wasted more time.

I'm very glad that I went with my gut feeling and did some research. I have no idea how I will be paying my bills next month, or if I will even still have a roof over my head. I have wasted far too much time, and these past few days with Kirby have not helped the situation. But it's better than wasting even more time...

Moral of the story would be to never answer a vague ad. I stay far away from the ones screaming EASY MONEY JUST VISIT THIS WEBSITE... So it surprises me now that I actually responded to this one just because it had a phone number. Don't second guess yourself- trust your gut, as it tends to be right in these situations.

tore up driveway by spinning tires throwing gravel all over

Nothing was ever said about warranty or repairs by the sales person, nor did my mother think to ask. My father passed away in October and always handled financial matters, of this nature. It irks me that my mother was taken advantage of due to her age and vulnerability.

Having been in sales myself, I know a hard pitch when I hear one and I called them on it. They kept saying, we can do something for you, like, buy it on credit (90 days same as cash 20% interest) which I absolutely refuse to do. I asked them the price outright-I'm sure they wouldn't have told me. They would not take no for an answer, and I found myself defending my right to say no. They asked me how I pay bills, and I said my husband does, and the sales girl said, Oh, does your husband make all the decisions? I found this insulting and I was almost at the point of tears, but I held myself together. They had promised to clean the entire carpet but as soon as I refused to buy the Kirby they immediately stopped shampooing my carpet. The demonstration took two hours. Ed tried to finish my carpet but his boss was right outside so he couldn't.

I tell you, I would not want to work for them. They are a hard sell and they intimidate people into buying something they can't afford. It's amazing how those pads pick up so much dirt, but the reviews on the Kirby are not so good. I believe I read somewhere that those pads are specially treated with dirt or something. They finally left reluctantly after a half hour of refusal. I told them don't try a sales pitch on me I have done sales, and it doesn't work on me. I told them paying my mortgage is more important than buying an overpriced vacuum cleaner.

With all those pads lying around with all that dust and cat hair, I could feel myself wheezing. I asked Ed to throw them out and he refused, saying his boss had to see them to make sure he did show me I should have thrown them out. They sat there for a good hour and half before they left. They laughed at me and said, that's what's in your carpet, but I can tell you that having it out in the open is far worse. Luckily I recovered. These people are very intimidating and should not be allowed to go around and lie.

Finally I gave in and all but one guy left and he showed me the vacuum cleaner. I told him I couldnt purchase one and he started packing up. He ask for a drink and I walked about 20 feet to my refrigerator to get him a mtn dew and he drank it and left. My problem is he took a ten dollar bill I had just left on my husbands wallet for his work tomorrow. I had just put it there when they came in and I put his cap over it as not to entice the young man.

After he left, I had gone to bed and it dawned on me that ws the only time I left the room and I went to see and he had taken the 10 dollar bill and left the one. I put the one there also because my husband has trouble getting large ones cashed at work. I am very upset. I cant believe he did it. I will tell everyone in the town of leeds about this if it is not returned. The BBB will also get a letter.

The guy proceeds to put the Kirby Vac together, explaining how great it is. I know the machine is good, I sold Electrolux and was qualified as a repairman for Kirby, Hoover, Electrolux, Eureka and Oreck. Two hours later after telling them numerous times I have to leave, they just kept on showing the equipment. I actually wanted a Kirby especially after seeing it at work. It started out at 1698.00, finally got down to 1500.00 with a 390.00 down payment and 1500.00 financed.

I signed the contract, postdated the check for 1 week and they finally left. They did not take my trade in Vac and after they were gone (the salesman wanted to take th boxes but I said no, as I have 3 days to cancel the contract if need be. The box has the MSRP prices on it. I totaled up the prices for the Vac with accessories, a zip brush, shampooer and floor finishing kit and it was 1697.50, 50 cent less that my starting quoted price but included the zip brush and floor finishing kit? I checked on the Internet and boy what a surprise all the negative things about their techniques.

I called them the next morning and ask about the MSRP and they said that is only the suggested prices. I told them I did not get a warranty card and that after further inspection of the Vac, it was not new, had damage to the hood, deep scratches and machine was not clean. This was not a new machine. I also told them about all the accessories I could have bought for less money. They offered to give me the additonal accessories and ask what price I would pay for the stuff. I told them I had stopped payment on the check and I was cancelling the contract under my 3 day option.

I paid 22.00 to stop the check, 16.50 for Express mail so I would know they receive it with in the 3 days and also called the finance company. The sales people did not call as requested until I had stopped the contract. They offered to come get the equipment the next day at 5:00 but then called back to change it to today at 12:00. I am going home at lunch and give it to them, I will request a receipt that they now have the merchandise and will not give it to them till I get my down payment check which they should bring with them.

I will follow up on this complaint site after we see what happens. It took the girl to get in the door, the salesman to show it and the manager to approve the paperwork all during this time they are in and out working other houses in the neighborhood. I am only one of thousands of complaints and while Kirby to me is the best machine out there, I will buy a new one off EBAY for 5-600 dollars not 1698.00. I just won't get the Kirby 3 year warranty but this machine will last a lifetime with only minor repairs, I know, I use to repair them. Sorry to James Kirby, such a good machine, but such sorry salespeople. I do know there are good salesmen/women out there that do a good job and do not pressure the customer, but think about it, the reputation of the other sticks on you too.

I have one and my sister has had the same one for 50 years and the warranty is still valid. She has had everything redone at one time or anohter. How's that for quality? I worked for Kirby in their Cleveland plant until they went to Texas. They have high standards and meet them. The Kirby Cleaner isn't cheap but it can be bargained down. It is cheap for a cleaner that lasts forever.

The girl was sweet, though a bit of an airhead perhaps, the guys were very polite and pleasant enough. When they started their demonstration I just knew I was in for a long time. Ultimately he cleaned maybe a couple of square feet of floor (it did look pretty dirty, I have to admit) including some baking soda that he poured on the floor first. The vacuum seemed to do a tremendous job. But then the sales pitch.

He pleaded with me to help him out to get to Vegas. (What's the big deal?) I told him I don't buy stuff like that, at the spur of the moment, he subsequently told his boss and he was out of there quickly enough. It interrupted my dinner, but my 5 year old son was quite fascinated. He didn't clean any carpet worth mentioning, but he was quite pleasant and friendly enough; you could do worse wasting an hour and a half I suppose. The product looked really good, but the price of $1920 (with a $120 discount, quickly dropped further to $1500, still far from the actual price of $800) is beyond what I would pay to get rid of some dust, at least right now.

So when it was time to clean my carpet he said he wanted to show me numbers first he cleaned about a two by three foot area on my carpet and then did numbers when I told him that I could not afford the payments!!!! He packed up his stuff left my bed unmade and about twenty little white filturs with all the dust and all my baking soda on for me to pick up and remake my bed!!! I had no idea that the kirby cost over 2,000.00 dollers!!!! When I told him I could not affored a extra 40.00 a month he said so if your electric bill went up forty dollers you would have to move??? I think that is very rude and very bad business manners!!!!!

As soon as I saw it was a Kirby salesman unpacking his vacuum I proceeded to tell him that there was no need. See, when i was younger i remember someone trying to sell my grandmother a kirby he was there for over three hours and made her feel very uncomfortable so I went to her house. I saw the demonstration and frankly for the price there was no way plus this guy just wouldn't leave.

So now years later there is a Kirby Salesman in my home. He proceeded to ask if he could demonstrate and I said No...I'm sorry I was very kind but persistent and he begged and begged me tell me that if i just let him show me that he would get money and a trip. I still said No. He was clearly agitated with me but I was not having it. Not only for the fact that i knew if he didn't leave now it would be hours before he left and also. WE JUST LAID BRAND NEW CARPET! Which i told him but he still wanted to show us!

He finally left...but I had to wonder who exactly was this person in my house that just saw all our valuables in our living room and that I just angered? You think there would be some sort of background check on these people who are being sent out into peoples homes. Psh....I knew of a guy a friend of a friend of a friend who sold Kirbys ...lets just say one more strike and he was a FELON. So BEWARE these people could have nothing to loose with a very unclean history. I think this was the most unsettling feeling after this man left. I told my husband to not be so nice next time. Just be careful and don't answer the door.

Yes, we are in a contest to win trips. Yes, we do ask people to help us win by buying. This is how we make our living, by selling the vacuumes. Yes, our machines are available, only through in home demos ( Not on E-Bay, these are not authorized sales and are not backed by the factory warranty). Yes, our demos take a little while, but how are you going to know how well it works, unless you try it and see it for yourselves. This is the only way that can happen.

Kirby has been selling their machines this way for over 90 years. Yes, our in home demo is the one and only time to buy from the guy whose doing all the hard work showing the machine.Yes, we do try to make it affordable. Yes, we do work late hours. No one is home early in the day, so we go out after noon, so we can catch the home owners at home. These vacuumes are the real deal. They really do work.

This guy is very polite and acted innocent and begged to get this so he can go to the companys all expense paid vacation. At the end he called his boss and that guy came and pressed me hard and told me tat he can offer the appliance for $1000 and I refused to buy and he was keep on telling me that I am risking my familys health for $1000 and what will I do if my son get asthma due to the dust, etc and he was very rude, offensive, impolite, agitative.

I have never seen any sales people in my life with these kind of behavior. I told him I do not wish to be pressurized buying something very expensive so I need some time to think, he told me that I was lying, I may not buy his product I told him to stop his verbal abuse and leave. He told something bad about me in Spanish to his other guy and left me home after 2 hours of ordeal.

My carpet is not very clean and I am thinking of purchasing another vacuum from Walmart. At least they vacuum the carpet.

After ten minutes, it was clear they weren't leaving so I called 911 (obviously, to clear them out)...they STILL refused to leave and one Nigerian? guy tried to tell me I wasn't the man of the house and I didn't have the right to throw them out!

I am really upset and I have been reading about salemen from this company abusing elderly people and I want them out of business or in jail where they belong!

He was nice to start with and pulling the whole you need a Kirby because look at all the dirt and dust your vacuum is missing. I was refusing to buy the vacuum and he went to as low as a price of no down payment, and $30 a month. The total for everything would have been $800. I still said know and he wanted to know why. I didn't want the vacuum and I couldn't afford it with other bills I am paying. The boss was getting pushy with trying to get me to buy it and almost guilting me into it. The sales person was trying to win a vacation or prize of some sort. I was getting upset and irritated with the way the boss was acting. I've never seen a sales person that rude before. I wouldn't buy, so the boss was all short with me and telling the rep to pack up and leave. His demo took a good hour to do. All the more reason I wouldn't buy a Kirby.

The estimate is for $782.93 from a local company. Doug wants to pay the company direct and dI don't believe I should have to do that, I am the consumer and he should pay me directly, I can fix the floor on my own.

This was on a Friday and over the weekend, I decided that it was a ridiculous amount to spend on a vacuum and I just couldn't justify spending it with baby #6 on the way. So the very next business day (Monday), I called first thing in the morning to cancel. It was the next day until someone contacted me and it was the same guy and his manager who stopped by my house to offer me an ever better deal to keep the vacuum - the price was lowered to $1200. Still ridiculous and I declined. They packed up the vacuum and left.

Come to find out, my credit card had been charged the same day I cancelled. Merely one day after the purchase - not the 3-4 days I was promised. Their contact states that funds will be returned in full within 10 days. It took me SIX WEEKS to get a refund of $1500. I insisted on them refunding my finance charges on my credit card due to their neglect.

Well, the finance charges were finally refunded, but ANOTHER month later, I am STILL waiting on my other $75. I have called numerous times, each time being told that I just took care of that the other day or some other BS. I have been given numerous case numbers, but I still don't have my complete refund. I even contacted the 800 number and supposedly they forwarded my complaint but that was about worthless. I don't care how good their vacuums are or what price I am offered, I would NEVER deal with this company again.

At this point, I am still out $75 for nothing. Which may not seem like a lot, but for a family of 7 (soon to be 8) it is.

I told him to stop and he gave me the story about needing to shampoo the carpet in order to get paid by the company. I said fine, I'd say he did the job but he needed to go. He just kept vacuuming and showing me the little samples of how dirty my carpet was. Eventually I unplugged the vacuum and told him to leave. He called Veronica back and she tried her hard sales pitch, something about going to Cancun. .

No sale. What deceptive practices. Beware!

In one occasion the kirby representative came to my house to offer i accepted because I also needed guidance in how to use the vacuum that i bought from previously. During the time the representative was at my home he went to use the rest room and I took advantage and saw the box and it had printed on the box 300.00 and I asked him why when I bought the vacuum I didn't keep the box? and he showed me why! he showed me the side of the box and it showed the prices. And he said That's why we don't let the customers keep the box.

The salesman was very nice and acted a little embarrassed that he was sent to our house so late. He demonstrated as quickly as he knew how. He said it usually takes an hour and a half! So the lady lied. After the demonstration, which lasted probably 30 min., the salesman said he had to call his manager. He wanted to use our phone. I assumed it was an 800 number so I gave him our phone. The call wouldn't go through. I realized he was trying to make a long-distance call and we can't do that on our phone. So I let him use the cell phone. We then had to sit and wait on the manager to come and pick him up. The manager was a nice enough man, but we really needed them to get out of the house so we could get the last kid down. (We finally got the two older ones to go on to bed)

He came in and sat down without being asked. He proceeded in small-talk and finally got to the point. He did some figuring and showed them to us. The first price the salesman had given us was $2198. This price was $1100! Isn't that funny! They came down $1000 just like that! I wonder if they would have done that if we would have been interested? Anyway, they FINALLY left after 10:00pm! If I had wanted a Kirby before, I sure don't now!

Because I had a working vacuum cleaner (Rainbow) that worked very well, I decided not to purchase one at that time. Several years went by and I was in need of a new cleaner. I considered a new Kirby by reputation and experience. I was unable to convince my wife that spending $800 on a vacuum was a necessary thing so we bought a $125 cleaner from a large mart. A few months later, it was not working well. A short version of the next few years includes four different vacuum cleaners ranging in price from $125 to $200. When the last of those broke, we bought a Kirby. That was about two years ago. AWESOME machine! It has the BEST suction. Its only downfall is that it weighs more than the cheaper, all-plastic machines. Weight is not a concern once the power is on though. High pressure sales is bad. I do not approve of it. I do however pass on the word from my mouth that there is no better vacuum cleaner for any dollar amount.

My mother is 78 years old, only has use of one arm and can not push the KIRBY around the house. She is so upset about buying this KIRBY she kept it hidden from me until it was too late to do anything about it. She is on a small pension with hardly any money in the bank. Now most of her pension goes to pay for this $5000 vacuum.

I was beginning to be annoyed at the fact that he was holding me captive in my own home. I felt intimated by the man's unwillingness to leave my home. Now I have to warn my 25 friends, whose names and numbers I gave out as referrals, to tell them to tell Kirby to take a hike!

There's more to my story. I worked for them for nearly 2 months, I didn't mind the hours though I felt like a hypocrite ... having my own number on the national "do not call" list. I got sick and spent a week in and out of the hospital. I still wasn't feeling well. I have documentation to ALL of this. I returned to work on a Friday and worked 2 days, but I had to ask for the coming Monday coming because my husband was getting a cardiac catheter and could not be left only in the care of our children because of the anesthesia. They told me sure, no problem, you can have the day off--and just make it up on a day time shift. Tuesday morning I checked my voice mail. It was my training manager asking me to call back before coming in that night. I was terminated for absenteeism.

So let's see, I've read all the reports of the awful treatment to potential customers at the hands of the reps, and I testify that our scripts required us to identify ourselves from Kirby and to offer a free room of carpet cleaning. We were also trained to push the people on the phone to schedule for the next day or two and offer to do another room of carpeting at no cost or obligation if they could help us with our scheduling. I see LIES, DECEIT, POOR BUSINESS PRACTICES, AN OVER-PRICED MACHINE (but an awesome machine), MORE LIES FROM MANAGEMENT TO EMPLOYEES, AND UNFAIR TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES.

If someone calls you from Kirby, HANG UP! If they come to your door, CLOSE IT AND LOCK IT. If they persist at ringing your door bell, CALL THE POLICE. Also, even if you tell the telemarketers to put you on the do not call list... THEY DON'T DO IT! Put your name on the national do not call list, https://www.donotcall.gov/. The page explains your legal rights if they continue to call you.

Physical damage resulting from their unfair treatment of employees... loss of my job has caused a severe financial hardship on my family and at this point I have to turn to public aid programs to even get gas money to search for a new job and I'm not even sure we qualify. Yes, I do know that Illinois is at will hire/at will fire but let's be reasonable here shall we?

Some of their equipment was left behind in my house, so was put out at the curb. One piece of equipment was missing and was turned over to Tulsa County Deputy Charles Gudd who made a report. A second report was made at my neighbor's house where the sales man grabbed for the door handle, but my neighbor lady --- locked the door. And a third Owasso police officer who lives two homes west said they attempted the same at his residence..

A report was made to Tulsa County DA; charges should be pending on the above subjects.

When 2 employees were late for the so called morning meeting (already mentioned you do not get paid to be there), they were told if they were late twice and had any bonuses due to them, they would not get them. They are like a cult who expect 7 days of work out of approx. 12 hrs per day ann expect you to also attend out-of- state, all-day meetings--again without getting paid, but with the offer of free lunch. OH WOW!

This is the worst company to ever be employed with. There only interest is to pressure consumers into buying the Kirby without any regard for either the consumer or their employees. So beware when you receive the call for a free carpet cleaning or floor buff, and remember nothing in life is free. Just say "No". And last but not at all least, to all of you who paid between $1300.00 to $1600.00 or more, if you held out a little longer you have paid $995.00 like most do. BUYER BEWARE. EMPLOYEE BEWARE EVEN MORE!

I phoned John the following week to ask if he received my cancellation. He informed me that he hadn't been back to the office but remembered speaking to me and was sure it was there. He told me they hadn't planned to return to my area but would be returning within about a week and would bring me a check for my refund when picking up the Kirby. I spoke to him again on the morning of 2/26 and was told the same thing. I called again on 3/5 and was given the same answer. On 3/10 I sent an e-mail directly to Kirby per their website and received no response.

On 3/11 I called Customer Service at Kirby to inquire if the distribution company was a valid distributor and was told it was. I explained my situation to the Customer Service Representative who asked if I'd sent the cancellation notice by return receipt or certified mail to prove I'd mailed it. I had not but told her that I'd spoken to the individual at the phone number for the distribution company so he knew I'd mailed it, even though he hadn't been back to his office to receive it. She told me that they would send the distributor a fax and follow up with a phone call if they didn't hear from him.

Additionally, when I spoke to the distributor on 2/19 he mentioned that the machine should self-propel...I informed him that it did not. I also asked if I hadn't purchased the machine if it would be used at the next demo and he told me we don't throw them away. So, if I was the 10th person to see the demo but the 1st to purchase, that means this machine had been used for approximately 20 hours prior to my purchase therefore it is NOT a new machine and should not have been sold as such. The salesperson should have gone to the car and brought me a brand new, never out of the box, Kirby. According to the cancellation policy my money was to be returned within 10 business days of the date the notice was received by the distributor and if the machine was not picked up within 20 days of the date of my notice, it was mine to retain or dispose of without any further obligation. Both of these time frames have passed and I neither have my money nor has anyone picked up the machine. At this point I think the entire deal was a scam, the notice of cancellation is a farce and I will never again trust anyone selling a KIRBY vacuum.

After a very long TWO AND A HALF HOUR demonstration, the manager came in thinking I was actually willing to purchase the product when all I wanted was for all of them to LEAVE MY HOUSE! When I explained to him that the price was too expensive for myself, a college student, to be purchasing a $2300 vacuum, he commented on my Race, and how they normally refuse to sell to anyone who is from India or Pakistan. His exact words were, "Normally if I knock on a door and someone of your kind opens the door, I just tell them sorry, wrong place and leave, because I know how you people are if a company wishes to excel in anything!"

Then they should learn how to become ethically correct! Because of these comments, I would never purchase this product or recommend it to anyone else! I'D RATHER USE MY ORECK! I was very offended by this!

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WASTING YOUR TIME, BEING INSULTED IN YOUR OWN HOME BECAUSE OF YOUR RACE, BEING FRUSTRATED WITH PEOPLE WHO JUST WON'T LEAVE, AND BEING PRESSURED INTO PURCHASING SOMETHING YOU'RE REALLY NOT INTERESTED IN OR ABLE TO AFFORD, THEN OPEN YOUR HOUSE DOORS FOR KIRBY VACUUM SALES REPS! THIS WAS ONE OF THE WORST EXPERIENCES I'VE EVER HAD! NEVER AGAIN!

Of course, the salesman and his manager gave me the whole 'win a trip to Disneyland' routine which I simply ignored. Two hours later they were on their way out the door--but not before they tried to convince me to finance a vacuum cleaner for 24/36 months! I couldn't believe they actually had the nerve to ask me to do that. Even though I did not buy the thing, I still felt violated. I called the number that was left on the note in my door, and the number has been disconnected. WOW! Man, those people do believe a sucker is born everyday....

I do, however, have a twist on my story that I have not seen yet: One of the salesmen, Jesus, offered me a special price, but it was only offered to women, and only when their husbands weren't home. Really! That, and when he shook my hand, he didn't let go, and he said, "Is your boyfriend jealous? What would you do if he came in right now and saw our hands?" I pulled my hand away in mock demonstration and laughed, just to get my hand extricated -- and at this point I really began to question my judement in letting this man into my house. He told me I have pretty eyes. Thanks, but that compliment ain't worth $2,000.

One of the reps came and retrieved the Kirby a few days later and was talking to my husband, telling him that he was dissapointed and that he would have to come back and egg our house. My husband had told him this is not my home. I don't know if they were joking but the rep that picked up the Kirby said he would bring back our old vacuum by the next night. Well no one showed. This was on the 11th of Feb 08.

So I had called the JWL Enterprizes and they said they would have a rep return my property later that day. I waited till the next day and still no one showed, so here it is the 12th and I called JWL again and I talked with this Trevor and he said I should recieve my vacuum no later than the 15th and that if I don't hear from anyone by Friday the 15th to call him back. I waited over the weekend and called Monday the 18th and got their answering machine and left a message for Trevor to call back and waited another couple of days with no returned call. I called again on the 22nd and got the answering machine and again left message with no returned call. Then called again on Monday the 25th of Feb, finally talked to Trevor, and he told me that they had mailed my vaccum on Saturday the 23rd and that I should receive it no later than Tuesday the 26th. Now here it is Wednsday the 27th and I have still not recieved my property.

On there notice of cancellation it states. IF YOU CANCEL< ANY PAYMENTS MADE BY YOU UNDER THE CONTRACT OR SALE< AND ANY NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT EXECUTED BY YOU WILL BE RETURNED WITHIN 10 DAYS. We had until the 9th to cancel, which we had canceled on the 7th and sent the cancellation notice overnight on the same day the 7th and they recieved it on the 8th at noon. They came and got their property by the 10th and here it has been 20 days since and I had not received my property from JWL Enterprises. I just want my property back, it's not like I can just go out and by another vacuum, I can't afford it.

He also signed a contract that was a bunch of goobaly goop. It turned out to be a contract saying he was a contractor for Kirby and he will be working independently. My son does not understand the legal part of being an outside contractor. He went to orientation and training and spent about 10 hrs on that. Then the next day went out for 12 hrs. door to door in not such a very nice neighborhood after dark. (9:00am to 9:00pm) And was left to go do this by himself. He called me in a panic at 7:30 pm scared because no one has picked him up yet after his rounds of door slamming. He had been waiting there for 1 1/2 hrs. I went to check on him and could not find him. Seeing the irresponsibility of the management of this company and how they treat people, I had him quit. A few days later he called his boss to ask if he could get paid for what he did. He Made 3 appointments and 2 call backs. He was told he was not going to be paid anything that he was a contractor. THIS IS CHEAP LABOR! To treat people like this. I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM KIRBY!

My son desperately needed a job and was enthusiastic about it. He has bills to pay. And this WASTED TIME put him back further.

I'm elderly and I should be smarter than a young, high pressure salesperson, but evidently not. They talked me into paying a high price for a product that is much too heavy and not at all user friendly. I wouldn't have another one if it were FREE, yet I paid double price in cash.

Read reviews and comments in ConsumerAffairs before making purchases. I wish I had taken time to read before making this purchase, my bank account would be much larger.

There have been several people around the area questioning me about a vacuum that I supposedly stole...he has really brought my name down, and people who once trusted me now don't.

This young man would not take no for answer. He kept trying to presuade me and kept trying to persuade me. He even made me feel guilty that my kids were sick w/ colds now because I did not have one of their vacuums. And then he went to put on surgical gloves and mask and went into my kids' and my bedrooms, tore off the blankets and pillows from my neatly-made beds, so he can show me the filth we were sleeping in-again, making me feel like an un-fit mother. I continously kept saying no. He then called in his boss/co-worker, where they both were trying to persuade me and even getting my kids in on it-to back me in a corner & cave-in! They made a mess of my living room with all the dirt they picked up, and placed those dirt-filled sheets everywhere. When I was concerned about cleaning it up, he would say why? What is the big deal? That was in your carpet anyway. Who cares if it goes back in, right? He got that dirt everywhere--on my leather couches, my coffee table, etc. He went over board on it, and after almost 5 hrs. later (5:30pm-10pm!), I caved-in. Once my kids started getting fussy that they were hungry and tired, they still wouldn't leave! They said they would wait until I fed my kids so they can finish their sale! It was very frustrating, and I was miserable! I never thought to call the police! They did bring the price down from $1945 to $980 for me, but they probably do that all the time.

Every time I said I want to talk it over with my husband first and if I can just call them, they said it doesn't work like that--buy now or never. But they did let me know that I cancel within three business days. So like I said, I caved-in, it was like no other choice so they can finally leave! They took my old vacuum and my $61 check to cover the taxes, they said, and left the vacuum they used to demonstrate with! So I'm paying for an expensive vacuum that isn't sealed up and that they have used on other homes. And I also noticed that Abel dumped the dirty water, full of dog hair, from the shampooing of my carpet, down my kitchen sink! What a mess he left me to clean up! I felt violated and like they took advantage of my situation of the fact my husband was deployed.

I did cancel the very next day, by calling the Finance Company, as well as sending back the Cancellation notice (w/ a LONG letter, explaining what they did to me) certified mail. They recieved it the very next morning and by that afternoon, the boss from that night was at my doorstep with my old vacuum and my $61 check! Though he couldn't help to tell me by saying I can't believe you wrote that letter. That letter got me into a lot of trouble. Well, I explained to him or had to remind him the hell I went thru that night because they wouldn't take no for an answer. That salesman never apologized for any of it either. I hope not another salesman, esp a Kirby salesman, takes one step on my front step again! I hope they don't take money from my checking account.

I am so shaken up by the whole experience and felt very threatened. I had to cancel my appointments for the day and have had a sizable financial loss.

I was wrongly charged for the Kirby which then put my checking account over its balance and subsequently I was charged an overdraft fee. United Consumer said they would have to contact J&K Distributing and talk to them about how to handle this situation. Someone from U.C would then contact me and work on sending me a check for the fee. But no word on the overdraft fee I was charged due to their wrongful charge.

Salesman also gets frustrated because he got 49 demos completed, and he needs one more to be done to get paid. If not, he will start from the beginning of the month again. (Do a lots of walking from house to house, wait for car to pickup, skip lunch, dog beaten, physical and emotionally exhausted.) From those hidden mystery facts, it will become a predictable result. Most of the time, it was a disaster. Kirby selling strategy: Lie to customer about timing for demo, and force customers to buy the vacuum. My question: Is there another motive behind this kind of sales tactics? Why make an American product look so bad with these kinds of sales strategies? Who set up these plans? Who is responsible for doing this? If you are an American customer, then you can feel something is wrong about this. Don't be trapped in by free gifts or free carpet cleaning. Do not hesitate to say NO. Feel freedom; be a happy American.

I however, I bought this Kirby with the information I knew both from my previous purchase and from the benefits stated.

I have to say I am very happy with the looks of my clean carpet as well as the clean smell.

I gave 2 referrals of friends who I know have been owners of Kirbys.

I hope this puts a different spin on all the negative that was posted on your website. So many times we take the time to complain and we take it for grant it when we are truly satisfied that everyone else was, too.
I will admit it was a very long time consuming demonstration, but was it necessary for me to be equipped with the knowledge to make my decision? I think it was.

I called Mr. E-Posada immediately after the two men left and tried to rescind the sale. He was rude and abrupt and told me he'd discuss it in the morning. He told me he'd call me at 8 AM. Of course, he never did. I called and e-mailed Kirby right away. They were disappointed about my experience, but did nothing. My credit card company, though it is obvious that fraud, duress should have been enough to cancel this sale, is siding with this unscrupulous businessman, because he claims the letter I wrote to cancel the sale got to him 3 days after the sale. I was given 4 different addresses/phone numbers for his official business address. It was not easy to track him down. He told me that he would refuse delivery of the vacuum, even if returned. Further, I am sure I was sold a demonstrator unit. You should see the bedraggled materials that came with the vacuum! The man has been so nasty, threatening and bellicose with me, I have no faith in him as regards getting this product serviced. I do not want it. I never did. I sincerely want to prevent this from happening to anyone else. Kirby is a terrible company.

This Mike then told me that I was to be given a brand new Kenmore instead. It is in no way near the value of my Panasonic. It doesn't have the features that mine had. If I had wanted a Kenmore, I would have purchased one instead of the one I had. I was lied to numerous times, having been told that my original was on the truck. Not only did I not have the 3 days to make my decision, they were unwilling to hang on to mine for the 3 days. They get the tax write-off [or sold it for profit] for the donation of my vacuum. I totally lost on the deal of the demonstration free of charge. What a racket. My message LOUD & CLEAR: DO NOT EVER OPEN YOUR DOOR TO THE KIRBY PEOPLE UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO BE TAKEN!

I was out the difference of the price of the vacuum that I owned ($250), and the one I ended up with (<$100)...to say nothing of the value of my lost time and the consternation.

She then proceeded to clean my sofa, filling up these circle filters. At first she was having a hard time, she was not picking up much dirt at all. Needless to say, about 2 hours later she moved on to unmake my bed and clean my sheets, and then she moved onto vacuuming my bedroom and finally at about 2:45, she started to shampoo my rug. I let her know several times throughout the process that I needed to go and if it would take much longer. She kept saying about another 10 minutes, I need to show you another feature. I let her know about 20 minutes into the presentation that I was not working at the time, and had no intention of buying this vacuum. She continued to disregard my needing to leave. Finally at the end of her presentation, she called over her supervisor, who I told right of the bat that I was very pressed for time now, that I didn't think it would take this long, and that I am not interested in paying $2200 for a vacuum.

She still proceeded to negotiate with me until she finally got the clue. The girl doing the demonstration began to pack up and proceeded to leave me with a big mess to clean up. I rushed out the door right behind her. Upon getting back home, I discovered that my floor was damaged. She had left soap suds sitting on the floor along with spots on my bedroom carpet, a dirty tub that she used to dump the water from the Kirby, and a very dusty carpet in the family room. What a horrible experience. I felt like I had let these people in my home as guests, and they had long overstayed their welcome. I called the office that night explaining what had happened. After almost a week, one of the Supervisors that came that day came in and looked at my floor. She said she knows that the Kirby didn't do any damage and that they have been in hundreds of homes, and nothing like this had ever happened. I explained that I didn't say it was the Kirby, but the suds and water that they left sitting there.

Needless to say I got nowhere with her. I later asked her for her manager's number; she said she didn't have it, but I could call the office. Conveniently when I called the office and said who I was, nobody was available, they were all in meetings and didn't know when they would be back. I can't believe people like this are still in business. They should really crack down on a business like this. Damage to floor, lost 3 hours of my time, dirty floors, spots on carpet.

We are out $900.00 dollars and do not have a workable vacuum.

My shoulder is hurting more now. I cannot use it.

I am pretty mad that I wasted part of my day interviewing with them.

They took my less than 4 month old Kenmore in trade for this new product. I told the rep of my hesitations on simply discarding something that is almost brand new and not cheap. He assured me that I would have 5 days to try the new Kirby and if I didn't like it I could always have the previous vacuum back.

I called the manager at 8AM the next morning, left a message. The manager assured me that he understood my concern and that he would have that vacuum returned to me as long as I could give him something in trade. I still had a previous machine in the basement so I agreed. I have reached out to this manager at least 5 times today- NO ONE has been to my house. He stalled me past the 3 day right-to-cancel.

Knowing that this is the service that goes along with the Kirby name I KNOW this machine was a mistake. Its twice as expensive as the 4 month old vacuum that I can't get back.

The first three times we called no one answered so my husband left them 2 messages and no one ever returned our calls. Finally, on the fourth try, we got through and spoke to someone and asked if we could speak to Hunter Levell who sold me the vaccum but they would not let us speak to him. The person we spoke to said it was to late to return it and they didn't care that we got evacuated and weren't able to call. Even if we would have been able to call, no one could have come and gotten it anyways because it was a mandatory evacuation for Fallbrook, California. Now the main Kirby company is telling me that I am liable for this vacuum because I didn't call in time or mail in the cancellation form at the bottom of the contract. I was never told about the form because I was told to call the listed number if I wanted to cancel and that is what I would have done if I wasn't evacuated.

Because I did not have any control over the wildfires, I should not have to pay for this vacuum, which I would have returned if mother nature didn't interrupt my plans. I do not want this vacuum. Also, I live in a apartment complex, which is a no soliciting apartment complex. I did not know at the time because I am new here, but my apartment manager said the she has never given Kirby associates or anyone at Kirby permission to enter the property. So not only did I get scammed by Kirby but they were also tresspassing.Something should be done about this and someone should be sent to pick the vacuum up because I haven't used it and I don't want it and I am not going to pay for something that is a big scam.

When our Kirby quit running I called the Customer Service, which is a joke, and they told me I would have to take it to a repair shop and pay all the fees. I asked about the 100% guarantee and I was told that there is no such thing, even though I have the papers that state otherwise.

I later looked on the warranty card, and it reads that the Kirby is only warranted for 3 years and not the lifetime. I tried to cancel after three days, and they told me "No.". They lied to me to make the sale.

The sales people helped my husband come in the window because he lost his keys. He was just off the ship from a job, and came home in a cab. So, my husband let him do a promotion and vacumm the rug. It took 3 hours until 5:30. We needed to get to the bank but felt we needed to let them because they helped us.
We did not receive the payment booklet.


We are stuck paying $1500 for a vaccumm that does not work well. The rug shampoo cleaner is not working and the handle fell off the vaccum.

We just want to return it without ruining our credit.

I can't use the vacuum as it is. I need someone to come out to demonstrate the use of the machine.

When I went for training I was told I had to do carpet cleaning demonstrations as a way to advertise the Kirby and to get the customer interested in buying. If the customer was not interested I would still get paid the $400 as a base pay and if they did purchase the Kirby I would make a commission.

The manager asked if I was interested in doing practice demos for friends and family members. I would get paid $10-$15 for each demo even if I did not sell one. I just had to call my manager Ken a few times to let him know I was at the appointment and how everything was going.

I worked all weekend, did six demos that weekend, but no one could afford to buy the $2000 Kirby. That Wednesday when I asked about getting paid the $60, Ken told me he had to wait for his boss Russ to give him the OK. On Thursday I was then told that I should have done more demos and I did not have enough referrals to qualify for the $60, but they paid me $30.

I never did work 9:00-5:00. Some nights I did not get home until 9:30 or 10:00 and I never got paid. When I quit I asked when I could get my paycheck and I was told that Ken misinformed me, they fired him and I would not be getting paid like I was told.

Lost time and got no pay. wasted money on food bought at gas stations. Worked long hours wearing a tie in 85 degree weather 12-to-14 hours a day.

I have been sending e-mails to the web that was on the owners book. We purchased from a sales person and did not have direct contact with the store. I got the address and phone from the telephone book. We live in a new house and when I tried to use the vacuum it made lumps in the carpet. It was demonstrated as being very easy to use and what a fine job it would do in cleaning my house. I must say that it certainly is not.

My floors were damaged to the tune of $2500.00

1)We got a vacuum from an open box ,which we think is used. 2)the products and services which were a part of our agreement were never received. 3Poor customer service.

After many phone calls and a very non-responsive sales person I managed to locate the local outlet for Kirby, which in tucked into a rather dubious arcade in a rather nasty part of town, the person in charge of the store, who turned out to be the "regional manager", asked me a lot of questions regarding the Kirby that I had bought after I had told her that all I needed was replacement bags for the machine. When she opened the cupboard that contained the bags - to my surprise there were a total of three different types of bags all of which would fit the model of the machine.

The price of the bags were double the price that the sales person had said - R47 per bag - when I tried to fit the bag to the Kirby, the bag fell apart. When I tried to return the bag to the shop I was told that it is their policy not to exchange goods even if they are faulty, and she had not given me a sales slip and I didn't have proof of purchase. It appears that the bad sales pitch and after sales service is the same all round the world and not just in America.

It is such a great pity as the machine itself is really good but the attitude of their sales persons and the fact that the replacement parts are not as easily available as they should be make it a very unwise purchase. In South Africa the cost of the Kirby is a whopping R13 000.00.

I find it unfair to denounce the entire product for the actions of a few rude salespeople- there are corrupt and dishonest people in every company. I am sure that no one stops going to a doctor because a few are crooked. No one blames the police for the few of them that accept bribes. Surely no one has denounced their Catholicism because of a few men of the cloth who have taken advantage of alter (sic) boys.

Your "rebuttals" are clearly selected with bias, also. For you to suggest by omission or otherwise that one should buy a Kirby vacuum by some other means, while knowing that Kirby Co, does not sell them other than direct, is also a lie. This is like suggesting that so! meone should buy a Toyota from someone other than Toyota. Kirby does not sell them except through in-home demonstrations, and you know it. And anyone who is wondering can call the Kirby Company direct at 1-800-494-8586 or www.kirby.com, or are you afraid of competition?

Why don't you tell people that Kirby Company only sells direct? Oh, thats right, because then the people who advertise used Kirbys through you (while ommiting to admit that they are second hand) would not sell their "poor quality" machines. If you are so impartial, why not tell people these facts? I dare you to suggest to me a vacuum that cleans better and lasts longer than Kirby, with fewer repairs, and go ahead and point me to the tests that have been published to say so...I'm waiting...

The young salesman did his 2 hour pitch as to what the Kirby could do not even attempting to clean bad area. I kept asking him how much the kirby was (I wasnt going to buy one) he finally said $5,000.

Going into hour 3, I finally said "start cleaning". He attempted to, then stopped & did his spill again. When he finally realized I wasn't going to buy the Kirby, he said he was lying about the $5k, it was only $1900 for me.

I said I had had enough and he needed to finish cleaning. He wouldn't, so I finally got my husband, Bill. He argued with my husband - BAD call. Bill said, "get your crap and get out of our house". He said, "sir, could you just let me use your phone". Bill said "no". He said "sir, I need to call my manager, would you call him". Bill said "no, get out". He said "I don't have a phone". Bill said "NOT My problem, and if you don't get out now I am calling the police".

Just thought I was giving him credit for a demo which he said that is all he wanted and it wouldn't take long. I will NEVER let ANYONE in my home again for ANYTHING.

She had us get our vacuum so she could compare and went through this huge spiel about If your vacuum only picked up 10% of the dirt, wouldn't it be dead to you? I thought that was strange, but then things got stranger. She took the cord of my vacuum and asked us to cut it with scissors (which we refused to do) and then took it and, in her own words, hogtied the vacuum because it was bad. Then she laid it down, told us it was dead, bowed her head, closed her eyes and asked if we wanted to say a few words over the vacuum. Then, get this, she started to hum Taps.

My husband and I were looking at each other in shock this whole time when she takes some dirt she vacuumed up with the Kirby and pours it over my vacuum, saying that my vacuum was now buried. I was blown away. When my husband told her we weren't interested, she ENDLESSLY asked him why not.

I noticed off the bat that Dolores loved to take her sweet time. I swear it took her and her husband a half hour to just take pieces out and put the actual vacuum cleaner together. So much for just a 10 minute demonstration.

She vacuumed the same small part of the carpet about 4 or 5 times and kept showing us the filters being absolutely dirty each time. I'm questioning whether the cleaner contained dirt on purpose to amplify the effect of the carpets being cleaned thoroughly.

She also brought the shampoo in and demonstrated that by putting some suds straight on our carpet. Didn't even bother to clean that stuff up.

From when they stepped in until they actually packed up, they were in our apartment for about an hour. They didn't bother to pick up the several dirty filters that they had used and left them on the floor for us to clean up. But we did get a $20 Pizza Hut coupon for our troubles.

On the plus side, they had only lowered the price of the vacuum once, and weren't really persistant when we said we weren't interested in buying the vacuum today. They just looked very dejected. Dolores even mentioned that if she made two more sales, her and her husband would get a free trip to Puerto Vallarta.

Overall, it wasn't a total nightmare compared to other people's experiences, but it was still quite annoying, and full of lies.

I have no phone number for Kirby Vacuums, & I don't know where they're located.

After a while it seemed as though he was casing my house looking for any alarm system but I didn't bother to question him. I told him many times that I was a housewife and we could not afford a price like that which was $1600. He made a deal with me to try it for 3 days at no charge and to see if I could convince my husband to buy it. I agreed and then asked to use my telephone so he could call his supervisor to come pick him up.

Later on that evening my husband came home from work and he said absolutely not, we could not buy it and he told me to call them back to pick it up that evening. I did call them and they said they were on their way.

The supervisor was the one who came to our door and he immediately started asking my husband how much he paid for his rims and tires on his truck which my husband didn't like.

My husband asked him to take the product and leave and to not come back to this neighborhood. The man proceeded to argue with my husband and told him that he would be back tomorrow and asked my husband what he thought about it. The man was extremely rude and was trying to fight my husband.

My husband told him that he would call the police if he didn't leave right away. The man said he didn't care and said go ahead. So, my husband called the police and the man left.

Our friend tried to do his demo and his manager kept interrupting. He often picked on our friend making fun of him and telling him he was making mistakes. He even went on to tell us the things our friend messed up at previous demos. He then cut him saying you’re too slow I am just going to do the speech because it’s late and he did not really want to be doing this at 9:00 at night. Well guess what neither did we. We had plans and that’s why the appointment was at 6:30!

I told him we would think about it and maybe we would like one. He said it’s a YES or a NO! So I said no we can not afford one right now. He started asking what our credit was and when I said to be honest if I bought one I could not keep up with payments. I was told that even if I don’t pay them, Kirby doesn’t care if you’re late and there are no late fees or anything! He said well I have to call the big boss and let him know. He said don’t be offended but I am going to BS the big boss and say some stuff ..I am just blowing off steam.

When he came back to the house with the vacuum cleaner and wanted to give us a demonstration, we said no. He was insistent about giving us a demonstration. We kept saying no until he angrily grabbed the box of baking soda and left.

I sure hope Kirby vacuum company doesn't encourage this type of 'pushy' sales technique, it's obnoxious.

I was in the other room and became involved when I could hear the young man, Jerome unpacking a box in our living room. I reiterated that we were not interested but he kept unpacking the box as if he didn't hear me or didn't care. As he was unraveling the cord, I told him that if he plugged it in, I would call the police. Even THAT didn't seem to deter him. He kept talking and unpacking. He switched back and forth from smiling and laughing to hostile and aggressive.

I firmly told him that I was not happy and he needed to pack it up and leave. Finally he said, Is it because I'm black?. Eventually he called his boss and told him that I had said I would call the police if he plugged in the vacuum and that the reason I didn't want him there was that he was black.

Although I sat there in my pajamas, halfway through my dinner, he took his time in explaining the finer points of the Kirby, despite our continuous efforts to encourage him to move along and get to the point (the price!). For the first 20 minutes, I half expected that his associate was casing the joint. We spent the next 30 minutes trying to get the salesman to leave. After repeatedly responding "no" to his requests to purchase the product, I politely asked him to leave, finally threatened to call the police, and my brother began transferring his equipment from our living room to the front porch, all to no avail.

This man was intent on a SALE with no regard to our evening or the "No Solicitation" sign in our neighborhood. After 90 minutes of this, his originally pleasant mood had turned to insulting and rude, even accusing us of treating him this way because he was black!, but he finally packed his things and left, muttering that he hoped we enjoyed living in dirt and dust mites.

We repeatedly said we didn't think that we would ever buy a vacuum for that much, so they kept lowering the price saying it was the lowest they could go, they ended up giving it to us for less than $900.00 including taxes, bags,and belts...it is a good vacuum but very unprofessional company.

I actually know someone who has worked for them and has brought along his very pregnant teenage girlfriend along while doing in home demonstrations, can u get any more unprofessional?

At this point, the second salesman was apologetic, but the first one became combative, walking up quickly and pushing his chest against my husband and trying to start a fight. He even spit on my husband! Then he threatened to sue US! He kept saying things like, I'm not afraid of you. Come on! Hit me! I'll sue you! and trying to force a fight.

My husband told him he was going inside to contact the police, and he told the second salesman that he should be angry at the first one for setting him up to come to the door like that. The two stayed across the street for a couple minutes before jogging away down the street.

We did contact the police and a report was made. Unfortunately, as the officer stated, these people come in from other areas of the state and are dropped off in a van to canvass the neighborhood. There is no way to contact their direct superiors to report their behavior, unless you can actually get their identification from them.

Since theee Kirby people come to our neighborhood almost every week, we are now putting up a sign, as directed by the police officer that states, No solicitors. Solicitors are trespassing. And we have been instructed by the police to call them every time that the sign is ignored by any Kirby salespeople.

Then, the lady asked if I knew about Kirby, blah, blah, blah. Then, she asked what room I use most in my house. No one should ask that if they don't know the person. My mom made a comment that it was too late to be soliciting, and that I had company, and the lady made a smart-alek remark about the lady of the house. It was pretty clear that she didn't care about anyone else, except for her vaccuum cleaner, and I told her that I was not interested, and that my 10 month old baby had just gone to sleep, right next to the door when she knocked on it, and that I was trying to get her to go back to sleep.

I am so upset with these people, and they really make a bad name for their company by going out so late at night. I would NEVER support this company. ... I actually thought that she was going to rob me or kidnap my daughter. Anyone can carry a vaccuum around and say that they are from a company.

It is about 2 years old and should be under warranty.

He then used two neighbors names that had previously purchased Kirbys saying they were having their carpets cleaned that day, which was not true. He got my name and later untruthfully said I too was having my carpet cleaned to another neighbor, using my name as well as my neighbors without our permission.

Regardless of how great Kirby Vacuums are I would never buy one because of the poor sales practices we have experienced.

Unfortunately I caved and my friends had to put up with the harrassing phone calls and 2 of them even had the same 3 hour demos I had with the same results. I was so appologetic to them for that.

When he finally started to pack up, I turn my back and he stole my cellphone! I noticed 10 mins after he left. Police said they had many complaints this week of theft by a Kirby rep. Seems like the company keeps letting this happen.

As the sales person was leaving he asked us if we liked living with dust and/or cat and dog hair. Then he asked if we couldn't afford X amount of dollars, we said no, so he tried dropping the price 3 different times.

He wasted 3 full days of his time before they mentioned this. We were so disappointed. They spent all that time telling him how much money he would make and all about the benefits but never mentioned it was a sales job. Isn't it sad when you have to trick people into selling your product?

After the three days they sent them out to try and sell this $1500 vacum to friends and family. And you would not believe the tricks they wanted him to use to get this done. Needless to say he did not go back and they refused to pay him for the time he spent there. I don't know if anything they did was illegal but it should be.

They told me the carpet would dry in 35-45 mins but it did not dry until the next morning plus my carpet has shampoo spots all over it.

I asked for a card when they were here and they never left one so I don't know how to reach them.

Kirby are basically gangsters as are their distributors. I stayed for 2 months and this is how it worked. I had to work from 1o in the morning till 10.30 at nite, 7, yes SEVEN days a week. They told us to practice selling with family and friends before we called strangers, I did this and some of my family bought it, they were given a discount, but I am still embarrased at what I did, even now, but I didn't realise what they were doing.

I told them up front I could not afford it. He said it was not a sales call, so I let them do their pitch. Tony said he needed the sale so he could be promoted to manager at new office.

In the end I decided to buy it because they said I could pay it in monthly installments of $49 for three years on my credit card. Total was $1795.

Unfortunately there was nothing in writing and I now have a credit card balance higher than I would like. I am retired on a fixed income and cannot afford to make large payments to get the balance down. I agreed to buy only because he said I could do it in monthly installments.

When we told him that we could not afford to buy a vacuum for $2,000 he offered a financial plan with 25% APR. He also offered not to take sales tax out of the purchase. When I told him that was illegal, he said it was okay, that he would take care of it. For me, it sounds like a monkey business, very cheezy. Patrick mentioned also, if we will bought the vacuum today, he will go to Las Vegas for free. Why in the world do I need to pay for his trip and entertaiment?

But they didn't explain in order to get the $300 a week you have to do at least 12 demos per week or you basically won't have a check. And to get the vacations you have to sell at least 15 Kirbys a month, and that the commission you get from the deals is awful. I sold a Kirby to a woman for $1000 and got $25 commission. Then I sold another one for a little over $1000 and had $10 deducted because the lady had bad credit so it wasn't an "instant".

Then my supervisor had the nerve to tell me I wasn't dedicated enough for the job but yet I worked every day except Sunday, went in at 9:30 and didn't get home until 10 or 10:30 pm, walk around in the pouring down rain, or the hot sun for hours. If that's not dedication, then I don't know what is.

No damages, but there's no way I'm going to open my door to strangers bearing knives as gifts.