Every single day customers ask our team "what's the best vacuum?" Some people reference a particular brand expecting us to validate their faith in its "quality" and/or "tried and true" heritage. It's sad to say that, more often than not, we cannot agree. 

The reason is because many vacuum brands are no longer who they used to be. Bankruptcies, foreign-corporate acquisitions and the general lowering of standards in engineering and/or manufacturing has changed the face of our industry in the past decade. Vacuums are not alone in this shift as you're likely aware of similar changes in the automobile and appliance industries, just to name a few. Maybe you've noticed something fishy about your household appliances without knowing the politics behind it. Let me guess, the refrigerator or clothes dryer you bought 2 years ago just died, while your last one (of the same brand) lasted 20 years. Sometimes good things happen, though. Did you know that Ford bought out Jaguar in 1989? Downgrade, you think? Some Jag technicians, as my husband once was, would tell you it was a mechanical blessing!

Some brands stood for impeccable quality and durability. Yet after moving manufacturing to China (and lowering their standards) in order to lower costs and snatch up "broader" clientele, they produce junk and have lost their loyal, quality-seeking customers. Some brands were too inflexible, got behind the times, could no longer compete and were bought out by competitors. An economical balance must of course be found in order to survive and keep customer loyalty. The point is that, as a consumer, it pays to do some serious homework before you make a major purchase like a car or household appliance. And I don't just mean reading blogs or asking your neighbors what they have. Sometimes you need to dig deeper. Remeber that appliances and vehicles are complicated mechanical devices that not only can vary greatly in their intended performance, but will require repair and service. So it's best to do a "background check" on many factors, for whatever gadget is in your sights. For instance, it's just silly to buy a certain model Toyota if it has a known recall, and/or if your nearest authorized service dealership is 70 miles away. Similarly, why would you buy a vacuum that (although it looked awesome on TV) cannot clean the types of carpeting you have, needs more maintenance than your hairstyle, and cannot keep your child's allergies under control?  

Consumers also need to be VERY careful what they ask for, and complain about. Manufacturers do listen and make changes in their products in with the hope of winning your business again. In the vacuum cleaner world, the TOP 2 consumer requests are for a vacuum that is both cheap and very lightweight. Manufacturers have granted this wish and what do we have now? Vacuums produced in China (bye bye American jobs) that cost less than single date-nite dinner. They're so flimsy and ill-fitted that they spew dust, shatter upon modest impact and must be replaced almost every year. After ill-fated attempts to repair a customer's China-vac, we sometimes have to give up and help them purchase something new. But I (secretly) cringe when they tell me "I don't want to spend much" and "I want it light!" Nothing learned, apparently. 

Back to the brand identity crisis issue....

Why should you care to dig into a brand's background and to see who they are and how they operate? Because it determines the quality of what they produce, how well they are able to maintain products post-manufacture and reflects on the integrity of that which they expect you to trust. For instance, did you know that Hoover went bankrupt 2-3 times and was ultimately bought up by "TTI," a Chinese corporation? Does that change the way their products are produced, distributed and maintained? You bet! I know first-hand because Queen Vacuum has been an authorized dealer for this brand for over 50 years and has muddled through all these difficult changes.  

Now let's talk about Electrolux brand vacuums. Everyone "knows" that Electrolux is the best, right? "They've been around so long and last forever." "My grandmother and mother both received an Electrolux as a wedding gift" some recall. Because of that warm memory and affinity for the brand, newer generations feel a sense of excitement and pride to purchase "Electrolux" products. Please keep in mind that we, Queen Vacuum, are an authorized Dealer/Service/Warranty station for Electrolux Home Care Products! We are in no way looking to disparage the product or brand we contractually represent. However, the facts are the facts, and we make no attempt to hide them...

• The 

  Electrolux company, as we all knew it, SOLD their NAME to the
  Eureka Vacuum cleaner company about a decade ago.
   
• The old company re-branded to become Aerus and still sell vacuums very similar to the classic tank vacuums we all loved.  
• Eureka changed its name to Electrolux Home Care Products, North America. Under that umbrella they produce three main lines of product. 
• They give the "Electrolux" name to their higher-end vacuums. The regular, domestic vacuums are labeled as "Eureka." Their commercial/professional product line of vacuums bear the name Sanitaire. 

So...If a lady comes looking to buy an Electrolux "like grandma had" because she wants to buy a quality product to take the best care of her family, we commend her! Maybe we're old-fashioned, but we feel that's a great outlook and the right thing to do. From there, we could very easily keep our mouths shut, sell her a $500 "Electrolux" and hope for the best. But she would not be getting anything like Grandma's machine. So instead, we bore her with the story (above), show her some truly premium vacuums as well as some other options, then see what she's comfortable buying. 

Perhaps you've never thought it important to consider or research certain pre-purchase factors. WHO are you really buying from? WHERE is it made? HOW does it work? WHEN and WHERE does it need to be fixed? WHO can I trust to sell me the correct model? It is so important to ask the correct questions from the start that, if you haven't picked up some helpful guidance from this article, perhaps you'll at least think to check with an expert the next time you set out to make a big purchase. Don't be afraid - most good salespeople really do have a conscience! A big one-time sale is always nice. But a good reputation, a happy customer and loyalty/repeat business is waaaay more important in the long run.  As a salesperson myself, my goal is simply to match my customer up with the most correct product (within whatever budget you set) based on the desires and challenges you present. Whether it be a vacuum cleaner, dishwasher or sportscar - buying the wrong product for you notoriously wastes your time, money and yields very disappointing results. Indeed, the world is lucky that there are still a few smaller, expert-owned-and-operated stores and dealers (like us!) to help you navigate those tricky retail waters.