Kirby Company

Infobox Company
company_name = Kirby Company
company_
company_type = subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway
foundation = 1914
location = Cleveland, Ohio
industry = Consumer products
products = Vacuum cleaners
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
parent = Berkshire Hathaway
subsid =
homepage = [http://www.kirby.com/ www.kirby.com]
footnotes =The Kirby Company is a manufacturer of vacuum cleaners and home cleaning accessories, based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is a subsidiary of the Scott Fetzer Company and part of Berkshire Hathaway. Dealers are located in several countries throughout the world. Since the 1920s, Kirby's products have been sold only door-to-door using in-home demonstrations. [http://www.kirby.com/Portals/0/kirbystory.html The Kirby Story] from the company's website] Kirby vacuum cleaners have a retro look reminiscent of a 1920s model. The company's cleaners were often described as effective in cleaning but heavy and hard to use until the development of a self propelled function introduced in the G Series making cleaning much easier. [ [http://www.vacuumcleanertalk.com/kirby_vacuums.html] ] The company's door to door sales techniques are repeatedly criticized both for pressuring buyers with an expensive product and for making it difficult for sellers to make money. [http://www.consumeraffairs.com/in_home/kirby_pests.html] [http://www.consumeraffairs.com/in_home/kirby_elder.html] [http://www.consumeraffairs.com/in_home/kirby.htm] [http://www.cockeyed.com/citizen/kirby/kirby.html]

History

The first Kirby vacuums were designed by Jim Kirby for George Scott and Carl Fetzer after World War I, although the Kirby name was not used on a Vacuum Cleaner until the 1930s.Fact|date=January 2008

In 1970, input from Kirby Distributors, Dealers, management and customers guided Kirby engineers in developing the Kirby Classic. The model was an instant success, with soaring sales, forcing the company to expand its manufacturing facilities outside of Cleveland for the first time. In 1972, Kirby West began operations in Andrews, Texas. The facility doubled the company’s manufacturing capabilities.Fact|date=January 2008

Warranty

The Kirby warranty varies depending on the model sold, but always has the lifetime factory rebuild plan. The warranty on the current model, the Sentria, is a three-year factory warranty excluding wear and tear. After the initial warranty expires, the rebuild plan is activated that is good for the lifetime of the original purchaser, in which the owner can have the Sentria completely restored to its original condition for a price determined by the United States Consumer Price Index (currently $175), plus shipping cost. In addition, if during this time the Kirby is damaged in a fire, the Kirby company will replace the vacuum with the current model for the same fee. In both of these instances, a new 1-year warranty comes into effect.

ales practices

ales representatives

Kirby uses a rank structure where newly recruited sales representatives perform sales and demonstrations.

Sales representatives are encouraged to be motivated while working at Kirby, sing motivational songs, listen to motivational speeches, and are rewarded with prizes and sales medals.

*In the UK, sales representatives or 'dealers' as they like to be called are under extreme pressure to make sales, and under even more pressure to obtain referrals or leads. The salary offered is £1500/month (2008) but only if they can satisfy certain criteria which is, perform 50 demonstrations per month. They normally perform 2 demonstrations per day during the week, one at 6pm and another at 8pm, however it is quite common for a demonstration to 'run over' thus affecting the time they arrive at the second demonstration. On weekends the dealers are expected to fit in between 6 and 8 demonstrations however it is unlikely that they are lucky enough to manage even 6 demonstrations.

*Because it is unlikely that they can manage to perform 50 demonstrations in a month, and obtain 50 leads per day, some managers will not allow their dealers to demonstrate if they do not fulfill their quota of referrals. It is rare that the dealer receives his £1500 salary despite working from 9am till quite often 10 or 11pm, (from 9am to 6pm the dealers are going door to door offering 'free' raffle tickets in which one of the prizes is a complimentary carpet shampoo), they aim to obtain at least 50 leads from this exercise per day but it is extremely difficult and tiring to do so.

*Kirby dealers are employed by local distributors on a 'self employed basis', this is mainly to avoid the maximum working hours regulations and it isn't long before the dealer burns himself out after working 12-14 hour days 7 days a week.

*Staff turnover is huge, sometime up to 70 trainees per month, 90% of trainees leave within the first month of employment

*There are numerous reports of Kirby salespeople being taught high-pressure and abusive sales tactics, being mislead about pay and bonuses and misleading consumers about the sales contracts. [http://www.consumeraffairs.com/in_home/kirby.htm]

ales practices

Sales procedures vary with each dealer, but the basics include:

*"Canvassing," in which a prospective neighborhood is solicited. The target demographic is normally a middle or upper middle class home with owners who are employed and have satisfactory credit. Salesmen often pitch that they are "demonstrating" or "promoting" a free vacuuming or carpet shampoo cleaning rather than soliciting a product.

*The salesman visits the customer's home and vacuums the customer's home with his/her current cleaner and the Kirby, using various techniques that purport to show the superiority of the Kirby. (The Kirby's suction is often demonstrated while its bag is removed and replaced with demonstrations pads as per to show the performance of the machine and the dirt pulled... As the suction is established prior to entering the bag, this does not affect the suction in any way what so ever. [http://www.consumeraffairs.com/in_home/kirby.htm] ) Airflow, which is hindered by up to two thirds while this apparatus, called the "Dirt Meter," is installed, IS affected.

*An initial price is offered to the customer. The Kirby is presented as a long term investment or a home care system, superior to other vacuums. Either a manager is brought in to the demonstration, or the salesperson may call their manager to offer higher discounts until the customer is able to pay by cash or use a payment plan. [http://www.consumeraffairs.com/in_home/kirby_pests.html Neighborhood Pests] ] The price a Kirby is initially offered at may be up £2000 in the UK [http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/vacuum-cleaner/kirby-gsix-vacuum/400285/] and the majority of Kirby's are sold on credit with interest rates of 18% to 25% [http://www.vacuumcleanertalk.com/kirby_vacuums.html]

*A three day return and deal cancellation period is promised to US customers.

*In the UK there is a 14 day return policy.

Financing

*"Purchasing Plans" offered are actually loans that can improve or degrade your credit rating, depending if repayments are made. Just like any other loan.

Products

Model history [ [http://www.137.com/kirby Kirby Model History] ]

*Ezee Vacuum Cleaner (1914-1919)
*Vacuette Wireless (1919-1930)
*The Vacuette Electric (1925-1928)
*Scott and Fetzer Sanitation System (1928-1934)
*Kirby Model 1C (1935-1937) Gray and Black
*Kirby Model 505 (1945-1947) Gray, Black and Red
*Kirby Model 508 (1948-1949)Gray, Black and Red
*Kirby Model 509 (1949-1950) Gray, Black and Red
*Kirby Model 510 (1950-1951) Gray and Red
*Kirby Model 516 (1956-1957) Gray and Red
*Kirby Dual - Sanitronic 50 (1965-1967) Sirrocco (Tan)
*Kirby Dual - Sanitronic 80 (1967-1970) Avacado (Green) The first model with a substantial redesign was the Kirby Classic.
*Kirby Classic (1970-1973) Chocolate Brown w/ Gold Bag
*Kirby Classic Omega (1973-1976) Rosewood Brown w/ Tan bag
*Kirby Classic III (1976-1979) Red w/ Plaid bag
*Kirby Tradition (1979-1981) Royal and Navy BlueThe Kirby Tradition was first Kirby model to feature disposable paper bags, notably later than other vacuum manufacturers.
*Kirby Heritage (1981-1984) Medium Gray and Scarlet Red, the last Kirby to be fitted with the Sani-Emtor and now optional shake-out bag; introduces the Turbo Brush, Turbo Sander, and Turbo Groom
*Kirby Heritage II (1984-1987) Black and Red w/ Gray and Red Kirby bag; introduces the Zippbrush, smaller rug nozzle and the new "Mini-Emtor"
*Kirby Heritage II Legend (1987-1989) As Heritage II but with a design on the handle and with "Legend" on the belt lifter
*Kirby Legend II (1989-1990) Maroon and Black w/ Maroon and Gray Kirby bag, handle design as Heritage II Legend but with new color scheme & with "Legend II" on the handle and the "Kirby" logo on the belt lifterAnother substantial redesign from the ground up, introduces the patented TechDrive Power Assist self-propelled feature which eliminates 90% of the effort required to move the Kirby back and forth.
*Kirby Generation 3 (1990-1993) Alabaster White and Gray w/ Gray stripes on bag and handle
*Kirby G4 (1993-1997) Stone Gray and Periwinkle Blue w/ G4 pattern on bag; introduces the patented Micron Magic filtration system
*Kirby G5 (1997-1999) Burgundy and Gray w/ G5 pattern on bag
*Kirby GSix, G2000, and G2001 (1999-2002) Black Onyx, Yellow and Gray w/ G Six pattern on bag; introduces the patented and redesigned Micron Magic HEPA filtration system
*Kirby Ultimate G (2002-2003) Twilight Gray and Yellow w/ Ultimate G pattern on bag
*Kirby Diamond Edition (2003-2006) Twilight Gray and Yellow w/ Diamond Pattern on bag and handle
*Kirby Sentria (2006-Present Day) Gray and Red w/ Sentria pattern on bag; different handle shape and belt lifter modification

Logo history

*"First Logo" (1935-1953) The first Kirby logo was founder Jim Kirby's own handwritten signature against a circle, and was used from 1935 to 1953 (it was slightly modified in 1950).
*"Second Logo" (1953-1963) The follow-up Kirby logo featured a modernized Kirby cursive logo, and was still inside a circle shape.
*"Third Logo" (1963-1969) Although the Kirby script logo was unchanged from 1953, the shape the script is set against is now an oval instead of a circle.
*"Fourth Logo" (1969-1990) A very-abstract looking script of the Kirby name. The K features a stem on the upper part while the Y has this stem on its lower part, both of which extend through the lower-cased r.
*"Fifth and Current Logo" (1990-present) The Kirby name is in all-caps and is styled in a futuristic stretched-out font.

Kirby products online

Kirby vacuum cleaners, new and used, can be found on eBay for prices ranging from $200 to $1900 for recent models. However, such sales are unauthorized by Kirby and do not carry any warranty. Some units originate from distributors that have left the business and are selling their remaining units at wholesale prices, and people selling reconditioned units.

Occasionally, Kirby distributors that are currently in business will sell their units on eBay. The Kirby Company itself is known to buy or have another distributor buy units off of the Internet to trace back the serial number. Once the units are traced back to a Kirby distributor that is currently in operation, Kirby usually terminates the distributor, due to the company's strong preference not to have its machines sold on the Internet or at wholesale prices.

References