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  • Report:  #18902

Complaint Review: Kirby G5 - Indianapolis Indiana

Reported By:
- Indianapolis, IN,
Submitted:
Updated:

Kirby G5
2415 Directors Row Suite N Indianapolis, 46261 Indiana, U.S.A.
Phone:
317-390-2000
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?
I have had my kirby for a few years and I have enjoyed the services rendered by such a fine and expensive cleaning system. But now that something has broken I have discovered that the Lifetime Warranty is not for a Lifetime after all only until something breaks. I have called and visited two kirby distributors to find that there a cost involved in repairing my vac. The information is not misleading but an outright untruth

Darlene

Indianapolis, Indiana


8 Updates & Rebuttals

Chrissy

Dover,
Arkansas,
United States of America
Warranty

#2Consumer Comment

Wed, June 01, 2011

The paperwork my boyfriend got tonight specifically states that he has a limited 3 yr warranty even though they assured him it is supposed to be a lifetime warranty.  It also goes so far as to state that he has 3 days to cancel the contract, which he is, and after that (even if it's day 4 of ownership) he is responsible for paying $175. plus any service fees.  He was also sold the vacuum at a "bargain" of $3100.  That does not seem like a good deal to me.

Report Attachments

Robin

United States of America
rebuild program

#3General Comment

Thu, July 15, 2010

My mother in law got her kirby back in the 50's and it went through the kirby rebuild program a few years ago for free but I have  a G4 15 years old and I asked about the rebuild program and it is going to cost me 230.  So from what I can tell the lifetime warranty was good back in the 50 but now it is no good.  personally I would just go on ebay and get a new one for 600 or so  and go from there.  That is what I have to do because mine broke.


Kirbykicker

Ingleside,
Illinois,
U.S.A.
Victim of their Brainwashing Training program

#4Consumer Comment

Tue, January 27, 2009

I too sat in on their Brainwashing.....Kirby of McHenry County,Il. (K&G Distributing Co.)6217 FACTORY ROAD ....was told repeatedly that I "would not be selling" but rather be a "Customer Represenative"....."Who would like to make $400+ wk representing customers?" We were also told the customer had already been contacted.....lol From the outset, there was alot of early fundamental high pressure tactics shown and APPLIED on the TRAINEE'S (like planting the seed,building up to the oppurtunity of furture pressure) To begin with after a 4:30pm interview I was told to call at 8pm to see if I was hired. He didn't know told me to come in anyway. The next day began at 10:45 with sitting in chairs (w/o table) for 5+ hrs (1-15 min break) for training. Only after 4+ hrs was the term **** SALE**** used. Then it was joked about indicating (trainee would have to be a fool to question).We were sent home with strong pressure to find 8 places to demonstrate the vacuum. We were to promise and return with name/address of locations. For a demo we had not yet even done ourselves ! I fully agree with the understanding perspective. The was a MAJOR push on the dirt and filth of a common mattress. You'd think we were going to SAVE THE WORLD !...with the attacking vaccum.... Anyway, I wonder if they KIRBY has heard of the TRANSIANT Merchants License lololol bet they have. It read .....IN PART AS FOLLOWS "Transient Merchant Act of 1987". (Source: P.A. 85-600.) (225 ILCS 465/2) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 1652) Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act: "Transient merchant" means any person who is engaged temporarily in the retail sale of goods, wares or merchandise in this State and who, for the purpose of conducting such business, occupies any building, room, vehicle, structure of any kind, or vacant lot. However, this Act does not apply to any person selling goods, wares or merchandise which are raised, produced or manufactured by him, to any person selling vegetables, fruit or perishable farm products at an established city or village market, to any person operating a store or refreshment stand at a resort, to any person operating a stand or booth on or adjacent to property owned by him or upon which he resides, to any person operating a stand or booth at a State or county fair, or to any person operating a stand or booth at a trade show, exposition, convention or similar event. This Act does not apply to any person holding a valid license, issued by a county or municipality, to engage in retail sales. "Itinerant vendor" means any person who transports tangible personal property for retail sale within this State who does not maintain in this State an established office, distribution house, sales house, warehouse, service center or residence from which such business is conducted. However, this Act does not apply to any person who delivers tangible personal property within this State who is fulfilling an order for such property which was solicited or placed by mail or other means. This Act does not apply to any person holding a valid license, issued by a county or municipality, to engage in retail sales. "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, firm, association or other entity. "New and unused property" means tangible personal property that is acquired in the ordinary course of business by the unused property merchant directly from the producer, manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer that (i) has not been used since its production or manufacture or (ii) is in its original and unopened package or container, if the personal property was packaged when originally produced or manufactured. (Source: P.A. 91-874, eff. 6-30-00.) (225 ILCS 465/3) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 1653) Sec. 3. It is a violation of this Act for any person, either as principal or agent, to conduct business as a transient merchant or itinerant vendor in this State without first complying with the requirements of Section 2a of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act by obtaining a certificate of registration and by posting bond or other approved security, and without having obtained a license under this Act. (Source: P.A. 85-600.) (225 ILCS 465/4) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 1654) Sec. 4. (a) Any person who wishes to obtain a license as a transient merchant or itinerant vendor shall file a written license application with the appropriate licensing agency as provided in this Section. (b) (1) The corporate authorities of a municipality of more than 500,000 persons may designate a municipal office or department as the licensing agency. If such a licensing agency has been designated, a transient merchant or itinerant vendor intending to do business in such incorporated area shall file his license application with that licensing agency. (2) If the applicant intends to transact business in an incorporated area which is not within the jurisdiction of any police department or in an unincorporated area, the application shall be filed with the office of the county sheriff whose jurisdiction includes the area in which business is to be transacted, and such office shall be the licensing agency. (3) Except as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection, if the applicant intends to transact business in an incorporated area within the jurisdiction of a police department, the application shall be filed with that police department and such police department shall be the licensing agency. (c) The license application shall include the applicant's name, permanent business address (which must include a street address), residence address of the principal (and, if the applicant is a corporation, the residence addresses of its officers), the location at which the applicant intends to do business, the nature of the business the applicant intends to conduct, a copy of the applicant's certificate of registration under the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, a complete inventory of the goods the applicant intends to offer for sale, and a list of all licenses to conduct business as a transient merchant or an itinerant vendor obtained by the applicant in this State in the 12 months preceding the date of filing of the application. (d) The applicant shall file with the licensing agency a surety bond or shall make a cash deposit unless waived by the unit of local government of which the licensing agency is a branch. The amount of the bond or deposit shall be equal to 50% of the wholesale value of the merchandise that the applicant intends to offer for sale; however, the amount of the bond or deposit shall not be less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000. A unit of local government may, by ordinance, waive the requirement of posting a surety bond or cash deposit. (e) The licensing agency shall transfer said deposit or bond to the Attorney General of this State within 14 days after the applicant ceases to do business in its jurisdiction, and the Attorney General shall hold such deposit or bond for 2 years for the benefit of any person who suffers loss or damage as a result of the purchase of merchandise from said person licensed under this Act or as the result of the negligent or intentionally tortious act of the person licensed under this Act. The Attorney General shall pay any portion of the bond or deposit to any person in accordance with the order of a court without making an independent finding as to the amount of the bond or deposit that is payable to that person. Any balance of said deposit held by the Attorney General 2 years after the expiration of a license of a person under this Act shall be refunded to the person. (f) A license issued under this Act shall expire on December 31 of the year it was issued. The licensing agency may collect a license application fee of $100 from any person wishing to conduct business as either a transient merchant or itinerant vendor under this Act. (Source: P.A. 85-1267.) (225 ILCS 465/5) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 1655) Sec. 5. If any person makes retail sales as a transient merchant or itinerant vendor without having obtained a license under Section 4 of this Act, the licensing agency may hold the inventory, truck or other personal property of the person until he obtains a license to conduct business as a transient merchant or itinerant vendor. If the property has been held by the licensing agency for more than 60 days and the person whose property is being held has not obtained a license under Section 4 of this Act, the licensing agency, or the unit of government of which it is a branch, office or department, may petition the circuit court for an order for the sale of the property being held. If the court finds that the person whose property is held has not obtained a license under Section 4 of this Act, the court may order the licensing agency or unit of government to sell the property. Proceeds of the sale of the property, less reimbursement to the licensing agency of the reasonable expenses of storage and sale of the property, shall be deposited in the treasury of the county, city or other unit of government of which the licensing agency is a branch, office or department. (Source: P.A. 85-600.) (225 ILCS 465/5.5) Sec. 5.5. Flea market; prohibited sales. No person at a flea market shall sell, offer for sale, or knowingly permit the sale of baby food, infant formula, or similar products or any pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter drugs, cosmetics, or medical devices. This Section does not apply to a person who keeps available for public inspection an identification card identifying him or her as an authorized representative of the manufacturer or distributor of any pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter drugs, cosmetics, or medical devices, as long as the card is not false, fraudulent, or fraudulently obtained. For purposes of this Section, "flea market" means any location, other than a permanent retail store, at which space is rented or otherwise made available to others for the conduct of business as a transient merchant or an itinerant vendor as defined in this Act. (Source: P.A. 89-226, eff. 1-1-96.) (225 ILCS 465/5.6) Sec. 5.6. Receipts for the purchase of new and unused property. (a) An unused property merchant must maintain receipts for the purchase of new and unused property purchased or acquired on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. The receipts must contain the following information: (1) the date of the transaction; (2) the name and address of the person, corporation, or entity from whom the new and unused property was acquired; (3) an identification and description of the new and unused property acquired; (4) the price paid for the new and unused property; and (5) the signature of the seller and buyer of the new and unused property. (b) It is a violation of this Section for an unused property merchant require


Brian

Chicago,
Illinois,
Common Sense?

#5UPDATE EX-employee responds

Tue, October 01, 2002

As a former Kirby cadet, I must say that the center I worked for relied on the fact that people are trusting. I was lured in by a help wanted ad: "Carpet Cleaners Wanted." For four days, we were taught how to use this "fabulous" machine with which we would be cleaning the "doctors' and lawyers'" homes. On the final day of training, they finally dropped the Warren Buffet and carpet cleaning schpiel, and got down to the point. How to sell this "fabulous" machine to 1) rich lonely housewives, 2) rich lonely housewives when their husbands were present, and 3) immigrants who keep money under their matresses and don't speak English well. We were taught how to not answer questions (just the good ones). We were taught how to take advantage of certain circumstances (language barrier). And then we were told to subject our friends and families to the demonstrations (who is going to be more forgiving of a bad demo. and still buy?). Having gone through that training, I think it's shameful that you're accusing Darlene of being taken. Is it really her fault if a stranger is in her home, trained in the art of keeping her of center? I personally don't blame a dead body for being murdered. Common sense or not, I was trained to be a con artist, and so was everyone else in the NW Chicago center. Just as a quick epilogue, I did the demo for my parents. The shampooer did not work on our carpets, and the tile cleaner discolored our tiles. As I was quitting and returning the equipment, the manager tried to charge me for the materials I used during the demonstration. I told him to go do something to himself and left.


Christine

Niantic,
Connecticut,
Lifetime Warrenty

#6REBUTTAL Individual responds

Thu, May 16, 2002

In your first sentence, you stated you have had your Kirby for a few years. Well, the lifetime warranty IS a lifetime warranty. However, the terms of the warranty are as follows: For the first 3 years after your purchase, you don't pay for the parts or the labor. After that 3 years, the only thing you pay for is the part which the most expensive part is $65. If this information wasnt offered to you by the salesman, common sense would be to ask for details. As for you being so surprised that there is a fee to fix your machine...I mean really, nothing is for free. Every warranty has some kind of fee whether it be you pay for the part and/or the labor. (Just be thankful they dont charge you for the labor considering its approxiametly $50 an hour!)


Christine

Niantic,
Connecticut,
Lifetime Warrenty

#7REBUTTAL Individual responds

Thu, May 16, 2002

In your first sentence, you stated you have had your Kirby for a few years. Well, the lifetime warranty IS a lifetime warranty. However, the terms of the warranty are as follows: For the first 3 years after your purchase, you don't pay for the parts or the labor. After that 3 years, the only thing you pay for is the part which the most expensive part is $65. If this information wasnt offered to you by the salesman, common sense would be to ask for details. As for you being so surprised that there is a fee to fix your machine...I mean really, nothing is for free. Every warranty has some kind of fee whether it be you pay for the part and/or the labor. (Just be thankful they dont charge you for the labor considering its approxiametly $50 an hour!)


Christine

Niantic,
Connecticut,
Lifetime Warrenty

#8REBUTTAL Individual responds

Thu, May 16, 2002

In your first sentence, you stated you have had your Kirby for a few years. Well, the lifetime warranty IS a lifetime warranty. However, the terms of the warranty are as follows: For the first 3 years after your purchase, you don't pay for the parts or the labor. After that 3 years, the only thing you pay for is the part which the most expensive part is $65. If this information wasnt offered to you by the salesman, common sense would be to ask for details. As for you being so surprised that there is a fee to fix your machine...I mean really, nothing is for free. Every warranty has some kind of fee whether it be you pay for the part and/or the labor. (Just be thankful they dont charge you for the labor considering its approxiametly $50 an hour!)


Christine

Niantic,
Connecticut,
Lifetime Warrenty

#9REBUTTAL Individual responds

Thu, May 16, 2002

In your first sentence, you stated you have had your Kirby for a few years. Well, the lifetime warranty IS a lifetime warranty. However, the terms of the warranty are as follows: For the first 3 years after your purchase, you don't pay for the parts or the labor. After that 3 years, the only thing you pay for is the part which the most expensive part is $65. If this information wasnt offered to you by the salesman, common sense would be to ask for details. As for you being so surprised that there is a fee to fix your machine...I mean really, nothing is for free. Every warranty has some kind of fee whether it be you pay for the part and/or the labor. (Just be thankful they dont charge you for the labor considering its approxiametly $50 an hour!)

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