Kirby G5 / 6 / 7 Review

Overall Rating

Kirby offer a yearly maintenance contract, this year the mechanic brought along a sales rep who pushed my parents into buying a new Kirby hoover. My parents initially told him they did not want a new hoover, but eventually gave in to the salesman who refused to take no for an answer and eventually they yielded 'just to get him out of the house'!

The new hoover cost over £1200 and my parents were so embarrassed that they had fallen for the salesman's aggressive selling tactics that they did not inform their children until very recently when we were told that my mother had fallen down the stairs trying to use the new hoover.

The sales rep said it would be easier to use than the old one as the new one had some sort of self-propulsion; six months down the line they have only used it four times, it is too heavy for my mother to use, she is nearly 80 and they feel ripped off. I have taken this up with Kirby as I feel they have been victims of inappropriate selling.

Kirby's response was that they can't discriminate against the over 80's when selling their products! I had thought Kirby to be a reputable company but am now left feeling that they use heavy sales tactics on elderly people and wouldn't recommend anyone let their sales reps in! Needless to say I shall be taking this to 'Which', 'You and Yours'etc...........watch this space Kirby!

Members' Comments oncontrary girl's Review

• Woollf on 25th Mar 2008

  I totally agree with your comments about the company! I have just found out that my mother, aged 77, bought a Kirby for £1490, plus they took away her perfectly working Dyson "as a deposit". Thankfully the cheque she paid had not been cashed so I have cancelled it and left a message with the phone no on her invoice (? the rep) that the machine will be returned. She lives alone and is not that mobile - how could the saleswoman believed that this was in any way a suitable product? Ready to go into battle on this, as I, too, am absolutely disgusted.

• Cambridge Chris on 12th Apr 2008

  Agree entirely, and it's not just selling like this to the elderly. About 10 years ago we were pushed by the sales rep into buying one of these at £1300 plus. I was 34 then, and I couldn't get this guy to accept No! We signed on the dotted line, cleaned the house from top to bottom, and then cancelled our contract - thank God for a 14 day cooling off period. It is a fantastic product which is why I'm now looking around eBay for one, but I won't be buying direct from Kirby that's for sure

• k murphy on 5th Aug 2008

  So glad to read the review, it really does help, I was thinking of getting a Kirby but am having second thoughts now, thanks for the input.

• TR5 on 11th Oct 2008

  I have tried many different vacuum cleaners over the years and without doubt the Kirby is the best. Unfortunately it is not particularly easy to use and consequently not really suitable for the very old. Being so well made makes it rather expensive to manufacture and therefore if sold in shop, it would look too expensive compare to the plastic junk produced by other makes. Therefore the only sales option is to sell door to door. This in itself inflates the price so it is expensive. However, there are plenty of second hand ones on the market and in cleaning terms the G4 is as good as the latest model.