The Truth About Kirby Vacuum Salesman Scams

Anyone who has ever encountered a Kirby vacuum salesperson already knows that they’re trained assassins who invade homes until innocent bystanders surrender and opposition ceases. If that seems like an exaggeration, those who’ve survived these attacks beg to differ.

This information is not only geared toward potential, vulnerable customers but also individuals looking to land a job and a sustainable salary. However, when you talk to Kirby vacuum owners, most of them are satisfied with the performance of their vacuum, even if they forked over a thousand bucks. 

Here’s what you should know.

The Kirby Snare for Potential Staff

Kirby salespeople are desperate.

The mother company led them down the garden path with the lure of financial benefits disguised by empty promises. In their 100 years plus of operating, Kirby mastered manipulating potential staff. By breaking them down until only a shell remains, they produce a willing army of foot soldiers.

Most Kirby salespeople start (assumed) as decent people. When Kirby finishes training them, these individuals morph into predators. They’ll smell vulnerable people a mile away and have no qualms about forcing their way into an open door only to sell vacuum cleaners.

Vulnerable people are anyone willing to open their door to knock or answer the phone. Kirby victims are often elderly, incompetent because of poor health, or fragile individuals who can’t see the stripes on the tiger.

Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffet) bought the Kirby division for 315 million in 1986.

Buffet sold the company, but no one is questioning the performance of the vacuum. Recent door-to-door sales campaigns still rake in an estimated $500,000 of sales.

Interestingly, the business model behind the brand is that it hasn’t changed or updated its approach in a world where everything is online. Risking the lives of their staff by sending them off into uncharted and unvetted territory is, at best, a questionable practice.

1. Method to Attract Employees

Kirby will post ads under a different identity to attract future staff. Once a person becomes interested, Kirby invites them to a ‘paid’ training session. Here more false promises, like getting reimbursed for their time, conclude the snow job.

A targeted line in their ad suggests that if you’re good at one-on-one interactions, this is the job for you.

The adverts never mention Kirby, door-to-door sales, or vacuum sales. In the first training session, recruiters introduce ‘victims’ to the Kirby product line, how fantastic the company is, and its positive product attributes. All endorsed by its long history of success.

Kirby pretends they vet customers on their door-to-door sales route to keep their staff from compromising situations. Recruiters lie and tell trainees that their job is not making cold calls. This false claim is convoluted on another lie that Kirby's office staff arranges all sales appointments.

Another lie dished out during training is that some lucky trainees are potential office staff. However, the truth remains, and trainees submit to making door-to-door sales calls under duress. Otherwise, they’ll not meet the quota that is difficult to attain and forfeit their pay.

This preset quota makes the sales force desperate for sales. 

2. The Dangling Carrot

Kirby promises their unschooled staff two weeks' pay regardless of sales accomplishments as long as they meet a minimum target of 10 visits. If they enroll friends and family to join the sales force, they’ll receive a $500 bonus. None of that is true. Another lie always supersedes the next lie.

After the training is complete, newbies practice with friends and family to master the sales pitch. On the first day of the job, newbies who join the Kirby (cult) team sing motivational ‘Kirby’ songs at the company office. 

Enter more deception. Kirby supervisors direct some members who are not on the door-to-door sales scheme to go door to door anyway. Their task is to conduct surveys.

These questionable surveys in unvetted locations are a method for Kirby to hand out ‘fake’ contest ballots for an imaginary prize. Participants who submit to the contest magically win Kirby’s free carpet cleaning offer. 

Hence, the giant foot inside the door.

3. The Truth About Questionable Sales Tactics

Although Kirby has been sued and even taken as far as the Supreme Court in Texas and North Dakota, Kirby defends their position. In fact, many people would question their questionable sales tactics.

Although they provide training, once a salesperson enters a potential client's home, Kirby is no longer responsible for the sales tactics that guarantee a sale. They wash their hands of their employees and leave them to scavenge for deals using whatever method that gets them their quota.

Kirby operates on pyramid schemes and MLM (multi-level marketing) sales. What sets Kirby apart is its shady and immoral treatment of its clients and staff members.

Victim Nightmare Stories

Make no mistake; these salespeople are predators

 Once they’re inside your home, they’ll not leave until they make a sale. They sometimes call in reinforcements to demonstrate how excellent a Kirby vacuum is and how filthy your carpet is.

Before you know it, you’ll have an invasion of several Kirby salespeople in your home and putting on the pressure. One trick they employ is using paper filters to demonstrate the dirt stuck in your carpet. They'll put that dirty pad directly into the hands of homeowners for full effect.

Consumers don’t know that they'd get the same dirty pads if they used their current vacuum (unless it’s an inferior model) and repeated the same vacuum method after a Kirby. It’s an industry trick.

Victims of this sales scam are often vulnerable people like older adults, infirm, or isolated individuals who do not have the fortitude to withstand these tactics.

A Quality Brand

In its heyday, Kirby was a good product. There are many happy customers whose Kirby still functions and does a great job. However, the vacuum industry has changed. People use trusted sources like warehouse stores that vet their products and offer guarantees and satisfaction.

Laminate and hardwood flooring replaced wall-to-wall carpeting for many sanitary and aesthetic appeals. Brands like Shark, Dyson, Miele, and Bissel evolved and addressed consumer needs with the times. Kirby remains stagnant and out of touch with reality. Whatever you do, don’t let them into your home!

Related articles:

• Best upright vacuum cleaner
• Best Dyson for allergies