Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Things I Don't Buy

As with umm some people, I have idiosyncrasies. For example, there are certain large ticket items that I just don't (or put off) buying. Witness the 11 year old car that didn't like summer that I finally replaced. Or the fact that until my husband forced me to buy a tv for the family room when we moved, I had never (and I truly mean never) bought a tv. Ever.

In fact, the only vacuum I've ever had used to be my Gram's. She very generously gave me her (my mom said) $500 vacuum. And really, it was a good vacuum. It even told me how dirty the floor was, so I was able to continue going over the floor until it showed the pretty green.


Wait, you recognize this vacuum? And you remember it having a different kind of attachment, too? The kind that made it a standup push vacuum? Yeah, me, too. It used to have this part. That was the part with the pretty red and green lights.

About four years ago, something on the vacuum broke (a belt maybe?). My husband took it to Sears to be fixed. Three weeks and $170 later, the vacuum was as good as new. Mostly. Another year, another $170 later, and it was again fixed.

Last fall, the standup part stopped working. It just wouldn't get power anymore. We debated sending it to Sears yet again to be "fixed" but ultimately decided that it wasn't worth the time and money. Again. My mom rallied against this plan, reminding me how good of a vacuum it was and how expensive. Well, now with three repairs I could have bought a brand new Dyson or other functional vacuum with all sorts of new-fangled technology. I assume.

When I was doing some Christmas shopping last year, I happened across this pretty little number.



See, it's purple! And I believe it cost $15.

I now understand why this thing cost $15. It quite simply doesn't suck. I didn't realize it at first, as my house magically doesn't get that dirty. Eventually, the truth dawned on me that it simply moves dirt around in the air and never goes into the holder container. Apparently you get what you pay for in vacuums.

So while I debate actually buying a new vacuum, we've been using the attachment portion of the old vacuum. It might be faster to just pick up each individual piece of dirt, but yet I procrastinate.

Then I see that Mama's Losin' It is giving away a beautiful vacuum. Is it providence that I haven't bought a new vacuum yet? Or is this just the final nudge that I need to get my rear end into a Costco and find a new vacuum?

You do need to go check out her vacuum though. It's a gorgeous Hoover that apparently really sucks -- in the right way -- and moves by itself. Vacuuming could become a less than three hour activity with something like that! Can you imagine?

7 comments:

Angie's Spot September 23, 2008 at 3:46 PM  

The day that my Oreck vacuum bites the dust (no pun intended) is the day I lose my mind. Hope you win Kat's Hoover!

Cookie September 23, 2008 at 10:54 PM  

What is it with vacuums??? We go through about one every 2 years? and they are NOT cheap! I tend to make do with the "issues" that my vacuum has, but my husband used it last week and right away he comented that it's not working right and started rattling off a list of things that are wrong with it and then he says, "Guess we need to get mom a new vacuum!" OMG I just want to know when WHEN WHEN did the vacuum become mine??????

sorry for the outburst. Who knew vacuum talk would bring up so much emotion?!

Karen September 24, 2008 at 7:17 AM  

I am in love with my Dyson like no woman should ever love an appliance. It would be kinda dirty, but Dyson takes care of that for me. It's the best affair ever.

AutoSysGene September 24, 2008 at 8:22 AM  

LOL! I think maybe it does SUCK after all! :)

I love my Dyson!! Love it!

Jeff and Charli Lee September 24, 2008 at 10:58 AM  

We've been looking at Dysons lately, but DAMN... those suckers are expensive!

-Bridget September 24, 2008 at 10:08 PM  

Lol, I rarely enter a contest but when I saw mama kat's I knew I needed that baby. But your vacuum might just be the only one older then mine. Yours might be as old as the dirt itself. That's impressive!

Michelle September 25, 2008 at 9:56 PM  

Angie - Ooo, you have an Oreck! I love their commercials. Do they really work?

Cookie - h I'm so glad we aren't the only ones who are having vacuum issues. And too funny that it's both our husbands who pick up on the vacuum issues.

Karen - Hmmm... a Dyson. It sounds like quite the satisfying relationship!

Melissa - Oh, it does. It does. And another Dyson lover. Which one?

Jeff - And yet another Dyson fan. But hey, it has to be cheaper than a $170 repair every year, right? And you wonder why I'm never setting foot inside Sears again!

Bridget - I know... I'm with you on needing the vacuum. And umm yeah, you can tell that it's old, can't you? But it worked really great for my gram for a long time. Here's hoping one of us wins!

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