Guest post from Amanda of Crunchy Hippie Life
It started with a scratch-off card — we had won something!
We called the number on the card and schedule an appointment for someone to come out and look at it. “In return,” the lady said, “we would ask that you watch a one-hour presentation about an air filter system and give your opinion. You can even just say you wish it came in a different color.”
Sound familiar?
Well, we actually really liked the product. It had great features and seemed to work really well.
Then he pulled out the big seller: a vacuum with all the bells and whistles. It worked really, really well — even the carpet looked happier. The materials were even a hippie’s dream: hemp and cellulose filter, charcoal overlay filter, made in the USA. It had it all.
But it was $3,000!!!
We are still paying a couple thousand in student loans and we have some big purchases coming up.
My husband and I went back and forth for over an hour about this decision. We pay cash for everything, and this was a lot of money. But this product worked much better than our vacuum and was built to last. So we decided to delay our financial goals in favor of this system.
The next morning, we questioned our decision. For the first few hours we kept reminding each other that the vacuum picked up a bunch of dirt even right after we used our vacuum thoroughly. It was an investment, and it even came with free annual servicing.
However, my husband called me later that day in a bit of a panic — he had a nagging suspicion that couldn’t be ignored. He did some thorough internet searches and found many of the same vacuums for sale at drastically reduced prices. It seems many others had given in to the very convincing presentation and wanted to make part of their money back.
Thankfully, we were still within the 3-day waiting period, so we were able to return the vacuum and the air filters!
During our reflection on what decisions led to spend $3,000 on a vacuum, we learned 3 important things:
1. We implemented a 24-hour hold rule.
We got way too excited in the moment and made a very hasty decision. Thanks to this vacuum incident, we now have a 24-hour hold rule for all purchases over $100 — meaning we will wait at least 24 hours before making any purchase that costs more than $100.
2. We recommitted to a budget.
When we had a significantly smaller income, we would have considered this sort of amount of money to be an outrageous amount to spend on something like a vacuum. We wanted to be true to our core beliefs and continue to be frugal.
3. We learned to express gratitude for what we have.
Our little vacuum may not be the top of the line or have lots of cool features, but it’s ours and we will appreciate and take care of it like it is the best vacuum around.
If nothing else, I’m thankful that this experience taught us some perspective and gave us something to work through together as a couple.
We are firm believers in being on the same page when it comes to financial decisions, and I am thankful for the opportunity we had to recommit to that principle. I’m also thankful for the opportunity to stop and be grateful for what we have.
Contentment is a powerful tool when it comes to living on a budget!
Amanda is the RN hippie mama behind Crunchy Hippie Life, where she blogs about natural living, frugal ideas, and her family’s new move to Iowa. When not working or blogging she enjoys sipping a latte at the coffee shop, listening to audiobooks, or taking a walk with her husband and son.
Jenifer says
If you’re talking about Rainbow, my husband and I bought one a few years ago and we love it even though it was pricey, we consider it one of the best investments we’ve made.
Alison @ Tickling the Wheat says
We ended up buying a Kirby under a similar situation. I had a newborn and wasn’t working, so I started crying because I thought it was too much to spend (we negotiated it down to $600, but that was still outrageous for a vacuum). My husband thought I was crying because I really wanted it, so he bought it. It was a nightmare!
I love the vacuum (it’s really heavy, but it came with a ton of attachments), but it really changed the way my husband and I deal with high-pressure sales pitches. Even when we put a new furnace and new windows in our house, we got several estimates and kept going back and forth with the sales people (over the course of a week) until we were sure we were getting the best deal. We never accept a deal on the spot.
K. U. says
We had thought to help a friend out by listening to a sales pitch. She was trying to “earn” hers. He came at 5 and stated till after 9. We kept trying to drop hints that it was a lot of money, great product and probably worth it, but it was more than we would spend. We don’t give out our friends information and he kept asking for them. Our friend expressed disappointment that she needed our contacts and I just said that is something I don’t do. I will choose to give a night to help a friend, but that is my choice. It was definitely a learning experience for my young son on sales pitches. I hated the evening but it was important that my son saw that we stand firm and discuss the tactics of sales and how to remain rational.
NaDell says
I had a guy come a few days after I vacuumed with my Dyson (that my husband bought several years ago and it isn’t the fancy ball one) and then I’d used a Bissell carpet shampooer. I told him to go for it. He had to work really, really hard to find any amount of dirt. That made me super satisfied with what I already had. =)
Amanda says
That’s great!! We just moved into a house that was previously rented by 4 construction workers. So try as we might, dirt is still relatively easy to find. The carpet cleaner is a great idea!! I’ll suggest that to my hubby. 🙂
Chris says
I love my Dyson. My father-in-law has a Dyson with a ball. I hate it. It’s feels cheasy and hard to maneuver. It may pick up dirt just as well, I don’t know, but I sure don’t like it. 🙁
Amanda says
Our Dyson is amazing. We initially bought the ball one, it wasn’t very good and broke the second time I used it. Exchanged for the regular Dyson and have had it 8 years with 8 animals, it works great. I feel bad watching people keep buying a new one from target or Wal-Mart every year or two.
Jen says
We had a Dyson Ball vacuum. Supposed to be a very good vacuum. First, the ball stopped spinning, then within five years the motor totally died. (Probably should have tried to make them fix it under the warranty, but didn’t think of it until it was over five years.)
I found an old (and I mean as old as me – 40 years) Electrolux canister vacuum. I also found about twenty bags for it in a different cabinet. Needless-to-say, I am still using this giant, unruly vacuum. It works WAY better than my Dyson ever did.
Amanda @CrunchyHippieLife says
Good to know, thanks for the recommendation!
AJ says
We are an Electrolux family – parents, cousin, and aunt. My parents bought us one for a house warming gift – 13 yrs. ago! Still going strong but it is a little heavy.
Jennifer says
Us too! My Dad sold Electrolux for years. So, I am on the other side of the door-to-door salesman…and I’ll just say, that salesman can be honest people making a living and just selling a great product! 🙂
Brenda Douglas says
My Mom sold Electrolux while she was in college supporting three children as a single parent.
We always had an Electrolux so when I could afford it, I bought one. Biggest mistake ever. It is not the same quality. In 1990 I spent probably $1500 – $2000 on a Rainbow cleaner with the water pan. I love it. Twenty six years it is still working and I still love it.
Allison says
I don’t know about the $3000 vacuum, but I own a 25+ yr old Royal Industrial vacuum (kind of like the old Kirbys). I bought mine used, because my mother has had one just like it since I was a kid. She probably vacuumed every day when I was a kid. Once she had a traveling vacuum salesman come to the door, and watched his presentation…she had him pretty flummoxed because he really couldn’t get much extra dirt out of her carpet!
Amanda @CrunchyHippieLife says
That’s so funny! And a testament to the vacuum. We might have to look into that brand too.
Ann says
I had the same company come to the house and there were two things that really bothered me:
#1 – The man called confirming our appointment and asked if my husband would be here and I told him he had a meeting. So when a guy showed up for the appointment, it was a different guy and he said the first guy wouldn’t come because women without their husbands can’t make a decision without them and this guy who came knew that I was smarter than that. In other words, they wanted me to not say “I need to check with my husband.”
#2 – When it came time to make the decision, I did finally say that I needed to check with my husband (yes, I was one of those kind of women who would not spend $1800 on a vacuum without checking with my husband) and the guy said “Do you have to check with your husband for every purchase you make? You can’t go to the grocery store and buy food without checking with him? Well, what if I was to tell you that you could pay it in installments at just $100 a month. I’m sure you don’t have to get your husband to approve $100 a month, do you?” Umm – yes I do!! “Well, I bet if your husband saw new golf clubs or something, he wouldn’t call to check with you.” Well, actually he would because that’s our agreement – big purchases are a family decision.
I’d never do business with a company that had sales practices like that. I asked the guy to leave my house now and to not call me again. I appreciated his time but I did not like the pressure to purchase something that I could get off of eBay for a few hundred. It was ridiculous!
jennifer says
yes to getting the same thing off ebay!! i was impressed with both kirby and also tristar vacuums. got each off ebay for $300 maybe a year or 2 old on each…. happy with both vacuums… i use the kirby on regular carpets (wall to wall) and use the tristar for other things (small rugs and for the couch attachments and things like that, and for the carpet on the stairs — (kind of hard to do stairs with the upright kirby, much easier using a canister vac for that)… i don’t regreat buying either one, and will never buy a storebought vacuum ever again, they are all junk after a year. my kirby and tristar are now 10 years old though and work as great as they did on day 1… i highly recommend both vacuums, but yes, get off ebay!!!
Amanda @CrunchyHippieLife says
Wow, that sounds like a horrible sales experience. We had a great experience and felt bad to not give that guy his commission. But we are definitely going to get one off eBay after our goals are met!
Shelley says
I think I know what vacuum cleaner that was-we had a similar pitch. It is an AMAZING vacuum cleaner and I have to say that we bought it. However, we offered them $1000 cash and they took it:) We are at a point in our lives though that we are only buying quality so we don’t end up buying stuff twice.
Amanda @CrunchyHippieLife says
Nice! Yes, I love that vacuum. One day….just not now.
Chris says
I read an article in the newspaper once. If you vacuumed with “their” vacuum cleaner and then came behind with yours, yours would also pick up stuff “theirs” left. My friend bought a new vacuum cleaner from a local retail store. She emptied it and vacuumed again. She ended up getting dirt from four different times. SO, no telling how good that vacuum cleaner really was!
Kira says
We totally did this. And didn’t cancel!! We kept it and still have it to this day (10 years ago) but seriously?! It was interest free and we paid it off early but we had a new baby in the house and we were totally suckered into the door to door salesman. Never again! ?
Katherine says
Ha we did that too when I was 8 months pregnant!! Suckered. Paid it off early and not worth it.
Amanda @CrunchyHippieLife says
Oh wow! We have a 15-month-old and the “here’s how much dirt your child is playing on” was super convincing. But we realized we can wash our filter and it gets much better cleaning power!