The True Cost of Generics
It’s a simple fact, over the last few years, the convenience of large online shopping platforms like Amazon and others have made shopping for consumables for everything in your home so much easier. Just simply click, and it arrives at your door in a few days.
Much like social media, there is a stark disconnect with online shopping compared to shopping in a brick and mortar store. Instead of a friendly face behind the counter, you are greeted with a plethora of options that all look almost identical, yet cost wildly different amounts. With certain items, a good generic is just fine. However what about more critical items like Miele, Sebo or Riccar Vacuum Bags? Are generics just as good?
A Generic Miele Bag in a Miele C3 Canister
Looks appetizing huh? Part of why customers LOVE their Miele, SEBO and Riccar vacuums is their easy-to-change disposable bags. Never again do you have to wash out a dirty filter or get a face (and kitchen) full of dust when you go to empty your vacuum. Simply pull the bag out, toss it away, and install a new one. Simple. Right? Well, if you’re using generic bags and filters, not quite.
This is just one example of an all too regular occurrence in our service department. The generic bags online look practically identical to the genuine bags that Authorized Miele dealers (like us) sell. However, these bags are NOT made to the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) Standards. Meaning that the filtration material isn’t as thick, the bag adapters are not the same size or the same composition. You think you’re clicking the bag into place, but when you close the bag lid, the poor construction of the bag adapter bends and doesn’t connect to the intake pipe. You start vacuuming and dirt begins filling up the bag compartment, pre-motor filter and HEPA filter, and most importantly the motor.
Thankfully this customer noticed the issue pretty quickly and brought it in for service. We could tell immediately the bags were generic and informed the customer to return them or dispose of them immediately, as this would be a problem that would keep occurring. We were able to clean this machine thoroughly, and after breaking the entire machine down and giving it a good hot water soak and cleaning (See the after photos), the motor was still in good shape and was ready to keep cleaning. However in many cases, we have seen customers wait to long before bringing it in for service and they have destroyed their motors. Motor replacements are costly, but on a high-quality vacuum like a Miele, SEBO or Riccar, it usually makes good financial sense vs replacing it.
“When shopping for a new vacuum. be sure to ask what the consumables will cost.”
What many customers do not realize is just how important your vacuum bag is to your vacuum. Your vacuum bag is the first line of defense vs the dirt, dust, allergens, coins, pet food, kids toys, shards of glass, nails, dog hair, cat litter, etc, that travels through your vacuum tubing at 100-200 MPH. This debris is moving extremely quickly and blasts into the bag. If it’s a genuine bag, the vast majority of this debris is stopped, filtered and captured, however if your’e using a generic bag, a significant amount of this debris is blowing right through and into your vacuum motor, and if your vacuum isn’t equipped with a good filtration system, right back into the air you’re breathing.
How Can You Tell if The Bags You’re Buying Are Genuine?
Chance are if you’re buying bags at the dealer who sold you your vacuum, the bags are most likely genuine. Most manufacturers have specific style of branding that is consistent across the packaging for the vacuums, attachments, bags, and filters. Look for indicators that state “Genuine _____”. The packaging should not state “To-Fit” or “Designed to Fit” while not featuring any brand logos.
When shopping for a new vacuum, consider what the consumables will cost. Genuine Bags can range anywhere from $3.50 per bag to almost $6.00 per bag. However many manufacturers have introduced “Performance Packs” or “Service Boxes” which significantly lowers the price of a 12-18 month supply of bags and filters. These prices may seem high, however when you factor in that one disposable bag can last 1-2 months or More, you realize that for what it costs to get a latte at a coffee shop, you can completely avoid having to touch dust, dirt, and allergens.
Are Generics Ever Superior?
Yes! Actually we carry a full-line of amazing generic bags at our store by the CleanObsessed Brand. CleanObsessed has produced HEPA Filtration bags for many machines that never had the option for them before. Bags like the classic Electrolux/Aerus Style C and U bags that for decades were only produced in the inferior, thin, paper bags are now available in HEPA at a price that rivals the paper bags. Here at Keystone Vacuum, we have done a tremendous amount of vetting and research to make sure that every bag we offer at our store is of the best quality and value. We take pride in offering only Genuine Disposable Bags for all of the quality brands we represent, and feature the best generic HEPA bags for those that we don’t.
Something to keep in mind is that in entry-level brands like Hoover, Bissell, Dirt Devil, Etc, simply do not put the same type of high-performance motors in their vacuums that require the fine filtration that better brands like SEBO, Miele, and Riccar require. The high-performance motor in a quality vacuum moves significantly more air and generates more suction than a box-store variety vacuum. These high-performance motors rely on clean-air going through them and cannot handle large amounts of dirt and debris. Box-Store machines use older, low-efficiency motors that don’t care If there is dirt and dust going through them. You get lower performance and poor filtration because what goes into the machine, often comes right back out. With this in mind, our generic HEPA bags can actually make these machines last longer and clean better.