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Author Topic: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida  (Read 8713 times)

Offline MVacs

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The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« on: August 06, 2017, 08:36:16 pm »
I am not a fan of modern Chinese machines badged as Hoover (we like the vintage ones though that were made in the UK).

The 1993 "Flights to Florida" scandal that lost Hoover their Royal Warrant and ended up with the company being sold to Italy's Candy not only cost me money at the time, but also irreparably damaged the brand in the UK (that Dyson immediately took advantage of to become the market leader). One reason we became Dyson specialists is because of Hoover's behaviour in the early 90s - we were determined to put as many non-Hoover vacuums into as many local homes as we could. One of my first big Dyson deals was grey importing from Europe several hundred new DC04s. I was one of many that never got my Florida flights from Hoover.  :coffee:

We do not stock modern Hoover products to this day partly because of this, and partly because of very poor product quality in the modern Chinese machines badged as Hoover. The Hoover name is meaningless now, they are just generic Chinese machines with a sticker on.

For those who dont know much about the Hoover free flights fiasco that led to the downfall of the company, here are some interesting videos:









Offline Madrat

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Re: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2017, 09:55:04 pm »
I remember it well, One couple called out a hoover repair man and refused to let him leave untill they got there flight  :chuckle: poor sod.

Offline dysondc16

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Re: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2017, 02:21:00 pm »
That promotion stunt not only killed Hoover UK but also contributed to the demise of Hoover US some years later. From what I know maytag used hoover as an enourmous cash reserve whenever maytag wasn't doing well. When Hoover UK got itself into this mess maytag sold them off to avoid the financial ramifications. Then they essentially milked the US division dry and tossed the broken husk to TTi in 2007.

I place most of the blame with maytag, they took money that Hoover needed for proper R&D and as a result many of the last US Hoover products were poorly desgned and made. But at least they were made here. And to be fair despite the bad quality at the time of the sale to TTi, all the vacuums in Hoover's line cleaned carpets very well.

Offline beko1987

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Re: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2017, 02:23:12 pm »
Must watch this, look at the top notch grade A chod in the thumbnail for video 3! Al lthose AEG Vampyr's, I ruddy love those, would happily swap my car for one!
Collector and restorer of vintage vacuums, Dyson Appreciator! Come and see my blog, where I am uploading all my mountains of brochures, manuals and other vacuum cleaner paperwork, and also my youtube channel @beko1987!


Offline Mike Design

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Re: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2019, 11:39:22 am »
It is worth noting that a new book on the subject has just been published by Amazon.
Hoover Free Flights The Inside Story.
It does give the full background to the biggest sales promotion of the 90's.

Offline beko1987

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Re: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2019, 03:30:46 pm »
Oooh very interesting, I'll grab a copy on payday!

Did you write it? The author is called Mike, and this is your first post (not that that's an issue if so, indeed if it is you'll be a very interesting chap to talk too!)

Sam
Collector and restorer of vintage vacuums, Dyson Appreciator! Come and see my blog, where I am uploading all my mountains of brochures, manuals and other vacuum cleaner paperwork, and also my youtube channel @beko1987!

Offline Mike Design

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Re: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2019, 03:56:38 pm »
Yep that's me !
Over two years of my life involved in that promo.
Of course there were plenty of negatives - but some positives as well of course.

Offline beko1987

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Re: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2019, 08:09:42 pm »
Oh that's fab, will deffo try and buy a copy now!

The free flights has always been of great interest to us collectors. Partly, sadly because it started the demise of the Hoover we all knew and loved, partly because every early 1990s vacuum I get I think "this might have been one of the free flight ones!"
Collector and restorer of vintage vacuums, Dyson Appreciator! Come and see my blog, where I am uploading all my mountains of brochures, manuals and other vacuum cleaner paperwork, and also my youtube channel @beko1987!

Offline MVacs

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Re: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2019, 11:05:00 am »
It is worth noting that a new book on the subject has just been published by Amazon.
Hoover Free Flights The Inside Story.
It does give the full background to the biggest sales promotion of the 90's.

Mr Michael Knowles I assume? It might have been prudent to mention its your book but as its on topic, its info worth leaving here.

Offline Mike Design

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Re: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2019, 04:01:44 pm »
Hi
Apologies for not fully revealing my name - absolutely no intention to hide !
I am sure there are lots of different opinions on the promotion. I attempted to write a balanced true account as someone involved pretty much throughout that period. Albeit I was not directly on Hoovers payroll.

Offline MVacs

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Re: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2019, 04:27:59 pm »
Let's have a direct link to it for anyone interested: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1072819783

ila_rendered

What was your role in it Mike, may I ask?

Offline Mike Design

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Re: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2019, 04:42:10 pm »
Thanks for that.
I was MD of the travel company that handled the majority of the travel arrangements.Not the original one as Hoover had three during the total period.

Offline MVacs

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Re: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2019, 07:24:02 pm »
I've dropped a link to the topic here on our Facebook and Twitter in order to get the topic some more eyes.

Did Hoover pay the travel companies, Mike? Or were they left out of pocket?

Offline Mike Design

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Re: The Downfall of Hoover: Free Flights to Florida
« Reply #13 on: July 10, 2019, 11:50:21 pm »
Hi again
Hoover funded the promotion in order to help ensure that all customers who fulfilled the terms and conditions of the free flights offer were indeed given the opportunity to take two return flight seats to specific destinations in Europe or USA.

 

 

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