At least you didn't get one of those Kirbys for like $1000. I did get their salesmen to clean my house monthy when I was in Corpus, though. I have a Dyson, but those stainless steel Kirbys always seemed cool. Paying a price for a vacuum that could buy you a perfectly good jalopy seems excessive.
I got a refurb Kirby for $200 (not from a salesman) that they sell new for over $1000. They hold their value like a Ford Taurus. It is hard for me to buy a product, even if it is damn good, when the salesman is making upwards of 20% commission on the sale.