Not sure about deflating, but we used an inflator fronm go outdoors that connects to ciggy lighter in car, cost around £5 at the time and it is miles faster than using a foot pump, took about 1 minute to inflate a double.
have since gone to folding camp beds, they take up less space and seem more comfy for me and OH.
In answer to your question about electric pumps and removing air out of vacuum bags - yes it will work, provided the hole in the vacuum bag fits size-wise with your air pump nozzle. They tend to make them to fit hoover nozzles, but I managed to get some in Aldi last week which work with our electric pump - am now dead chuffed as it means we should be able to take duvets when we camp - happy days :-)
HTH
Sam
------------- 2012
June - Swiss Farm, Henley
July: Heathland Beach, Suffolk
July: Clippesby, Norfolk
August: Lincoln Farm Park, Oxfordshire
August: Trevella Park, Newquay
The reason why you can't get the air bed back in the box it came in is because there is still trapped air inside the airbed. I understand what you are saying because I've encontered this myself before and admit it's quite frustrating. I purchased an air pump that inflates and also deflates when you reverse the pump so basically it sucks the outside air in to inflate then sucks the internal air out to deflate. The answer to you question is yes they do work quite well but do shop around as these twin operating pumps can vary in price. I bought mine from Tesco's about 18 months ago for around £8.