vacuum cleaners quality???

BigBill

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Ok I purchased the misses a top of the line Dyson $600++. I figured we have a good quality machine. We found it very hard to push. A friend comes over with a standard new shark vaccumne cleaner. We ran the Dyson over one area three times picking up pet hair/dirt. On the fourth try it picked up nothing. Now it's the sharks turn. The standard shark picked up more pet hair and dirt.
So being impressed we purchased a shark but upgraded to the shark professional model on October 2013. On December 2013 the rug beater stopped turning. We called shark and they had the misses on hold for two hours and received a new complete shark professional on January 2014. Recently this month a full 12 months a year to date the new replacement died with the same problem. The misses vaccumnes the house once a week. So the shark gets used 52 times a year. She called shark last night and there sending us a new lower half to replace the bad one on ours for the second time. I don't understand them changing the lower half only. I questioned there quality and warranty but received no answer yet. I questioned about them sending a new lower half only too. No answer yet.

If your going to look at or purchase a shark cleaner don't. We have had $59 Hoover's last longer. Buy a Dyson don't bother.
Next up at bat maybe a kirby.

Finding a good dependable vaccumne cleaner is like looking for an electric can opener that lasts. We're using a hand operated kitchen aid can opener now. So much money has been wasted on buying vaccumnes cleaners in the past, none of them last??
 
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Besides our Electolux

We have a good Eureka upright, one of those 'tornado' type models that does a super job, but CANNOT handle dog hair, where the Electrolux canister has no problem with anything except strings from our torn up rugs getting wound on the beater.
 
As much as I hate to mix pleasure with business, I can be of assistance here. For the last 30 years I've run an independent vacuum cleaner shop, doing both sales and service for a wide variety of makes and models.

Most of the current models on the market, including expensive makes such as Dyson, are of all plastic construction and have poor long term durability. Like other consumer products, Chinese made examples abound, and the average life of most machines today is less than three years. Many lack any serviceability beyond replacing belts, filter or bags. There are exceptions however.

The Sanitaire upright vacuums, specifically the model S645 and S675, are direct derivatives of the most popular commercial machines in the industry for over 40 years...use commercial grade motors, steel components, including all steel brush rolls with replaceable brush strips, manual adjustments to handle all carpet heights, and large capacity paper bags (no expensive filters to buy).

Performance is second to none and durability runs into a few decades rather than a few years. My personal Sanitaire is 29 years old this year and still going strong. As their commercial heritage would indicate, these units are fully, and inexpensively, serviceable. Prices run less than the Dyson, far less than Kirby, and the machines weight less than either, averaging 16 lbs. There is nothing better when it comes to pet hair.

If on-board tools is a prerequisite, look to the American made offerings of Simplicity. Much of what I said about Sanitaire holds true for Simplicity as well...steel components, serviceability, durability. Performance, although not on the same scale as the high air flow Sanitaire, is superior to just about any other on-board-tool design, although the "Tandam Air" models (X9 as an example) come quite close, albeit, at a greater cost. Simplicity products have excellent warranties, great durability, and are made in Missouri.

With that, I'll leave business behind and return to the pleasure...the indescribable pleasure of fine Smith & Wessons.



Roe
 
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We have a place about an hour north of us that only sell's commercial grade vacuum cleaner's and cleaning supplies, my wife bought one there at least 25 years ago, I don't know what kind it is but it still going strong.
 
Sanitaire is not available at our local dealer but I"ll stand behind the Simplicity! ;)
 
We have a Panasonic that was purchased about 10 years ago and is still going strong. It was well rated by Consumer Reports and has a HEPA filter on the air exhaust. It is quiet. Although it is a "canister" model the carpet cleaning head has a motor powered brush that is effective and provides a power assist in moving the head forward. The long cord disappears inside at the push of a button. Overall, we have been very pleased.

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The color schemes have changed. Ours is red. But, this is the closest current offering to what we have. I believe they are available from Target.
 
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The Mrs bought an Oreck Commercial upright vaccumne about four years ago. To maintain the warranty, she has to take it in to the dealer once a year for routine servicing.

It works great, so I'm told.
 
I have had a Dyson for about 8 years and never had a problem with it and it does a much better job than the cheap other plastic brands I have had or used. Years ago I worked at a theater where we had nice commercial vacuums and cleaned them every day after use. I had cars that cost less than what the Kirby's were selling for.
 
I have an Electrolux that's at least 20 years old. I've had to replace a few parts on it over the years including the powered hose which controls the power nozzle. I have been wondering what to get when it finally goes out and now I know what to avoid.
Jim
 
I got the wife a new Kirby in 1982, it's still going strong...... her mom passed away so she bought her mom's (even older than ours) at their auction & keeps 1 on each floor of our old Victorian......but she also bought a cheapie from WallyWorld if she intends to use it on vacuuming anything she doesn't want run thru her Kirbys.
 
They all have the same power 12amp maximum, buy the cheapest hoover and replace when worn out;)

Not even close to true. 12 amp is the highest UL listing allowed on vacuums, but that tells you nothing about the performance of a given machine, nor will it allow you to make a comparison between units.

The size and/or number of the fans, the overall design of the vacuum, and the amount of air flow restriction introduced by on-board hose assemblies or filtration systems all have far more bearing on the performance of a vacuum than the amp ratings. Both the Kirby and the Sanitaire have some of the highest air flow and deep cleaning ability available, yet both are rated at "only" 7 amps.

Roe
 
We bought a top of the line Kirby which lists for something like $1600 (but nobody pays list) new off of Ebay for about $350. It belonged to a little old lady who bought it but never used it. You can find good deals on Kirbys if you look. We've used two for the last 30 years and both still are doing fine. I wouldn't be afraid of a clean used Kirby but I would pick carefully. They are heavy but self propelled.
 
Get the Shark-it has the highest percentage of 5 star feedbacks on the net. We have it, and it eclipses anything I have ever used- $125.00- you will be amazed. People actually post photos of the dirt they picked up with the shark-some right after using another vacuum!
 
After years of cleaning yachts (pretty much vacuuming daily) and burning up untold vacuums, I came to the realization that a <$100 cleaner will do the job as well as any other expensive one.
I haven't had a vacuum of any price, last much more than a year with daily use. Upright or canister.

You will usually find decent inexpensive vacuums at local, independent retailers. They will also, usually, stand behind any vacuum they sell.

I stay away from all those brands like Ryson and Snark.
 
Stranglehold, how about cordless? I help with the vacuuming and have a couple of small, Japanese, corded uprights. But the adds I've seen for the Dyson cordless models look pretty convenient. And I hear Makita, the cordless power tool guys, makes good cordless vacuums as well.
 
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