Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Shark is going after the Dyson Ball pretty hard with the Navigator product.  It claims no loss of suction and claims its just as easy to maneuver as the Dyson Ball.  After acknowledging Dyson as the first to offer no loss of suction, they go for the throat.  They do a direct comparison to a Dyson Ball and state that they are equal in all ways (easy to maneuver, no loss of suction, 5 year warranty) but price.  For less than $200 you can get a Shark Navigator with a free steam cleaner thrown in to boot. 

Shark Navigator Never Loses Suction Upright Here's a picture of the latest Shark Navigator Pet

Some additional specs on the Shark Naviator Pet making it comparable to a full size vacuum desoite the 15 pounds:  10 amp motor.  12 inch cleaning swath.  30 foot cord.  Brush roll on off switch.  12 foot hose.

Carmine D.

The big daddy to the Navigator would be the Shark'Euro-Pro Infinity which qualifies as a full-sized upright with a wider cleaning swath.  Yes indeed, the Navigator is a glorified stick vac but certainly packing more oomph than your average Hoover or Eureka stick.  That in itself is not a new idea.  I've already priorly owned a Sunbeam stick with an attachment kit  and also  a Hoover stick vac fitted with a full-size power nozzle.

It is highly doubtful that Shark ever intended the Navigator as a full-size upright and it can safely be viewed as an equivalent to Sebo's Felix, Miele's 168 or 163 or the Emer sticks.  All of these machines, bagged ort not, are basically stick vacs with "big" motors that people are prepared to accept as regular vacuums.  They all also afford a less than conventional manner of attachment use than with a regular canister or upright but could easily get work done where they'd serve best..

Forgetting some of the prices, the advantage of all is that they are small yet may serve well as sole vacuum in small dwelling spaces.  Recalling pricing, most are not at a level that is encouraging for the purpose of buying a secondary vacuum cleaner.  The Navigator's advantage in theory would be efficient and easy to maintain cyclonics and its lesser price.  By way of that it fits current demand.  Lots of people now are looking for decent but less expensive vacuum.  That's why so many folks went running after the Garry vac.  Something good for a little money -- or so they believed.  I think the Navigator has the potential to actually offer that.

Though I have not owned the Navigator, I did own the EP621.  I like it but it's main problem was a pleated filter.  The Navigator could only be better save for my wondering about its sturdiness and Shark's ability to handle customer needs in good fashion.

Venson

Venson wrote:
Aren't you guys lucky? The nearest product we have in the UK at the moment is either the mini Bissell Easy Vac or the Vax LiFe model (based on the Hoover Linx). Consumers in the UK tend not to buy stick vacs because they are low powered and basic. Yet, it often surprises me when a company come along and produce a mains corded option. We had a Hoover Junior stick vac a couple of years ago based on the Hoover Athyss available on the continent. However it was bagged and the bags were very expensive even though there was a permanent bag that came with it. I had two models - a basic red one and then the Junior Plus that came with a shoulder kit,  longer hose kit, main turbo brush floor head and decent enough 1300watt motor . Whilst it was a good stick vac, it didn't half make a noise and it needed to be constantly emptied. Both models barely lasted two years - the red one's handle eventually cracked (it was hollow) and couldn't be replaced whilst the Junior Plus black model's hinge broke and gave way when it was meant to fold up into a hand held.

Electrolux have tried in the UK but not good enough in my opinion. I loved my old Ergorapido but again Electrolux have been mean and stingy in not providing more high powered stick vacs to UK buyers and the latest Ergorapido / Pronto stick isn't available either.

CarmineD wrote:

So if 32 idiots use the Navigator to vacuum leaves, mulch, etc. and do not empty it or never wash the filters it will not lose suction?  It is not full sized and a negative (from owners) is the inferior sized dust cup.  Too much emptying.

CarmineD wrote:

One Hoover fan told us that at least a half dozen Hoovers would be the demise of Dyson.  He also said that CR ratings and Wal Mart pulling Dyson from shelves would be the demise of Dyson.  One Dyson user disagreed with you.  Hoover failed and sold out.  Dyson sales are good to excellent despite CR.  Hoover USA flopped.  CR and the biased Hoover fan hasn't stopped Dyson's success.  Oh, the Hoover fan had to find another brand.

In 8 years Hoover, CR and a relic haven't slowed Dyson.

I would much rather have a Dyson than any Shark/Europro. Despite my feelings about the way the Dyson treats it's retailers, Shark reeks of slime. (Good luck trying to collect a 5 year warranty). That's going to be a thorn in the side of Sharks retailers. But then again I'm sure they are counting on People just throwing out their vacs instead of doing something about them and counting on Retailers to have employees and outlets that don't give a crap and either absorb the loss or just pass it onto the next corporate boondoggle infinitely.

HARDSELL wrote:

Hardsell,

I beg to differ.  CR ratings for the Dyson are NOT bad.  In fact, for the most part they score "very good."   Certainly, the lightweight uprights might have slipped into the "good range" 41-60, but the full size Dysons generally score in the "very good" range of 61 to 80.   Way too much is made of the rankings - which depend a lot on which vacuums are included and excluded. 

Nutshell Hardsell:

You're taking this much to personal.  This is business and product pros and cons not personal.  Talking about getting personal, have you had to get up close and personal with all the rain lately?  Saw a bunch of toyota and lexus vehicles on the news stranded in water in your neck of the woods and had to wonder if the owners deliberately let them to sink.

Carmine D. 

Severus wrote:

Dyson reliability ratings have been very good.  Of course, it's really been just the last 4 years of the 8 and CR may just be catching up with the vacuum problems in their customer surveys. 

Carmine D.