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. 

The Five Gadget Show in the UK is an independent company so the test carried out - I think - isn't as variable as the one they showed. It was after all a short presentation to see which out of the three vacs tested picked up and remained the most versatile. Hoover's awful Slalom (I had one!) seemed to agree with what I initially didnt like about it - tools and mechanisms that dont quite work making it time consuming. I was really surprised about the so-called Electrolux Professional. I thought they would have gone with the Sebo inspired design and fitted a motor drive belt, but no it runs on old fashioned rubber belts and you have to manually change the height setting of the brush bar. Im not that surprised that it didn't do too well on the pick up test though - the brush roll seemed to be at odds with its general design and I think the strips are replaceable.

Happened to be in the local KOHL's and stopped by the vacuum aisle to scope out the Navigator.  Only one available was the display.  Apparently the store had a run on them for the Christmas holidays.  Talked with staff there and appranetly the lightweight and price are pluses with the buyers.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Carmine,

I'm not surprised.   If you can get Dyson like performance for 1/3 the price, it makes an attractive purchase.  I like the simple cleaning hose for attachments too.

Severus wrote:

SEVERUS:

Perhaps most vacuum consumers, even big box store shoppers/buyers, are smarter than some vacuum makers/their marketeers realize.  Abe Lincoln was right when he said:  You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

Carmine D.

Another new Shark product at KOHL's stores.  Looks impressive.  Good price.  Cordless.  2 battery packs: one for use and one for back-up.  Revolving brush for carpets.  Bagless venue is perfect for stick/hand vacuum usage. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

I'm still not sold on cordless for household appliances, but it looks like a nice way to extend the cordless time.  Perhaps Dyson will copy Shark and start adding a second battery to their handheld. 

Severus wrote:

Internet reviews of the Shark navigiator are piling up and appear very good.  A recent TV ad pits a James Dyson look alike complete with hair and accent and his famed dyson upright to an American housewife and a lowly shark navigator.  The latter wins out over the former in every category including price.  Bed Bath and Beyond as well as other retailers, like Target, BEST BUY, Frys, etc all carry and sell the Shark Navigator and their customers give it glowing reviews.  Bagless competition is fierce presently especially with pricing. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Thanks Carmine.  I'm glad to learn that good AND affordable competition is out there and, even better, buyers are speaking well of it.

Best,

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hello Venson:

If I were still in the vacuum business, I'd carry and sell the Shark Navigator specifically for customers solely interested in a bagless upright.  It meets/beats the TOL big box store bagless brand.  Even if I didn't make any money on the Shark-Navigator sales, I'd keep bagless vacuum customer clientele.

Carmine D.