Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Due to its basically low price, it's not the kind of machine I'd expect perfection from.  Perfection appears starts at about 350 bucks higher than this machine sells for.  In any event, perfect is as perfect does.  Just below you will find an image of the Navigator's predecessor, the EP621.  It had strong suction and did well on carpeting.  It's main fault was the pleated filter it used for filtration.  The filter wasn't easy to keep clean and needed to be replaced every few months at a cost of about fifteen bucks or so.

Though it had a stretch hose it was not great at firmly standing its ground for above the floor work but I found it not that big a deal.  I simply held onto the handle of the machine if I had to reach.  The Navigator's power nozzle is basically a rehash of the EP621's.

The Navigator, a big improvement on an existing idea,  trumps the EP621 in that it's employing real cyclonics for dust separation.  I never had any problems with the EP621's exhaust and would not anticipate problems in the same area with the Navigator.  As for other faults like instability while using the hose it will probably prove a small thing for users it best suits.  I don't particularly see the Navigator in play as main cleaning tool in larger homes except as a supplemental machine, however in my neck of the woods -- lots of small apartment dwellers in need of all the space they can get the Navigator should do well.  Strong suction, decent cleaning and in need of a minimal amount of storage space.  Though I wouldn't consider a place for this machine in one of teh Rockefelllers' homes, thrift and decent performance will most likely make the Navigator worth the time and investment for many buyers.

Venson

Yes, I know!  Has there been any improvement on the customer service end?

Venson

First some clarification:  Prone as in the handle is in the normal user position.  

Since you use a DC24, I read all the same criticisms you mention about the Shark Navigator about DC24.  Weight is 12 pounds for the DC24 and 15 pounds for the Navigator.  Both classified as lightweights. 

W*M and COSTCO are both recent retailers of the Shark Navigator.  Unfortunately, so new that there are no reviews of the Shark Navigator on their sites.  In fact it's not even on the COSTCO web site yet.  Difference in price between the two is huge.  That gives the edge to Shark as a lightweight upright.  Shark is $150.  DC24 is $300 and more.  I like the brush roll in the Shark much better than DC24.  DC24 is almost more vacuum stick like.  Shark is, at least, comparable to a decent size power head brush roll.  More what I would expect from a lightweight upright.  Plus, the washable cyclones puts the Shark over the edge for my liking versus a DC24.  Plus filter cleaning is only twice a year on Shark Naviogator versus 4-6 times per annum for DC24.

Here are some reviews on the Shark if you're interested. 

http://www.vacuumwizard.com/shark-navigator-vacuum.html

BEST BUY Shark Navigator reviews rate it 4.7 stars out of 5:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Shark+-+Navigator+No+Loss+of+Suction+Upright+Vacuum+-+Lavender/9350588.p?skuId=9350588&id=1218089484682

Perfect it's not.  Worth $150.  Most definitely.

I could not locate a picture of the Shark Navigator brush roller.  Here is a product video for the Shark Navigator on the Bed Bath And Beyond Web Site which takes only 1 minute and 35 seconds.  You get a very good perspective of the brush roller in use on floors and rugs as well as some of the other features you asked about and are discussed above, if you're interested.  Like all the dysons, Shark Navigator comes with a 5 year warranty.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=16586927

Carmine D.

Prone is a downard position.  Mostly referred to as face down (and lying down).  So I have to assume you mean lean the vac forward rather than lay the handle down in a backwards motion.  How do you vacuum like that?

I was giving realistic opinions of users and not making any comparison to Dyson other than weight since you mentioned that it was a lightweight.  Neither you nor I can say which is better from personal experience.  However, a narrow vacuum path is a criticism.  Also weak motor prone to failure.  Can't leave out bad brush rolls (freezing).

I found 173 reviews of the Navigator on WM site.  Oldest dated 7-30-09.  Perhaps your computer is lagging as are you.  On the other hand I think it is another of your BS attempts to avoid others from finding the negatives. 

There are numerous other sites with reviews also.

 I use prone position to mean handle in the user position.  Prone because if the user lets the handle go in this position, most uprights are 'prone' to fall down. 

I admit I looked quickly at the W*M site.  Why?  You tend to kow tow W*M and its customers with your impugning remarks because Wal*Mart kicked dyson out several years ago.

So, instead I deliberately used BEST BUY, the company that sells the most dyson product and the place where you bought your dyson DC07, to show customer reviews are 4.7 stars out of 5 for the Shark Navigator.  Plus, Bed Bath and Beyond, a one time dyson vacuum retailer strictly at dyson MAP, which now runs a Shark Navigator video on it's vacuum page.  Are you seeing a trend here yet hardshell.

In any event, put whatever bagless upright you want against the Shark Navigator in a comparative analysis both as an upright and with attachments.  It fares as well as all the others if not better.  The reason these and other big box retailers advertise, promote and sell Shark Navigators.

I know that must break your dyson heart.

Carmine D.

Carmine D.

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.CM_SCID.COLL.item.V29525.desc.Shark-Navigator-Upright-Vacuum-w-Power-Brush-Accessories

Impressive for the price. Note the "Never Loses Suction" imprinted on the latest Shark Navigator Lavender in the demoes vice the previous Shark Model which does not carry the claim.  I suspect the patent receipt makes the difference in the usage of this product claim on the Shark Navigator.

Carmine D.

Ive  read and seen where the dyson brushroll has undergone alot of r&d...to make it as good or better than the rest. yet many still say its sub par and doesnt deep clean. ...and if the build up of dirt in the cyclones has been an issue since the start with dyson why have they yet to fix this problem/s....or at least make the cyclones washable......shark seems to have addressed these issues from what ive read...why is dyson not  using 400 engineers to address the issues that have been a problem from the start....yet a ball was the more important issue..airmuscle tech .....why complicate the simple....shark seems to have kept it simple and address dysons issues at a third to half the price

turtle

To dyson's credit, it finally after 8 consecutive years of worst uprights and cyclinders ratings in Europe earned respect from Which? for its products.  Sadly, it hasn't done the same in the USA with Consumer Reports.  Got on the fringes of top 10 with DC17 at a 10/11 rating but never higher.  Some here indluding dyson fans maintained that winning CR's respect in the reviews and ratings was tantamount to success.  Hasn't happened yet and it's been 8 years since the USA launch.

Carmine D.