Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Howdy all,

Per a New York Times story,  Halo ( http://www.gethalo.com ), the upright vacuum with the bug and germ killing UV light, as of last week has committed to a 20 million dollar advertising push over the next year in behalf of the new UV-ST model.  This is a little less than half of what Hoover shells out in the same time window.  The Halo UV-ST -- a fan-in-dirt- stream upright -- is priced at $499. 

The interesting part of the effort is that this may well be merely word play. Phil Smith who is president of BooneOakley, the firm devising the add campaign, states that, "Any vacuum, by Dyson, Hoover, Bissell, can't kill germs while it vacuums.  We're not going after any maker or model.  We don't see any competition."  An ambitious approach but to the best of my knowledge, though UV technology is used for disinfecting water and for sterilization, Halo has not put forth bona fide test results as to how well its product actually works in regard to rug cleaning or disinfecting.

Here's the link to the story but please note that you may have to apply for a free subscription to view it -- http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/business/media/26adco.html    Interested consumers may also call 866-638-4256 and request an owners manual.

Best,

Venson

  <  Researchers suspect that a vacuums beater brush beats more that carpeting...  it beats fleas to death too.  Here.        DIB

Hi,

I wonder if the findings will set the folks at Halo to shaking in their shoes.  Has any actual information regarding Halo sales been made since the launch of the new campaign?  Anyway . . .

Though this sounds like something as sweet and simple as getting run over by a lawn mower, they didn't make mention of what to do for the ones you miss.  Fleas, though tiny, are fast and can leap far in comparison to their sze. I wouldn't want to have to high-tail it after one around my living room with just a Hoover and my glasses. 

As well, by the time you become aware that these itty-bitty unwanted guests have come to call there are usually far too many to merely sweep away. I know that larger insects like house flies and the common roach can often survive a trip through a straight suction vacuum but the trip might prove even easier for a tiny flea .  The fan-in-dirt-stream upright is more the sure killer as everything it inhales collides with its spinning fan blades as well as the revolving brush.  Two points for Halo.  As for the UV light, I want to believe it really is killing the little buggers and not just giving them suntans.

Your picture of the "creature" reminded me of a summer of fun I once had with my dear long departed dog Calvin after we took a fateful trip to the park across the street. I was a bit supicious of flea collars due to worries over needlessly exposing him to harmful chemical compounds.  So there we sat, man and beast as one -- in that we were both scratching.  Nothing solved the flea invasion in my apartmentt except insectide and a special shampoo for the pup.  The vacuum method would have required more time than I was prepared to wait. -- or itch.

Regards,

Venson

Venson,your sense of humor really makes me wonder why your not a comedian. As far as the HALO vacuum the problems will come to surface as soon as an object blows off one of the fan blades,THE VIBRATION WILL CAUSE MOTOR DAMAGE AND MOST LIKELY TAKE THE U-V BULB OUT ALSO,under warranty NO,This comes under misuse and negligence..........

MOLE

 Hello,

.

"Science or Spin”? -  View the Halo Vacuum press release here.  The Halo PR video seems a bit deceiving with their self produced "News Update".  This "fake news update" as well as some other claims (science or spin?) and/or play on words has made me loose respect and support for an American startup and their innovation (however large or small this innovation may be).        DIB

.

Note:  Halo says they are spending $20m on marketing and they want to grow to be a $200m company.

Hi DIB,

Great, interesting article, I never knew that the brush action of the vacuum would kill fleas.  I always heard that there was some possibility of the fleas being alive in the bag (and worse, reproducing!).  Glad to know that's not true, at least for motorized-brush machines anyway.  Now I wonder about the possible effects UV light has on fleas? 

Hi Mole,

You bring up an good point about fan-first machines.  I've heard stories before about picking up objects with disastrous results, one in particular stands out, told to me by someone who has a cleaning business.  He was vacuuming a client's house with an 80's Eureka Widetrack upright, and didn't notice the penny on the floor.  Not only did it break the fan, but the sheer force caused it to go all the way through the plastic fan chamber and out the headlight lens, breaking the headlight bulb in the process!  It's a miracle it didn't fly out any other direction and hit him, which it could have very well done, knowing how powerful those 7-amp Eurekas (or Sanitaires) are.  According to what he told me, all of a sudden there was a loud "BANG!" and the machine stopped dead in its tracks.  Looking closer he noticed the hole in the headlight lens and the penny on the ground...and you can see where it went from there ;-)

So it seems there's always the possibility of picking up a hard object with the Halo and having it hit "just right"...it could very well take out the UV lights underneath!


Take care all,
Motorhead

Re the flea beating article it should be mentioned that Dr. Glen Needham --  named in the article -- is one of the guys who gave his "professional" view on the Halo website.  Had this article come from anywhere else I might buy into it. 

Here is the link to the video page at Halo -- http://www.gethalo.com/science/

Venson

Hi all,

The Halo people are indeed forging ahead.  I checked out the Sears website today and, yep indeedy, Sears is now carrying the new improved Halo at standard price, $499.99. I'm not only surprised but a little bit impressed.  Gotta give 'em an "E" for effort.

Best,

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hello Venson et al:

Also are available at Bed Bath and Beyond and Best Buy.  The mantra is "Hello Halo, Goodbye Germs."   Claims to be the "World's only germ-killing vacuum."   The trade name is in small letters, copying dyson, with a "halo" over the O [nice touch].   The halo vacuum is pictured in ads with a dark background and the machine is tilted back and up off the ground.  This angle shows the underside of the vacuum.  Prominently displayed is the ultraviolet blue light wich casts a light and shadow of the vacuum on a dark mirrored floor surface [also a nice touch].  Interestingly, halo went with a paper bag rather than a bagless dirt container.   Telephone: 1.877.TRY.HALO and Web Site is gethalo.com

Halo advertises in specialty magazines like REAL SIMPLE-life made easy-.  A magazine that reviews best buys, smartest, most useful products for :  Home; Fashion; Cooking; Beauty; and Health.  The January 2008 edition is on US magazine stands for $4.50.  Web Site: www.realsimple.com

Carmine D.

Yes Halo is at Best  Buy  (my part time job there lets me keep track of it).  So far, very few have sold.  The price is very high compared to other vacs on the BB shelves and the Halo feels downright cheap compared to the other models Best Buy carries.    Also, how long does the UV light have to shine on the critters it's supposed to kill?  If it needs several seconds to do its work, what will that do to the carpet?  Will the user enjoy vacuuming ----v---e----r----y-----------s----l----o----w----l-----y so the light can do its job?

vacomatic wrote:

Unfortunately, halo is marketing its vacuums following dyson's lead.  High prices and big box retailer sales venue.  This marketing strategy served dyson well over the last 5 years because of remarkable timing.  And BEST BUY which convinced jaydee to make the plunge in the USA market before he was ready. 

The economy today is not what it was in 2002 when the housing market was experiencing the beginnings of an upside growth which continued for several years.  Thanks to the subprime slime.  Halo could not have chosen a worse time to launch in terms of the economy, housing market, and credit market.  Halo will sell as a niche vacuum to "germaphobics."  I find it very telling and insightful that the halo, a vacuum which kills and captures germs by use of a UV light, uses a bag dirt containment system not bagless bin.  I'm sure Consumer Reports will make mention of this.

In today's economy all the high priced vacuum products in the big box retailers will suffer sales declines.  Not just halo.  If halo is resigned to a niche market it should do okay.  High priced vacuum sales in the big box stores have already declined and the 2007 Holiday sales season was the tip off.  Most retailers are culling their vacuum inventories especially the older out-of-date high cost models in favor of cheaper brands.  Why?  They sell quicker.  And, the expense for returns and refunds is not as ominous with the most expensive brands.

Carmine D.