Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Looking back over the past year, one thing conspicuously absent from this forum is a rabid Rainbow enthusiast.  Perhaps it is difficult to justify the outrageous price of these door to door wonders.   To some extent, a Rainbow owner has to believe in the Rainbow sales pitch and doesn't want to be confronted with any negative information about the Rainbow.    I also noticed that overstock.com is no longer selling the refurbished Rainbow SE's with the Wesselwerks small power nozzles.    Given the economy, it's got to be tough selling $2000+ vacuums - even if they can purify one's home. 

Severus wrote:

SEVERUS:

Too bad Nick Garcia couldn't sell dyson on the halo UV-C technology.  I understand Sir James had first right of refusal before ORECK bought it.   The combination of dustmites and dirt in see-thru magnified plastic bins could have elevated dyson vacuum sales to a whole new level.   Wonder if he's sorry now that he turned Garcia/halo down on the offer? 

Carmine D.

Severus wrote:

I have never been disappointed with the Rainbow's performance.  Like all cannisters it is a PITA to use and store.  I also dislike having to clean it after use.  I have no regrets of buying as I have used it in circumstances that other vacuums can't be used.  I used to use it to vacuum water from my boat's interior after washing it out.  I have had a water heater burst and used it to clean water from the carpet (over concrete of course).  When I wash the tile floors in the bath rooms I can vacuum the residue and have them dry in minutes.  I may start to paint cars with it.  

I think that Kirby has quality = to any vacuum.  I simply never liked to use mine. In the mid 70's I owned an electrolux that I feel has qaulity = to any today. I am sure that the European vacs have great quality, however I refuse to buy a vac then have to pay an extra fortune for the tools.  The best bang for the buck actually depends on the user IMHO.  There is no one for all.  I liked my DC07 as much as any vacuum and dislike the Oreck as much as any.  Carmine feels opposite.  We both have praise for our vacuum of choice although neither likes the other's choice.

To date I have never had a vacuum to fail.  Most were gifted and a few sold as I had the desire to try others.  Excluding the ones I returned all have lasted 5 or more years.  I will pay more for a vacuum that cleans thoroughly even if it does not last as long as a poor performer.

My choice must include strong hose suction (or strong portable included), maneuver easily, deep clean my carpet, can't exhaust from the front and blow debris away when vacuuming hard surfaces, tools included with vac.  I prefer a long cord, minimum of wheel and brush marks left on carpet, brush turn off control, on/off switch located so it is not in the way when using vac.  I never cared for a light prior to the Hoover Platinum as all others were so dim as to be useless.

I probably left something out but this is a start.

HARDSELL wrote:

HS:

Thanks for answering SEVERUS's question.  Let me clarify a statement that you made and attributed to me:  ORECK is my "lightweight"vacuum of choice, not my vacuum of choice.  For rugs, that would be the HOOVER WT.  My problem with your vacuum of choice [which I owned and/or used in my own two homes] is that dyson's pitch is superior to the product.  Lose the DC07 clutch, which dyson eventually did, and price at $150-$200 and your vacuum of choice would be an ideal bagless upright for all big box store venues.

PS:  I'm always amused and unimpressed when others, especially you, speak for me and/or impute words and meanings to me.  By now one thing you ought to know, even as a friend, is that I can do a much better job speaking for myself  on all matters, especially vacuums, than you can do speaking for me.  Hence the reason I requested that you answer the question SEVERUS posed to you rather than answering for you.

Carmine D.

Just used one of my Rainbows today SE PE, still like it better than my E Series and still think Rexair needs to change the power nozzle design. It takes all of 5 minutes to clean up and if I check my exhaust port, there is never a film of dust. I use the Rainbow as directed and never use it to pick up non wettable items. When I come back in after using the Rainbow, my home always smells really good.

I don't want to get on the Dyson band wagon, but one reason I never even tried a Dyson is no bumper guards on any part of the machine. I am careful when I vacuum, but even so I want to get as close to my baseboards and furniture as possible, without nicking them. I don't think you could do that with a Dyson.

Bud

CarmineD wrote:

Carmine you have no problem speaking for yourself or others.  Problem is you are twist your words to suit the occasion.  Hence, the reason I repeated what you have said so many times.

I almost forgot Carmine.  Your NPD is showing no sign of improvement.

CarmineD wrote:
 Hardsell didn't mention his cost of ownership with the Dyson, but it's not uncommon for Dyson user's to have very low cost of ownership.  IF most Dyson owners don't have to buy additional filters or supplies over a 5 year ownership period, doesn't it seems reasonable for Dyson to charge more money up front?   When people pay over $2000 for some door to door brands, it's hard to fault an inventor for trying to cash in before his patents expire.  Venson has documented the high cost of Miele vacuum tools and supplies.  Greed more than anything else is what drives people to take the risk to start a business.  If Dyson can convince consumers to part with $500 for a vacuum, I'm not going to criticize him for it.  Compared to what government does to us, at least buying a Dyson is voluntary.

HS:

If you repeated what I said, I'd have no reason to post.  Talk about me twisting words?  You must have majored in philosophy in college.  You gave an answer to the SEVERUS question but didn't provide any meaningful information.  The question is: 

Severus wrote:

Depends on the user is your answer?  Then, my friend any vacuum brand and model may be correct answers.  Do you believe that is the case?  If so, why argue/debate here the pros and cons of brands/models.  They're all equally good, despite the price differences.  As long as users' requirements are satisfied reasonably.  Right?    Wrong!

Consumer Reports answers/tries to answer the SEVERUS question for most vacuum buyers.  You always take umbrage with CR.  Impugn it constantly ad infinitum.  Yet, given the chance, you don't provide a meaningful answer/option.     

Carmine D.

Severus wrote:

Hi SEVERUS;

In theory, I agree with your premise that Sir James can charge $500 plus for a dyson to recoup R&D costs IF 5 year maintenance costs are minimal.  However that's not the case in real life.  Dysons launched on the market in the USA in April 2002 and thru August 15, 2006 [over 4 years] with a 2 year warranty.   The high repair/costly problem with dyson models is the clutch: $80-$150.  For the most part, these problem prone clutch models [DC07 and DC14] sold with ONLY a 2 year warranty.   They are failing after 2 years and before 5 years and are out of warranty.  These are the dyson models that abound in vacuum stores for repairs and are left unclaimed by customers due to costs and frustrations by customers.  These are also the dyson refurbs sold pervasively everywhere including dyson Web Site to recoup clutch repair costs.  Consumer Reports has not reported on these yet.  The infamous clutch is a a chink in the dyson price theory and in the CR vacuum repair reliability data.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Carmine,

I guess my point is that market forces will determine the number of vacuums sold at a given price point. I can't find the link, but David Oreck gave a speech at a business school, and he predicted the downward spiral of competitors who dropped price and the ensuing pressures to cut costs.  

CarmineD wrote:

Carmine, you harped on Hoover for years.  They fell on their a$$.  In desperation you chose Oreck in another attempt to find something that could best Dyson.  You even compared the two in your reviews on this site.  You have established that you use the Oreck regularly in any conversation that mentioned Oreck.  In fact you have stated that it is necessary to use it almost daily to keep carpet clean.  I can read without a major in philosophy.  I responded to Severus and he hasn't complained.  If not for your NPD you would likely sit quietly.

I never said they were equally good.  Hell, some folks prefer spam to steak.  Don't forget that not all can afford higher quality so what they can afford is best for them.  There is no definitive best or worst to my knowledge.  Perhaps you can list them for us.  I will say that Oreck falls to the bottom of my list.  How's that for starting another pissing match?

Notice how CR rates products.  They can tie in performance. Yet one can be purchased in their color of preference and they give the extra points to that one.  Go Clown Reports.