Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

http://s7ondemand4.scene7.com/s7ondemand/zoom/flasht_zoom.jsp?company=OttoUK&sku=Freemans3zoom&config=Freemans3zoom&zoomwidth=540&zoomheight=640&windowtitle=Freemans%20Zoom%20Window&nfr=getflash&vc=image%3dOttoUK/341711FRSP

Here is the description:

http://www.freemans.com/web/main/ProductDisplay.asp?An=0&N=0&Au=P_MasterItem&Nu=P_MasterItem&A=341711_&cm_mmc=GOOGLEBASE-_-Froogle-_-Electricals/Appliances/Vacuum%20Cleaners-_-341711&catreqmedia=F0233&ordermedia=F0043&entry=3

I agree.  Trouble is that it's totally ineffective on some US carpets, usually the more expensive higher pile carpets, due to the floating nozzle head which bogs the brushbar down in the carpet.  Result: The brushbar stops and the gawdawful ratcheting noise is enough to scare/upset all the pets and humans in the house not to mention its inability to vacuum the carpet.  The clutch repair is costly at $90 to $135 depending on the parts replaced.  Belt replacements are not a do-it-yourself item as most belt replacements are for other brands.  Belt replacements are equally costly and time consuming compared to the rest of the industry brands and models.  The clutch appeared on dyson's DC07 here in the USA which has been discontinued.  For quite a few years now, in fact.  It still appears on dyson's DC14 which is also on the path to discontinuation being sold on clearance/discount by all US retailers who still have in stock and on hand.  The DC15, now extinct too never used the clutch.  Neither do the DC17, 18, 24, 25 and 28.  Not sure about the 27 and 33.  Dyson had the sense to abandon clutch usage in most all subsequent upright models.  A testament to its shortcomings in the USA.  Scrubbing it was a good move but it took him a long time to realize what most others knew long before he did.  It was a poor design feature for some American rugs and users, usually the more expensive and higher pile carpets used in up scale homes. 

Carmine D.

Your opinion and you are entitled to it right or wrong. 

Carmine D.

The issue is the price and whether worth the money.  I sprang $250 for a DC07 pink which was the max I'd spend.  I was not impressive even for that price.  The clutch and floating head were problematic on my carpets.  The only vacuum to date that has failed to do the job and the most expensive of all I used/purchased.

Carmine D. 

Venson

Things are a changing.

Carmine D.

Thanks Carmine,

I checked out the U.S. website and thar she was right thar.  That's supposed to mean 341 bucks and no more money spent.  OR do they mean the five-year warranty covers everything?  The company claims:

"*Total maintenance cost cover a five period is based on recommended filter and belt replacement information provided by each manufacturer."

Bissell Cleanview Helix (82H1) -- $212 (maintenance cost)

Hoover Anniversary Windtunnel (U6485900) -- $267 (maintenance cost)

(Please note that "a five period" is not a typo on my part. Text is exactly as input on the website.  See what happens? You charge a little less for your vacuum and you have to give up a proofreader.)

Venson

Hi Venson:

Good eye on the error.  Freudian slip, perhaps by the dyson people? 

That may be the implication by dyson and/or inferrence it hopes to elicit by readers.  But we know from experience that in 5 years, if that is the time frame, dyson wear and tear parts will fail/need replacement in dysons and are not covered by the limited warranty.  Recently, efforts in trying to locate a brush roll for a dyson upright, any dyson upright, on the dyson site, proved impossible.  Procare posted a case here along with that thread where a DC25 under warranty needed a brushroll and it end up costing $75 [have to buy brush with nozzle]. 

Include time to constantly dump the dyson dirt bins and clean the filters, if time is indeed money, and I suspect the money amounts for replacement bags and filters are paled in comparison by dyson.

Carmine D.