Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Someone is asking me this but I have no clue. So what would you recommend to someone that has $200.00 to spend on a vacuum cleaner.

Acerone wrote:

Hello Chris:

Here in North Las Vegas, Wal*Mart stores carry this HOOVER canister model.  If I'm not mistaken, it also carries the Eureka Sanitaire model that Mole mentions.  But I'm not certain.   I know it has the GE canister but that particular model ues a filter paper bag.

You might also try the HOOVER Web Site and pull up the model.  The Web Site provides a "zip code" search of retailers in your geographic location who carry and sell the model with their prices.   I purchased a HOOVER canister with straight suction in August, with a bag, from BEST BUY using this method.  And I'm pleased with the product, which I plan to review on here soon.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

So far no luck finding one...

Acerone wrote:

Hello Chris,

I input my ZIP and the HOOVER S3765 model came up as available and in stock in KOHL's and Amazon.com.  I did the same for the HOOVER model S3755, a comparable model per CR, but earlier and slightly less in price, and it came up as available and in stock in TARGET stores and Amazon.com.  Must be a supply shortage in your neck of the woods.

And the side banner of this page shows a retailer advertisement who has both these HOOVER models and is offering free next day shipping UPS and/or FedEx.   Both under $200.  I'm not affiliated with the business and make no warranties expressed/implied about them.  Here is the Web Site.

http://www.vcdiscounter.com/s3765040.html

Carmine D.

Another option would be a rebuilt KIRBY G5,G6,G7 ,and even a few sentrias,diamonds, can be had for 200.00 ,if you know where to get them,trust me they are a glut on the market........

MOLE

Thank you Mole for remembering the lightly used or rebuilt  and ever repairable war horses.  There's a lot of worth in the machines due to their abilty to endure alone.  I hope that more buyers to be this year will consider the same and maybe shake up the industry.  They say money talks.

Best,

Venson

CarmineD wrote:
Found it and what a disappointment. The Hoover looked so cheap and pieces where missing and broken off the vacuum... I'll pass on the Hoover for now...

Acerone wrote:

For $170 to $200, especially in the canisters, you won't find much better from other makes and models.  At those prices, there's nothing special.  In part, the reason Consumers rated it a BEST CANISTER!

If you read my post on the other thread, your opinion epitomizes the point about US consumers looking for quality purchases now when they plunk down their bucks.  There is a pervasiveness among vacuum buyers [like you] who are frustrated and disgusted with the big box store China crap, to follow Mole and Venson's advice and seek out "good used/rebuilt" quality brands.  And you [and buyers like you] are parting ways with the big box retailers for vacuum purchases and will look for alternatives for your vacuum purchases:  The independent vacuum stores. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
As someone who has held a constant subscription to CR for the past 9.5 years (Summer of '98, August issue to be exact) and has tracked the ratings during the entire time, I wouldn't take anything CR says to heart, "best" or not.  Their ratings are VERY inconsistent, not only with vacuums although that accounts for a large part of it.  Sometimes I look at the garbage they recommend and ask myself, "What were they thinking?!"  That Hoover WindTunnel canister looks cheap in the pictures, and I bet with that nasty clogging bin filter it will end up spewing dust too.  Gross.  As I've said before, if the filtered bagless was the only bagless type on the market today, I would take a disposable bag machine over one of those 100 times over.   And with the Kirby, she would have to look for something before 1981 if she wanted something that didn't use disposable bags.  I don't care for those cloth shakeout bags either, talk about a thing of the past.  My Sanitaire had one and I just recently converted it over to the F&G disposable bag setup, replacing the outer bag.  Boy, what an improvement that made as far as ease of use goes.

I'm sticking with my first choice, the dual-cyclone TFV, no messy bin filters to clean there.  Longevity is of course a question, but even then it certainly can't be worse than anything else out there in that price range.  The bottom line is that she'd have to spend a little more to get a truly good new machine.

Motorhead wrote:

For a vacuum budget of $170-$200 there's nothing special about the bagless canisters on the market today, which I personally and professionally don't like [for many of the same reasons CR states].  

As Mole and Venson recommended, with a $200 budget for a vacuum price requirement, a rebuilt/slightly used/rebuilt industry stalwart would  fare much better than anything new on the market today for $200.  Again, like the budget constraint, if the bagless feature is not a deal breaker.  I've made the point in several previous recent posts on the Forum that to get a good quality NEW vacuum in today's market, you have to spend more than $200 [and I'm not talking about a big box store dyson] and shop/buy at the vacuum store independents, not the big box retailers.

Carmine D.

Motorhead wrote:

Hello Motorhead:

I assume you are in the vacuum cleaner business and hence the reason you've held a CR subscription for 10 years.  What do you think is a better consumer information guide for vacuums than CR? 

I have never been a staunch CR subscriber and reader.  I have been in and around the vacuum business all my long living life [praise be to God].  I have bought and read selected issues of CR over the past 60 years, primarily for vacuums.  I usually purchase the edition off the magazine rack.  I know many smart, well-educated, well to do people who are CR subscribers.  I have respect and admiration personally and professionally for these persons.

CR has gotten better over the years with its vacuum tests and ratings.  More in line with the consensus of vacuum industry experts and professionals.  However, I still, like you and others in the business, have many disagreements with CR when it comes to vacuums.  Be that as it may, is there, and has there ever been, a better reference guide for vacuum buying consumers on the market than CR? 

One vacuum choice that CR and I are in total agreement on is the HOOVER Tempo for $60.   Always rated in the top 10 by CR year after year.  And there are others too that we agree on.

Carmine D.