Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Hello Venson:

A recent episode for a product and industry wide evaluation/review that CR was on top of:  Air cleaners/purifiers and in particular the Ionic Breeze.  Despite threats and actual lawsuits by the manufacturer, CR took the product head on criticizing it for performance, safety, and making false claims.  CR was right on the money all the way up and down.  Ionic Breeze was slapped with a class action lawsuit and finally settled by paying out money to all the buyers. 

Wins like this for CR enhance its stature and credibility among readers.

Carmine D.

Hello Chris:

I was at the local Wal*Mart today and scoping out the vacuums.  The HOOVER Cann S3755 was on display and in stock on the shelves.  The retail price marked is $258. 

I never really took a close look [bagless are not by bag] but your comment made me curious.  I looked more carefully.  I agree with you.  It's not worth $258 and I have my doubts about $158.  Why?  The canister is cheaply made and assembled.  I had difficulty with the dirt bin removal and reinstalling.   I had to really slam it in to seal the bin in the machine well.  All the parts were there.  The automatic winder worked well.  The wands, hose and power head, especially the brush roll, were decent.  Add the cann, and it loses its appeal.  Unless the display model was faulty, I would say Consumer Reports doesn't get this pick right.  Even for $158 retail.

On the contrary, next to the HOOVER S3755 Cann was the "old" GE canister [made by Eureka with the GE name exclusively for Wal*mart].  It's been around the industry for over 6 years.  Bagged.  And for $140.  In comparison the GE is much better, although now superceded by a new version which is a coppertone color.  This particular Wal*Mart store was sold out of these.  Not even a display.   I didn't ask if more were due in, but it looked like many of the vacuums were out of stock.  Except the two dyson models which were stacked full in all the space provided.  The DC07 Original for $378 and the DC 07/14 Animal.  I'm not sure which model.  I didn't look closely and there was no display model and price except for the DC07 Original.  

While I was there a couple selected the EUREKA BOSS Smart Vac upright for purchase.  It was located right next to the dyson.  I overheard the man's comments about some of the bagless vacuums on display.  I can't repeat them here.  The comments would be censored.  He was quite satisfied with the Eureka Boss Upright and he put it in their cart.  He told his Wife [I presume she was] that the Eureka was the best....AFTER he made sure there were replacement paper bags available for sale.  There were.

Carmine D. 

Carmine D.

Missing from the CR cann reviews are the new and/or old GE canns sold exclusively by Wal*mart and made by Eureka.  The old GE cann, around about 6 years, was consistently rated high by CR.  This and the latest version are bagged canisters and in my opinion worth the $150, if you are so inclined to want to buy a cann in that price range.

Carmine D.

COSTCO stores which recently added the Blue model EUREKA Boss Vac, now also has the Red model.  Both priced at about $140.  With 2008 being a Presidential election year, we need to have both a Democrat and Republican model!

Financial markets are in a free fall in the USA.  Stalwart financial institutions are going belly up daily.  The US housing market is decimated.  Literally hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs [and homes] on Wall Street and Main Street since January of this year.   Not to mention ripple effects in London and around the globe.  And Wal*Mart stock price [which typically was priced on par with BEST BUY] is up 30 percent this year to $63 a share while BB stock price is down the same percentage at $42.  Any wonder too both colors of the EUREKA BOSS Smart Vac are being offered by COSTCO.  A $150 upright is a very desirable commodity to market right now. 

Also, the COSTCO Web Site prominently shows that the Red model EUREKA BOSS SMART Vac is rated a number one Consumers Digest Best Buy.

Carmine D.

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=164028

The pictured Eureka upright also comes in a bagged version using F&G inserts.  Drawback is no attachments on board.  But for $150 for a commercial grade upright that will last 20 years, a buyer can't go wrong.

Carmine D.