Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I was going to post this on the Dyson thread, but I didn't want to drift from the subject so I'll start a new topic on it.  Visiting DIB's link to the VDTA homepage, I saw an advertisement for a "Rotho" branded vacuum that caught my interest.  I haven't heard of that brand before so I decided to check out their homepage, and it mentioned that it is "two machines in one" showing a vacuum powerhead and carpet extractor wand...of course I knew right then what it was.  Yes, yet another non-separator-type water vacuum out there, although this one looks the most canister-like out of all of them.  Has anyone else heard of this machine?

I notice that it has the Wessel-Werk powerhead; I tried a Hyla water vacuum with that powerhead once.  The powerhead was nice and I thought it did a good job (the water *was* quite dirty afterwards), but the Hyla itself wasn't that great.  Even though it was a separator-type machine and had a large tank capacity, I thought it was flimsy (and cheaply built) compared to the Rainbow E-series, and it made about as much noise as a Shop-Vac.  Still it wasn't as bad as the Thermax, though...that machine weighed about the same as a lawnmower when full.  To add insult to injury the hose/wand setup was poorly designed I thought.  The extra-long curved hose end was metal (with no grip), and the wand just swiveled loosely in the powerhead...you couldn't "steer" it without the wand rotating back & forth on you.  At least when the machine is such a PITA to drag around, the nozzle could be easy to maneuver, but no.

Rotho Website.

-MH

Hi MH,

Thanks for the link.  Water filtration in tandem with the use of stationary filters and baffles instead of the Rainbow-type revolving separator has been around for a while.  Karcher's household model, now selling in the U.S., employs the same as well as Thermax and imports like Polti.  By the way, please tell me if you know, on the average, how many vacuums per year do small manufacturers have to sell to stay in business?

There's also the H20/ Aroma vac that's being pushed a lot.  I don't know how well it sells.  HSN pushed two three different water/stationary filter employing for a time but I don't notice mention of them lately when I check out the site.  Per a separate post, I am hoping to see a widely acceptable all-in-one machine come into being.  The combination vacuum/vapor steam cleaner still needs some work.

Check out -- http://www.poltieast.us/Polti_Lecologico_Water_Filter_Vacuum.html

This links to a PDF manual of a machine that is selling under many names -- http://www.topinnovations.com/products/cleanfast/CF-980/Manuals/CF-980_Manual.pdf

This leads to the Karcher operators manual -- http://www.karcherresidential.com/support/downloads/pdfs/usermanuals/5960-0320.pdf

Regards,

Venson

Thought I would bump this thread...as we are thinking about carrying this in the store and was interested in some of your feedback. Quite large and with a hefty price point $1,495-$1,695. Cheaper and more versatile than the Rainbow though.

Thanks Lucky

Hello Lucky1:

If you think there is a call for them [Rotho water vacuums] then by all means carry and sell.  Since these Rotho water vacuums are a niche machine to compete with Rainbows, you should probably have a new/late model Rainbow too for pitching the sales comparison between the two.  And a back up outlet for selling the new Rainbow [with commission for you for the sales], if the customer insists on the original rather than the Rotho.

Carmine D. 

Have any of you looked at the size of the water container about ONE QUART!

With my Rainbow, I can make 2 quarts of slimy mud in 15 minutes in some homes. I can just see some spam sucking trailer park tramp utterly destroying the ROTHO in 10 minutes!

Lucky1 wrote:

You should know that these vacuums are available on amazon.com for around $1300. 

http://www.amazon.com/ROTHO-Twin-TT-Water-Filtration-Canister/product-reviews/B0015YULO0/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

The reviews are mixed. 

I'd so much rather have a combi- vacuum cleaner/steam vapor cleaner.  They exist both here and in Europe but the European somehow have the edge I'm told due to higher voltage.  Needless to say, on either side of the ocean they're expensive.

Haan, a new name to me, is also selling an upright vacuum with steam cleaning capacity.  I've seen it at my local BestBuy.

Venson

Motorhead wrote:

Speaking of the VDTA homepage, there was something that caught my eye:

VDTA/SDTA presents JIM ACKERMAN as the 2010 Keynote Speaker, March 25, 2010, 9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
“How to Market Your Crap When the Economy is in the Toilet!”

Jim will also present 2 two-hour workshops following his keynote!
*How to Get More Customers Who Will Pay You More Money, More Often”
*How to Advertise Your Junk When the Economy is in the Trash”

As a consumer, the idea of buying "crap" and "Junk" isn't exactly what I have in mind when I go shopping.   I may be making too much out of this guy's title, but he certainly sounds a bit sleazy to me. 

Severus wrote:
Dave Oreck was likely Jim's mentor.

Severus wrote:

Hello SEVERUS:

I agree with you.  I'm not a VDTA member and never have been.  VDTA/SDTA organizers need to vet their speakers and agenda items before letting this get approved and printed.  Else, they have and can't get anthing better.  If the latter, it doesn't speak/bode well for the 2010 vacuum trade convention, at least from my perspective as a non-member. 

Carmine D.

HARDSELL wrote:

Not quite.  Akio Toyoda, aka The Prince, is more like it!

Carmine D.