Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

After much discussion and pondering and the infamous Oreck XL21 thread.  I finally bought a lightweight vacuum for my home.  I set out this weekend with all intentions of buying an Oreck.  On Saturday the man at the Oreck Clean Home Center was very plesant, he let me handle and try everything on display. He came off the price and re-arranged the packages for me as well as offered factory refurbished and reconditioned trades to help meet my budget.

I left the Oreck store positive I was coming back, but I wanted to take a look a the Simplicity Freedom before I made the final decision.  I went to the Sewing Center/Vacuum shop we have done business with all my life; and which my mother has done business with for over 60 years.  Unfortunately the salesman must have been short on commission and long on inventory this month as he was only interested in my wallet and not my needs.

I began by telling him what I was interested in, an Oreck, or Freedom lightweight vacuum for quick clean ups and low pile carpet in the basement and kitchen. I further explained that I had a good high power vacuum I was happy with for normal cleaning and this would be a complement not a replacement.

He immediately started to run down my main machine (BAD FIRST MOVE--we are attached to each other).  So with this move he began showing me the me the Simplicity Synergy Tandem Air (Weighing in at approximately 22 lbs and a cost of $1,479 plus trade). He poured sand on the floor, he pulled water up a column from a colored fish bowl, he hooked up hoses to hose with a shop vac.  He did everything but show me the Freedom.

When he finally got finished with dog and pony show he explained how unhappy I would be with the Freedom because I was used to power and for approximately the same amount of the Freedom he could sell me the Synergy's little brother which isn't tandem air but still is more powerful than a tornado in an outhouse.

I stood firm that I came in looking for the Freedom, but now he pretty much talked me out of anything.  This is when he shot me the wonderful low price for the Freedom of $579, which with my loyalty discount he would drop to $479 and take another $50 off with the coupon in the paper today so now it's $429 and would give me a years supply of bags to boot. Well with that wonderful deal how did I walk away you ask?  By slipping on my coat, zipping my daughter's coat and walking to the car.

I did think it over and decided that the Oreck was high priced, and he did offer me a factory refurb for $299 and still had a decent warranty.  My decision was an Oreck Ultra.  Monday I was off to the Oreck store, but before I went I decided to stop by the Vacuum shop one of the church members just opened on the west side.  I felt I owed it to him to stop in and even if I bought the Oreck from him I was supporting a fellow Catholic.  It just so happened when I walked in I found he sold higher end vacuums.  Melie, Sebo, Lindenhaus were all lined up in the window.  I found he also sold the Riccar line.  I told him what I wanted and what I wanted to do with it.  He listened to me and brought out a Riccar RSL4. There was no pressure, no comparing to other machines, no running anything down or trying to move me up in price. I took it home for $299, a year's worth of bags and he carried it to the car for me.  I will do a review of the vac itself in the review section.  

I will say that the buying experience at the Oreck Clean Home Center and the Independent vac shop was very pleasant.  If everyone could experience this kind of service, no one would buy at Wal-Mart again.  It is so refreshing to see this kind of service still exists. The experience at the Sewing Center/Vac Shop ws worse than a four hour home demo from the Filter Queen gestopo.  I doubt I will be doing business there in the future.

HARDSELL wrote:

Since you asked my friend here is your answer:

Rewind: I gifted to my daughter and son-in-law in September 2006.  Why?  It worked well on their carpets.  Low carpet.  Smooth pile.  They loved it. 

Fast forward: In June 2007, daughter and SIL buy a new [foreclosed] house [3000 sq. feet] due to expanding family.  New carpets.  Almost identical to those in my house.  Result: Dyson does not work, just like it didn't on mine.  It's in a spare unused bedroom gathering dust.  Consolation:  My oldest grand daughter loves the pink color.

I gifted an Oreck too.  Why? My daughter is pregnant.  She loves it.  Uses it on the main level until I install a central vacuum system. 

Carmine D.

HARDSELL wrote:

My Friend:

Speaking for Oreck and my own personal use only, I can tell you you're wrong.  Oreck is an excellent floor cleaner and does not scatter anything.  It picks it up on the first pass.  75 percent of my home is ceramic tile.  Oreck works like a charm.  Throw rugs the same.  I have berber, smooth and plush.  Kitchen, bathroom, foyers.  The Oreck brings up the pile and makes them look like new.  And my bedroom carpets are wool Mohawk medium pile loop.  Oreck almost goes by itself.  Same carpets dyson couldn't budge on.  If I raise up the handle on these carpets, there is no problem with the Oreck.  The belt lasted 9 months.  The Oreck is a classic [no pun intended].  Has over 45 years of proven time tested experience.  You loose sight of that, ignore it, and overlook it.  Another reason you are biased.

Carmine D.

I just wanted to update on my Riccar experience. 

I just changed the bag for the first time.  Usually I fill bags more quickly, but remember this is an additional vac.   Here is an observation I have made, which someone can correct me if I am wrong, as it is only my observation.  The blue paper bags don't seem to breath as well as the white fabric (HEPA) bag that came with it. I am basing this on the fact that when I use the Vac with the HEPA bag the bag was yeilding and and could be depressed quite easily.  With the blue paper bag, though supposed to be as good at filtering, the bag is almost hard ridged when the machine is running.    You can still feel air flowing from the bag, but the paper is more taunt.  Thus my deduction the paper bag is not breathing as well as the fabric type bag.  I am sure there is a scientific means to measure this, but I used my hand.

In any case I still like the little Riccar, and it is getting lots of use.  I have found myself reaching for the Supralite more and more.  The fast, agressive brush roll really lifts and grooms the carpet. 

CarmineD wrote:

No wonder the Oreck goes by itself.  No suction!!!!  I would not think that a vetern would be fooled by the raised pile,  I reported years ago that the Oreck does an excellent job of grooming carpet.  It just fails to deep clean.  BTW, there are carpet rakes that make it look beautful.  Like the Oreck they make carpet look great without the deep cleaning.  They also do not cost over $700.

GM and Ford have more years experience than Lexus.  Which is better?  If knowing what is best is biased then you are correct about me.

HARDSELL wrote:

Better and best are in the mind of the buyer/ user and incorporate many factors both objective and subjective.  Most importantly for some, maybe not others, price.  Since I am and have been a Ford buyer for years, my answer would be unequivocally Ford.  Since you and many of my good friends and acquaintances are Toyota buyers, you and they would say Lexus.  Others would say GM.  Among models, all three will/will not excel over the others. 

Since the Oreck works very well on my floors and carpets [and several persons I gifted them to], and the dyson did not, I keep and use the Oreck and gifted away the dyson.  Still have not given up on a dyson.  Plan to buy another at some point.  But can't make up my mind which one.  Most retailers are discounting 20 percent now.  Lowes.  Bed Bath and Beyond.  Linen-n-things.  Regularly discount 20 percent AND give Gift cards. Can't be the DC07/14 [which are getting harder to find and buy].  They won't work for me.  Tried already.  Don't care for the DC15.  Too unruly.  DC17?  DC18? DC20?  One of the new baby dysons?  The latter have not come out yet in the US.  Time will tell.  Which do you recommend among these dysons as the best?

Carmine D.

HARDSELL wrote:

I think cars are like vacuums.  There are really no better ones, it depends on what the customer prefers and is comfortable spending to get.

Just,
I'm glad you're experimenting with cloth/paper bags.  I've done the same with my electrolux cannisters.  I will never buy paper again. You are absolutely right that the cloth maintains better airflow as the bag fills, not to mention better filtration as well.  I haven't looked at the cloth type bag for your upright, but if it's anything like their cannisters, you're better off spending the few extra dollars on the cloth filtrete/hepa style bag. 

Vernon

CarmineD wrote:

Practice what you preach.  Dyson seems to get more positive reviews than anything that you recommend.   Just be honest and say it did not work for you.  As usual you run that motor mouth before knowing the facts.  I drive a Ford and my son drives a Ford P/U.  If you knew anything about autos you would know that Toyota/Lexus does excell above the big 3.  Since you believe the rag reports read to see if I am telling the truth.

You vacuum with at least a half dozen models regularly.  How would you know which is doing the job. 

I have only used the DC07 and 14.  I prefer the 7.

Just wrote:

Have to disagree on this.

HARDSELL wrote:

My point with in saying that there are many cars out there, often the consumer has to make the choice from the best they can afford.  Though a BMW may be better than my Corvair, the Corvair may be all that I can afford.  Though the Yugo was a POC, it was cheap, but throw-a-way. 

The same with vacuums.  The Rainbow may be "the best" but all I can afford is a Dirt Devil.  Though the devil is throw-a-way it does the job.