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.

I rec'd an email from Oreck with a limited time offer [March 9] to buy an Oreck XL Classic for $199 with a 3 year warranty and no shipping costs.  No quantity limit.  I don't think the offer is for the public.  I presume it's made to me because I purchased 3 in the last year.  Now, probably 4.

Carmine D.

See a new "8lb." model coming from Tacony.

Lightweights are finally having their day in the sun.  Consequently, more vacuum makers are entering the market and/or introducing new and updated models.  Why?  The graying of America.  Now one of the largest buying groups in the USA with over 134 million.

Consumer Reports listed 4 Quick Recommendations for Lightweights in its March 2008 ratings.  Ranging in price from $60 to $330.  HOOVER snags 3 of the 4 with the Tempo for $60 and 16 pounds; the EmPower for $100 at 17 pounds and the WT Supreme for $130 at 17 pounds.  Of course the top rated is the RICCAR/Simplicity for $330.  BUT, the latter doesn't come with attachments on board like the HOOVER models accounting for some of the additional weight.

Carmine D.  

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmine,

But there are now a few midget canisters around, like the Hoover S1361 that you like, to take up the slack above the floor for attachmentless lightweights.  Matter of fact the S1361 was down to $45 in Best Buy over the weekend.  Kenmore also puts out something similar.  Of course, Orek essentially started the idea having two lightweight machines -- one for floors and one for above the floor use.

My only question would be whether keeping track of two vacuums in limited space might prove a problem.  A lot of middle-agers and seniors do take smaller living spaces these days for practical and financial reasons.

Regards,

Venson

Hello Venson:

Royal too has the 2 for 1 in vacuums.  Buying an all metal upright and getting a compact canister too.  RICCAR/Simplicity  too, if a customer asks.

Most uprights today have on-board tools adding alot of extra weight to the daily chore of vacuuming.  Aging America doesn't want to lug the extra weight around unnecessarily.  If only carpet cleaning is to be done, why push around the uneeded attachments on board in the process.  If above the floor cleaning is to be done, why lug around the carpet cleaning component of the vacuum.  

My dear Wife prefers to store the canister with attachments in the closet because she doesn't have to worry about the upright handle getting in the way of hanging clothes and coats.  I use a small plastic bin with a cover for the hose, wands and extra attachments and set the cann vacuum on top of it. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

I have to give you credit Carmine.  You can find so many ways to justify a purchase.

Really, how much can a few tools weigh?  I do not buy into aging America wanting to store tools seperately and then having to go retrieve them if needed.  No need for an upright and a canister + numerous vacuums if you have one excellent vacuum. 

I really like Dyson because it not only cleans carpet, it is excellent on bare floors.  Other uprights that I have used are practically useless on bare floors.  Their exhaust blows the dirt/dust out of the path rendering them useless.

HARDSELL wrote:

I can feel it in the pit of my stomach that this is going to turn into another Dyson thread, but here is my  little  squirt of gasoline to add to the fire, if I may.

When purchasing a light weight machine, we Americans are not looking for the on board tools, at leas I wasn't.  Actually when I purchased my full size machine(s) it was never an option and thus I never miss it.  What I was looking for in a light weight  was a vacuum that was quick and convenient to grab from it's hiding place get the job done with minimum effort and hide it before company comes. 

On deep clean days, I still pull out my high powered machine and it's box of attachments and I do the cleaning as I have for the last 46 years.  I choose to dust first, I know the old vacuum manuals always suggest to dust last to resolve the dust the vacuum with the old dust bags stirred up. With Micro-Lined-Hepa-filtration-electrostaticly-charged-melt-formed-wonder bags I don't worry about it.  I dust first, then do carpets,  and then place the hose on the machine do bare floors, above floors and furniture last. 

My heavy, turbo-charged machine is capable of all the above, but the lightweight is a dedicated carpet/bare floor machine that is my quick clean up dog fur remover.  And to  answer your question "How much can  a few tools weigh?"  For my main machine about 20 lbs U.S. 

Next question: "Why numberous vacuums if you have one excellent?"  Because I wanted it, with three floors to clean (2 above ground one below) It is easier to lug the light weight up and down as well as clean the 27 stairs associated with a multi-story home.

Just wrote:

Just wrote:

My comments were directed to Carmine if you noticed.  I agree.  Why have attachments for a true feather weight?   I also understand a vacuum for each floor level but not a special one for every possible use when 1 will suffice.  Do you lug the monster up and down stairs when a thorough cleaning is in order.

What brand is the monster?  Sounds like a Kirby.

HARDSELL wrote:

Yes I did lug it up and down several times daily.   Now the Kirby lives on the main floor, whilist the Supralite makes the journey up and down stairs.  I figured the lower and uppers don't get as much tracked and ground in dirt as the main floor thus will let the Kirby do the main floor cleaning, while allowing the Supralite to do the touch ups.    I do vacuum everyday, sometimes several times a day as necessitated by living with an American Eskimo dog.  Most of my "dirt" is not ground in, but more like white fluffy surface hair.  This arrangement seems to be working out for me thus far, I have only had the Supralite for a week.   This is until the magic lottery fairy gives me the winning numbers I can afford to have a central vac installed.

BTW--I love Kirby always have.  It's just after a drunk driver fed me the front end of his Ford F-150 a few years ago that I don't have the stamina to do heavy lifting all the time.   I can in this instance have empathy for older adults with diminishing abilities turning to a more viable means of remaining independent with a lighter machine.  This is why I think the aging boomers will be flocking to lighter machines.