Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

First upright from Miele

29 February 2008 This summer, Miele will launch its first range of upright vacuum cleaners – the S7.  It will consist of about six models, all of which feature ultra large dust bags and  “a unique swivel body, which makes it easy to manoeuvre in even the trickiest  of room layouts”. According to the company,  the decision was made following  numerous requests from customers that wanted to buy Miele  but would only use  an upright model. Text: courtesy ERTweekly.com Picture: courtesy Miele.co.uk, 2009 Edited 21st March 2009; reason: loss of original image.

I have to say I'm even more impressed with this replacement S7.  It seems to do an even better job than my prototype.  It has more pull when you push forward and it fights just a bit when you pull it back.  It seems to be more powerful, but it has the same motor as the prototype did so I'm not sure where the difference is.

One of the things I didn't like in my first review of the S7 was the brush tool.  That has been improved with this version and I'm really happy with it.  The prototype brush opening was smaller and the brush itself very close together so it was useless to me since it immediately clogged.  This one is more open and pulls the globs of hair, etc. right through.  I'm very happy with the replacement.  Everything else seems to be in line with the prototype.

Melanie

catlady wrote:

IMMER BESSER!

Melanie,

I am absolutely thrilled for you. I hope you let your vac shop and Miele know how happy you are with your new S7. Did you get clarification on the warranty?

Trebor

Trebor wrote:

I did.  The warranty will start from my original purchase of the prototype S7.  However the warranty was different for the prototype.  It was a 2 year total warranty, but the Vac Shop told me I have 1 year parts, 7 years motor.  Since I've had the S7 for almost a year, then I only have a couple of months left for parts, and a little under 7 years for motor.

Melanie

Trebor wrote:

The new MIELE vacuums come with a factory product warranty.  Independent vacuum store owners/operators, especially authorized MIELE dealers, can, at their own expense and effort, extend/improve on the MIELE warranty, w/o MIELE's approval/sanction, whenever, wherever and however they should feel the need to do so.  Most especially with their best business customers. 

Carmine D.

Alittle HEADS UP for you all, Miele will warranty machines that are 10 to 15 years old, Call the 800 tech line and give them grief about their machines that were never suppose to break,at least thats what the authorized miele dealer told me, They will cave in and you get a new vacuum or free parts under their  business credo, I hope the general public BUSTS them ,they deserve it.

regards

MOLE

mole wrote:

Hello MOLE:
I was thinking more the "cookie" than the "complaining" approach to build a customer/dealer business relationship, IF she keeps the Salsa.

Carmine D.

Coming back on to add some information to this thread, apologies if it's been stated already but there seems to be quite a bit of "filler" in this thread that I have no interest in trying to read through.

Now that I've had a chance to get some "hands on" experience with a Miele S7 (early February, Bolero model), I can finally comment.  What a fantastic machine this is, Miele definitely got it right here.  Like any other high-end Miele it carries a large pricetag, but it's one of the few cleaners (unlike the Simplicity Synergy/Riccar Radiance for example) that actually FEELS like a $700-900 upright.  You get what you pay for.  All parts of the machine are extremely well constructed and are quite sturdy.  It has a bit of handle weight but is easy to push, turns on a dime, and does a wonderful job of grooming the carpet.  With the brushroll turned off, it also does a surprisingly good job on bare floors.  Not too terribly noisy either; the Automatic setting comes in handy here.  On the electronic models with this setting, the machine automatically slows down when the stretch hose is fully extended, preventing the hose from collapsing and the machine from either being pulled into you or knocked over.  Anyone who is looking at the S7 should definitely choose the electronic controls over the dial-equipped models, you won't regret it. 

Catlady (Melanie), sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience with your previous machine, but I'm glad you like your current S7.  There was no reason for the repair shop to have pried on the machine to remove the old hose other than that they were most likely unaware of how it attached.  It simply twists and pulls out.  In addition, the hose on the current production models IS a bit shorter than that on the early production models.  The red S7s were in fact actual production machines, not prototypes or "test" models; it's just that a limited number (around 250 or so IIRC) were produced to satisfy the Diamond Dealers and to gauge the consumers' reactions before the remaining line was introduced.  So they were still production models, just very, very early in the run.  What you may or may not realize is that there is NO formal repair training for Miele dealers, nor is there an official service manual for any model whatsoever!  All that is given in the way of repair documentation is an exploded parts diagram, and that's IT.  For any sort of repairs you are expected to call Miele Technical Support and have them guide you through the repair.  Or, in the case of the repair shop you took your machine to, start removing screws or prying, and hope for the best.  One other interesting thing I noticed repair-wise was that if the cord goes bad, is damaged, etc., the ENTIRE handle/cord/switch assembly must be replaced.  The cord cannot simply be removed and replaced separately.  Direct from Miele, this assembly is around $70, with a $139 retail price tag.  I can only imagine someone bringing their 3-month-old S7 in with a chewed-up cord, and their reaction to having to shell out $150 to replace it.

-MH

Welcome back MH.  Seems like you are still the book of knowledge on vacuums.  That is more useful than opinions.

Diamond status must be awarded on sales of units  with no consideration of service quality performed by Meile dealers.

Motorhead wrote:
Hey Motorhead,

How are you? Thanks for the heads-up about the S7 cord. I remember telling myself how simple things were when I got my Tango home and set it up with nary a screw or screwdriver to bother with.

The S7 automatic setting threw me a little as I have been trying to logic the reason for the speed decrease. Motor speed is reduced if hose suction is restricted - such as when you attach the crevice tool. In my Kenmore Iridium, the exact opposite happens. The motor runs at at mid-speed when set on automatic. An internal dust sensor ups the motor speed when it senses a significant amount of dirt and dust and lets the speed drop once the sensor is not finding anything. Motor speed also elevates if airflow is restricted. I use the S7 both ways but do leave it on the automatic setting most of the time.

As for the repair issue -- I can appreciate how confusing things might have been for the shop as it takes a really close look to learn that the hose cuff does come off the little swivel neck. What surprised me is that no one thought to ask. The call would have been toll free. It worked out great that Melanie got a whole new vacuum but the problem could have been simply solved by just thinking a little.

MOLE has mentioned some potential trouble spots and the guy I'd been speaking with mentioned possible trouble due to users over-turning the two screws on the cover for the clean-out port. Anything else besides the cord to pay attention to?

Best,

Venson