Vacuum Cleaners Discussions |
|
Motorhead
 
Joined: Nov 2, 2007
Points: 409
![]()
|
 |
Hoover Whisper upright at Wal-Mart
Original Message Jul 7, 2008 5:05 am |
|
Has anyone seen this yet? It just hit the shelves a couple of weeks ago at Wal-Mart (not even on the Hoover or WM website at this point), I picked one up around that time after speaking to Tom G. (who was the first one to tell me about it) but had neglected to post about it on here until now. I finished posting a review in the Reviews section, needless to say I am very impressed with the machine now that I have been using it for a couple of weeks and highly encourage everyone to at least head to Wal-Mart and check it out. For those of you who haven't seen it, TTI/Hoover has finally jumped on the multi-cyclone bandwagon after experimenting with dual-cyclone for a couple of years with the Mach series, and only recently getting *that* right with a redesigned shroud for the Mach 3. This Whisper is completely different, it's a copy of a Root Cyclone Dyson and a damn good one at that. At $120 I am blown away by the type of machine it is, very substantial and not cheap-feeling by any means. It's a completely new design, and appears to contain elements of the Mach series, the failed "One" cleaner in the UK, and, oddly enough, the LG/Kenmore Premalite. At first glance it appears to be a dual-cyclone machine, until you either look at the side of the box or separate the two halves of the cyclone assembly. Indeed, there are 6 high-efficiency cyclones hidden above the bin, and they look just like a Dyson's. You will also notice the cyclonic "arrows" on the Hoover logo in front, for added emphasis  Carpet performance is good, it handles very nicely (positive weight) and the double-chevron brushroll helps pull the machine along; the bristles are soft but still effective. What sets it apart from the Dyson though is above-floor cleaning convenience. You push a button and the handle wand releases, you do not even have to let go of the handle; you're using the SAME ergonomic handle you just vacuumed the carpet with. The wand is long as well, and does not need to be inverted for use. There are only 2 attachments, and the wand isn't adjustable, but the brush/upholstery tool is, I presume to reach tight spaces. I suppose if worse comes to worse other standard 1 1/4" attachments could work, it appears to be the same though I have not tried it. I'll check that out further and post the findings. The motor is soft-starting (like the Hoover Z), and the brushroll (driven by a separate motor) automatically starts and stops when the handle is lowered or raised, if the brushroll switch is on. There are also 2 indicator lights showing when the brushroll is on, and when the suction is blocked.
This machine is basically a Dyson DC07 or DC14...at a third of the price. Being a Dyson fan I hate to say it, but Dyson may be facing some competition with this machine as far as regular uprights are concerned, once it is more widely available and more people find out about it. It's no match for the DC17 in terms of performance, obviously, but I can't see any reason why the 7 or 14 would be more desirable, as strange as that sounds. If it was inexpensive and worked well but cheaply made, then it's obvious the Dyson would be the clear winner (as it usually is), but that's the thing...this machine does not seem to be cheaply made at all. Definitely no WindTunnel here and I can't see why it wouldn't last a reasonable length of time. On the other hand, while possibly not-so-good news for Dyson this could be some positive news for Hoover, perhaps the first of many machines to come? It will be interesting to see what the future holds.
-MH
|
CarmineD
Joined: Dec 31, 2007
Points: 5894
![]()
|
 |
Re: Hoover Whisper upright at Wal-Mart
Reply #92 Jul 18, 2008 7:45 am |
|
Q: is Chinese owned Hoover forgoing profits on the manufacturing end or retail end with regards to pricing the Hoover Whisper so to satisfy Walmart and/or otherwise? DIB
Hello DIB:
I think you read too much into the obvious. The HOOVER Whispertone [2008] supersedes the Mach 3 [2007], which superseded the FUSION [2005 with a 2 year tenure]. All are Wal*Mart exclusives, at least initially, and priced at about $120 MSRP. On sale Wal*Mart sells for $99-$109. Recall the HOOVER Fusion was a sourced HOOVER vacuum [with TTI] before the TTI takeover of HOOVER. As posted here by a dyson insider, the HOOVER Fusion was one of Wal*Mart's top selling vacuums [despite all the yearly negative reviews by Consumer Reports on its emissions]. That says alot about the HOOVER-Wal*Mart uprights. Why? Wal*Mart featured the GE vacuum line in 2000, a Wal*Mart exclusive then and still today. It's cann is consistently rated a BEST BUY by Consumer Reports for the money [MSRP is $150]. [BTW, the GE vacuum line is China made too by EUREKA]. The sales success and popularity of the HOOVER bagless uprights are the reasons that Wal*Mart keeps an ongoing business arrangement with HOOVER Maytag, HOOVER Whirlpool, and now HOOVER TTI for an exclusive upright year after year for years. Carmine D.
This message was modified Jul 18, 2008 by CarmineD
|
DysonInventsBig
Location: USA
Joined: Jul 31, 2007
Points: 1454
![]()
|
|
|
Re: Hoover Whisper upright at Wal-Mart
Reply #93 Jul 18, 2008 12:37 pm |
|
Hello DIB: I think you read too much into the obvious. The HOOVER Whispertone [2008] supersedes the Mach 3 [2007], which superseded the FUSION [2005 with a 2 year tenure]. All are Wal*Mart exclusives, at least initially, and priced at about $120 MSRP. On sale Wal*Mart sells for $99-$109. Recall the HOOVER Fusion was a sourced HOOVER vacuum [with TTI] before the TTI takeover of HOOVER. As posted here by a dyson insider, the HOOVER Fusion was one of Wal*Mart's top selling vacuums [despite all the yearly negative reviews by Consumer Reports on its emissions]. That says alot about the HOOVER-Wal*Mart uprights. Why? Wal*Mart featured the GE vacuum line in 2000, a Wal*Mart exclusive then and still today. It's cann is consistently rated a BEST BUY by Consumer Reports for the money [MSRP is $150]. [BTW, the GE vacuum line is China made too by EUREKA]. The sales success and popularity of the HOOVER bagless uprights are the reasons that Wal*Mart keeps an ongoing business arrangement with HOOVER Maytag, HOOVER Whirlpool, and now HOOVER TTI for an exclusive upright year after year for years. Carmine D. Carmine, Did Maytag Hoover and now the 3rd world Chinese manufacturer and owner of the Hoover brand (TTI) build the Fusion/s, Mach/s and Whisper (and assumed future rebrands) on hard work and integrity? DIB
|
Motorhead
Joined: Nov 2, 2007
Points: 409
![]()
|
|
|
Re: Hoover Whisper upright at Wal-Mart
Reply #94 Jul 18, 2008 12:46 pm |
|
Hello DIB: I think you read too much into the obvious. The HOOVER Whispertone [2008] supersedes the Mach 3 [2007], which superseded the FUSION [2005 with a 2 year tenure]. All are Wal*Mart exclusives, at least initially, and priced at about $120 MSRP. On sale Wal*Mart sells for $99-$109. Recall the HOOVER Fusion was a sourced HOOVER vacuum [with TTI] before the TTI takeover of HOOVER. As posted here by a dyson insider, the HOOVER Fusion was one of Wal*Mart's top selling vacuums [despite all the yearly negative reviews by Consumer Reports on its emissions]. That says alot about the HOOVER-Wal*Mart uprights. Why? Wal*Mart featured the GE vacuum line in 2000, a Wal*Mart exclusive then and still today. It's cann is consistently rated a BEST BUY by Consumer Reports for the money [MSRP is $150]. [BTW, the GE vacuum line is China made too by EUREKA]. The sales success and popularity of the HOOVER bagless uprights are the reasons that Wal*Mart keeps an ongoing business arrangement with HOOVER Maytag, HOOVER Whirlpool, and now HOOVER TTI for an exclusive upright year after year for years. Carmine D. Carmine, interesting you mention that, there has been another price cut on the Mach 3 (closer to $90 now). If all of those Fusions/Mach series cleaners sold even *with* potential emissions problems due to an improperly designed shroud, imagine what the correctly-designed Whisper will do. It won't be able to fly off the shelves fast enough. Everyone who buys one will love it, regardless of it's someone looking for an inexpensive bagless upright (and could just as easily purchase a bin-filter model) or someone smart enough to realize what it really is (overlooking the deceptively low price) and purchases that over a more expensive cleaner. Wal-Mart has not offered any vacuums under the GE label for a while, at least in the past year. None are listed on the website, and I haven't seen the canister at any store in ages, nor was it tested in the latest (March '08) vacuum report in CR. Last summer WM introduced a $60 GE-branded lightweight upright, not sure of the manufacturer but it definitely wasn't Eureka. Decent dual-cyclone bagless cleaner (I picked one up to try and liked it) but lasted only a few months; was recalled later in the year for possible lead paint fumes due to overheating. Most likely from users not knowing of the foam filter underneath the bin that needed to be cleaned periodically. -MH
|
Motorhead
Joined: Nov 2, 2007
Points: 409
![]()
|
|
|
Re: Hoover Whisper upright at Wal-Mart
Reply #95 Jul 18, 2008 1:00 pm |
|
Carmine, Did Maytag Hoover and now the 3rd world Chinese manufacturer and owner of the Hoover brand (TTI) build the Fusion/s, Mach/s and Whisper (and assumed future rebrands) on hard work and integrity? DIB Hi DIB, Carmine may have a different opinion but to me that would be questionable. The Fusion/Legacy/Mach series appear to be well built structurally (good metal telescoping handle, etc.), yet at the same time I've heard of many problems surrounding the brushroll and clutch on those, namely the bearings in the brushroll seizing up. I'm inclined to believe this was/is more of a user-created problem than anything else (due to improper use/neglect/etc.), especially since I never learned the exact circumstances of those problems. No doubt something caused by large amounts of hair becoming entangled in the brushroll, and left there. As I mentioned earlier, the jury is still out as to the longevity of the Whisper since it is a new model, but I don't see why it *wouldn't* last a good 6-7 years (at the very least) if properly maintained. -MH
|
DysonInventsBig
Location: USA
Joined: Jul 31, 2007
Points: 1454
![]()
|
|
|
Re: Hoover Whisper upright at Wal-Mart
Reply #96 Jul 18, 2008 1:27 pm |
|
Hi DIB,
Carmine may have a different opinion but to me that would be questionable. The Fusion/Legacy/Mach series appear to be well built structurally (good metal telescoping handle, etc.), yet at the same time I've heard of many problems surrounding the brushroll and clutch on those, namely the bearings in the brushroll seizing up. I'm inclined to believe this was/is more of a user-created problem than anything else (due to improper use/neglect/etc.), especially since I never learned the exact circumstances of those problems. No doubt something caused by large amounts of hair becoming entangled in the brushroll, and left there.
As I mentioned earlier, the jury is still out as to the longevity of the Whisper since it is a new model, but I don't see why it *wouldn't* last a good 6-7 years (at the very least) if properly maintained.
-MH
Hey MH,
I'm not sure what you are saying in the highlighted. DIB
This message was modified Jul 18, 2008 by DysonInventsBig
|
CarmineD
Joined: Dec 31, 2007
Points: 5894
![]()
|
|
|
Re: Hoover Whisper upright at Wal-Mart
Reply #97 Jul 18, 2008 3:02 pm |
|
Wal-Mart has not offered any vacuums under the GE label for a while, at least in the past year. None are listed on the website, and I haven't seen the canister at any store in ages, nor was it tested in the latest (March '08) vacuum report in CR.
-MH
Hello Motor:
My guess is that because GE recently put its appliance division on the auction block [and had plans to do so for awhile], it did not renew/continue its exclusive GE vacuum line with Wal*Mart. Tho, the gold GE cann [superseded the GE green (EUREKA) cann] and upright are still prominent in the WM stores in LV. Carmine D.
This message was modified Jul 18, 2008 by CarmineD
|
CarmineD
Joined: Dec 31, 2007
Points: 5894
![]()
|
|
|
Re: Hoover Whisper upright at Wal-Mart
Reply #98 Jul 18, 2008 3:25 pm |
|
Carmine, Did Maytag Hoover and now the 3rd world Chinese manufacturer and owner of the Hoover brand (TTI) build the Fusion/s, Mach/s and Whisper (and assumed future rebrands) on hard work and integrity? DIB
Hello DIB:
In the distant past, I would agree with calling China a 3rd world [under/developing country]. But no longer. It is probably as mainstream as Malaysia and perhaps more so, based on the recent upheavals in the democratic government in Malaysia. The World Olympics will certainly bring China into the 21 Century as a world recognized economic leader and also a supreme military power. Based on TTI's acquisition of HOOVER, it is the leading vacuum maker/seller in the USA by any measure and/or standard. TTI is poised to take on dyson for the multi-cyclonic bagless vacuum market. As Motor says: It's not who does it first, but which company copies the best and sells for less. In a few years [especially in a the current down global markets], I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if TTI acquires dyson. As I said: China is slave labor without the guilt. Carmine D
This message was modified Jul 18, 2008 by CarmineD
|
DysonInventsBig
Location: USA
Joined: Jul 31, 2007
Points: 1454
![]()
|
|
|
Re: Hoover Whisper upright at Wal-Mart
Reply #99 Jul 18, 2008 3:33 pm |
|
Hello DIB: In the distant past, I would agree with calling China a 3rd world [under/developing country]. But no longer. It is probably as mainstream now as Malaysia IMHO and maybe more so, based on the recent upheavals in the democratic government in Malaysia. The World Olympics will certainly bring China into the 21 Century as a recognized world economic leader and a military power. Based on TTI's acquisition of HOOVER, it is now the leading vacuum maker/seller in the USA by any measure and/or standard. TTI is poised to take on dyson for the multi-cyclonic bagless vacuum market. As Motor says: It's not who does it first, but which company copies the best and sells for less. As I said: China is slave labor without the guilt. Carmine D Carmine, True, China has developed enormously, although much remains underdeveloped and poor. I added to my statement below. DIB
Carmine, Did Maytag Hoover and now the 3rd world/cheap labor Chinese manufacturer and owner of the Hoover brand (TTI) build the Fusion/s, Mach/s and Whisper (and assumed future rebrands) on hard work and integrity? DIB
This message was modified Jul 18, 2008 by DysonInventsBig
|
CarmineD
Joined: Dec 31, 2007
Points: 5894
![]()
|
|
|
Re: Hoover Whisper upright at Wal-Mart
Reply #100 Jul 18, 2008 3:37 pm |
|
Hello DIB: In an effort to answer you, I edited my post at the same time as you posted. Recall, James Spangler invented the first portable upright vacuum in the US. Boss HOOVER bought the rights in 1907, patented, and mass marketed in the USA and UK by 1912. Who had integrity and did the hard work? I'd say both men. Dyson produced the first multi cyclonic bagless for $500. TTI did it for $100. Who did the hard work and has integrity? That's not for me to judge. It's for vacuum consumers to decide. Which gets back to Motor's Law: It's not who does it first, but who copies the best and sells for less. Carmine D.
This message was modified Jul 18, 2008 by CarmineD
|
Motorhead
Joined: Nov 2, 2007
Points: 409
![]()
|
|
|
Re: Hoover Whisper upright at Wal-Mart
Reply #101 Jul 18, 2008 4:26 pm |
|
Hey MH, I'm not sure what you are saying in the highlighted. DIB Hi DIB, Sorry for the confusion, I was stating that to me the effort TTI China is putting into building these vacuums is questionable. -MH
|
|
|
