Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

After some advice here, I bought a BOSCH Formula Electro Duo. it was 499 minus 20% at linens and things. It came with the turbo nossel as well.
Although my wife likes it because it's light, I have my doubts. I am a product designer, and know more than the average person about design and manufacturing. My main complaint are the quality of the plastic parts--especially the attachments. I would like something that would last at least ten years, and i know the bosch won't. It's not well built, although it does have some nice design touches.
I visited the five closest independent dealers, and wasn't impressed with them. Perhaps it's because I'm in an area where most people don't have much money. No one had the verve in stock, and the hoover dealer didn't have their most recent model. So, while i still have time to return the bosch, I wondered if you had any recommendations. someone on craigslist is selling a miele redstar for 200 bucks. is that a good vacuum? One dealer had a riccar 1500 for $550, which seemed nice, but it's more than I'd like to pay.
If anyone can tell me what and where to get something good, i'd appreciate it. I'd like to keep it less than 500 bucks.
-Ben

E.P., what did you expect the riccar and miele  dealers to say, even though we dont sell bosch  we really think its a great machine for the price?[you cant get any better machine out there for 500.00] this is very true.

We sell and service most major brands of cleaners,and have access to miele,riccar,simplicity, aerus/elecrolux. kirby,lindhaus, cirrus, emer,and the other electrolux,and 6 different brands of central systems, we sell a ton of rebuilt kirbys and electroluxes, and even throw a filter queen and rainbow in there just to mix it up a bit,,,,,,,,,,,,,

MOLE

Hi Ben,

You'd be best served to let us first know the percentage of carpeting versus bare floor there is in your household who does the most vacuuming and if you have any special air filtration preferences.  You don't have to be specific, but do you have a lot or not a lot of square footage.  As you have to keep budget in mind, I'd also advise that disposable bag and replacement filter cost may possibly be a concern for you.

My usual recommendation to the budget-minded, as always, is go take a look around Sears at the upper-end canisters.  The main units are plastic but Kenmore attachments are relatively sturdy and wands are metal.  With care a decent Kenmore canister will last a while but I wouldn't bank on ten years.  They can often be found at reduced sale prices.  And on that I segue . . .

It is doubtful that you'll find a vacuum built to last ten years or more that won't price near or over the $1,000 mark.  Being a product designer, I am sure you are well aware that product longevity does not come without a price.  Unfortunately, the price of a new and "good" vacuum is at least a hundred dollars above what you'd like to spend.

A second solution, though I can't know whether or not your wife will find it favorable, is to buy a rebuilt all-metal machine like Electrolux or Royal if its durability you want.  With reasonable care, your chances for a long run with one may be good.  Disposable bags and professional maintenance are still readily accessible through most vac shops. 

I'll get an argument going I'm sure, but browse local vac shops for models you like, regardless of price, not the model number and brand and do web searches through http://www.pricegrabber.com or http://www.nextag.com for comparison of pricing offered by vac shops and vendors that sell online.

Hope that helps,

Venson

E.P. as a product designer, you are well aware of the costs involved in producing a product of quality and durability.  The parameters you have set, less than $500, and a life span of at least 10 years, are going to be rather difficult, if not impossible to achieve.  We're talking of machines from yesteryear.  Try looking at the second hand/rebuilt market. 

My last machine, a kenmore, lasted more than 10 years, but i had to fix it about ten times. Now, it appears that the quality has gone down to an unacceptable level (for me), and that they still haven't fixed the problems of the older models. The way the wand attaches to the handle, for instance. The plastic on every one of them must break--and they still haven't changed it.
My house is 2800 square feet, 2/3 hardwoods, 1/3 deep nap carpet. The bosch is hard to push on the carpet.
What about the riccar 1500 for 550? How much is a synergy or verve? Is the new hoover as good or better than the bosch?


FYI--many products have gone up in quality and down in price in the last ten years. What did a window air conditioner cost ten years ago, and how efficient was it? A lot and not very. I used to design bikes and can tell you that it is unbelievable what you can get today for 300 dollars. Yes china is a big part of the reason. but the truth is they can and will make as good a product as we are willing to pay for. A lot of low quality stuff is made there, but they also make the mac laptop i use--which is about as complex and well-made a product as you can buy.

The fact that I may need to pay 1,000 for a quality vacuum is crazy to me. There must be a huge profit margin in them.

-Ben

ElvisPresley wrote:

To that, I absolutely agree and please do not take my statement in any way as a recommendation to go out and drop a grand on a vacuum cleaner. 

Per your description, a canister tthat provides an electric power nozzle with a height adjustment would be ideal.  Variable speed or suction bleed valve also make fine tuning for easy pushing and maneuvering convenient.

Nonetheless, manufacturers like the maker of the Miele I own for one, do have controls set up so that retail dealers may not sell their product for less than, and I assume not more than, the "suggested" price.  Getting nicer pricing may be hard to accomplish where Riccar, Simplicity and Miele are converned. I managed to save a couple humdred dollars on mine as the dealer has known me for a good while.  He honored his offer to match the price I could have gotten for the model on eBay after I printed out a current post re the model I wanted as proof.  I'm a pretty determined old cuss but I attribute the transaction more to luck than cleverness on my part. 

In any event, when all is said and done,a vacuum vendor can ask for the moon if he or she wants but the bottom line for the consumer is that you can't give anyone that which you don't have.

Anyway, there's no harm in trying.  You just might be able to wangle a better price on an upper-tier brand with your local vac seller.  If you are really not pleased with your Bosch take it right back. Politely but clearly state that you see it as over-priced and unacceptable.  Then ask to be shown something better but in near price range. IIf a better buy can't be negotiated get your money back and walk.

First go to Riccar or Simplicity's website and get as thorough an overview of what's available as you can and then seek out vac shops where you may be able to negotiate.  The best way to shop is to be able to walk into store already knowlegeable about the proiduct you want to buy.

The new Hoover S3760 is just out and votes should be coming in in not too long a time.  I can only say it looks like it's got possibilities.  Using the search sources that I suggested earlier, I have seen it priced fron $315 to as low as $224.  The latter price not being unusual for what are now considered "disposable" vacuums.  You might want to see if yo can find one on display in your vicinity and go and inspect it.

Venson

thanks venson, for your reply. Linen's and things has a 60 day returrn policy, and i have no qualms about returning something there. I would prefer to shop at a small shop, and would not treat then the same way. Based on my visits to the local shops, I couldn't figure out how things were priced. They just gave me "approximate" prices. That is why I assumed they were negotiable, and wanted to know what was fair.
If I were shopping for myself, i'd buy a rebuilt one, but my wife wouldn't go for it.
Ben

ElvisPresley wrote:

May I ask why your Wife would not?  And without sounding naive [happy Wife happy life], ask why her decision on this matter preempts yours.

Carmine D.

she is worried about bringing in allergens, and she has had bad luck with refurbished items.
Say she would go for it--where would we get one?
Also, of the other options i am considering--simplicity/riccar, hoover, miele, which are lightest in weight? This is an important criteria for her.
Ben

ElvisPresley wrote:

Hello Elvis:

Saw you yesterday at the Casino and wanted to catch you but you were too fast for me.

Plenty of places for rebuilts.  All vacuum stores worth their salt have rebuilts.  Just have to ask.  And be prepared to pay.  But, sounds like your Wife would never use one, in part, due to the weight and allergens.  The fomer is real, the latter is perceived.  But she trumps you on this buy.   

I enjoyed your analogy of room air conditioners.  Perfect comparison to vacuums.  Today's vacuums are better and more efficient than those of yesteryear.  Just like window air conditioners.  Less expensive too.  But quality and durability?  Today's room air conditioners are lighter but more flimsy than those of yesteryear.  Like vacuums, A/C's were repairable at one time [if they ever needed anything other than a filter cleaning].  No more.  They are disposable too like the vacuums you buy at the big box retail stores.

Makes no difference what vacuum you buy for $500 and more, if you use the tools [attachments] and especially one/two in particular, the tools won't last 10 years.  Be prepared to buy new tools every few years, especially if you and/she are regular and frequent tool users.

Carmine D.

Right you are Carmine,the only function of a vacuum cleaner is to suck air in and blow air out,it's the attachments that do the work. Not too many vacuum companies have figured this out yet.

As long as the machine has the pull to collect the dirt,the rest is just for fancy advertising and hype..........

MOLE