Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I am thinking of getting either the Kenmore 29715 or the new 28014 to replace my dying 30-year-old Electrolux.  The reviews online of the 29715 say, mostly, that's it's durable.  Does anybody have experience with the 28014?  Does anyone know if the manual tools from the old Electrolux will fit on the Sears models?  And, for the money, are their better choices? Sears has them on sale this week at $100 off.  (One concern I have is that I'm used to a separate manual floor brush and motorized rug attachment.)

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies.  I'd think twice before getting the Electrolux rebuilt--who rebuilds them, now, anyway? --because what's going now is not just the motor (that's been replaced one) or the hose (I'm on hose #4), but (1) the handle you carry the monster around with broke (cutting my hand) and is now patched with duct tape; (2) the furniture brush is dying, and the "replacement" I bought at the vacuum cleaner store is useless; (3) the cord retraction mechanism died; (4) the power attachment (I'm on #3) is dying; and (5) the floor brush attachment is dying (I replaced the bristles once, with parts bought from an electrolux store when they still existed).  So mentally I've placed a big "DNR" sticker on the machine.  My impression is that, as good as 30-year-old electroluxes are, they are not the machines they were 20 years before that.  If I were to get the thing rebuilt, would it be as good as new?  And how much would it cost?

I have yet to kick the tires on a Sears--you're right; I need to do this.  One of my concerns is that my wife had a Sears sewing machine, and Sears was singularly unhelpful when it needed repairs.  I saw that Consumer Reports doesn't seem to think very highly of Miele machines.  Does anyone know why?  And there's a Simplicity dealer not far from here; Im thinking of checking them out too.

Elioto wrote:

Hello Elioto:

I'm not a huge fan of SEARS, save their tools.

Consumer Reports likes to test the big box store vacuum brands and rate/rank them vice the vacuum store brands.  It's just a bias in CR for many years.   I suspect that CR believes most American vacuum buying customers will shop/buy at the big box retailers and not the independent vacuum cleaner stores.  Hence the emphasis on the makes and models in the big box retailers.

SIMPLICITY makes and markets an excellent line of canisters which hold their own against the likes of the Miele-s.  The RICCAR 1700 series and SIMPLICITY S36 canns are rated/ranked by CR in the October 2008.   Respectably rated and ranked, by the way.

Carmine D.

Elioto wrote:

Hi Elioto,

If you can access CR online, also check out the user reviews. Lots of folks yack right back at CR to the contrary regarding certain brands and models.   Also see if you can take a look at epinions.com.

However, I do think that CR ratings are inclined toward the total picture of things not just regarding ability but price and practicality as well.  Yes there are cleaners that cost near a grand or more but there are still many vacuums that do just as good jobs at far less price -- more fitting the everyday consumer.  Forgetting Miele, Kirby which is a great carpet cleaner has gotten a good deal of praise from CR over time for its abiltiy to deep clean plus its good emissions standards but has also normally borne CR's caution to readers that just as good service could be had for less.

That said, as mentioned before, you basically have two ways to go.  You can buy an expensive that will bear a longer warranty period or a less costly vacuum that you can buy two- or three-year service contracts for.  Either way you may find yourself spending a good amount of money.

Best,

Venson