Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Did they go out of business? GetHalo.com now sells only the vacuum cleaner bags...

Hi,

I think the company went the way of all flesh as it were.  Despite the hooplah, the old hysteria play -- "Germs are gonna kill ya."  "That one iota more of dust is gonna kill ya." "Everything is gonna kill ya."-- is wearing thin.  Knowingly or unknwingly,most of us live in dusty, bacteria laden environments despite our best efforts and, to the dismay of many a manufacturer, are still alive.  And there's the problem for fear mongers on the make, people don't croak fast enough or in sufficient numbers to make their claims justifiable.

This is an uneducated guess but I think insufficient sales against the large sums they claim to have committed toward advertising plus possibly too optimistic production may have been the company's downfall.  My main gripe is that there was never any solid outside proof to the actual germ and vermin killing capability of this machine. What was given was merely a lot of talk about what might be the machine's possible potential.  If Halo had been able to forthrightly confirm that the cleaner per "x" passes per "x" square feet in "x" amount of time destroyed "x" number of dust mites and/or fleas plus "x" quantity of bacteria it might have gotten somewhere.  Ambiguity is boring.  There is always someone around ready to tell you you're going places though you're actually standing still -- and -- we're expected to believe it just because they said so.

However, if you'd like one both hard-bodied and soft bag versions are all over the internet and eBay.

Best,

Venson

Several miscues by Ken Garcia [former halo CEO] with regard to marketing did in the product.  Plus, the worse possible economic timing for a $500, China made, one year warrantied upright sold primarily if not exclusively thru big box retailers.  Even a "snazzy" Web Site that rivals the best designer made vacuum brand couldn't keep the halo from quickly dimming out of sight.  Let's see what ORECK can do with it? 

Carmine D.

Actually, Oreck did more testing than Halo did as far as germ/mite killing capability, which is how they determined 4 passes with the Halo was more than the avearge customer would do, and that it had to be reduced to one pass with equal or greater effectiveness. I don't think anyone questions the effects of dustmites and their 'residue' and as we make our homes more and more tightly sealed to have money left over for food after we pay the gas and electric companies the problems worsen. Athsma, CPD, breathing allergies of all sorts are being diagnosed in alarming and increasing numbers. I would have liked to have seen Miele acquire the UV technology and apply it at both the nozzle and the exhaust. It will be interesting to see what Oreck does with this windfall of exclusive (for 15 yrs roughly) technology

Trebor wrote:
Hi Trebor,

Problem one is that the general rule of thumb is that four passes per square foot of carpet constitutes "thorough cleaning" if using an upright vacuum.  A clearly established manner of use for effective use has to be established.  Dust mites and bacteria don't just sit and wait on top of carpet pile.  That said, there's probably a marked difference in effectiveness say when doing low pile as opposed to high.

I think the better remedy is regulllar thorough vacuuming with a high-filtration vac and treatment, also at regular intervals, with a vapor steam cleaner which should provide faster, deeper penetraion than a UV light.  UV sanitizing in hospitals usually involves bringing in UV devices and sealing the room being "sterilized" for x amount of time.

Venson

Hi Venson!

I hear you, and yet, how many actually do vacuum with four passes per area? A vapor steam cleaner is a novelty to most Americans, and those who have tried them have mainly tried the cheap infomercial variety. If a vacuum can provide a high kill rate of mites, fleas and their eggs, viruses and bacteria with a simple pass over the carpet, it will indeed provide a higher level of sanitation because it is not requiring any more work from the user. Kirbys and Rainbows are both high performing, durable, versatile cleaning devices, which are touted as labor saving as well, unfortunately, as with most technology of any sort, there is a learning curve to be mastered first, and most Americans choose to save labor by not bothering in the first place. A UV light bodes Oreck well for their sales. I remember the introduction of a new Lux brushroll. It had 8% less effective deep cleaning, but 10% better edge cleaning, 15% better carpet grooming, and 22% better edge cleaning. Sales went up immediately. Oreck's strong suit has never been deep cleaning, but light weight, ease of use, surface litter pickup, edge cleaning and carpet grooming. Sounds like they have a winner. The germ killing factor will give them a winning hand, straight flush it sounds like to me.

The mention of Electrolux brings to mind the near merger of Lux/Oreck or Oreck/Lux. Just before the sale of the Lux name back to Lux of Sweden, there was a very hush/hush big pow/pow in Dallas. James McCain, chief of ops at Lux, Bristol held the same position at Oreck. The two parties came to bed, but left with the union unconsummated because they could not agree as to who was going to be on top. Considering the personages of David Oreck and Joe Urso, I find that very believable.

The last version of the Halo with the tools on board has had Oreck added to the name, and the new  "Oreck Halo" is coming out soon.  And yes, the thing will be called the Oreck Halo.

Thanks guys.... And here it is Oreck Halo

Thanks Acerone,

The Garcia story really doesn't tell much but this approach is exactly what should have been done in the first place.  It is clearly stated that the more exposure, the better even though, in light-colored text, careful disclaimers make note that  the machine is not a cure-all for disease, including asthma or allergies.

The exposure issue may encourage buyers who feel there may be some value to the product either to vacuum often or longer.  Not a bad thing.

Best,

Venson

PS -- The caption "With the New Oreck Halo, you are vacuuming and killing many of the germs on your carpets and floors at the same time. No extra effort. No extra time. Just vacuum like you normally would! is contradictory.

I just toured the Oreck Halo website. WOW! Very well done! I predict big sales for Oreck on this baby! Now, if David Oreck were really smart he would make a P/N with the UV technology for sale as a retrofit for all those diehard Lux and Miele fans. Their web designer knows his/her stuff. Now, a few endorsements from pediatric allergists, a geriatric specialist, a skin doctor, and a veterinarian or two, and David Oreck might be rich enough to retire!

The regular Oreck website makes no mention of the Halo, and a search of the site turns up nothing. So for now at least it is a totally separate entity. Was the original Halo with OBT a 2-motor unit? The Oreck version is, and it has a height adjustment. Should reel in a few customers on the fence due to those issues.

I answered my own question by doing a search for Halo vacuum. David Oreck and co. decided to replace the clutch drive assembly for the brushroll with a second motor. The other major change seems to be in the lens that focuses and concentrates the UV-C light on the floor.

Now it's available for sale.