Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Has anyone seen the new Ergorapido from Electrolux? It apparently is replacing the cordless Pronto 2 in 1 stick vac.  I was just in Costco today purchasing a Nikon and ran across this new version. Couldn't resist buying one for $89.00.

There are several improvements including a 12 volt battery, an improved brush/roll and advanced filter system. The brush roll has much heavier brushes verse the combo rubber strip and wimpy soft brush of the old Pronto 2 in 1. The brush roll assembly now removes quicker with a snap of a single button. No coin slot to rotate like on the Pronto.

The filter assembly now  has a spring loaded plunger you grasp and pull up to help dislodge debris that gets caught between the nylon mesh and fine filter. I haven't had a chance to fully charge it yet but I can tell you it has substantially more suction and larger fan than the Pronto. Suction is double of the old model.. even without a full charge yet!  

The color is now a gun metal metallic. One nice touch is soft ergo non-slip rubber material on the rear of the handle. The vac still separates from the stick for use like a dust-buster... except the switch has been improved from the old momentary spring loaded type to a constant on switch. Nice touch! The dust bin also removes easily with rubberized grips that depress and unlock for improved removal. Since it now moves substantially more air, additional venting has been added to the rear of the power unit in addition to increasing the front venting as well. 

Almost forgot, it now has two accessory tools, i.e. a separate crevice and dusting brush that each independently snap into the end of the intake opening. The tools store right inside the charging dock. The two speed switch is now a rocker type instead of a slider. You'll also note the fan depth and intake opening are double that of the Pronto for improved suction and air flow.  Very nice unit!

So far I'm very impressed with this new updated model and the color change is refreshing over that nasty burnt orange I never liked.

Bruce

Hello HARDSELL:

Please be more specific on the particular HOOVER model with the low rating?  For example, the HOOVER TEMPO for $75 always rated in the top 10 by Consumer reports usually gets 4-5 stars by comsumers regardless of the retailers.  For COSTCO buyers, the EUREKA Boss Smart Vac upright gets 4 out of 5 stars, not the highest, but still warrants its "featured" classification and a BEST BUY rating from 2 of the major consumer magazines year after year.  Probably, due in part to the cost/value of the 4 Star rating for the price paid of $149.  Perhaps, the same is true for the HOOVER models.  Like the WT.  CR rates it and many other HOOVER-s as a BEST BUY for performance.  Why?  The WT price of $189.  Extremely affordable.  As opposed to spending $500 plus for a vacuum that after 6 plus years of production just eeks out a mediocre to average performance rating and rank.

I have noted too, and take this for what's it worth, that bulk of the lower HOOVER WT Anniversary raitngs come AFTER the March 2009 Consumer Reports ratings.  Why?  I'm not big on conspiracy theories, but surely this gives me pause and I have to at least ask if there is a concerted effort on the part of some manipulative raters to sabotage/impugn the veracity of the CR ratings and the HOOVER ratings.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Rhe Tempo is not on Costco site.  I referred to the WT bagged anniversary edition.  Price was not the reason for poor reviews of the Hoover.

The only conspiracy that I am aware of is yours against Dyson.  You have always been manipulative to lead readers astray in any and all discussion.

Of course Dyson did rub poop in your face so I guess you have reason to try and sabotage them.

HARDSELL wrote:

The HOOVER WT is a signature HOOVER model with a production run that spans over a decade and still.  The HOOVER TEMPO the same and so too with the EUREKA BOSS Smart Vac.  These are brands/models you repeatedly trash here.  Yet, these particular brands/models are always and still the "featured" and "most popular" sellers among retailers.  Always highly rated by vacuum industry experts and by the majority of buyers/users who own them.  These models have consistently passed the test of time in the industry with facts and experience.  Not with contrived/manipulative reviews and disengenuous flashy marketing. 

Carmine D. 

I owned one for about three years before it gave up. Here in the UK we had the original Ergorapido whilst the U.S had the Pronto tag. I've seen the new silver model but I haven't taken to it because of the UK price. Now that it has a proper beater brush roll could improve its performance over the thin brush/squeegee type although to the more experienced repairer, the brushes and squeegee lines were independently slide in slide out, giving the owner the choice to either retain the standard brushes/rubber strips or align each substance to need. I found a better performance with the squeegees attached and the removal of the brushes, but hey that's me.

Despite the lack of suction, I loved the cordless hand held part unit. It was great at keeping insects like spiders and leaving them alive rather than be taken apart by the suction, which rather proves annoyingly the lack of suction the original model had in the first place. I wonder if this improved design has a much better easier to remove bellow at the back? Mine had a cross head screw to detach it from the main floor head/to the cordless hand held unit and a bit of a bind if you lost the cross head screw.

vacmanuk wrote:
Hi,

I thought the design was great and probably would have bought one but the price ($80.00) was just too high for so little output. We have corded stick vacs that serve well enough for far less. Nonetheless, I believe Black & Decker made a rechargeable stick vac that looked like an oversized DustBuster that also had a power nozzle around the end of the 1980s. I had one but gave it away as I planned to move to Europe.

Black & Decker has come up with something not at all similar but it got good mention in our Consumer Reports -- http://blackanddecker.com/ProductGuide/Product-Details.aspx?ProductID=19194

Venson

Hi Venson:

Interesting stick vacuum.  Stick version of the B&D pivot vac often posted here for $50.  Perhaps a combo is in the offering too, hand and stick pivot vac.  I like the Energy Star rating.  Warranty of 2 years and price of $99  competes with Dirt Devil Kruz, tho the revolving brush on this B&D gets the nod from me over the Kruz.

Carmine D.

Based on the You Tube video I saw on one of the B&D hand held cyclonic vacs, I think this stick vac may just cut the mustard. I've never understood why the UK are slow to pick up on the idea of stick vacs - we're a smaller nation generally, we use a mix of uprights and cylinders in our homes and yet the country don't have that many stick vacs to buy. Hoover tried recently with their Athyss model but whilst its a good machine, uses a small dust bag and corded, its priced too near the cheaper built cylinder vacs, which kind of answers my question. Im generally impressed and envious of the U.S market; the vacuums you guys get are by far of larger quantity by brand and type.

vacmanuk wrote:
Hi vacumanuk,

I may well be wrong but I think everyday Europeans still display a greater sense of thrift which is probably to their benefit. I can't speak for the entire continent, but in places I've been I do recall people being remarkably mindful of power usage and conservation. I had a good friend in Munich and, first visit, I noticed that in his building's entry and at each stairway landing there was a push-button switch on the wall that turned on the lights just long enough to let you reach the next landing and your apartment door. It is far more common here to have lights for this purpose continuously burning through the night.

Not denying its usefulness, the stick vac in my opinion was part of a wave of inexpensive luxuries that we could easily squeeze into our once "more is better" American world. As well, lots of money is made by making us discontent. Took a bit of time in the developing but after manufacturers and ad people got finished selling us full-sized cleaning wonders to set our homes gleaming they were rignt on us again. "What! Why take that big old heavy machine out of the closet just for a quick pick-up?" There went the broom and the dustpan.

This is the same with most things. The electric kettle to the replace the pot on the stove plus any number of countertop appliances proves the point. Thus, regular size vacuums are supplemented by handhelds and portables as full-size mixers are by hand mixers and regular blenders by electric and/or handheld versions you can take directly to the pot on your kitchen range. So many possibilities -- yet not so much money to cover our ease these days.

Venson

Venson, I was led to believe that the U.S never had electric kettles like we do in the UK, things like electric jugs etc I guess I should say that where Im from in Scotland we had a U.S Naval Base stationed here for many years and a lot of the Americans here had their own household appliances. I marvelled at the Hoover Convertible for example and Windtunnel series in the 80s, exact models that weren't exactly available in the UK. The UK has had some stick vacs, Miele's Alternative (which you'll know as the Miele S120/140/160/180 series) sold here briefly, a few AEG stick vacs (really too heavy to be of any real benefit but long lasting) and then there was Hoover's Junior/Athyss. There have been a few Electrolux models but some have been pitiful like the awful 120 watt Superbroom that never quite made it to be anything other than super rubbish.

vacmanuk wrote:
Hi vacmanuk,

No, they're not the biggest item in regard to household electrics here. Here the electric coffemaker is king. I think the old style electric percolator has been knocked out of the running by electric drip-type coffee makers, most of which require the on going expense of paper filters. I's still sticking to my good old Bodum coffee press though I do have an electric bean grinder.

Can you give us some insight as to the cost of electricity and cooking gas in the UK?

Venson