Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Hey guys, if I could get some help on this one I would appreciate it. I have an elderly aunt in need of a replacement Bissell Prolite. The motor on hers is shot, brushes, everything just shot. I took it into the local guy and he said 90 bucks for a new motor and housing as the motor got so hot it torched the housing. He also suggested a Powr-Flite which is who hold the patent on that design now. She is adamant she wants another Prolite if one can be found as she has a ton of bags etc for this one. If anyone knows of a local dealer or internet presence that has even a used Prolite to be had, I would greatly appreciate it. I found one guy who has a local shop in Nevada but he wants 300 for his "last one" because its a collector's item now. I told him pass. Hope everyone's summer is going well. Still using the Healthy Home vac and still going strong, had to supplement it with a cheap plastivac for downstairs though, UGH... 40 pounds is a lot to lift up and down the basement stairs.

HARDSELL wrote:

HS:

I traded down to the HOOVER TEMPO, which I use in addition to the ORECK XL Classic.  At 16 pounds and a very close second to the HOOVER WT for rug cleaning and grooming, I prefer it for the price with OBT over the heavier HOOVER WT.  The HOOVER WT was donated to the local Church.  Still going strong at 3 years old plus and daily use by several users.

Carmine D.

HARDSELL wrote:

There's that poor memory again.  Recall the US Humane Society in concert with ORECK in April 2007 offered customers a special on a solo ORECK Classic at $150 plus shipping.  My dear Wife always liked and wanted an ORECK, so I bought one.  We were both so impressed that I bought 4 more and gifted them away and they are equally pleased.

Since then, ORECK has offered the upright solo for $199 on sale.  Recently ORECK offered the Silver Series for Memorial Day for $199, then extended the sale thru June 30, then offered again for July 4th and thru July 31.  Sometimes the sales are on the internet like for Memorial and July 4th.  Usually the sale extensions are offered thru local ORECK stores on TV and newspaper ads.

Carmine D.

vacmanuk wrote:

ORECK in the USA offers the same giveaways with its uprights.  But with the downturn in the economy, have gone to specials on the upright only.  Both marketing stratgies have been successful for ORECK.

I'll read your review, thanks.  What is the date of it?

ORECK has its faithful followers and satisfied users, of which I am one.  I have often recommended to interested buyers that they shop estate sales where used ORECKS can be bought for $25-$50 rather than buy new and have to get the giveaways.  I was very pleased to see ORECK offer its upright solo starting last year.  It was good timing in a bad market and economy. 

I believe many soft bag uprigts had poor filtration.  However, recent improvements in paper bag technology have corrected the problem.  ORECK is a beneficiary of the industry's advances in filter paper.  My dear Wife has sinus and allergy problems year round.  With an English lab that sheds year round in the heat of the desert climate, she can have severe problems and falre ups.  Not with the ORECK.  We find the basic ORECK paper bag works fine and I have recommended not paying extra for the costlier ORECK paper bags when the basic bag will do just fine.

Carmine D.

Revised:  If you read the post by Tread 184, it makes the same point about the ORECK improvements in paper bags. 

Hello vacmanuk:

No need on the date.  I see it.  About a month after I purchased my XL Classic. 

Carmine D.

I personally and professionally do not know nor am I aware of any bag zippers that have ever gone awry on any ORECK upright vacuums.  I'm not saying that they haven't, I'm saying in over 50 years of the biz I have never seen or heard of any.

The drawback with the plastic enclosed bags is the cardboard bag collar.  These leak and spew dirt when the vacuum is used, bumped, banged, lifted etc.  That dirt gets into the bag compartment, then on the pre motor filter, eventually into the motor compartment and post motor filter and then exhaust air.  I like the staging bag dock on the ORECK's.  Works well to minimize/eliminate bag any fallout of dirt and dust from bag cardboard collar movement.

Carmine D.

BTW, I use my ORECK XL upright weekly to vacuum my garage rugs, patio rug, and front door mat.  I also vacuum the cement walkway to my house and garage apron and floor.  I don't recommend it.  I've picked up pebbles, screws, nails, dead bugs the size of lizards, flowers, leafs, sand you name it.  Also picked up a quarter on one occasion.  ORECK just spit it out.  Used my ORECK like this for over 2 years.  Not a single hic cup out or clog in my ORECK.

Carmine D.

Finally, I've visited ORECK sales and repair shops nationwide.  The stores and staff are the model for the industry.  Always.  No exceptions.  With over 500 stores nationwide, and more opening weekly, never ONE shuttered in over 40 years.  Even McDonald's can't make that claim to fame.  When you plunk your money down on an ORECK, you buy one of the best made vacuums in the industry with a quality reputation.  Which BTW is also made in the good ole USA. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

ORECK....set the standards for all to follow.  Those who cant keep up/compete with them..... bash them. 

oustanding quality and durability on all of them.....$199.99 for 15+ yrs of service....an industry  leader.

great service long after the sale.......some service centers far away...some yes.  but one  ''high end'' brand has how many?

or better yet  who/how many vac shops will work on it?...you could send it back / how much does it cost to mail a vac to the uk  btw?

All in all ORECK is great vacuum at a great price with a great warranty that will last far beyond most all others....''now thats bang for the buck''

Well the results are.... we putted around yesterday to a few different vacuum shops and visited the local Oreck shop. The guy just laughed at me when I asked about the $199 Oreck Silver deal with trade-in. He said that was only on special for select holidays but I could sign my aunt up with no interest, etc and get it for $399 with the iron, canister, etc. He would even throw in a year full of bags. I didn't like the sleazy feel of the guy and asked if he had any other Orecks to recommend but he kept coming back to trying to get me to take the Silver on financing. I finally left with Auntie in tow, though she did like the feel of the Oreck. We then went back to JC Penney and reassessed the XL3 which is btw the SAME EXACT model as the Silver, just a different color. She could not reason paying that much money for the vacuum though... her excuse.... God only knows if I have 10 years left! LOL Bless her! So... we ventured over to the local vac shop who I have dealt with a few times. Low and behold sitting int he center of the display was a Hoover C1320, Hoover's version of the direct air lightweight that was sold a few years ago. It is their commercial version. Great looking vacuum and built very solid. He offered it to us for $100 brand new in the box, he got a few of them on a trade with a sewing store that went out of business. No warranty through Hoover but he said he would do any work or repair for free and even signed the receipt for us. Alltogether, not bad, 4.3AMPS, direct suction, HEPA bags and outer bag, only 1 speed, 9lbs, and a 30ft cord. She is happy as a lark. I think she has vacuumed 3x since I dropped her back off at home yesterday.

Btw, I wanted to chime in on the whole paying more gets your longer life on a vac. I call a little BS on that one. I think it totally depends on how you treat the unit. Personally, my dad has a Bissell Clearview, the original bagless that Bissell made back in the late 90's early 2000's that I paid a whopping $45 dollars for at Wal-Mart. It still runs like a charm and he vacuums daily. He does however change the belt every two years and cleans the filters every month. I bought it in 2001 and almost nine years later, 45 dollars has gone a long way. Some people have called suspect on Dyson as well and as much as I hate the dirty bins of the Dyson, I gifted a DC07 back in 2002 when they were first introduced and it still runs like new, but it is meticulously cared for, even with 4 dogs in the house. Its all about the way we treat our appliances, if you abuse them and don't take care of them, sure a plastivac will last you only a year, but you get what you pay for when you don't take care of it.

Hello lazaruspup:

Excellent choice.  Alot of nice features and you can't beat the $100.  Best price I've seen and heard.  Glad Auntie is happy.  And you purchased from a local vacuum independent store owner/operator.   Always a wise choice!

BTW, the ORECK dealer is correct: The Silver series sale for $199 with a 3 year warranty was good for July 4th.  The extension thru July 31 is for limited areas and stores, and as I mentioned, advertised on the local channels and newspapers.  I suspect he is having no problems with ORECK sales at the regular MSRP.  And to his defense, the ORECK Silver Series is a steal for $199. 

Carmine D.

Brand: Hoover Commercial Type: Upright Classification: Commercial Motor Size: 4 amp Cord Length: 40 feet Cleaning Width: 12 inches Tools On Board: No Headlight: No Weight: 9.4 lbs. Bare Floor Selector: No Bag: Hoover Type B Royal Vacuum Bags Filtration: HEPA Filtration MFG. Suggested Retail: $319.00 Price: $129.99 Shipping Cost: FREE! Warranty: 2 year commercial warranty Allergy Rating (out of 5 stars): 2 stars