Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs: Reviews of new vacuums from Eureka, Miele, Panasonic, and Electrolux

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2009/10/eureka-envirovac-3041-eureka-pet-pal-4716-panasonic-mcug775-electrolux-ultra-silencer-miele-s-7580.html


The top scorer of our latest tests was the Miele S 7580 upright, $800. This Miele was among the best at cleaning carpets, and its pet-hair pickup and low emissions were excellent as well. Its swivel-neck design allows for tighter turning, a plus since the 22-pound Miele is among the heavier uprights in our ratings. And its electronic suction control, with a choice between manual and automatic, adapts the motor speed for the surface you're cleaning.
...

I had a Panasonic MCE 51N vacuum cleaner for many years, a brilliant basic upright vacuum cleaner that didn't use Panasonic's silly idea of fitting two drive belts either. Bought it in the late 1980's and didnt get rid of it until something like 1998! Dont know if you got them in the States but it was a squarish old thing, 800 watts clean fan design with a blanking plate at the front where more expensive models had headlights and variable suction controls up by the main bin housing.

Here's the link the CR's comments about the quietness versus performance:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/february/appliances/quiet-vacs-come-at-a-price/overview/quiet-vacs-ov.htm

I don't think you have to be a subscriber to read.

Thanks Severus.  I kind of get it but am not quite accepting of CR's point of view regarding the Electrolux canister. Everything has its place. 

The Electrolux EL6986A is after all a "straight suction" machine and it has always been understood that the like is, in regard to rug cleaning, neither comparable to canisters with power nozzles or standard upright vacuums.  Straight suction canisters generally serve well enough in homes where there's lots of bare flooring and limited amounts of low or medium pile carpeting.  I think it was kind of dumb on CR's part to rank it with canisters with PNs and uprights when it past it was always their habit to rate the straight suction category separately.

CR however would have perfectly right to recommend a good performing straight suction vacuum at a better price with the same thinking in mind.

What I did like was that they saw fit to recommend some Kenmore models that more suit the budget of lots of people lately.

Venson

Thanks Severus.  I kind of get it but am not quite accepting of CR's point of view regarding the Electrolux canister. Everything has its place. 

The Electrolux EL6986A is after all a "straight suction" machine and it has always been understood that the like is, in regard to rug cleaning, neither comparable to canisters with power nozzles or standard upright vacuums.  Straight suction canisters generally serve well enough in homes where there's lots of bare flooring and limited amounts of low or medium pile carpeting.  I think it was kind of dumb on CR's part to rank it with canisters with PNs and uprights when it past it was always their habit to rate the straight suction category separately.

CR however would have perfectly right to recommend a good performing straight suction vacuum at a better price with the same thinking in mind.

What I did like was that they saw fit to recommend some Kenmore models that more suit the budget of lots of people lately.

Venson

Thanks Severus.  I kind of get it but am not quite accepting of CR's point of view regarding the Electrolux canister. Everything has its place. 

The Electrolux EL6986A is after all a "straight suction" machine and it has always been understood that the like is, in regard to rug cleaning, neither comparable to canisters with power nozzles or standard upright vacuums.  Straight suction canisters generally serve well enough in homes where there's lots of bare flooring and limited amounts of low or medium pile carpeting.  I think it was kind of dumb on CR's part to rank it with canisters with PNs and uprights when it past it was always their habit to rate the straight suction category separately.

CR however would have perfectly right to recommend a good performing straight suction vacuum at a better price with the same thinking in mind.

What I did like was that they saw fit to recommend some Kenmore models that more suit the budget of lots of people lately.

Venson

Venson wrote:

These vacuums are advertised as being extra quiet and come with a big price.  While it may not be fair to compare a canister with straight suction to one with a power nozzle, I wonder if they are comparing by price.  If you can get a Kenmore with a power nozzle that is nearly as quiet, why not buy the better equipped one?  I assume that your Miele canister is also very quiet.

Severus wrote:

Hi Severus,

How's it going?  For the money asked, I'd opt for a canister with power nozzle to cover all fronts.  Even if you don't have a lot of carpeting at the time of purchase, should you decide to go for more area rugs or wall-to-wall you're already good to go.  Normally, someone looking to save a few bucks would opt for a straight-suction canister which would be far lower in price than $300.

Possibly Electrolux priced this particular machine that high simply because they could.  Many of us give more weight to the name than current product is worth.

My Miele canister is wonderfully quiet and quite portable.  With the electronic speed/suction adjustment I am not required to run the machine at top speed, and volume, if the job doesn't call for it.  There's a middle speed that does well for bare floors and above the floor tasks and that I even use for quick clean ups of carpeting since I have the power nozzle too.  Kenmore and many other brands offer the thing for less money however.

Getting back to the Electrolux, price was definitely an issue but  CR did take up the matter of rug cleaning ability, I left wondering what it was they were expecting from that kind of machine.  Might as well, start comparing had vacs to full-sized ones.

Best,

Venson

Venson wrote:
CR occasionally does some nutty things.  If I remember correctly, they seemed to be out in left field on their blender reviews several years back.  They rated the Vitamixer as not being so great because they tested blenders by whipping eggs, and the powerful Vitamix blender made scrambled eggs.  The top blender was something like a Braun that ended up having problems.  This year, I think the Vitamixer was at the top when they did a proper test making smoothies. 

Based on the political emails I get from CR, they also tend to have some socialist tendencies which may explain why price seems to have some influence on their ratings (this is a perception - not sure if it's reality).  Personally, I think the ratings should be independent of price.  Consumers can decide for themselves how much is too much to spend.     

Severus wrote:
I absolutely agree!!  If the best product available costs another 25%, and if you want and can afford the best, go for it. 

Vernon

Severus wrote:

Hi Severus,

As I've often said, I think CR's reasoning is to get potential vacuum buyers over the hype about certain brands and to also show them that "good" may not always be found in machinery bearing big price tags.  Unfortunately, there is still a prevailing feeling that the more something costs the better it must be.  Many people really do need help in deciding what's worth buying to help them find either product that's the best they can afford or that may be worth spending a little extra on in the long run.  

Heck, they're selling clothing and shoes that merely cost a buck or two to make for all kinds of money more on name than quality.  I remember a teenage kid who once spared me not an iota pride because his quite forgettable off-the-rack jacket, made by some popular designer of the time, cost more than everything I had on. He never once told me anything in regard to style, quality or anything else that might have better commended his purchase.  The big issue was that the jacket cost a lot.  Naturally, I let the little dummy live but I can't help but fear, if dumb is in the genes, that he's passed the same stupid perceptions on to his own kids by now.

Ownership of big tag items does offer a thing or two to impress the neighbors with.  I remember well telling a friend about the new Filter Queen I bought in the very late '70s and I also remember well that when she happened to stop by for a visit, when she saw it, the first thing she said was, "Oh, so that's  the $500 vacuum you bought."

CR, whos logic can be spotty, should also be trying to help consumers choose by also pointing out good appliance characteristics that usually point to sounder purchases

Venson