Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I actually played with one at Lowes the other day. Overall, I liked the design, but the foam pre-filter is crap compared to Dyson's recent pre-filter design (which is also featured on the Hoover Platinum Cyclonic and Panasonic/Kenmore canisters...but I suppose its washable HEPA filter makes up for it. http://smallappliances.electroluxusa.com/ Highlights: - 14 foot cleaning reach - LED headlight - "Ball-like" swivel action - Metal Soleplate - 5 year warranty - $299

karenAM wrote:

Hi Karen:

I was at Lowe's yesterday and it was on display and stocked on the shelf.  However, true to form for Lowe's and stores like it when it comes to vacuums, it was missing the top of the dirt bin container [brand new], and when I plugged in there was no suction.  After several minutes of running, examining, and testing, with 2 Lowe's persons in close sight and earshot, and not receiving any request for assistance, I politely placed the plug protector back on, wrapped up the cord, and stored back away on the display.  Waiting a bit longer around the aisle and still no interest.   So I went forth and bought what I needed and left.  A lost $300 sale.

BTW, I did check out the Kobalt canister for $100 in another aisle [and talked about here recently].  It was 10 foot up in the air on a shelve display tied down and unable to be used and perused by customers.  Another lost sale. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Yes Carnine, but you're forgetting that the Lux Nimble has only been out on the market for a short time - compared to the Hoover Tempo. I didn't expect to see that many negative reviews on a product so new.

vacmanuk wrote:

Hi vacmanuk:

Tempo has been here for a long time.  I'm always suspect about bad reviews right off the bat.  I opine an ulterior motive.  Why?  If the buyer doesn't like it, it usually goes back to the store/retailer in short order and the user never bothers to post a poor review.  If a poor review has been posted after the user has had a awhile say 4-6 months and longer, I put more credence in the comments.  That's not the case for Eureka-Lux Nimble.  Only a few weeks out of the gate.

Carmine D.

Didn't take BEST BUY stores very long to add the Electrolux Nimble to its shelves.  In a different color than the Lowe's edition but same MSRP.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Brands/Electrolux-Vacuums/pcmcat186200050003.c?id=pcmcat186200050003

Carmine D.

vacmanuk wrote:

Excuse for saying this, but: you have goofed - big time.

The model you linked to was for the Electrolux Versatility (EL8505), not the Nimble (EL8605).

The Verstility has 30-odd poor reviews.

The Nimble has 7 excellent reviews.

I wanted to  comment about the new Electrolux Nimble upright.  The vacuum cleaner does look very futuristic and modern, for a vacuum cleaner, with its flashy painted plastic and metal look.  There are some good features like a long cord and hose.  I liked that Electrolux put an aggressive brushroll on this machine.  The Nimble does a very good job of cleaning the carpet.

What I really want to  talk about is the main feature, its maneuverability.  To  refresh your memory,  I am not a "fan" of dyson vacuum cleaners.  They are just another vacuum brand, that would compete w/other brands.  That being said, I will move on.

iMacdaddy made the comment that "At first notice, this machine felt much more maneuverable than my old Dyson, and felt that it has a better turning radius as well."


CarmineD wrote:
I have  to disagree w/both these statements.  Dyson's "ball" uprights can maneuver/turn much better and easier than other swivel/twist uprights.  This can be checked out for yourself and you do not even need to turn the machine on.  The dyson can turn or maneuver just by leaning the handle to the left or right.  As this is done, the weight of the vacuum is repositioned  on the ball.  This, in turn, turns the cleaning nozzle head.  There is no heavy hand twisting required.  With the Nimble, it is another story.  The user must twist his/her hand in order to move the direction of the cleaning nozzle head.  It is not going to be easy, especially if you have any hand/wrist problems.  I want to also say that when you direct the Nimble to move to the left of right, it does not turn that well.  You should notice  that the head turns only slightly.

Take a dyson ball and Electrolux Nimble and check it out for yourself.  You should find that the turning radius of the dyson is much better and easier than the Nimble. 

I would have to say that if the Miele did not have the swivel wheels in front, Miele and Electrolux would have the same design.  The front wheels of the Miele make turning the upright much easier.  You have to wonder how well the DD Swivel would do, if it also redesigned their upright w/the swiveling upper body.

I do not care for swiveling uprights.  I have found that I can vacuum the same w/o the feature.  It requires very little effort to move a vacuum cleaner around furniture.  Vacuum cleaner manufacturers had the right idea when they started using them on rug/floor attachments of suction-only machines back in the day.  That feature was very useful.

Mike_W wrote:

Realizing that the uprights are used primarily on carpeting BUT I find the, as I said, that the dyson ball models are not as easy to use on barefloors and tiles as the swivel/twist of the ORECK, MIELE and NIMBLE.  As we see from dyson's evolution of the ball since the DC15, a change with the DC18, and then with the DC24/25 ball series.  Talk recently says another dyson ball is due out in short order.  And perhaps dyson will refine the ball mechanism further. 

Carmine D.

Mike_W wrote:
Id disagree here and the perfect example is the SEBO X4 against SEBO Felix. The Felix is much more controllable and faster at pick up. It is also much better than either full size Dyson Ball or the smaller one. Why? The Felix floor head gets under low furniture and whilst SEBO's X4 does too, the Felix has that swivel head which gets around corners which minimises having to turn a traditional upright around corners like the fixed wheels on the X4. The ball does not go under low furniture for the moment. Perhaps Dyson's new Ball upright in the future will be much smaller to get under low furniture - and I don't think taking out the long hose/come handle on the Dyson is particularly effective - or as fast.

CarmineD wrote:
What is so difficult about using a dyson on carpeting and floors?  Just tilt the handle to the left or right,while vacuuming, then the cleaning head turns.  The vacuum cleaner does the same thing on floor as the carpeting.  Actually, there would be less resistance on floors, when pushing/pulling,  compared to vacuuming thick carpeting.  The swivel/twist action is going to work on all surfaces.  How is changing the design going to make the dyson swivel/twist much better?

vacmanuk wrote:
We are talking about the swiveling/twisting action that these brands are focusing on.  The dyson has the greater swiveling action compared to other vacuum cleaners. Do the test yourself.  Turn the dyson to the right, as far as it goes, then do the same w/the SEBO Felix.  The dyson will have a wider degree turn than others. 

For those who want a visual, check out the link of the Felix video #2 of the Felix in action.

http://www.sebo.us/video_download.aspx?vdtitle=felix_sales.flv&vname=FELIX_Product_Demonstration#

Pay attention at 1:08 and especially around 4:25.  Watch how much she must swivel the handle in order to turn the cleaning head slightly.  Also, if you watch her vacuum under the bar stools, she swivels the handle, but then she must turn the vacuums direction by pushing the handle like "non-swiveling" vacuum cleaners.

It is fine to say the vacuum cleaner swivels, but what is important is what are the results of the cleaning head, from that swiveling.  It is easy to move the handle, watch the cleaning head move side to side and say "I am controlling the vacuum cleaner". What are the results from the swiveling/twisting?  iMacdaddy and Carmine felt that Nimble was better at swiveling than the dyson.  The dyson can turn at a wider degree.

As for SEBO getting under low furniture and dysons cannot, well, I have always believed that.  We are not talking about that.  We are talking swiveling/twisting features.  Can you twist the Felix and put it under the low furniture?  No you cannot.  The Felix must lay flat, just like the SEBO uprights(Xseries).