I've been a lurker of this forum for several months now but decided to join to report something very odd that happened to me today.
 
I was in my local Target (Southern CA) and noticed a new vacuum on the market: The Dirt Devil Spinnergy.  The box of this unit claims "Multi-Stage Cyclonic" technology and a "Sustained Suction Technology."  The pictures on the box of how the cyclonic technology works was amazingly similar to the Dyson.  The unit's appearance seemed to be a combination of the Hoover Fusion and well, a Dyson.
 
Indeed, the unit has the small cyclone chambers found in the Dyson (of course), Bissell Healthy Home, Infinity, and the Kenmore Iridium.  It included a standard "mini-turbine" and also has a nice and long 30 foot cord.
 
I was quite intrigued to try this model out!  I was even more thrilled when I scanned it at the Target price checker and it came up $99.99.  What a steal!
 
My dreams of the perfect Dyson Rip-off were quickly spoiled though when I "attempted" to check out.  The register locked when they scanned the Spinnergy and spit out a tag to be affixed to the box.  "Factory Recall - Do not sell - Return to Manufacturer."   WHAT!?!?!?  How could they?????
 
I tried my best to buy it anyway, but the Target manager would not budge.  I even went back to the store later and tried buying another one (since they had not yet removed the other two from the floor).  NO GO.  I was instructed to call Dirt Devil to find out why.
 
That call is not yet resolved.  The CSR told me this model does NOT appear on their recall list.  It also does not appear on their website so she could not order it for me.  The Dirt Devil Corporate office was not open to fully comment, but they will hopefully call me back tomorrow.
 
Scandal?  Is Dyson blocking the sale of these units since it so closely mimics their technology?  I can say this, from the pictures on the box, it looks like the closest rip-off of any "Dyson Clone" I have seen (the second being the Bissell Healthy Home, which wisely downplays the "multi-cyclone" technology in favor of the "healthy" aspect of their unit).
 
It is of course very possible that there is something wrong with this unit and they are pulling it.  But it just seems odd that they would do so before any dust began to settle on the boxes of these units.
 
Another option is Target has made a mistake.  I checked two other stores in my area and they didn't even have this unit.
 
It's all very weird to me.  I can say this - I want one NOW more than EVER!!!!!

Not machine specific, but just a general comment.  Could it be perhaps the vacuum gods looking down and preventing you from making the mistake of buying a dirt devi?  If dirt devil were smart they would recall every piece of crap they ever made... or would have made quality products to begin with!  If you want something cheap that will last longer than a dirt devil and work better I believe the dollar store is having a sale on brooms!  (While it's true that everyone who knows anything about vacuums knows that DDs have always been terrible, I say that last comment with humor, not malice.  I'd hate to offend a newcomer to the forum.)  I thought the Reaction was dirt devil's attempt at a copy of the real thing (Dyson).  I would like to see a picture of this contraption if anyone can provide a link or photo.  Thanks!

Quote from atrac on 01/27/07 at 12:02am:

 
Good pics.  
 
Here's another possibility on the sudden pull back ("recall" has a negative product connotation) which I'm more inclined to believe than a product defect.  TTI, maker of HOOVER FUSION, and now the owner of HOOVER too, has an exclusive license agreement with Wal*Mart and Sam's Club Stores not to have a copycat version of the FUSION and/or FUSION Plus for an agreed upon time.  With the success of these two HOOVER FUSION models over the last almost 2 years, TTI wants to get competitor models in other big box retailers and mass market USA wide.  TTI and TARGET may have jumped the gun.  2 years may be the time limit.  Spinnergy is a few months early.  Hence the sudden TARGET pull back.
 
Some nice features of the Spinnergy: Multiple cyclonic technology, HEPA rated, 30 foot cord and 2 year product warranty.  Typical Royal Red for Dirt Devil.  The Spinnergy will be a competitor in the low end bagless upright market, especially against the Wal*Mart and Sam's Club stores with FUSION and FUSION Plus.  Neither of the FUSIONS are HEPA rated and they come with only a 1 year product warranty.  The FUSION prices are now $98 and $109 respectively and recently HSN was selling the FUSION Plus for $119.  An indication that the HOOVER Fusion and the Wal*Mart & Sam's Club agreements may be reaching an end.
 
HOOVER has had the Elite bagless (MSRP $129) which is HEPA rated and has a cord winder with 24 foot cord (I believe).  Also a popular seller at the big box retailers, and has been priced as low as $89 at COSTCO and BEST BUY stores and $69 at Frys Electronics.  
 
With TTI's dual ownership of both HOOVER and Royal Appliances, it will be a challenge to market vacuum products which compete against itself.  It has been mentioned on the Forum that Royal offers two lines: Royal vacuum products for vacuum store independents and Dirt Devil products for the big box retailers.  HOOVER has gone all out for the big box retailers at the exclusion and expense of the independents.  With both brands under the same owner/management umbrella, time will tell what will emerge and evolve for the two oldest surviving vacuum brands in the USA industry: HOOVER and Royal.
 
Carmine D.

Quote from Vacuumfreeeke on 01/26/07 at 9:56am:

 
Sadly, agree, flat out.When I finally find a replacement, the DirtyDevil is trash...
American manufacturering has been in trouble for a long time..
But I think we still make some good stuff
John Deere
Lawn Boy
?
?
some trucks
space ships

I take "zero" credit for finding this, since someone on another forum found this link:
 
http://www.vax.co.uk/zero/index.php
 
As we all know, Royal owns Vax, so the middle one is the beloved Spinnergy.
 
Interesting other models too!