Thoughts on the Sebo Balance A1 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner?

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Vacuum Facts

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So, Sebo is the latest company to have recently completely duped Dyson’s technology with their new Sebo Balance A1 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner and jumped on the cordless stick vac bandwagon. This is a formfactor that shows no evidence of being anything but a truly triumphant success for both customer and business, and demonstration of incredible foresight and pioneering technological advancement since invented with the Dyson DC35 in 2010, contrary to some unjustified, hostile, and fearmongering opinions at the time. The formfactor actually works as a mains replacement—assuming you build the product to work correctly, which very few bother to do. And even if you don’t, all the regressive capitalist companies, whose primary business objective seems to be to exploit the vulnerable, are lapping it up and making their own naff clone versions. That copycat behaviour wouldn’t happen if the original idea was a dud, didn’t work, and wasn’t popular—a fact rarely pointed out, sadly, despite its profound significance. We know from recent hard data that the Dyson products pioneering this idea are globally trusted more than any other by far.

Some diehard Sebo fans I’ve observed on the internet are surprisingly hostile to Sebo’s first foray into directly cloning Dyson’s cordless stick vac machines. For most other brands, I’ve observed that disturbingly hardcore tribalists tend to play hypocrite by denouncing the original and pioneering technology that actually works, whilst simultaneously giving a free pass to the nasty clone dupe which doesn’t work as well, simply because their favourite tribal brand name is on it. In fairness, I have seen some evidence out there of exactly that as well—it’s Sebo, so all is forgiven, and double standards are fine. I have to say, one of the most disturbing and unfair criticisms of this Sebo machine I’ve come across more than once in online ‘reviews’ is based solely on where it’s manufactured. It’s really disturbing to see what is absolutely tantamount to continued racism running rampant amongst the so-called vacuum enthusiast community. That disgusting idea that you can pre-judge any product based on nothing more than the race of those associated with where it was manufactured physically, distinct from the track record of the company that designed it. And yes, it’s actually robots that physically manufacture it. I’ve already shown in my Gen5 review how flawed the thinking of these racists are. In the example I pointed out, Dyson changed the country where their machines were physically manufactured, yet you couldn’t quantify any physical difference whatsoever in the final physical product generated by the robots, regardless of where they physically sat on earth. Look out for when people immorally fixate on either the nationality associated with the designer/manufacturer or the country where that manufacturer chooses to construct the products for economic reasons—or worse, conflate the two. It makes no sense and is pure, vulgar racism, and it’s about time more stood up to it. A product should be judged on its own race-less merits, and it's the manufacturers who could be pre-judged by their track record of the capabilities and quality of the products they produce, not the race of the people living where they are made.

Seeing as I haven’t yet seen a competent review of this machine on the internet, I’m tempted to review it myself. Unfortunately, Sebo have some of the worst policy of any manufacturer out there, as reflected by their returns policy, which reflects quite badly on them as a company. Pathetically, and in a way that deserves nothing but harsh scorn, they aren’t respectable or admirable enough to offer a try before you buy policy, unlike their competition, which are thus clearly superior. For example, Dyson offer a 35-day money back guarantee. Literally try it for over a month before deciding whether it’s for you. That’s respectable. Sebo are really not all they’re cracked up to be based on what I can directly observe, which reflects very badly on the associated diehard tribalist behaviour I see out there in various places on the internet. Why wouldn’t you offer try before you buy? The best out there do. I never get a good answer. I really would like to try this machine and quantify its relative performance and ease of use.

Even without a review, there are so many observations that can be made from what others have posted, as well as the specifications and technologies Sebo offer in the product. It doesn’t look good, unfortunately, although I won’t go into details here in the interest of brevity. Suffice to say that despite something like the Dyson V10 having been on the market for the better part of a decade, which absolutely is a mains replacement as data clearly showed, the Sebo Balance is apparently not. That’s just terrible and there’s no real excuse for it. Why would you put out a product like that if you really cared about the customer? Why would you expect customers to pay you nearly £400 for a ‘whip round’ machine? There’s no place for that product class anymore. We know it's possible to have a mains-equivalent machine in the superior stick vac form factor. In fact, you can spend less and get an older Dyson product, like the cheaper £350 V11, which still ticks that box. Literally stupid business practice IMO that doesn’t suggest I’m put first as a customer.

Those are my free thoughts anyway. Be interesting to see if anyone has any reputable evidence to support any other or alternative conclusions.
 
Pointing out (veiled) racism isn't 'woke'. Woke is trying to control other people's behaviour because you're not able to control your own emotions and weaponising systems designed to protect to achieve your aims. An example of that is cancel culture, e.g. calling for someone on a forum to be lynched because their reasoned free speech, opinions, and any objective facts they present are at odds with your preferred worldview. Spotting racism and calling it out is not woke, it's what the law is based on and always has been in recent decades. Interesting that this wasn't appreciated and that your only response to the entire thread fixated on that one sub-element that wasn't even the primary focus, just to have a dig...again. Completely ignored the entire suite of points about Sebo and their new product.
 
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Here's the design and some stuffs in one short video:

Honestly, this looks more like a modern main-equivalent (V10, V11, V15/V12, Gen5 and V16, thus far) Dyson machines than any other copies. Most has copied the Digital Slim form factor (found in all pre-V10 Dyson cordless) and some half-heartedly copied the in-line form factor as well, but this version of this form factor is news to non-Dyson.
 
I am interested in the performance level. It most likely will not have anywhere close to the upper-level Dyson performance. That is a critical aspect I consider when analyzing a stick vacuum. So many lack decent performance, and Sebo, so far, has not implemented H13 filtration. The HEPA filtration they offer on some of their models is a lower grade. I prefer H13.
 
I am interested in the performance level. It most likely will not have anywhere close to the upper-level Dyson performance. That is a critical aspect I consider when analyzing a stick vacuum. So many lack decent performance, and Sebo, so far, has not implemented H13 filtration. The HEPA filtration they offer on some of their models is a lower grade. I prefer H13.
Finally, there's someone agreeing with @Vacuum Facts by their own volition and not by being swayed by him. A Dyson fanboy would be swayed - not me though, because I'm just a normie amazed by Dyson innovations. Heck, it took until at least (late) 2024 for copycats to finally come close to the legendary package that is the 2018's Cyclone V10.
 
Finally, there's someone agreeing with @Vacuum Facts by their own volition and not by being swayed by him. A Dyson fanboy would be swayed - not me though, because I'm just a normie amazed by Dyson innovations. Heck, it took until at least (late) 2024 for copycats to finally come close to the legendary package that is the 2018's Cyclone V10.
The Balance looks cheap and nasty. Nein, danke.
Yup, and that clogging pleated HEPA Filter before the motor? No thanks! Why would I pay a hefty price for that when I can just buy a Chinese clone on Amazon that has that same style filter before the motor?!
Yep. https://vacuumland.org/threads/pick-your-poison-main-equivalency.46775/
 
Here's the design and some stuffs in one short video:

Honestly, this looks more like a modern main-equivalent (V10, V11, V15/V12, Gen5 and V16, thus far) Dyson machines than any other copies. Most has copied the Digital Slim form factor (found in all pre-V10 Dyson cordless) and some half-heartedly copied the in-line form factor as well, but this version of this form factor is news to non-Dyson.

A dupe is still a dupe though, and SEBO didn't have enough true R&D to pull it off properly. The Balance is shaping up to be a FLOP. CAPITAL FLOP, no excuses.
 
A dupe is still a dupe though, and SEBO didn't have enough true R&D to pull it off properly. The Balance is shaping up to be a FLOP. CAPITAL FLOP, no excuses.
I don't think Sebo's customer base is looking for an el-cheapo looking stick vac. If Sebo had given it a premium look and feel ( materials and shapes you expect to see on a Sebo product ), better attachments and nozzle they might have something, but it would cost more.
 
Finally, there's someone agreeing with @Vacuum Facts by their own volition and not by being swayed by him. A Dyson fanboy would be swayed - not me though, because I'm just a normie amazed by Dyson innovations. Heck, it took until at least (late) 2024 for copycats to finally come close to the legendary package that is the 2018's Cyclone V10.
Well, I’ve had a good number of vacs from all price brackets, with many of them from premium brands. My V15 has impressed me, but I’ve never been able to truly test it the way I’d like. But you see, that is the problem. I’m not sure it is possible to test without meeting true lab-grade conditions and parameters. But, perhaps one doesn’t need full lab-grade experiments to infer estimates, especially basic experiments? I might have a chat with my Dad about it. His professional feedback might be useful.
 
Well, I’ve had a good number of vacs from all price brackets, with many of them from premium brands. My V15 has impressed me, but I’ve never been able to truly test it the way I’d like. But you see, that is the problem. I’m not sure it is possible to test without meeting true lab-grade conditions and parameters. But, perhaps one doesn’t need full lab-grade experiments to infer estimates, especially basic experiments? I might have a chat with my Dad about it. His professional feedback might be useful.
If you're looking for lab-grade tests, then @Vacuum Facts have got you covered. Also, asking your dad won't hurt.
 
It’s quite clear why SEBO did what they did with their first cordless domestic machine. In an ever growing competitive market especially cordless in the UK and Europe that I know of they wanted to enter this market with a product that’s competitively priced. Producing one in Germany would have cost alot more and the general public most likely wouldn’t have purchased it because of high cost. Their commercial cordless BP60 isn’t cheap and no doubt this is where they realised to make a domestic cordless machine we need to look away from Germany to make it competitively priced. Plus alot of R&D is needed which they may not have the amount of money to do it in Germany. They are still compared to others I believe a small family owned business so investing money in a completely new category on a busy market could have hurt them financially.
This way they can test the water and maybe the next one will be made in Germany!

They also are clear the Balance is not a corded replacement it’s to complement their corded range as an in between clean machine. Think some of us are surprised they went bagless when there is bagged cordless machines. They had their reasons why it was bagless.
 
It’s quite clear why SEBO did what they did with their first cordless domestic machine. In an ever growing competitive market especially cordless in the UK and Europe that I know of they wanted to enter this market with a product that’s competitively priced. Producing one in Germany would have cost alot more and the general public most likely wouldn’t have purchased it because of high cost. Their commercial cordless BP60 isn’t cheap and no doubt this is where they realised to make a domestic cordless machine we need to look away from Germany to make it competitively priced. Plus alot of R&D is needed which they may not have the amount of money to do it in Germany. They are still compared to others I believe a small family owned business so investing money in a completely new category on a busy market could have hurt them financially.
This way they can test the water and maybe the next one will be made in Germany!

They also are clear the Balance is not a corded replacement it’s to complement their corded range as an in between clean machine. Think some of us are surprised they went bagless when there is bagged cordless machines. They had their reasons why it was bagless.
I didn't say make it in Germany. I said give it the kind of materials, textures, and feel of other Sebo products. Using traditional Sebo attachments would have set it apart from the rest of it's competitors. Instead Sebo made it look as cheap and nasty as the rest of the cheap squeaky brittle plastivacs contaminating the market.
 
I know you didn’t! I’d be surprised if that’s achievable where this is manufactured and keeping the price down but using higher quality materials. SEBO in that case would have made it themselves surely in that case but not at the cheaper price. Yes they could have used some of the SEBO attachments used on their corded machines but that would mean updating them with the button click system.

I didn't say make it in Germany. I said give it the kind of materials, textures, and feel of other Sebo products. Using traditional Sebo attachments would have set it apart from the rest of its competitors. Instead Sebo made it look as cheap and nasty as the rest of the cheap squeaky brittle plastivacs contaminating the market.
 
It’s quite clear why SEBO did what they did with their first cordless domestic machine. In an ever growing competitive market especially cordless in the UK and Europe that I know of they wanted to enter this market with a product that’s competitively priced. Producing one in Germany would have cost alot more and the general public most likely wouldn’t have purchased it because of high cost. Their commercial cordless BP60 isn’t cheap and no doubt this is where they realised to make a domestic cordless machine we need to look away from Germany to make it competitively priced. Plus alot of R&D is needed which they may not have the amount of money to do it in Germany. They are still compared to others I believe a small family owned business so investing money in a completely new category on a busy market could have hurt them financially.
This way they can test the water and maybe the next one will be made in Germany!

They also are clear the Balance is not a corded replacement it’s to complement their corded range as an in between clean machine. Think some of us are surprised they went bagless when there is bagged cordless machines. They had their reasons why it was bagless.
No, Sebo saw Dyson's foresight and success and jumped on the bandwagon. Sebo are not technologically advanced enough to compete, so produced an effective scam at the expense of the idiots who'll buy it that they're happy to milk dry in classic regressive capitalist fashion. It's as simple as that. The idea that any company would make a cordless machine to 'complement their corded range as an in between clean machine' is so absurdly stupid and the definition of a scam. "Our main product has shortcomings, so buy this expensive, crap extra thing to compensate poorly." The product they're copying off gets it right and you don't need a corded machine anymore for the most part. Plenty of evidence of that.
 
No, Sebo saw Dyson's foresight and success and jumped on the bandwagon. Sebo are not technologically advanced enough to compete, so produced an effective scam at the expense of the idiots who'll buy it that they're happy to milk dry in classic regressive capitalist fashion. It's as simple as that. The idea that any company would make a cordless machine to 'complement their corded range as an in between clean machine' is so absurdly stupid and the definition of a scam. "Our main product has shortcomings, so buy this expensive, crap extra thing to compensate poorly." The product they're copying off gets it right and you don't need a corded machine anymore for the most part. Plenty of evidence of that.
I want a vacuum that will last 30-40 years. I don't do throw away. A Sebo, Aerus, Patriot, Miracle Mate, Metrovac will last that long given reasonable care. A Shark or Dyson never will. The vacuum I use the most often is a 43 year old Kenmore canister with some modern upgrades ( modern motor, power nozzle rebuilt with modern components from the Titan T7 which is a direct descendant of that very same old Kenmore power nozzle). Great designs don't die. Can't say that about Shark. I'd buy an old Electrolux Epic 650 SR and refurbish that with a modern drop in motor I use that wakes them right up and rebuild the power nozzle and have a vacuum that will last another 40 years before wasting money on crap from Diesoon or Shark.
My motorcycles are nearly all from the 1980s including one I bought new in 1984 that has over 300,000 miles, half a million kilometers, on it and going strong. My two Audis are 38 and 33 years old. The older one was restored to as-new condition. I wanted a new car and test drove dozens but every time I got back in my older Audi I could not help thinking what I really want is a new one of these. So I spent about 2/3 the price of a new Audi to make my old one new again. In the fullness of time the newer Audi will go to the same shop for the same detailed restoration. Those old Audis do what I need from a car better than anything I can buy new. I detest the TV screens in modern cars and detest that the gauge lights never turn off leaving me on occasion driving at night with only the daylight running lights on. On my older cars if the panel is dark it's a clue to turn the headlights on. Same story with the old BMW, an 84 K100RS. Same story with my wristwatch, a high end Tag Heuer I bought new in 1988 in Hong Kong for a fraction of the price in the US ( yes, it is genuine ) and is currently out at a watchmaker in LA who is overhauling the movement. I don't throw things out. I buy the best quality I can afford, take care if and plan to have it for decades. It will cost $400 to overhaul that old wrist watch but a new one costs thousands of bucks. Everything about Dyson and Shark are cheap, low quality and nasty. They are the opposite of durable and designed so you can't fix them when they break. I won't go there.
 
My electrolux z25 from over 90 years ago works just like new without any repairs. Also part of my opinion of Dyson is because I see a new batch of 20 or so broken dyson's on our version of ebay every week. I see the occasional Miele that is broken though nothing like the dyson's.
 
I want a vacuum that will last 30-40 years. I don't do throw away. A Sebo, Aerus, Patriot, Miracle Mate, Metrovac will last that long given reasonable care. A Shark or Dyson never will. The vacuum I use the most often is a 43 year old Kenmore canister with some modern upgrades ( modern motor, power nozzle rebuilt with modern components from the Titan T7 which is a direct descendant of that very same old Kenmore power nozzle). Great designs don't die. Can't say that about Shark. I'd buy an old Electrolux Epic 650 SR and refurbish that with a modern drop in motor I use that wakes them right up and rebuild the power nozzle and have a vacuum that will last another 40 years before wasting money on crap from Diesoon or Shark.
My motorcycles are nearly all from the 1980s including one I bought new in 1984 that has over 300,000 miles, half a million kilometers, on it and going strong. My two Audis are 38 and 33 years old. The older one was restored to as-new condition. I wanted a new car and test drove dozens but every time I got back in my older Audi I could not help thinking what I really want is a new one of these. So I spent about 2/3 the price of a new Audi to make my old one new again. In the fullness of time the newer Audi will go to the same shop for the same detailed restoration. Those old Audis do what I need from a car better than anything I can buy new. I detest the TV screens in modern cars and detest that the gauge lights never turn off leaving me on occasion driving at night with only the daylight running lights on. On my older cars if the panel is dark it's a clue to turn the headlights on. Same story with the old BMW, an 84 K100RS. Same story with my wristwatch, a high end Tag Heuer I bought new in 1988 in Hong Kong for a fraction of the price in the US ( yes, it is genuine ) and is currently out at a watchmaker in LA who is overhauling the movement. I don't throw things out. I buy the best quality I can afford, take care if and plan to have it for decades. It will cost $400 to overhaul that old wrist watch but a new one costs thousands of bucks. Everything about Dyson and Shark are cheap, low quality and nasty. They are the opposite of durable and designed so you can't fix them when they break. I won't go there.
Do you use a computer and wear clothes that are 40 years old too, or do you cherrypick what you decide to apply this to in a manner consistent with your track record? You've already admitted you want old thing that last yet simultaneously contradict yourself by wanting a newer version of the same thing, chucking the old one away in the process. The irony.

The only time you see throwaway vacuum cleaners is with the trash copycat clones that care only about profit at the expense of all else. Done right and treated intelligently, modern stickvacs can last a decade at the very least. Upgrading to better technology that does the job beter with less running impact is a driver for change, and the old isn't 'thrown away', it's recycled for minimum impact responsibly...unless the user is themselves a bit trashy.

You claim "Everything about Dyson...are cheap, low quality and nasty" but then fail to evidence it in a manner consistent with someone who should be respected, and that conflicts with observation for the most part. Again, given your track record on matters of fact, we need just leave it there. This all nicely supports the original post, so thankyou indirectly.
 

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