Disappointed with latest VAX machines

[madabouthoovers]

Having purchased a few new Vax models recently I have been initially impressed with their performance and design, but now it seems that one model in particular has been a let down, with more serious flaws becoming apparent.

This model is the Mach Air Reach of which was recently reduced in Argos to £99.99.
The first problems were that the hoses came out of the sockets which they are supposed to be permanently fixed into. They seemed to have been screwed in and secured with very poor glue. I had to use an epoxy resin glue to fix them in permanently.
Then I found that the brushroll motor abort did not work properly when the brushroll became jammed with the cats fleece blanket - the motor did not cut off but tried to carry on working producing a burning smell, so I had to quickly turn the machine off.
Then I found that the filter at the top of the bin was getting clogged, along with all the cyclones, and this was a serious problem, that was last seen on the American marketed DC17, caused by the rubber seal at the base of the inner dust tube where it meets the bottom trapdoor of the bin, failing to create a seal.
The entire cyclone assembly appears to lift up inside the bin when the vac is running, and lifts the rubber seal away from the base of the bin, so allowing the dirt to enter the dust tube in the reverse direction, and reverse clogging the cyclones.
To solve this problem I have had to cut out some plastic from a carrier bag and place it over the end of the dust tube, and push the rubber seal back over it.
In addition I had to grease the pivots between the main head and the handle as they were stiff, and as a consequence I am not impressed with this vac now.
It seems that the quality control is lacking in modern Vax cleaners and its not good. Many people have commented on reviews about shoddy materials being used on Vax cleaners now - I know they are cheaper than Dysons as they are made in China, but this Mach Air is now not fit for purpose.
Ringing Vax I have to pay for the call and get held in endless queues, never getting through.

Has anyone else had problems with Vax cleaners lately, or did I just get a Friday afternoon model?
Following these problems I took the other Mach Air back to Argos I got for future use, just within the 30 day warranty period - but I'm stuck with the other defective one now as Argos say I have to deal direct with Vax due to me having it longer than 30 days.
Says something though that I have now brought the Kirby Heritage down again for daily driver use - the dependable and well made 32 year old Kirby reigns supreme over a brand new state of the art Vax!

 

[ultimatevacman]

My next door neighbour has the Vax Mach Air, and she says that it's been nothing but trouble since she bought it. Like you said, the weak glue became loose where the hose connects, and the filter get clogged every time it's used.

It's a shame really, because the old Vax's like the 101 121 etc. were great machines, yet you get these terrible cheaply made vacuums made today branded as Vax.

Joe

 

[madabouthoovers]

Its a great shame that the quality has gone downhill with Vax, as I love the design of the Mach Air, and when they work properly they are great to use. I cant believe that what is usually priced at £250 is so poor with so many defects now coming to light. The blocking of the cyclones is the most serious problem, as I can now see a visible gap between the bottom of the bin and the rubber seal on the central dust collector tube, which defeats the function of the cyclones, by sucking in all the dust and fluff from the bottom of the bin in reverse up the cyclone tubes, so clogging them, and the top filter.
So many people have reviewed these vacs on Argos website, but the problem with the cyclone clogging doesn't start straight away - I think its due to the cheap quality foam ring seal between the top of the bin and the removeable lid - it distorts and allows the cyclone assembly to lift up slightly inside the bin housing, thus breaking the seal at the bottom just enough to start drawing dust and fluff in the wrong way.
Vax could have a big problem with this model if more of them start doing this, as they have sold tons of them to unsuspecting buyers. Dyson had exactly the same problem a few years back in the USA with the DC17 doing just this same problem.

 

[ultraperformer]

How's your Mach 9 by comparison? I saw them on offer for £49.99 and was tempted. I'm still happy with my Mach Air cylinder but its not had much use tbh!

Dan

 

[madabouthoovers]

The Mach 9 is an uncommon model, and not sold as the Mach 9 in most places, including Currys - merely as the Mach Pets U88-T4-P. This is the same model as the Mach 9, but does a very good job, and is a very attractively designed vac. It has a dial at the back to select between the hose or the floorhead - last seen on the old Hoover Dialamatic. A most pleasing vac to use as well, and has a power switch actually on the handle which is good to operate - instead of the stupid foot switches on the other Vax Power models.
For the price, the Mach 9 is a very good vac, and follows the more conventional foot design, using the same motor for the suction and the brushroll.
The bin design is very similar to the Dyson DC14, with the filter and cage being a very similar copy to the Dyson.
No problems have surfaced with this one yet, but time will tell. So far I would rate the mach 9 as 9/10. The best design feature is the selector dial for the hose.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/home-a...pright-vacuum-cleaner-black-16722032-pdt.html

 

[dysondestijl]

I've been looking at the vax Mach 9. It's bloody tiny!!!
In my local household shop they have it for a massive £99.99!!! And they have this HUGE vax upright for £99.99 too, it is MASSIVE, I mean it doesn't look big but everything on it is huge! I don't get why this monster is the same price as the tiny Mach nine! Here is the beast:

 

[sebo_fan]

Ive never had a problem with my original Vax Mach Air hose - but then I was on machine No.2 after the first one's floor head refused to stay flat and Vax changed the upright by sending out a new one.

Never heard of filter problems either until now.

 

[ultraperformer]

Did you get a pic of the Mach 9 George? I've never seen one out of the box?

 

[dysondestijl]

No, but I will when I next go in dan

 

[fantomvacuumfan]

I have had...

The same hose problem with the US model, the Hoover Windtunnel Air. If you contact Vax, I would assume they would do the same thing that Hoover did for me, which was send me a replacement hose at no charge. However, other than that issue, I have had none of the other problems you mentioned. Everything works beautifully, and I am very happy with it.

 

[ultraperformer]

Mach 9 pic

Cheers George

 

[parwaz786]

My Auntie's VAX bagless pet cylinder V096 needed emptying after every room as the filter clogged, 4 years later, Auntie got a Henry, she likes it,


My um had a VAX 6140 pet in 2008/ 9 ish I think and it was fragile, couldnt wash carpets properly either, and now she has a DC04 silver lime, she still loves it

 

[sebo_fan]

I guess even with multicyclonics you still have to wash the filter at some point - which inevitably means more dusty clothes or the constant honk of dirt; its why I really don't mind paying out for dust bags and the filters (if required).

 

[spiraclean]

Although it can be a pain trying to get through on the helpline number, I think it's worth persevering in this case. The cleaner does come with a six year warranty, and to give up on trying effectively relieves Vax of their obligations to you. What's the point in choosing a cleaner with a long guarantee (that is one of it's selling points, and built into the purchase price) if you're not going to make them follow through on it?

For what it's worth, I've had good luck contacting Vax through email. That's just how I prefer to do things, but it does have the advantage of bypassing the phone system entirely. Plus you have everything in writing should there be any dispute later.

I know the one thing Vax does insist on is proper filter maintenance. A cleaner with dirty or blocked filters will automatically have any warranty claim denied, which to me is reasonable. Other than that, I always find they're very helpful and accommodating. In your case however it sounds as though the filters are clogging due to a fault with the cleaner, so I'd make them aware of this and ask them to take the cleaner in for inspection and repair.

 

[madabouthoovers]

I may well try the email route, but the Mach Air Reach was 0nly 99.99, so there must be a reason why Argos are selling them at that price - i.e., they are riddled with defects and the cheaper the item is, the less likely the customer will be to make a stink if the item breaks down or becomes faulty.
Most companies try every means to blame the customer for "abusing" the item anyway and wont do anything - the only exception I found was Miele when I complained that my turbo brush on the S6 had lost some bristles from the brushroll, they sent me a new turbo brush free of charge - but it seems that VAX are that overrun with callers trying to complain, you can never get through.
It just means one thing to me - I wont ever buy Vax again - and I have bought a fair few vacs in my time

 

[sebo_fan]

Well, with my experience Vax said that if I sent back the Vax Mach Air model 1 with a dirty filter they would charge me £35 extra. But they never said it would invalidate the warranty. Infact, I didn't even bother phoning their cust services - I emailed them and they phoned me.

They initially suggested that I spray 3 in 1 oil on the hinge that was sticking to avoid the floor head from not sitting down on carpet properly - but when I pointed out that it quite clearly states that work like this done by the owner could invalidate the warranty, they changed their tune straight away conceding that the Vax was at fault and they would happily change it for a new one.

Steve - the only reason Vax vacuums are falling in price is either because of demand and if a new model is coming out - in this case the new swivel version of the Vax Mach Air is now. Also Argos buy a ship load of vacuums from brands like Vax and often have to drop them in price accordingly if the brand bring out a new model.

 

[spiraclean]

I'd agree that the drop in retail price doesn't necessarily mean there are issues, or that retailers are desperately trying to get rid of them. To be honest, when a new cleaner comes out, it is usually priced at the maximum amount they think the market will bear, and after a while it soon comes down to a more realistic level. The price it eventually "settles" at will be dictated by sales volumes and competition from other models and other brands. In cases such as this, retailers will usually apply for a retroactive discount from the manufacturer, so as to maintain their profit margin on the stock they have already bought in.

Anyway, having re-read your initial post, I see you mention that you bought the Vax recently. As a matter of interest, how recent would this be? Always remember that the Argos 30 day returns window is *in addition* to your statutory rights, and does not mean they are off the hook once this time has elapsed. They may suggest you take the matter up with Vax directly, but you are well within your rights to refuse, as your contract is with the retailer and not the manufacturer. I'd suggest acting quickly, because requesting a repair or refund is easier during the first six months - after this time, the onus is on you to prove that the fault is due to a manufacturing defect.

Link below explains the basic ins and outs of the Sale of Goods Act, but if you're not sure, just ask and we'll help you through what to do next. I know your experience has probably soured you on this product for good, so insist on a repair or replacement, that way you can sell it on in good conscience and put the whole thing behind you. But, whatever you do, don't give up and get stuck with a product that is broken down for fear that it would be too much hassle to deal with!

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/sale-of-goods-act/

 

[sebo_fan]

Sorry, are you referring to "madabouthoovers" or me? I already had mine replaced by Vax and have had no problems since. Vax also re-initiated a fresh new warranty, so no probs there either with cust services etc and infact quite impressed.

 

[spiraclean]

Sorry, that was directed to MAH.

Agree that Vax are normally very helpful, and I know of many instances where they have simply agreed to swap a machine rather than go down the repair route. They never used to be like that, but their customer service has improved vastly in recent years.