Is the Riccar Sunburst the same vac as the Bissesl Zing?

[got2bjennyg]

I recently mentioned in a comment on a post here that I purchased a Riccar Sunburst suction only canister from my local dealer. It met my criteria of being small, decent suction, not too loud, and good emissions (hepa bag). I use it for bare floor and above the floor cleaning. The tools aren't much to write about except for the Soft Sweep Floor Tool that was in the box. I have an old panasonic/kenmore dusting brush that I use with it that is wonderful and fits perfectly.

Anyhow, somebody commented that the Riccar Sunburst uses the same bags as the $55 Bissell Zing. So, did I just pay $180 for a $55 vacuum with an extra bare floor nozzle???

 

[relhall]

No, they are not the same.

Yes, you did just pay $180 for a $55 canister.


Sorry (?)



Often bags are interchangeable between manufacturers.

 

[kirbylux77]

Jenny

The Bissell Zing & Riccar Sunburst/Simplicity Jill are both made by the same Chinese manufacturer, KingClean, for each respective brand. But, they are not EXACTLY the same.

The Riccar & Simplicity versions have a HEPA filter on the exhaust, whereas the Bissell doesn't, just a foam filter under a filter cover. The Bissell Zing does have variable speed control though, & as for the filter, you can always take a micro-filtration filter pad, cut it to size & put that under the filter cover. Besides, if you're using a HEPA Cloth bag, it's the BAG that's capturing the dust, all the exhaust filter is capturing is the motor's carbon dust emissions. As for the floor brush, if you really like how it swivels & the microfibre pad, you can order that separately as a part from any Riccar or Simplicity dealer. Unless your allergies are REALLY BAD, I would return the Riccar in favor of the Bissell Zing.

Interestingly enough, many years ago there used to be a blue Bissell Zing that was EXACTLY identical to the Riccar Sunburst/Simplicity Jill, except it had a variable speed control, & while it had the same filter compartment & had the same plastic frame that would normally have pleated HEPA paper glued in it, just a cloth filter was in it's place. See link below.

Rob

https://www.amazon.com/bissell-bagged-canister-vacuum-22q3/dp/b00450u8oy

 

[got2bjennyg]

Returning it is not an option. The dealer will only do exchanges within 3 days. I've had it for a week and the dealer doesn't carry the Bissell Zing. It will probably be the last vacuum that I buy from a local dealer.

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

It's a riccar cannister. Idgaf what people say riccar produces top of the line quality product.
It's light compact and powerful. Don't feel you got took.
You got a good vacuum from a brand that doesn't sell anything but excellent vacuums.
I've looked into a sunburst.
I'd say you got a quality vacuum that will last.
Les

 

[dysonman1]

Good luck finding after-sale support for a Bissell.

I've sold many hundreds of Sunburst canisters, I really wish it had been the model that stayed for 2019 instead of the pink Jill. Many men won't buy a pink vacuum cleaner, but the gold one they had no problem with buying.

Interesting, people who bought a Sun for the bare floors and dusting, come back to buy the Floor Turbo Brush once they put carpeting down (as opposed to buying an upright). People seem to like it a lot, easy carry, good filtration, ton of suction.

 

[vacuumdevil]

@got2bjennyg yeah in a way you did.

@kirbylux77 is right in pointing out the differences between the two.

Here in the US you can still find a Bissell zing with the HEPA filter.

There's also a royal s15 canister that's the same.

It's all coming from the same factory in China .

 

[got2bjennyg]

@vacuumdevil

Yes, lesson learned. This is probably the last, new vacuum that I ever buy from a dealer...ever.

I don't mind paying extra for knowledge and service and supporting a local business, but 3 times the price.....not so much.

 

[bryan1980]

Don't swear off local vac stores just yet

I don't think the store gouged you on the price of that Riccar. What you did was pay more for the Riccar name. With that comes much better support after the sale than Bissell would ever offer, and most likely a better warranty. The consumer has to decide whether or not that's worth the premium over the Bissell. If anything, I'd have more of an issue with the store's return/exchange policy. Just find a better local vaccum store, which should be easy enough if you're in/close to a major metropolitan area.

 

[suckolux]

The size/ shape of the zing reminds me of the blue magic I used to have.

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

Like I said riccar is premium brand. There customer service is top 3 that's guessing sebo and rexair are better. Riccars are tanks and a vacuum looking similar is decieving.
The new Hoover commercial upright royal upright and riccar upright look very similar.
Hoover and plastic royal are low end garbage vacs compared to riccar. Riccar/simplicity (Kirby is different and not included) is best in business build quality and customer service. The vacuums look similar but riccar can't be compared to zing or other vacuums. They just don't built anything but top of the line vacuums.
You didn't get gouged riccar vacuums are almost exclusively sold at vacuum shops. If you buy anywhere else it's used. So riccar has a higher price. You will not find a better vacuum at that price. Don't feel slighted. They last. I have a 20 year old riccar and it picks up excellent it's a freaking tank great quality just bare bones rock solid vacuum easy to maintain and lasts.
I like Kirby's the issue is no on board hose. Riccar slightly less cfm at nozzle but hose cfm is real close to Kirby's.
So you got a good vacuum at a good price.
Les