Bissell Opticlean Rippoff of a Electrolux Ultraone ?

[gsheen]

I was browsing the Bissell site and came across the opticlean,

I can't help but notice that it looks very very similar to the AEG/Electrolux Ultraone

http://www.bissell.com/opticlean-bagged-canister-vacuum/

 

[gsheen]

Electrolux Ultraone

 

[blackheart]

Could it be?

That bissell is having that machine made for them? I know some of their uprights are cheapened Samsung models.

 

[gsheen]

@ blackheart.

I think its more Samsung using bissel to get there cheap vacuums, WE used to get alot of Samsung vacuums ( upright ones ) hee in SA until Bissell came here and Samsung had to change there models. If you open up the Samsung models they sti say bissell on the belts , brush rolls, motor's and most of the body work.

 

[eurekaprince]

Gareth....in North America, before Bissell really began expanding their vacuum line, many Bissel cleaners were made for them by Samsung. The most obvious case is the Bissel Digipro power nozzle canister. So indeed, the two companies must have some joint venture contract on file.

That being said, I have not looked at the Samsung website to see if the Opticlean is there.....

 

[gsheen]

Hi Brian

It was mostly the powerforce range we got banged as Samsung, Considering that the USA has always been mainly an upright market I wonder if Samsung uprights were made by Bissell and Bissell canisters were made by Samsung.

I will post some pics tomorrow of our Samsung Bissell vacuum, we have allot in the workshop at my shop.

 

[sebo_fan]

Wow, that design is quite similar to Electrolux...

To my mind, Bissell haven't made any of their own dry dirt vacuums since the Featherlight days...In the UK the Powerforce uprights were little more than Samsung vacuums, so Brian is quite right there concerning the Bissell and Samsung brand. Even now, Samsung's current Propel uprights are very similar to the Powerforce uprights with similar hoods and similar controls.[this post was last edited: 9/22/2013-08:54]

 

[gsheen]

If you open those samsungs up you will find bissell trade marks on everything, Its more like bissell makes the samsung vacuums

 

[sebo_fan]

Check an archived thread from 2011 on here: http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?11271

Seems like Samsung made quite a few Bissell uprights.

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?11271

 

[eurekaprince]

There definitely is some ongoing coproduction going on with Bissell and Samsung. Perhaps some uprights are more Samsung and made in Korea, while others are more Bissell and made in USA or Mexico or China. Chicken or egg thing.....

One thing we can be sure of: most Bissell canisters are all Samsungs made in Asia.

(Interesting international discussion going on here! South Africa, Scotland, Canada! Thank you Vacuumland Webmasters!)

 

[gsheen]

Yep its rather cool,

I was told by bissel SA that Bissell products were made uner licence by samsung in Korea, That said Samsung swore they were not Bissells unill I took one apart infront of them. Does any one know were the powerforce ( bissell) is made ?

 

[sebo_fan]

All I know is that Bissell's presence in the UK didn't make vacuums until the late 1980s. Previously all they had were mechanical sweepers, a couple of spray foam canisters, those carpet spinafoamer things and eventually that lightweight corded stick vac. The U.S probably had more vacuums from Bissell than the UK ever did, though.

 

[sebo_fan]

Im sure "PRC" is what I saw the last time I looked at a rating plate on the back of a Powerforce...

 

[gsheen]

I have one at work, will go and have a look, I know the Samsung versions are made in Korea

 

[dysonman1]

The Bissell Opticlean canister IS similar to the Electrolux in looks only. Went to Lowes today, and tried out their Opticlean canister (I own an Ultra One Lux) and found NO comparison. Lux made in Hungary, Bissell made by King Clean in China. The Bissell is very cheap plastic.

All the current US Bissell vacuums (not shampooers) are made in China.

 

[kirbylux77]

Tom is right on this one....it IS indeed produced by Kingclean in China. Look very closely at the floor nozzle in reply 6....you'll see where the label would go if it was a Riccar or Simplicity floor nozzle. Plus, Samsung has never really produced a vacuum with a H12 "True HEPA" filter....most of theirs are very cheap, cardboard-like filters with no rubber or foam seal around it, & are H10 standard....the lowest grade of filter allowed to be called HEPA.

If memory serves correct, Walmart here in Canada is selling these for $150 CDN dollars....so that would explain the cheap build quality compared to the Lux & AEG versions. This, plus the overpriced, small puny HEPA cloth bags make this a bad buy in my books. Wait a couple of years till one shows up dead at the side of the road or in a thrift shop, if you must have one.

Rob

 

[gsheen]

Thanks Tom

Figured you would know. I have a feeling that the samsung badge'd bissells are made in China aswell and just packaged in Korea.

It figures that the opticlean is a King clean product, Thay manufacture a few Eureka/Electrolux products but I was also amazed at howmany copies of EU made AEG/Electrolux vacuums they made and wondered why Electrolux ab lets them get away with it. There is also a copy of the AEG Electrolux silencer vacuum that they make It looks similar but not exactly the same. If you go onto their website they have a picture of it on their homepage.

 

[eurekaprince]

For those curious about the notorious King Clean company, here's their website:

http://www.kingclean.com/

 

[eurekaprince]

I love how King Clean uses an image of an Electrolux Harmony/UltraSilencer Green canister vac (Made in Hungary) in the title bar of their website's vacuum section! Telling, isn't it?