Consumer Reports

[kirby519]

Maybe some of you have seen this or maybe not.

I haven't seen the complete list myself. However it does sound like they are also looking at longevity and reliably these days when they are making recommendations for product lines. Maybe this is something that can help turn the market around for better products.

Not that everyone takes Consumer reports to heart.

https://www.consumerreports.org/vacuum-cleaners/most-and-least-reliable-vacuum-cleaners/

 

[huskyvacs]

Consumer Reports did used to be good - the trouble is since the 2010's they started accepting payoffs to skew the reviews in the brand's favor...ahem ahem...Dyson....Apple...etc.

I have some old books from the mid 90's, they are definitely more in depth and accurate in their reviews.

But the fact they are using the public to base their reliability reviews on is worrying. Just go to Walmart.com and read all the 1 star reviews of vacuum cleaners and you will see why. It's all from people that don't know the bin has to be emptied, or that the belts need to be changed, etc etc. The last Dyson I bought off eBay the seller said didn't clean properly or suck anything up anymore - they had the filter in backwards, the brushroll socket was broken, and the bristles on the roller were worn down to nubs.

 

[fantomlightning]

Counter Point...

They've almost never been a decent publication. Always subject to biases and issues. Just take a look at their crusades against Isuzu and Suzuki and the corresponding lawsuits that reveal their falsifying testing to get a shocking headline. Videos pertaining to both lawsuits are available on Youtube. Isuzu v Consumer Reports and Suzuki v Consumers Union. I don't trust them as far as I can throw them.

 

[dysonman1]

I called them communist reports for a reason. They always lie. In December, 1936, communist reports said the airway twin motor was unacceptable as a vacuum cleaner, they rated the Hoover model 150 the lowest in their ratings as well. The general electric AV1 was the number one vacuum cleaner. It’s like comparing a Regina housekeeper to a Kirby. I have never ever believed them.

 

[completenutt]

They're arrogant bastards these days.

I always used to be fascinated by Consumer Reports as a young boy. 


 


I went to test brands and models they liked (like vacuums!) and avoided those they didn't recommend.  I even thought it would be a fantastic career to work for them and test appliances all day everyday!  That really does sound awesome. 


 


That enthusiasm for their recommendations died down when I realized that they were playing favorites, and came to a complete halt when they panned my new car choice in  video review by three jackasses that clearly were biased and on power trips.  Btw, the 5 year old car still runs great, is a thrill to operate, and with almost zero issues to date!


 


In this review about vacuum reliability being added in that is really just user reviews... it lowers and completely negates their professional analysis by using the perceptions of reliability by the general public who doesn't know how to clean and maintain a vacuum which of course lowers it's perceived reliability and their perceived experience.   I think it's tool for CR to be able to now really play favorites without regard for their own testing. 


 


I call bullshit!

 

[pr-21]

I used to subscribe to CR, but there reports are pretty much useless for details on vacuums


any more. I still buy old reports off of ebay, if I can find ones I don't already have...With that


said, I have bought vacuums that they did not recommend and liked them and also bought 


vacuums they recommended, just to be disappointed. I still find that a canister vacuum and


an upright are the best combination to have. The old Eureka's, Hoover's, and Electroluxes,


were the best in my book. PS for a water filtration vacuum, I have the SE PE and an E2


Black. I prefer my SE PE over the E2 Black. I love the fragrances in the water as well.....


 


ps, I forgot to mention Filterqueen as another favorite. I actually like the transparent 


dirt container better, wish they would bring it back. I have a 360 and the Black model


that was after that.....


 


 


PR-21


Bud

 

[n0oxy]

incorrect statements

I find it interesting that they say that canister vacuums only make up 2 percent of the market I'm sure it's more than that, though uprights do probably have more of the market. Also saying that uprights clean carpet better is incorrect. If you have a good canister or central vacuum with a good power nozzle, that combination will easily clean carpets as good as an upright. Also, unless I read the article wrong, they are considering Sebo to be just an average brand, every Sebo cleaner I have seen was very well made, far better than any Shark.
Mike

 

[kirby519]

I never really agreed with CR myself. As a user of high end vacuums mostly Kirby's their recommendations just didn't fit my personal experience.

It is true most complaints about any piece of equipment is by people that don't know what they really have or just don't take the time to learn basic maintenance.

A good central vacuum is an excellent option if you have a home you can install one in. I used one about 15 yrs ago that impressed me as much as a Kirby ever has. All be it one is a based on a canister and the other a portable machine. I would go with a central vacuum at any point I could install one and the Kirby failed to amaze and dazzle me as it always has. I'm currently in an apartment there for a central vac isn't an option at this time.

We all have seen and read the complaints from members here that couldn't get the part needed to repair the vacuum of choice and the members that do repairs for a living stating that it isn't worth the time to repair some machines.

We as consumers need to demand better products in general. Ease of use isn't just about speed settings or the ability to pull a hose free to clean a corner but also in the maintenance aspect to keep the equipment operating efficiently.
Vacuums like the Hoover convertible, Kirby, Electrolux tank vacuums grandma had or Compact are much easier to trouble shoot and there for "fix" the problem.

In today's world we live in we are forced to deal with the mind set that a product has to be new and improved every year or it is simply out of date. I for one like the tried and true that have stood the test of time.

 

[n0oxy]

central vacuum in apartment and a few other things

Actually, it's quite possible to have a central vacuum in an apartment, I have 9 of them, attach a utility valve to the intake of the power unit and connect the central vacuum hose to it, the convenience and power of a central vacuum with no pipes to install, and since you're not using pipes, the only thing that restricts airflow is the hose.
I think bagless vacuums are much more difficult to maintain than those that use bags because the filters get clogged with dirt much faster, that's why I avoid bagless vacuums other than the ones that use water filtration, not to mention that when you dump a bagless vacuum, the dust goes everywhere.
I think one reason that older vacuums did not have as many problems is because they did not have circuit boards. That's why I'm not really in favor of vacuums that have all the controls on the hose, the circuit board is another component that can fail and it's really not needed.
Regarding quality, many consumers simply do not want to pay more for a better quality vacuum now. Buy it cheap and replace every couple of years is what people want so manufacturers oblige. That's why the Shark vacuums are so popular, they are certainly not popular because they are good quality.
Mike

 

[fan-of-fans]

"I find it interesting that they say that canister vacuums only make up 2 percent of the market I'm sure it's more than that, though uprights do probably have more of the market.
Mike "

I would expect it to be higher than 2% as well. But I wouldn't say they are too far off, because most homes in probably the last 15 years have had bagless uprights rather than canisters. When you see canisters from what I've seen it tends to be in homes of older people or those that run cleaning businesses.

Look in the aisles of most big box stores and bagless uprights - and now stick vacs dominate. Walmart here only sells one straight suction canister currently, Home Depot has none, Lowes also only has one and Bed Bath and Beyond has none either. The market is definitely skewed toward uprights, and that's what people are buying.

After the mid 2000s if you look at the lineups of major big box brands like Hoover, Eureka, Bissell, you notice they have very few canister models in their lineup. And for Hoover and Eureka the ones they have had were a very small lineup compared to their older full size power nozzle machines of the 1970s-early 2000s.

Possibly the downfall of Sears has to do with this as well as they have typically been one of the bigger players in the canister market outside of specialty vac shops and appliance dealers.

Now if we took into account worldwide canisters, or cylinders would probably have a much bigger market share.

 

[electromatik]

The only thing this makes me feel is exceedingly depressed. It really shows how far vacuum quality is falling. We didn't used to have all this cheap junk. Even if you bought a department store brand decades ago, you still had the expectation that you would get reasonable quality. From Eureka's to Hoover's to Montgomery Ward's you got a good machine. That appears to be almost gone now.

Consumer Reports is admitting that most of their tested vacuums cannot pass muster on quality. Not that I place much stock in them, but when they admit so few can get past minimal standards it's bad.

My own theory is that vacuums have become commoditized. Where they used to build them with the expectation that they would be a major household expense like a water heater or a refrigerator, they are now designed to be used for short times and thrown away. Sad times for vacuums.

 

[ralph123]

I have not been at all impressed with Consumer Reports (CR), and they are far from unbiased. One nice thing about user reviews on the site is that subscribers have the opportunity to take CR to task about their bad advice. There are countless user reviews in which subscribers complain about following CR's bad advice and purchasing their #1 pick, and the vacuum (or other item) has been horrible. I suspect that is why they have added the user reviews (predicted reliability and owner satisfaction) to their scores. The user reviews are not always reliable/accurate, but they allow CR to blame subscribers for their bad advice.

The Kirby upright has predicted reliability of 6/10 and owner satisfaction of 2/10. I'm not surprised by a low owner satisfaction score, but the reliability score is surprising. If consumers truly believe that reliability has taken a dive, Warren Buffet should be concerned. CR also says that the Avalir 2 is heavy and one of the noisiest models CR has tested. While it is still recommended, the data points to a serious challenge for Kirby to modernize. As consumers replace carpet with hard floors, there is little reason to buy a Kirby. Consumers no longer have the patience to learn how to use the Kirby attachments. One woman wanted her Dyson back because she was so frustrated trying to make the Kirby work with attachments. Her Kirby is headed to ebay. She is very frustrated with the lack of support from Kirby after the sale that she calls the Kirby "junk".

 

[ralph123]

To paraphrase the words of vacuum expert Tom Gasko, when you purchase a clean air upright with the ability to turn off the brush roll, you are getting the functionality of a canister vacuum.

 

[kirbysthebest]

Consumer Reports

Has never been kind tot he Door to Door brands.


The main item they lock in is the high purchase price., while failing to look at longevity.  Also not taking into account that longevity is dependent upon proper use and care.   This is why they are liable to choose a $49 Bissell over a Kirby. 


 


Someone may only get a year, or less use out of a lesser expensive machine, but the mindset is, "Hey it was under $50."  Whereas a more expensive purchase is a long time commitment, unless they destroy it in the first year.  Then it's the manufacturers problem for not building it correctly.


 


Though I have used the analogy before, you wouldn't go mudding in your Rolls Royce, Like I could afford a Rolls.  So why would you use your Kirby to clean out the kiddy pool?  And some will answer, that they went mudding in their Rolls all the time.  Well you just have more money than brains, as that was not what it was designed to do.

 

[vacfan1982]

I like your profile photo Harley haha

 

[ralph123]

Harley,

I'm not sure if you're exaggerating, but I've never seen CR recommend a $49 vacuum. For uprights, the top rated models tend to be in the $250 to $400 range. Miele uprights have fared very well in recent rankings ($550+). In the latest ratings, there is a tie between the $300 Shark Navigator Powered Lift-Away and the Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly 31150 ($350) for first place. The Miele Dynamic U1 Cat & Dog ($550) and Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away ($350) are tied one point below. The uprights tested ranged in price from $80 to $1600.

The current top rated canister is an $1100 Miele Complete C3 Marin. Canister prices ranged from $300 to $1100 for models tested.

CR actually has recommends the Kirby. Kirby seems to be the only DTD brand that they do like. Perhaps Warren Buffet has made a donation to CR?

 

[kirbysthebest]

One did not say they did choose

It was stated "This is why they are liable to choose a $49 Bissell over a Kirby."


 


Yes they did rate Kirby well Once, but it was definitely not a "Best Buy" One of their kinder phrases ". . . At least the Kirby was able to perform. . ."  Or something like that, I paraphrase.

 

[kirby519]

CR will look at price points that will appeal to the masses. Then make recommendations for those products. The High end equipment will get an honorable mention. How ever be bashed at the cost failing to mention that In door to door sales is no different that buying an automobile. You can haggle the price. Of course there is the over all weight and or any set up or conversion involved to use said piece of equipment.

 

[kirby519]

@n0oxy

Yes you are right I could have a central vacuum and have even thought about it. How ever I would still have to run a power cord to the nearest outlet. Also the closet has a bit of every thing in it. To store the power unit plus hose and accessories would take up more space in the closet that is used for coats, shelves for additional pantry space for the kitchen. It is much easier to store the attachment kit for the Kirby on the wall of the closet with hose draped over the caddie and be able to move the vacuum out of the way as needed much easier.