Fantom Wildcat

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Rugsucker, Vacuumfreeke, and Super-sweeper...

Rugsucker, I think I am good on the canisters, I have 2 Fantom Lightnings, so I think I am set there. I don't want the broken Wildcat, so if you have anyone else interested in it that is fine. Assuming you find the working Wildcat, maybe UPS can find a box big enough for it.

Vacuumfreeke, Yes, but you have to realize, Craigslist is known for its crooks. There have even been news reports about people who list something on craigslist, just to lure a victim to their house, and attack, rob etc them. And there were other things that didn't seem right about it. The listing said it had weak suction, and had been stored in the closet for months, not being used, because of it. However, when she emailed me, she said she only listed it the day I saw it because "She was moving and needed to vacuum before she left her old house". I'm not sure why you would use a vacuum with poor suction that you have not used in months to vacuum your house. Unless you don't care about cleaning your house, you must have bought another vacuum, since you have not used the Wildcat in months. Also, in this day and age, yes its possible someone would not have a cell phone, or if they do, a camera phone, however, it is very unlikely, so the "my camera is packed so I cant take a picture" reason didn't seem right to me. And honestly, I wouldn't have minded driving the hour, but it was around 8:30 at night, it would have been 9:30 before I got there, and 10:30 before I got home. Driving around in the dark, to a place I have never been to before, without having a clue if the item even existed, with a lady who just because I asked her a question, gets an attitude, just did not seem like the best idea to me.

Super-sweeper, the broken handle story is that I found a green Fantom Wildcat on ebay for $19.99 back in December of 2010. I won it for the $19.99 plus $19.99 for shipping. When I got it home, I opened the box and was shocked to find that the vacuum was packed poorly. They taped 2 boxes together to make the vacuum fit, since the handle was not removable, but they didn't put any packing materials, such as bubble wrap, packing peanuts etc in the box, so the vacuum was free to move around in the box. The box was not marked which side was up either, and either the seller, when carrying it into the UPS Store, UPS themselves, or even possibly myself, put it down on the wrong side, causing the vacuum to slide to the top of the box, putting all the weight of the vacuum on the thin plastic handle, which snapped it where it attached to the vacuum. Nothing I did to try to fix it was strong enough to get it to hold, and a replacement handle was impossible to find, so I had to return the vacuum.
 
Oh btw

Also Vacuumfreeke, after this whole ordeal, I looked her email up on facebook, just to see if I could find the person, and I found a profile that matched the email, and their first names were the same, however, the lady emailing me said he last name started with an M if I remember right, and the facebook profile I found, was a 15 year old girl in another state, whose last name started with a S or something like that. So I am pretty sure its a good thing I didn't go over there, as I doubt it was real. I meant to post that in my last reply but I forgot.
 
Fantom,

You don't have to explain, I understand completely! I'm not really paranoid about people robbing me on Craig's List... I wouldn't use it if I was... The driving around in the dark issue could have been solved by you going the next day that you were able to during daylight hours, but there were a lot of other issues. I have had people offer to meet me halfway for things, but I prefer to go to their house so I have an idea of what kind of people coming from and so I can plug the item in and try it out and make sure it works before I buy it.
 
Wildcats

Part of Sat & much of Sun will be warehouse day.The 50 Convertibles in front of is no joke.(Want to come for summer vac camp & help move them & MORE?)I do know where the Unplugged is and may or may not keep.Also found 3 wand & 1 hose for Fantom canister,unknown condition.Should know more Mon.Remember the word 'patience' from above.--Jimmy
 
Found--

--the 'good' Wildcat & also found what happens when an otherwise great vac uses a brush,belt & brush motor that would be better suited to an electric broom style.And then makes access to the base difficult for the few that might finally wonder if the brush bearings should be periodicly cleaned of Hair,Strings & Threads.This was a nicely styled vac,good colors and decals,easy hose use,very good & simple valve to direct suction to hose or floor(compare with some complicated Hoovers)and more.The one from attic is metallic med blue,complete(except atts which I don't recall having and original.The problems on this and probably every other Wildcat that was used more than 1 month are overheated(from HAIR)belt end brush cap,torn(2 teeth)belt,bad belt pulley on brush motor and cracked left bracket extending from side of motor housing with spring around.Otherwise looks great,good suction motor,etc.The above problems combined with bankruptcy of Fantom probably mean that 99% were trashed.Did play with it long enough to find that you can remove upper filter cover,filter,4 screws under,disconnect switch wiring & remove upper handle.-to be continued-Jimmy
 
jimmy...

I know I will annoy you to death with this but does this mean that I can get one, if not both? I didn't cLl you because ny phone mins are up. (too much customer service phone calls!) Anyway. Talk to you soon!
 
Ok

If possible, maybe the brush from the "bad" one could be salvaged and put in the "good" one. Also, I know its a geared belt, but what kind of belt is in the Wildcat? If its the same time that the Lightning and Cyclone XT used, I have 2, 1 which is brand new, and one that is used but still in good shape.
 
Mike.,,

How about I get the 1st water damaged broken one, you get the other broken one without anything "transplanted" from it, and than since I know how to fully disassemble the Wildcat without breaking any of the really annoying small, flimsy plastic tabs, parts, etc. and I also know you, I could send you the parts you need and I can just transplant them from my Westinghouse to the Wildcat. Thanks. Hope no one has any problems with it.
 
Wildcats-1 north,1south

Looks like a plan shaping up.Will consider choices of careful packing and shipping.As above if you have not taken one apart prepare to use much of your brain & few of you muscles.I can't beleive this was to clean average houses with no easy way to clean brush.but I do like.Aren't you glad it went in attic & not dumpster?
 
:)

I hope this plan works out! If you want to, ask your friend from Trenton when's the next time he'll be going down to Tennessee. If its not for a while, I would ask you to ship it, but if its not more than say 2 weeks, I would be glad to wait!
 

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