Is the universe telling me to stop buying vacuum cleaners?

[sensotronic]

It is also under the Dual Power name in the US.

I read mostly UK reviews with some mentioning about the drive pulley melting. The Dual Power was first a Walmart exclusive and it's on the Walmart website that I also read some negative reviews. Even on Very a customer who bought the Reach model had the same fault. I still went ahead and bought one thinking that the problem would have been sorted, but obviously not in my case.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hoover-Dual-Power-Carpet-Washer-FH50900/25847173

 

[sensotronic]

Just had an email from Vax who said my replacement from a new batch will be with me on Saturday and a return pack for the faulty machine will arrive soon.

I'm glad that I get to check the replacement before I send the other one back because I can do a direct comparison with the cleaners and see if any modifications have been made to the part that failed.

I will of course record my comparisons and upload a full demo soon.

Although TTI Vax should not have let a faulty batch of cleaners onto the market, they have at least resolved the matter, providing of course that the new one doesn't fail.

 

[hi-loswitch98]

At least that was dealt with swiftly. Vax once sent me two wash heads for my 6131 when the original one broke after one use. I thought that was quite generous of them.

However, due to the number of reliability problems Vax face, I have been put off purchasing one. I wonder how good the Commercial models are?

 

[madabouthoovers]

I don't think Vax really wanted Roger's video showing the faulty machine staying online for long, so they were happy to oblige him with another swift replacement, which I hope will work without problem this time. Roger deserves a bit better luck with his vacuums lately.

 

[hi-loswitch98]

Nice to see you back Steve!

I think Vax aren't just bothered about sensotronics video because you only have to look on their Facebook page to see the amount of bad comments they get.

I prefer Hoover myself if I had to choose a 'middle' brand. Yes Hoover can be crap machines & they do sometimes have reliability troubles but at least they still provide bagged machines for the consumers that want them.

 

[madabouthoovers]

I wish Hoover would bring out the Purepower Greenray again - would love to get one of them, and it would be even better if it had a bag full light and autosense, but then I can always dream on. I've been pretty happy with my latest PU2115 model which gets used as an upstairs cleaner, but the problem is that in the summer it will have to go into non use as it acts too much of a heater than a vacuum cleaner. Whilst the suction and reliability is good so far, the motor wattage is too great, and the 1200W Greenray Purepower would be ideal. It looked good too. I wonder what will happen to the bagged range in Sept when the 1600W limit comes in? Do Hoover have a bagged upright to replace the Purepower in the lineup - or will they then go totally bagless and retire the Purepower with no replacement?

 

[hi-loswitch98]

On their FB page someone enquired about it & were told by Hoover to 'wait & see' so they obviously have something lined up.

 

[sebo_fan]

It was both Chris and I who asked Hoover UK if they intended to bring out a new bagged upright and that was the answer we both got.

Yet, nothing has appeared since then apart from the launch of the Athos bagged cylinder vacuum in other countries.

 

[madaboutsebo]

You only have to look at another well known brand on their Facebook page to see the amount of complaints on service and the quality of their machines. I'm sure you can guess who it is!!??

Hope Hoover do bring out a bagged vacuum, although I think bagless is here to stay there is a slight change I feel for some users who are going back to bag vacuum cleaners. Obviously not enough to dent the bagless market! But some people are realising bagless is not all it crack up to be. Suppose I'm one of them who's gone back to bags! Perhaps with the new EU limit on its way it may see a return of some more bagged vacuums. After all bag technology has moved on using new synthetic materials etc...

 

[hi-loswitch98]

Exactly madaboutsebo, Bag filtration has got much better in recent years due to fabric bags & multi-layers inside the bag to trap the dust inside.

I hope Vax launch a bagged model. I doubt they will but I hope they do. Hoover UK have only released the Athos (mentiones earlier) but when I asked them to bring it to the UK they said that I would have to wait.

I think more & more people are purchasing Numatic Henry's these days. They are the #1 Best Seller in Cylinder Vacuums on Amazon.co.uk, with the Vax Air Reach being the #1 Best Seller in Upright Vacuums. I can see why if I'm honest. The Air Reach is a great machine, especially when it's £99 down from £249.99.

 

[sebo_fan]

Well, when you look at it, the brand that sits above Hoover in terms of bagged uprights in the UK are Panasonic. Year after year they continually to raise their venerable white, black or red uprights (white MC-UG302) with motor power. Perhaps they'll drop the power now with the EU law and the smaller bagged upright acts as a secondary model since the MC-UG302 uses a larger dust bag, 2 drive belts and a bit bigger than the newer MC-UG522 single drive belt model.

 

[hi-loswitch98]

The Panasonic Bagged Uprights worked perfectly well with a 1500w motor. Heaven knows why they needed upgrading to the noisy & vibrating 1900w & 2000w motors.

 

[madabouthoovers]

I suspect SEBO are hoping Vax and Hoover don't bring out new bagged uprights, as they are quite happy with the status quo, where people that want bagged are turning to themselves and Miele. It would seem that the Germans cater for those who want bagged, and the Chinese cater for those who want bagless. You just don't know what goes on behind the scenes. The Germans might be paying the Chinese to stick to bagless, and leave them to own the bagged market.


What's odd is that TTI produces bagged uprights for the US Markets (Through Hoover US and Dirt Devil) but not for the UK markets (Through Vax) Also, the old stalwart Panasonic bagged uprights have now disappeared from the Argos lineup. Argos now only sell the Purepower or "Enigma" through their stores, with the Miele S7210 being online exclusives through home delivery.

 

[sebox4]

"The Panasonic Bagged Uprights worked perfectly well with a 1500w motor."

The Panasonic bagged uprights worked perfectly well with a 600w motor!

Hopefully this is what we will see again over the next couple of years.

Matt

 

[sebo_fan]

And the Panasonic BAGGED uprights with lower power also had the fantastic brush roll on/off switch, which ironically are now only appearing on middle range uprights.

The variable suction dial has also disappeared from Panasonic's bagged uprights - sadly in my opinion.

 

[sensotronic]

Well Vax sent me a replacement machine today as promised.

Guess what?

That's right, they sent me the wrong model!

I wouldn't have minded if it had been an upgrade, but I was sent the Reach model that doesn't come
with the pre treatment wand or solution. I have emailed the customer service manager who dealt with my complaint and asked for another returns pack so I can send the replacement back.

Obviously I could just take the pre treatment kit from the model I'm returning, but then Vax may say that
I didn't return everything. They may suggest that to me, rather than return the Reach model, but I'm not going to make it easy for them. If they didn't have the correct model I would have been happy to wait for stocks to arrive or they could have offered me an alternative rather than just sending me the wrong cleaner. I will be having a look at the Reach model to compare with the Total home to see if any modifications have been made to the part that failed.

So I think the universe is telling me loud and clear that vacuum cleaners and other floorcare products
are cursed for me at the moment.

 

[madabouthoovers]

Yes, tell them you don't like the colour of the reach model - you wanted the lime green one, and that one only. if they cant replace like with like then you want a full refund.

 

[sensotronic]

I do prefer the green accents to the purple ones on the Reach, but it is more to do with the fact they have sent me a model lower down in the range. If I'd have wanted the Reach model, that's the one I would have bought in the first place.

I did open up the new cleaner and noticed one additional piece that was missing from my faulty model. There was an extra metal pin in the new model which I assume was designed to keep the belt in place and stop it from moving over the plastic pulley causing it to rub and then melt. The faulty cleaner had a slot that the pin went was supposed to go into, so I guess that some of these machines went along the production line and for whatever reason, the pin was not fitted.

I made a video pointing out the differences and my dissatisfaction with Vax for sending me the wrong model, but I won't be uploading it until I hear back from the customer services manager.

 

[madabouthoovers]

That could have been the problem - the missing pin. If the belt moved over to the side too much, it would have ridden on the edge of that pulley wheel too much causing friction that caused the pulley wheel to overheat. It would have been better if they had used 2 motors like they did on the Rapide models, with a toothed belt to prevent slippage, and a switch on the handle to switch the brushroll motor on or off. What they have done, they did for cheapness by only using the suction motor to drive the brushroll, and it backfired on them.


I hope they can sort this out, but its obviously trying your patience Roger.

 

[sebo_fan]

Argos currently show this on their showcase page for Panasonic. Seems like vacuum cleaners will eventually make a reappearance at Argos from Panasonic - otherwise why would it be listed?

John Lewis sells Panasonic's venerable white bagged upright and on the basis that you can buy the latest bagged uprights on Amazon UK, it's a telling scenario that bagged uprights are better purchased online if you don't have a JL store near you.

Perhaps in light of the EU law, things will change. You can't expect brands to sell to all the big name department stores when department stores are going by market trends solely