New Vac: Canister or Upright

[rosiembanks]

I've had a disappointing/frustrating round of dealers. The first dealer, not my favorite, but the one closest to my house carries Riccar, not Simplicity. We'll call it Bob's. I described my situation (just as I had here), and Bob told me I needed an upright because it would do a better overall cleaning job. (?) He showed me two uprights, the Retriever and a Premium Briliance . The Retriever is very nice, handles well, and is available for an attractive price. For a home like mine with stairs, he suggested I add a stair kit, which would include a longer hose and another head--always a bother to store, I think, and not a terrific dusting/upholstery brush (nylon) or floor nozzle. He steered me away from the other pricier model, I don't know why. I asked about canisters, and he directed me to two, the Impeccable and the Pristine. I tried the Impeccable, and it's a contender, also available at a pretty good price (more than I originally wanted to spend, but I think I convince my husband). I liked the controls on the wand. Bob didn't seem to know about new models when I asked. I also asked him about the new Maytag line (we don't have a separate Maytag appliance store here), and he said he'd heard they would be very expensive.

Next stop was my favorite dealer, Ket's, only to discover that Ket can no longer sell Simplicity. This is a change from six months ago when I was in and tried out a Simplicty upright. He told me someone else had come into the market and complained about him being able to order them, also. Ket then showed me Mieles. I discovered the S7 upright is taller and heavier for me to maneuver than the Riccar Retriever, so at least I know I prefer the Riccar upright! He reviewed the Miele canisters with me, too. And I bought a belt for my trusty Panasonic so that I can donate it to Good Will as a working vacuum. Ket had nice things to say about my Panasonic for what it was in its day--which is why I've kept using it all this time.

Last, was Dave's, the largest place in terms of the number of lines represented. Mieles and Sebos, but there sat the Simplicitys. Or, at least Simplicity Freedoms and one Jessie canister box. When asked about Simplicity, Dave told me that except for the Freedom, Simplicity uprights would be too heavy for me (I'm not a big person), that Simplicity canisters were big and clunky, and didn't plan to get any in, as the Mieles were just fantastic machines. I wasn't there to argue, but I have a new least favorite vac shop. He also wanted to know where I'd heard about Simplicity canisters--an odd question, but I told him I'd been researching online. I left as soon as I could, but it took awhile, as he was insistent that I see his entire presentation, and he didn't think 21 feet was a short cord ("their standard length is 18 feet" Yes, but. I have a new least favorite shop.

So--that's where I am at the moment. Tomorrow I'll call around to other area shops--there are some about 40 miles away, and see what I can find. I'll call Bob's, too--maybe someone else there will know something about new models. I get the idea that the Wow/Prima would be the ideal size and feature set for me.

 

[pr-21]

Did you try...

Fussnecker Sweepers, they carry Riccar Vacuums. Uprights and Canisters, the last time I checked. They are on Salem Ave and another location on Far Hills.


PR-21

 

[rosiembanks]

Yes, I did go to Fussneckers, the Far Hills location-that's Bob's. I'm not sure Salem is still open (not in the phone book) though the listing is online. They have a shop in Springfield I thought I'd call. There's a Simplicity place in Wilmington. There are also places in Cincinnati.

 

[dysonman1]

The Maytag M1200 is the perfect size for anyone. Not too big, nor too heavy, it features the longest hose Tacony uses on an upright, plus a full length wand (not half length as on the Miele S7). The retail price of the Maytag is $699. It has a very long cord as well.

 

[rosiembanks]

The Maytag sounds terrific and I'd like to see it, but I can't find it anywhere in Southwest Ohio, and have run out of people to ask about it. Fussnecker is offering the Retriever for $599.95. Bob told me the hose would stretche to reach a 9.5' ceiling, which should be sufficient for me. I don't know why Bob would tell me the Maytag M1200 was going to be expensive, unless he really didn't know the price point.

It's frustrating when you can see the Maytags available in other places, just not nearby for you. I could wait a few weeks, but not months; I need a good working vacuum. I'm concluding I should buy the Retriever for $600, and later check out the Wonder/Prima canister when it's available locally. As for the Maytag, it may never be.

 

[dysonman1]

I sure wish I could show you the Maytag in person. They are made several hundred feet from my desk. Whatever you do, please make sure the model number of the Retriever starts with S30P. Those are the brand new models. You wouldn't want one of last years models since the new models were launched several months ago. The serial number will betray the age of the machine. The first two digits are the month, the second two are the year. 0314XXXXXX would be March of 2014. Maytags are not a protected line, so they can be sold outside of vac shops. Such as appliance stores, Maytage stores, etc. We sell at least one or two a day here at the Factory Outlet Store.

 

[rosiembanks]

Thank you for the serial number advice--I'll be sure to ask! I've been calling around the local appliance stores about the Maytag, but have struck out so far. I haven't quite given up, but it's not looking promising.

 

[GM1982]

Dealers aren't ordering new models from Tacony that fast. I wonder why? The website still is not up to date...extremely slow launch. What's going on, you have people interested in the newer up to date models and you cannot even get them out of the factory. makes no sense.

 

[veroroger]

Maytag M1200

I have one and it's great! I ordered mine through Tom at the factory outlet store and couldn't be happier. Although, I really didn't realize it had TWO suction motors until reading these posts. That would explain the difference in sound from when it's in upright mode and tool mode. You really owe it to yourself to hold off (if possible) till you can try it out. The hose is very long and it doesn't suck back into the vacuum when you use the tools. And, it's located from the bottom of the machine to prevent tip overs. Quality tools and many options available. I never realized how convenient the full size telescopic wand could be. Great deep cleaner with a huge HEPA bag and completely sealed system. And....it's quiet to use so you still can talk while vacuuming or hear the phone ring. The power cord is something like 35' long and seems to be a heavier construction than what I've come to expect. Overall a great performer, quality built and worth the money.

 

[rosiembanks]

That's quite an endorsement! I'll make a few more calls to some places farther away to see whether I can track it down. It is curious, no one seems to know anything about it.

Is this 2 motor that different from the Tandem Air System with its two motors? I haven't investigated the serial number yet, but were the previous year Retriever models very different from the current ones? Is there some reason I wouldn't want one from last year, if it's new in a box?

 

[dysonman1]

Tacony cannot make the Maytag machines (there are three models) fast enough. We ship every day's production. In fact, the entire line of Tandem Air vacuums have been revamped for 2014 with the new direct air motor and fan system. The new model numbers are S30 and R30. S for Simplicity. R for Riccar. 30 is the tandem air models. There is a Standard, Deluxe, and Premium. So the S30P would be a Simplicity Tandem Air Premium. The new bag system (with plastic collar, like a Miele Intensive Clean bag) is worth having, as is the new direct air motor and fan system. The 2014 models have the full size wand and extra long hose as well. So there is a reason to have a 2014 model.

 

[sebo_fan]

The Maytag sounds good. I wonder if it would ever make the UK under another brand.

 

[rosiembanks]

Very helpful, knowing the features of the latest machines, and how to distiguish the serial numbers. Thank you!

 

[rosiembanks]

I'm waiting for a call back from Mary Mossberger, the Inside Sales Manager at Maytag Vacuums, about a closer dealer for the M1200. When I couldn't find one, I emailed and received the info that right now the closest is 3 and 4 hours away, though in a couple of weeks they hope that will change, and there will be one closer, and she asked me to call her to discuss my needs. One thing I want to know is how much closer?

The other bit of news: the serial number(s) revealed that everything I looked at was produced in 2013--the Retriever, the Immaculate, and even a Pristine, which I looked at today.

But--and this is exciting: they had received a Prima! It had just arrived, and unpacked it. Pretty cool--I like the floor tool. It's so quiet! Nice and lightweight. The crevice tool is stubby, and a longer one won't fit the diameter of the hose--so you can't swap it for different one. I was disappointed to learn it has a wooden brush roll.

The Pristine is very nice, too, and would be a good choice for me--but, again, what they have is last year's model. They don't know when they'll be getting current year models.

They told me they typically discount the MSRP about a third. I'd wondered to myself whether the discounted price was trying to move last year's models, but I guess not. As I was leaving, they said they'd sell me the prototype. I'm thinking about that while waiting to hear from the Maytag person. The immediate availability of bags is on my mind for either the Prima or the M1200, for example--I'm not just collecting these, I need to use them.

 

[rosiembanks]

Just heard from Mary Mossberg. The nearest Maytag retailer will be in Cincinnati, about 45 miles away. They should have stock in a few weeks. She reminded/cautioned me about service and bag availability from going too that far, which is something I do need to consider. I'd given her another zip code to check--that of our home in Michigan, where we spend a fair amount of time--but hadn't had much more luck with that, either, when she checked for local retailers.

Not sure what I'm going to do.

 

[dysonman1]

The Prima, which the dealer showed you, is a prototype. The brush roller in production models is Metal with replaceable brush strips. The dealer cannot sell that Prima. He was expected to use it and give feedback to the company.

One reason it's hard to find Maytags at the moment is they were just launched mid January. We are only two months in. Dealers (stores) are being set up every day. The irony is that ANY Riccar or Simplicity dealer can order Maytags. Any Riccar or Simplicity dealer can obtain the bags and repair parts.

 

[rosiembanks]

They should't have told me that then. Waiting for the Cincinnati Maytag place makes some sense, I suppose--I'll call them tomorrow to see if they'll let me know when they get them in--it's a vac shop, not a Maytag appliance place. Buying from them, means I'll sacrifice easy access for bags or ongoing relationship for service that you get from a nearby dealer, though--you know, the every 6 mos checkup kind of thing is much more difficult to maintain when its 45 miles away. No easy answer. I'd be happy with a 2014 Pristine, I think, too, so maybe I wait for that. Or maybe, I wait for the Prima, if I go with the Maytag in order to have a good canister for under beds. That might work.

 

[sebo_fan]

What a carry on! I hope you are able to get what you want, soon Rosie.

 

[rosiembanks]

Me and you both! Thank you! My husband thinks I'm letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. He may be right. If I didn't know about these nifty new features of the 2014s, I'd be happy with the models available locally. Instead, I'm feeling as though I should be waiting for the improved bag of the 2014 because it will be better for my asthma. So, yes--it's becoming a quest.

 

[sebo_fan]

I think the way you are going you should just buy a Hoover Tempo bagged upright (or whatever the cheapest bagged upright is on the market in the U.S) until the Maytag vacs come on full stream.

Or continue to just use what you have until those new vacs come onto the market.