hey Seamus
good idea, but not so good.
If you want THIS particular model without somebody snagging it off you, then go ahead. Otherwise you could just pe patient as spider in its web and wait. Sometimes these go for a dozen of Euros/Pounds that is (used).
But what I found here is: Hotels and other accomodation places have these around, once you phone them politely, most of the times they are willing to trade. This model is quite good, yet very basic (cord hooks and such), yet a marvellous suction and very quiet. (have used it myself more than once). A good point about those: You can exchange any part without sending it in, the cord and all that can easily be disconnected.
But if you feel tempted to use THIS much of money, then try to get a Nilfisk Extreme (they are sort of cheap in the Netherlands these days). Those have HELL of a suction, yet silent and very comfortable to use (had one here once, unfortunately back to its owners, a dream of a canister machine). So easy to use, so lush with the LED lighted handle, just so strong. It could pull little gravel from the baseboard sideways just into the regular floor nozzle from a 1 inch distance, I was very impressed.
Just my 2 ct.
Joe
PS: What I like most about Nilfisk is that they continue the old Electrolux quality (bajonet hose mounting, extra gaskets, nylon tube connections, reinforced hoses and all that "old style" stuff). A good brand.
Swedish, that is. The moose is still "mooing".
