Rainbow alternative Ritello

[vacuumfreeeke]

I just missed out on the deal of a lifetime and I'm pretty sad about it... I found a 2 speed Rainbow E series on C/L for 50 bucks... it came with electric and non-electric hoses, the shampooer, the power nozzle, all the attachments, and 2 bottles of shampoo... and it was 50 bucks! Of course my fingers flew across the keyboard as I eagerly wrote the seller and waited with the glee and anticipation one would expect at the prospect of owning such a new and complete high end machine for such a steal. The "story" in the ad was that a family friend had given them the vacuum and they just didn't need it because they had all bare floors or something like that... but alas, it wasn't meant to be as the seller wrote back to say that it had been already been sold.

Anyway, I'm not happy with my current Rainbow SE and I'm looking for something more modern (mine's just in bad shape and I don't like it enough to fix it up)... I want an E series, but I don't want to spend what most of them command. Most people seem to know the reputation/name and charge way too much just because it says "Rainbow" on it... I know I will *never* see a deal like the one I missed out on again, that was truly a once in a lifetime thing.

I noticed a Ritello for 100 bucks.... now that they have been out for a while, what do you guys think of them if you have any experience with them?

 

[dressur]

Yeah that sucks. I found a Saba 4000 console stereo and no body really likes consoles and I felt like you do,,cause naturally when something awesome comes on CL they never leave a phone number and you are at the mercy of the email. and I visualize where I am going to put my newly acquired German console (German stuff ROCKS.) then the email comes, heart skips a beat in anticipation during the time it takes for it to come up, then "we're so sorry but we already sold it) Oh I hate that. been there many times and it pisses me off to be honest. Start feeling like "I hope it falls in their foot!!!!" and then you realize it is only "stuff" it is not a life or death situation. but it is a huge can of disappointment that just been opened up. I am sorry that you felt what I call the "Craigslist letdown blues."

 

[dysonman1]

There will be something wrong with the Ritello. They have virtually no repair parts available, it's like the RoboClean. When something goes wrong, there's NO parts available. Pawn shops often have great deals on virtually new Kirby and Rainbows. I found an E2 Platinum for $100 about two years ago in Virginia, at a pawn shop.

 

[vacman117]

Similar thing just happened to me... I found a gold 2 speed Rainbow on my local Craigslist for $25 with everything, including the shampooer. I called right away and the seller said he'd be out of town until last night (Saturday) and to call today (Sunday) and I could come pick it up. Well, I called this morning and left a voicemail, and tried back in the afternoon and tonight and there was no answer. Like you said, sometimes it's just not meant to be...unfortunately. 

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one it happens to... I just wish people would take their ads down when something isn't for sale anymore and respond when you write to inquire about something... it really isn't that difficult!

I could get the newer style power nozzle and trigger grip hose for my SE for about 100 bucks and be relatively happy with it, but that's money I could put into a newer E series I found one that wasn't a ridiculous price... so frustrating to try to decide what to do... when I'm not looking for a Rainbow (or anything), they are all over the place and when I want one, there's not a decent deal to be found!

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

I found an E series for 200, but it's only the hose, power nozzle, and canister which means I'd have to buy all the attachments and the aquamate separately... what do you guys think? Is it worth that? It's an hour away if I do decide to do it....