I've learned, this week, that my uncle (had a Hoover, got a new Hoover, then got a Bissell, now, is replacing with a Shark. All four of his daughter have Sharks.
It's a world gone mad!
It's a world gone mad!
"Shark Attack"
- Thread starter gottahaveahoove
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vacuumdevil
Well-known member
I'd recommend social distancing and sending them off to "re-education" camps.
true. IF they EVER need
bone marrow, or a kidney, I hope they get one. lolol
I've maintained social distancing from some of them for a while now.
bone marrow, or a kidney, I hope they get one. lolol
I've maintained social distancing from some of them for a while now.
repairman
Well-known member
Here's What You Do With A Shark
Throw it back in the water. End of story.
Throw it back in the water. End of story.
huskyvacs
Well-known member
Nothing wrong with them. Try one and see. It is a vacuum just like every other brand.
madman
Well-known member
No, husky, you don't understand. You see, if it's not a Kirby and it costs less than $500, then it must be crap. It's simple logic.
dysonman1
Well-known member
MadMan
Some people are of the misguided opinion that if it's not a hoover, it's crap. I have customers every day tell me how much they love their Shark. MY frustration comes in the lack of repair parts - how many landfills must it take before people demand something that can be fixed?
Some people are of the misguided opinion that if it's not a hoover, it's crap. I have customers every day tell me how much they love their Shark. MY frustration comes in the lack of repair parts - how many landfills must it take before people demand something that can be fixed?
huskyvacs
Well-known member
Apple does the same thing with the iPhone. In fact, if you even attempt to change the battery, the phone knows and it will lock itself down and become an unuseable brick to punish you for trying to fix something yourself.
https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/...-batteries-to-prevent-third-party-replacement
HDTV's are also the same way, a new screen for one costs $300 something dollars when you can buy a whole new one for $150-$200.
It's not just Shark, it's what is happening to the manufacturing industry and society as a whole. The "you can't fix it because I can't" mentality and then purposely making certain that that mentality gets cemented by having no parts network. Then as a result of that, you get people that have no idea how to fix anything even though they spend all day on the internet on their phones doing nothing, and throw everything in the trash and don't even know what Goodwill is.
Also Aldi's Easy Home vacuums have no parts either, and cost $50-$80. You have to know your vacuums and know what vacuum they knocked off to make their copy, in order to find the belts and possibly brushroll too. That's just as bad. It's why Easy Home vacs are pretty rare quickly after they stop being sold in Aldi.
Most Sharks that end up in landfills are never broken to begin with. I've been buying store salvage off eBay for $50 a vacuum and they are not even broken, just dirty. Just got a $300 LiftAway for $45. 3 months of weekly vacuuming and nothing wrong with it. It's as heavy as a Kirby and very well put together, and the fact you can remove the bin while it is still running and turn it into a power nozzle style canister vacuum to clean under couches and beds and tables is pretty cool. I bought a smaller Navigator too for $30 to use to vacuum my patio rugs and outdoor mats so I don't mess up my main vacuum with yard and outdoor debris.
https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/...-batteries-to-prevent-third-party-replacement
HDTV's are also the same way, a new screen for one costs $300 something dollars when you can buy a whole new one for $150-$200.
It's not just Shark, it's what is happening to the manufacturing industry and society as a whole. The "you can't fix it because I can't" mentality and then purposely making certain that that mentality gets cemented by having no parts network. Then as a result of that, you get people that have no idea how to fix anything even though they spend all day on the internet on their phones doing nothing, and throw everything in the trash and don't even know what Goodwill is.
Also Aldi's Easy Home vacuums have no parts either, and cost $50-$80. You have to know your vacuums and know what vacuum they knocked off to make their copy, in order to find the belts and possibly brushroll too. That's just as bad. It's why Easy Home vacs are pretty rare quickly after they stop being sold in Aldi.
Most Sharks that end up in landfills are never broken to begin with. I've been buying store salvage off eBay for $50 a vacuum and they are not even broken, just dirty. Just got a $300 LiftAway for $45. 3 months of weekly vacuuming and nothing wrong with it. It's as heavy as a Kirby and very well put together, and the fact you can remove the bin while it is still running and turn it into a power nozzle style canister vacuum to clean under couches and beds and tables is pretty cool. I bought a smaller Navigator too for $30 to use to vacuum my patio rugs and outdoor mats so I don't mess up my main vacuum with yard and outdoor debris.
kirbysthebest
Well-known member
Shark has created itself quite a market
In the beginning the vacuum is pretty good. They actually clean fairly well for the type of vacuum they are. You get a great warranty, like five years--here's the catch. If it breaks, where there are no replacement parts available, and that model was discontinued yesterday, the company sends you a new, or reconditioned model to replace it. The new model has a one year warranty attached. When it breaks, the consumer says. Well that one cleaned pretty well--let's get another. And the cycle continues.
I had a friend recently, his navigator was self destructing. His wife has long, afghan hound type hair so every cleaning results in 30 minutes with a utility knife. Though I recommended against it, they were heading to Sam's to buy a new one with a self cleaning brush roll.
It comes down to what they are happy with. If they want a fresh new vacuum every year or so, It's working out pretty well for Shark.
In the beginning the vacuum is pretty good. They actually clean fairly well for the type of vacuum they are. You get a great warranty, like five years--here's the catch. If it breaks, where there are no replacement parts available, and that model was discontinued yesterday, the company sends you a new, or reconditioned model to replace it. The new model has a one year warranty attached. When it breaks, the consumer says. Well that one cleaned pretty well--let's get another. And the cycle continues.
I had a friend recently, his navigator was self destructing. His wife has long, afghan hound type hair so every cleaning results in 30 minutes with a utility knife. Though I recommended against it, they were heading to Sam's to buy a new one with a self cleaning brush roll.
It comes down to what they are happy with. If they want a fresh new vacuum every year or so, It's working out pretty well for Shark.
I know a lot of Shark owners.
Most of them are pleased with their purchase, so far.
I'd certainly not say anything derogatory to them, as, it is simply none of my business. They didn't ask for my opinion before they made their purchase.I certainly have my opinions, as do all of you/us.
Are there quality machines out there? Yes. Are most made of plastic? Yes. Would I call them plastic crap? Not out loud. Would I criticize a person in the forum? Not out loud. Would I insinuate? Don't think so.
But, that's me.
Most of them are pleased with their purchase, so far.
I'd certainly not say anything derogatory to them, as, it is simply none of my business. They didn't ask for my opinion before they made their purchase.I certainly have my opinions, as do all of you/us.
Are there quality machines out there? Yes. Are most made of plastic? Yes. Would I call them plastic crap? Not out loud. Would I criticize a person in the forum? Not out loud. Would I insinuate? Don't think so.
But, that's me.
electromatik
Well-known member
My opinion about Shark is that they are a textbook example of what I think has happened with vacuum cleaners. Vacuums have been turned into commodity items. Whereas vacuums used to be a major household appliance like refrigerators and hot water heaters, and were expected to last a long time, nowadays the economies of scale have made it easy to cheapen them. Now people have been conditioned to own it for less than five years (sometimes two years) and throw it out. Many people are no longer even aware there are alternatives to this. Decades ago the most famous brands were Electrolux, Rexair, Filter Queen, Hoover, Kirby, Royal, Air-Way, etc. These days the most famous brands are Bissell, Dyson, and probably Shark. Hoover's still around, but it isn't the Hoover it used to be. The majority of the consumers have forgotten the quality brands and have to be "reminded" only when someone knocks on the door or calls.
I don't hate Shark. I think they innovate a lot. The only issue is that many people say that they don't last, but perhaps that's because most people don't take care of vacuums. In the olden days the tough build quality of vacuums could take abuse, but those today cannot. I personally have known people who take care of Shark's and they have lasted over five years, and closer to ten. An expensive Rexair Rainbow machine will tear up QUICK if not taken care of properly so a lot does depend upon the user.
I don't hate Shark. I think they innovate a lot. The only issue is that many people say that they don't last, but perhaps that's because most people don't take care of vacuums. In the olden days the tough build quality of vacuums could take abuse, but those today cannot. I personally have known people who take care of Shark's and they have lasted over five years, and closer to ten. An expensive Rexair Rainbow machine will tear up QUICK if not taken care of properly so a lot does depend upon the user.
Shark
I grew up in an all Electrolux household, everyone in the family had them, grandparents, Aunts Uncles, etc. now my Brother and Sister and I have them but we all also have Shark rocket stick vacs too and like them quite well over most anything else and about equally as the Electrolux though it is clear that the build quality of the Electrolux is stronger than the Shark for sure.
Shark listens to their customers, they have a place on the website where consumers can write in about what innovations and improvements they would like to see. I wrote in that I wanted a hard floor tool for the rocket instead of the weird suction nozzle/combo wiping pad thing they had and within a year voila! They had changed several models to include it instead of the combo suction and dusting as floor tool. People said they wanted a larger dust bin that is removable, and they did it on the deluxe pro models, people said they wanted self cleaning brush rolls and they did it.
This is what I like about this company, they are listening to their customers and developing the products constantly. Now we just need to get them to make a “more durable” model. Perhaps a commercial quality model that may cost more, but will last longer.
Aerus/Electrolux seemed to do the same over the years and develop the products to be easy to use, versatile and durable and in recent years, lighter weight. Yes they haven’t changed a whole lot in recent years except for whatever deal they have with Electrolux of Sweden to produce the current Guardian Platinum canister main canister unit for them. While it’s been discussed In other threads that Aerus is Focusing on other innovations than vacuums, they may have entered into this arrangement to still offer an advanced Top of the line vacuum cleaner product without having to have a “vacuum cleaner” Research and development group of their own. The one good thing is they do have an old design that lasts for decades and has proven itself and they haven’t scrapped it...thank God...in their most basic canister model...the Lux Classic. The entire hose and wand system dates to 1974 And other parts even older with some mild improvements, most notably the hose material. But one could easily use an entire set of attachments from a 1974 Golden Jubilee, including the power nozzle with the current Lux Classic canister and hose. And if you don’t need a power nozzle, you could even use wands and attachments from as far back as an XXX at least from the late 1930s. Aerus perfected the product over time, and sometimes it’s hard to improve upon something that’s already nearly perfect and it’s often not a good idea to change something when it’s pretty darn good and people like it.
There will always be people who want smething new and different for a change, just because....and vacuums, especially when cheap, have become one of those things. A lot of people tire of things, change them, then suddenly one day Wii’s they had kept something they liked if it wasn’t Broken and they got rid of it already.
My niece...a 32 year old...is very intrigued by my Electrolux’s...she’s seen my Silverado and my AF and asks if they are commercial vacuums and says they look like the types that were sold door to door “in the olden days”. She’s right on both accounts...while they weren’t commercial vacuums, they were built with that quality and often sold to businesses such as small stores that needed a decent vacuum because they had to clean almost daily and needed a good vacuum that wouldn’t fail.
We also live in a plastic world...it’s cheap to make plastic and its quality has been advancing to be more durable and flexible and less breakable. A lightweight alternative to metal which would dent, rust or bend. So the vacuum industry has gone plastic because it’s just flat out inexpensive to construct the machines out of. Soon if not already, our washing machines and refrigerators will be all plastic. Just recently I realized a Samsung Top loading washing machines entire outer top including the lid is plastic.
Jon
I grew up in an all Electrolux household, everyone in the family had them, grandparents, Aunts Uncles, etc. now my Brother and Sister and I have them but we all also have Shark rocket stick vacs too and like them quite well over most anything else and about equally as the Electrolux though it is clear that the build quality of the Electrolux is stronger than the Shark for sure.
Shark listens to their customers, they have a place on the website where consumers can write in about what innovations and improvements they would like to see. I wrote in that I wanted a hard floor tool for the rocket instead of the weird suction nozzle/combo wiping pad thing they had and within a year voila! They had changed several models to include it instead of the combo suction and dusting as floor tool. People said they wanted a larger dust bin that is removable, and they did it on the deluxe pro models, people said they wanted self cleaning brush rolls and they did it.
This is what I like about this company, they are listening to their customers and developing the products constantly. Now we just need to get them to make a “more durable” model. Perhaps a commercial quality model that may cost more, but will last longer.
Aerus/Electrolux seemed to do the same over the years and develop the products to be easy to use, versatile and durable and in recent years, lighter weight. Yes they haven’t changed a whole lot in recent years except for whatever deal they have with Electrolux of Sweden to produce the current Guardian Platinum canister main canister unit for them. While it’s been discussed In other threads that Aerus is Focusing on other innovations than vacuums, they may have entered into this arrangement to still offer an advanced Top of the line vacuum cleaner product without having to have a “vacuum cleaner” Research and development group of their own. The one good thing is they do have an old design that lasts for decades and has proven itself and they haven’t scrapped it...thank God...in their most basic canister model...the Lux Classic. The entire hose and wand system dates to 1974 And other parts even older with some mild improvements, most notably the hose material. But one could easily use an entire set of attachments from a 1974 Golden Jubilee, including the power nozzle with the current Lux Classic canister and hose. And if you don’t need a power nozzle, you could even use wands and attachments from as far back as an XXX at least from the late 1930s. Aerus perfected the product over time, and sometimes it’s hard to improve upon something that’s already nearly perfect and it’s often not a good idea to change something when it’s pretty darn good and people like it.
There will always be people who want smething new and different for a change, just because....and vacuums, especially when cheap, have become one of those things. A lot of people tire of things, change them, then suddenly one day Wii’s they had kept something they liked if it wasn’t Broken and they got rid of it already.
My niece...a 32 year old...is very intrigued by my Electrolux’s...she’s seen my Silverado and my AF and asks if they are commercial vacuums and says they look like the types that were sold door to door “in the olden days”. She’s right on both accounts...while they weren’t commercial vacuums, they were built with that quality and often sold to businesses such as small stores that needed a decent vacuum because they had to clean almost daily and needed a good vacuum that wouldn’t fail.
We also live in a plastic world...it’s cheap to make plastic and its quality has been advancing to be more durable and flexible and less breakable. A lightweight alternative to metal which would dent, rust or bend. So the vacuum industry has gone plastic because it’s just flat out inexpensive to construct the machines out of. Soon if not already, our washing machines and refrigerators will be all plastic. Just recently I realized a Samsung Top loading washing machines entire outer top including the lid is plastic.
Jon
My cousins love their Sharks.
But, some of them are not "the brightest bulb in the chandelier".
I've always said that Hoover's finest hour is not right now.
Friends have brought Sharks to my home when I hosted mini meets. We ALL got along.I have stellar Hoover products, most of which were made here in the U.s.
But, some of them are not "the brightest bulb in the chandelier".
I've always said that Hoover's finest hour is not right now.
Friends have brought Sharks to my home when I hosted mini meets. We ALL got along.I have stellar Hoover products, most of which were made here in the U.s.
AERUS design
The top-of-the-line Aerus was designed by Lux International in Switzerland, not Electrolux in Sweden. Very similar products to Aerus can be viewed at luxinternational.com. Those Swiss designers are outstanding.
Jay
The top-of-the-line Aerus was designed by Lux International in Switzerland, not Electrolux in Sweden. Very similar products to Aerus can be viewed at luxinternational.com. Those Swiss designers are outstanding.
Jay
For one of our newsletters,
we're going to focus on Electrolux. I'll work hard to get the most accurate, true info on that company.
we're going to focus on Electrolux. I'll work hard to get the most accurate, true info on that company.
kirbysthebest
Well-known member
John
Robert Tabor (Caligula) would be an excellent source for you to get Electrolux history from.
Robert Tabor (Caligula) would be an excellent source for you to get Electrolux history from.
Yes, he's the one I'll contact
as well as Electrolux itself.
This has to be flawless. And, it will be.
as well as Electrolux itself.
This has to be flawless. And, it will be.
fan-of-fans
Well-known member
I've used a few Sharks and thought they were alright. There are a lot of Sharks in my area, and I don't live on the coast!!
I like vacuums, be they Hoover, Eureka, Kenmore, Lux, Kirby, Bissell, etc! I don't have anything against any brand in particular. Just that many of them are not what I consider "collection worthy" for me! But if others want to use and collect them, that's fine with me!
I like vacuums, be they Hoover, Eureka, Kenmore, Lux, Kirby, Bissell, etc! I don't have anything against any brand in particular. Just that many of them are not what I consider "collection worthy" for me! But if others want to use and collect them, that's fine with me!
Well,
contrary to some belief, I feel the same way.
!
I see Shark seems to be "the rage" at the moment. I personally, never used one, don't need one, not gonna buy one. But, that's me. My sister had a Hoover canister, which she gave me. It is TOL, needs some care. She also has a Platinum stick, by Hoover. She recently bought a "tol Shark". She's my sister. I love her, in spite of her appliance. When IT dies, she'll know not to offer it to me.
That's a 'peaceful family'.
So.... see? I'm not exactly how I'm perceived to be, in some circles.
contrary to some belief, I feel the same way.
!
I see Shark seems to be "the rage" at the moment. I personally, never used one, don't need one, not gonna buy one. But, that's me. My sister had a Hoover canister, which she gave me. It is TOL, needs some care. She also has a Platinum stick, by Hoover. She recently bought a "tol Shark". She's my sister. I love her, in spite of her appliance. When IT dies, she'll know not to offer it to me.
That's a 'peaceful family'.
So.... see? I'm not exactly how I'm perceived to be, in some circles.
vacuumkid47
Well-known member
In my own personal opinion, Shark is the Playstation of the vacuum world. It competes with a multi million dollar company that outputs 10’s of 1000s of vacuums every day. Which in this case is Dyson. The only issue I have with Shark, which I have mixed feelings with already, is that they are a PAIN IN THE ARSE to repair. They make them so unbelievably complicated to take it apart, and even put back together. That is why I’ll never buy a vacuum that has that much complication in one unit. Dysons are no saints either. Buying parts for certain models are more expensive than individual things like belts. For example, the DC 14 models with the clutch, the belts would stretch and you have to buy the ENTIRE clutch in order to fix it. You can’t buy individual parts for some machines anymore. That is what irks me. Kirby, well you can buy every little piece DOWN to the screw so it can be MAINTAINED, rather than replaced.
Shark
If you get a security torx 15 bit makes there repairs easier. I recently bought a shark and the power nozzle doesn't power on. I took it apart and I put direct power to the nozzle and it works. I'm not buying a new nozzle but I could repair it but I want to sell it and it's now a parts unit.
I was going to post a pic of a Hoover commercial vacuum. Its a eureka/sanitaire clone with the wide brush roll. Its actually the nicest Hoover I've seen in some time.
Les
If you get a security torx 15 bit makes there repairs easier. I recently bought a shark and the power nozzle doesn't power on. I took it apart and I put direct power to the nozzle and it works. I'm not buying a new nozzle but I could repair it but I want to sell it and it's now a parts unit.
I was going to post a pic of a Hoover commercial vacuum. Its a eureka/sanitaire clone with the wide brush roll. Its actually the nicest Hoover I've seen in some time.
Les
vacuumkid47
Well-known member
Lesinutah
The heads are easy enough to repair because 95 percent of the time that is the issue people come to me with. The actual machine is put together like a puzzle and some of the newer sharks have such brittle plastic that it just crumbles in your hands
The heads are easy enough to repair because 95 percent of the time that is the issue people come to me with. The actual machine is put together like a puzzle and some of the newer sharks have such brittle plastic that it just crumbles in your hands
myles_v
Well-known member
Sharks clean well, they're cheap, they're relatively easy to maintain, they come with long warranties, and the company puts enough new ideas into their machines that people keep buying them. They're doing a great job from a business standpoint, as much as we want to hate them. I don't currently own any, but I have owned a few and they really are good vacuum cleaners. I would take a bagged vacuum over a Shark any day, but if I were a tired middle aged mother in Kohl's shopping for a $200 vacuum that will pick up cereal from the hard floor and clean up the dog hair from the carpet with very little hassle then I would buy a Shark. For anyone who keeps up with car brands, Shark is the Kia/Hyundai of the vacuum world. They make machines that work well when brand new, have lots of gimmicky features, they have long warranties, and they're nearly useless the moment something breaks after the warranty expires. That is all that millions of people want, and I am in no position to fault them for wanting something that will be hassle free for a set period of time for a reasonable price.
Shark is everything good in the vacuum industry combined with everything bad in the consumer product industry as a whole. They put a lot of thought into their machines, they have lots of good ideas, and they market their vacuums amazingly. They aren't durable, but we can't fault them for that unless we fault every other consumer vacuum cleaner that sells for under $300 new. We live in a society where consumption is the norm, it hasn't necessarily always been that way but this is how we have been conditioned. Shark just can't make $800 durable vacuum cleaners if they want to be a successful and well-known company. People say they want durable products, but very few people will actually pony up the money for it. Shark is doing a better job of making low-end vacuum cleaners than the other companies were.
Shark is everything good in the vacuum industry combined with everything bad in the consumer product industry as a whole. They put a lot of thought into their machines, they have lots of good ideas, and they market their vacuums amazingly. They aren't durable, but we can't fault them for that unless we fault every other consumer vacuum cleaner that sells for under $300 new. We live in a society where consumption is the norm, it hasn't necessarily always been that way but this is how we have been conditioned. Shark just can't make $800 durable vacuum cleaners if they want to be a successful and well-known company. People say they want durable products, but very few people will actually pony up the money for it. Shark is doing a better job of making low-end vacuum cleaners than the other companies were.
