Simplicity Vacs any good?

[heritageIIhd]

Wife and I are considering the purchase of a new vacuum. We like the Simplicity models for their US-made status as well as the fact that they seem very nice.

Long-time Kirby owner but not a fan of the hand-me-down G-4 we got to replace our Heritage II, which went back to mom and dad because being older they wanted a lighter one and wanted to have it refurbed.

Are the Simplicity models any good? Probably not going to buy another Kirby or anything really expensive. $600-700 budget, MAX.

Thanks!

 

[electromatik]

You don't call $700 expensive?? Wish I had your finances, lol. In any case, yes, Simplicity vacs are good ones. I'd recommend them. Riccar products are known to be high quality far exceeding mass market equipment. Should be a workhorse for years.

 

[heritageIIhd]

LOL, certainly not rich here. I mean, Kirbys I have seen run @ $1700.

We're both tired of buying "cheap" $100-200 vacs that crap out or lose suction within a year or two and cannot be repaired.

Our hope is that we spend more and cry now rather than spend less and cry later.

A $649 Simplicity with a 6-year warranty beats $125 a year spent on crappy junk at Target/Wal-Mart/wherever.

 

[electromatik]

Yea, you think like me. I have a Kirby too. Simplicity is actually the mid range models from Tacony, which makes Riccar as it's top of the line. They are a high end company so the Riccar's will exceed $1,000. I believe you will be well pleased. They are rugged machines with good tools and a quiet high powered motors coupled with decent filtration. Just about anybody here would recommend buying it!

 

[cue003]

@electromatik, the TOL Simplicity Gusto and the TOL Riccar Immaculate have the exact same specs and even the same price. So in what way is the Simplicity the mid-range and the Riccar the high end? Heck even the Moxie lines up with the Impeccable model. Just curious. Thanks.

 

[bagintheback]

I've had experience with numerous Tacony vacs(Riccar, Simplicty) and they are pretty good machines. People often compare them to traditional Panasonic uprights, but even the high-end Panasonics don't really match the build quality of Tacony.

I own both the Riccar Brilliance(Simplicity Synchrony) and a Riccar 8600s series(Simplicity 7 series) I got both at extremely low prices compared to the MRSP so I do not feel compelled to like these machines because of their high cost. The Brilliance is no better than an $80 Eureka 1934a. It grooms the carpet a bit better, but cleans about the same as a good Eureka, which says a lot if you've ever used one. People might disagree with me, but from personal experience they don't blow me away like some YouTube videos suggest. They are also a pain to service. The 8600 feels much lighter and is excellent at removing grit. Repairs are a snap and bags are cheap. My model, I think from the mid-90s, is pretty quiet. However, some of the older models use flimsy plastic. You can really tell when you open the bag door and in the handle grip. I've never seen the plastic break or crack, but it's not amazing. But when you buy one new, and take care of it, it should not be any issue.

I would look at the 7 series. I would not recommend Tacony's tandem-air machines at their retail price. Just recently Tacony set up a web-page to buy their machines without a dealer, so check out their prices and see what you think. You might want see one in person before you order, just to make sure. Choose wisely.

http://shop.simplicityvac.com/p/7850?pp=12&pp=12

 

[kirbyloverdan]

Simplicity and Riccar

are identical in price they make both so if one dealer sells Riccar another close by can sell Simplicity . Prices are identicaland they are the same just different small changes .

Either are a perfect fit and will outlast store bought brands .

 

[heritageIIhd]

I was quoted the Synergy for $649 at local dealer and one of the aluminum-handled models lower than it for $399. At the very least we need the capability of the floor selector switch which starts in the $399 models -- our house is about 60/40 hardwood/vinyl to carpet.

I will check out the 7 series as well.

Wife is interested in Dyson but I feel like they are just expensive unrepairable store-brand vacs. Any thoughts?

 

[electromatik]

@cue I thought the Simplicity was the mid range priced with fewer "features" and the Riccar's were the top line. That's not the case so he can disregard that comment. I did tell him to buy it.

 

[bagintheback]

Stay away from store bought brands, Dyson included. The sooner you move away from cheapo machines the better. A Simplicity will give you many years of good service.

 

[kirbyultimateg]

I recommend all Tacony products. Riccar is identical to Simplicity.

 

[mieles7]

I have the Riccar version of the Simplicity 7 series (model 8900) and it's one of the better vacuums in my collection. The only problem I have with my vacuum is that there is no hose, but the Synergy/Radiance and TOL 7 series/8900 should have one.

 

[kirbyultimateg]

Here are some Riccar products:
http://www.riccar.com/products/canisters/?prod=IMMAC
http://www.riccar.com/products/canisters/?prod=IMPEC
http://www.riccar.com/products/uprights/?prod=RADP
http://www.riccar.com/products/uprights/?prod=RAD
http://www.riccar.com/products/uprights/?prod=Brilliance
http://www.riccar.com/products/uprights/8900/?prod=8955
http://www.riccar.com/products/8-pound/?prod=RSL1A
http://www.riccar.com/products/specialty/?prod=RSQ1
Here are some Simplicity products:
http://www.simplicityvac.com/products/canisters/premier-power-team/gusto/
http://www.simplicityvac.com/products/canisters/premier-power-team/moxie/
http://www.simplicityvac.com/products/uprights/synergy/PremiumSpec.asp
http://www.simplicityvac.com/products/uprights/synergy/StandardSpec.asp
http://www.simplicityvac.com/products/uprights/synchrony/
http://www.simplicityvac.com/products/uprights/7-series/Spec.asp
http://www.simplicityvac.com/products/uprights/Freedom/SpecsheetF3300Pop.asp
http://www.simplicityvac.com/products/other/sport/
I hope this helps.

 

[durango159]

Here are some youtube videos comparing performance of a few product lines of Simplicity and Riccar to Dysons and some others. I will let the videos do the talking for the cleaning performance.









This is a very small sample, there are many more out there on youtube found by searching Riccar and Simplicity. Overall you're getting a powerful machine that will last many years. They offer well built, powerful, quiet, high filtration machines that are made in their plant in St. Louis, Missouri.

Here is a picture of my Riccar 1700 canister that I'm very impressed with.

http://www.riccar.com/

 

[kirbyultimateg]

If Riccar/Simplicity is too rich for your blood, I recommend Sanitaire/Eureka/Hoover.
Here are some Hoovers:
http://hoover.com/products/details/s3670/anniversary-windtunnel-bagged-canister-vacuum/
http://hoover.com/products/details/u6485900/anniversary-windtunnel-self-propelled-bagged-upright/
http://hoover.com/products/details/u5491900/anniversary-windtunnel-bagged-upright/
http://hoover.com/products/details/u5140900/tempo-widepath-bagged-upright/
Here are some Eurekas:
http://www.eureka.com/en-US/Vacuums/Canisters/Canisters-CompleteClean-955A.aspx
http://www.eureka.com/en-US/Vacuums/Uprights/Boss-SmartVac/Uprights-BossSmartVac-4870MZ.aspx
http://www.eureka.com/en-US/Vacuums/Uprights/AirSpeed/Uprights-AirSpeedBagged-AS1050A.aspx
http://www.eureka.com/en-US/Vacuums/Uprights/Boss/Uprights-TheBoss-1934B.aspx

 

[kirbyultimateg]

Here are some Sanitaires:
http://www.sanitairevac.com/commercial/products/shake_out_bag_uprights/sc679.jsp
http://www.sanitairevac.com/commercial/products/specialty/sc3683.jsp
http://www.sanitairevac.com/professional/products/upright/s635.jsp
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/SANITAIRE-Vacuum-Attachment-Kit-5H070

 

[sarasvacshack]

Miele Upright

As long as you are doing research, check out the Miele uprights. They are built well, have the Miele 1200 watt motor, and have the twist feature that makes them very manueverable, and they are sealed. Both the AutoEco and the Swing are full featured and within your price range.

http://mielestore.com/vacuum-cleaners/uprights.html

 

[GM1982]

I like the Simplicity mid and upper line canisters...but in the uprights, I think Miele is much better. Its quieter, has variable speed control, metal base plate, swivel neck, extra long hose without having to turn a switch to floor tools position. More convenient and for $300-400 less. I think you can find the Miele S7 Salsa model in red for $599 with LED headlight. The Simplicity uprights are like $600-1,000... vacuum stores in my area seem to push the Miele's over Simplicity, why?, perhaps because what I just mentioned.

 

[swiveltop]

HeritageIIHD, A New Synergy for 649.00, That is quite a bargain, Is it used? These retail $1139.00 for the X-9 to $1529.00 for the G-9, These have sold used on ebay for $500.00, The Synchrony models,also tandem motor machines start at 769.00 for the deluxe and up to $969.00 for the premium model, I have a Synergy X-9 and I am very pleased, It has metal in all the needed places and is a very high quality vacuum. I've had other models from the Riccar,Simplicity lineup and they have all been good.