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It came as a surprise to me that Panasonic were now producing their goods in China, as previously, they used to make them in Japan, or even the UK.


I note that Japan no longer produce as much as they used to - why might that be?


My car - a 1999 Toyota Yaris was made in Japan, and its still going strong, despite hardly ever breaking down and it now being 15 years old. Japanese goods were very good in the past, but UK model Toyota Yaris models haven't been made in Japan now for several years, being made in France instead.
 
Panasonic produce in many Asian countries though, not just China and there are several premium brands who do likewise. Again it is the brand who concentrate on what they want to produce rather than what they need to produce and dependent on the company ethic, quality sometimes gets the top spot instead of quantity, though in terms of vacuums, Panasonic in the UK certainly took their time about it to get a new bagged upright out alongside their current series that has been going on for more than 10 years.

Geographically though Japan is smaller than China and the Yen has a much stronger force than the Chinese currency, there are only so many factories that Japan can have. Parts in China are cheaper to source, so go and figure there.
 
I'd have bought one of the new Panasonic bagged uprights, had it not been for the price of the bags, which was the killer in the end. Whilst I think its a nice slim line looking vac, paying £14.99 odd for  bags for one takes the mick, especially when they are only paper bags and not a patch on the Miele Hyclean bags:

[this post was last edited: 3/10/2014-14:52]

madabouthoovers++3-10-2014-14-38-10.jpg
 
Um, they're not paper bags. Don't know where you got that info from at all. That Panasonic uses synthetic dust bags (code U-13) that cost £5-99 to £10 dependent on seller. Review on Amazon UK (mine!) and prices now range from £5-49 for a pack of 5 from First4Spares. They lack a seal, that's all.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RU4UDCYLHT8AC.
 
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Also the U-13 synthetic dust bags by Panasonic are also made to fit the bagged upright that appeared before the red upright, the MCUG614, which the U.S have under the Kenmore "Progressive Glide" too.

Panasonic's general code for the synthetic dust bags is AMC-D1EP.

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Well, Freenet are just a private company trying to make some money and if buyers are reigned in by that price and free bag offer, let them!

They are not the first company to do so - again, this is what happens when buyers make a search for products and things like that appear. You need to know your salt from your pepper.

As I say in the video and shown up at the end, that Panasonic is made in Mexico. But if you watch the video you'll see that the plastics aren't exactly "quality."
 
I know we've discussed the MC-UG522 before, and I'm sure that back then I said the same thing about the bags being expensive considering they are only 3 litres. Take the Sebo K series, which is also 3 litres - they are the same price, but you get twice as many bags in a box, and they are fabric bags as well.


If Panasonic wanted to sell these vacs, then they should take into account the price of competitors bags. The older Panasonic uprights with bags held nearly twice as much dirt per bag, so made them more economical. I am pretty critical of things like this as you may have now found out, and they are most likely losing sales on these vacs on account of the price of the bags, as at the end of the day, they are not Miele vacs and the bags Panasonic supply are not multi layer Hyclean type bags like Miele sell for the same price.
 
Yes but for the same argument's sake, the best Miele bag for the British pound is the bigger GN series, so you're spending more on either an outgoing S5 model to use that bag, or the cheaper S2 compromising on the lack of an internal tool storage and slightly longer cord and less power, to the new S8 successor model which is more expensive.

Therefore you could eliminate the S6 altogether for having the FJM bag which costs the same as the GN but losing out on the smaller dust bag capacity.

As highlighted before SEBO only make vacuums, so comparing another brand like Panasonic isn't really that fair - fine if it was Numatic - they and SEBO are together in terms of unique vacuum cleaner brands - after all they don't really make anything else that competes with the bigger brands, let alone Panasonic.

Frankly Steve, if you are of the opine that a thin synthetic dust bag that Panasonic supply (interestingly they share the same kind of consistency with both the K series, Felix and now new X bags) are not as good as multi layer, then you clearly don't know the mechanics of air flow and the mechanics of the vacuum cleaners in question.

Miele's vacuums have higher filtration layers because they've always done multi-layer and in some markets the AAC and HEPA filter cartridges are not available as single purchases. Therefore, lower models down the range only benefit from the Super Air Clean filter/standard filter and thus require the higher filtration layers to depend on.

SEBO's current synthetics have tightly packed layers that are not visible to the eye unless you cut the bag open and examine the layers in question. You'll have fun trying to pick it out amongst all the white fuzz, I can assure you!

Panasonic's synthetic dust bags actually have 5 layers of filtration. Coupled with the HEPA filter on board for a lower economical 1200 watt vacuum compared to Panasonic's standard (and May I just say) lower 3 ply paper bags for the 1900 watt uprights is more than sufficient.

You are trying to compare like with like, but what you forget is the high price of the SEBO K series, plus it being a cylinder vac with an air driven turbo brush at best or even the PN, means you're likely to spend more to actually buy the vacuum in question.

Though I paid £114 at the time for my Panasonic upright, the price of nearly 50% off now really isn't that much to moan about. I can't see any Miele or SEBO brand new going for £70, can you?

And whilst we are on the subject of synthetic dust bags, has Hoover launched any for their Purepower/Enigma uprights?
 
Hoover did used to make a Purepower S Bag, back in the day, but not any longer. Oh, and I'm a middle aged man, so its my job to moan lol.


Miele vacs have nearly been as cheap as £70, with the S2 being sold for £99 not so long back. The K series is on Freenet from as little as £125, so they are not all that expensive in comparison, in fact, its a really good deal!


I think on this occasion we will just have to agree to disagree on this subject - no hard feelings.


 


Sebo K1 for £124.99: 



http://www.freenetelectrical.co.uk/sebo/vacuum-cleaners/k1airbelt-9660k1/product-737/
 
End of day it is simpler than you think.

No hard feelings at all - but in a home requiring something compact with the same amount of power cord with a permanent brush roll - the Panasonic merits because it IS an upright vacuum cleaner.

Clearly Panasonic have thought about it wisely offering something with a smaller bag capacity than their white/black uprights with higher motor power and bag capacity just as SEBO have done with their X series versus Felix.

Both the SEBO K1 and Miele cylinders would be better rivals to consider because, after all, they ARE cylinder vacuums and both don't benefit from the added turbo brush as standard, which you'd have to spend £25 to £30 on top of the asking price on both of those German models, substantially taking out all consideration price wise versus Panasonic, anyway!
 
Oh I agree totally that the Panasonic at the sale price of £70 is a very good deal - its cheaper than the older Hoover Purepower, and much more modern looking. I may still consider one for £70 - I was looking at the bagless version of this model, with the twin motors- the MC-UL426, now I do like the design of this model, and if the bagged model had the twin motor switchable brushroll, it would be a definite buy for me.


 


MC-UL426:

madabouthoovers++3-10-2014-17-51-40.jpg
 
I would be more inclined to go for the bagless version of that red upright, the MC-UL424. It is £89 on Amazon UK compared to £116 for that black version.

Has a brush roll on/off pedal too.

However, the Panasonic's main problem, regardless of whether it is bagless or bagged is that it is like the DC01 - it has a pivotal hinge - so whatever angle you hold the handle at, it won't always sweep the floor at the correct height.

Sorry to say, if I was going to go for bagless again it would probably be from the Vax empire. I haven't had problems with my past Mach Air models, so its win-win for me.

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The reason I'd go for the black model is that it has a separate brushroll motor, much like the Vax Mach Air, whereas the white model uses the main suction motor via a clutched pulley system to drive the brushroll.


I still like the design of the original Mach Air - its a very good machine, and has sold a hell of a lot of units for Vax - but its the patchy quality control that let it down - which we have discussed already at length.
 
Check previous post if you haven't seen it - a U.S member found their version (in black and purple) though it is interesting to see there's get a much more reliable metal suction tube compared to the all plastic on the UK versions.

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?24122_5

Frankly though, Im happy with what I've got -the Slalom is probably going to be the last bagless upright I will own.
 
If it is of any help

I happen to know that the Numatic Henry dust bag fits that red Panasonic cleaner perfectly around the collar. You just have to tuck the edges in. The Qualtex version of the Henry bag is a perfect fit in every way, as it's quite a bit smaller in size and fits inside the cleaner with no bother.
 
Does it really Benny? Those Henry Hepaflo bags are massive - 9 litres AFAIK. and they are good value too at about a tenner for 10.


 


Nar - I really like the US version of the Panasonic in black and purple - those colours go really well together. I see them dissing Chinese plastivacs on that side of the pond as well! lol
 
Yes really. I know someone who has that exact same cleaner and they also have a Henry. They tried the bag and it fits the collar like a glove. Like I said, you just have to fold in the sides of the bag, but the beauty of these synthetic bags is that the air seems to penetrate from every available angle, unlike paper bags which don't like being folded over and which do of course also clog when dusty.
 

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