carolinaguy1996
Well-known member
Name a vacuum that sold so poorly it died an early death. Also, give reasons why it happened.
Vacuums That Sold Poorly & Died An Early Death
- Thread starter carolinaguy1996
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jscarlato
Well-known member
Hoover's Models Z . . .
. . . would be high on my list. They were advertised as "The SUV" of vacuum cleaners. They were a pricey piece of equipment when they hit the market. It took about as long for them to sink as did the Titanic (and they were as about as heavy). They were clunky, didn't clean that well, and that spinning filter was a tech idea gone wrong. My local Hoover store (back when Hoover had stores to sell and service their vacs) were selling out their stock of Z's before long at $99 new. I bought two as collector items. They sit here today with almost no use. Certainly, they are a curiosity to look at.
. . . would be high on my list. They were advertised as "The SUV" of vacuum cleaners. They were a pricey piece of equipment when they hit the market. It took about as long for them to sink as did the Titanic (and they were as about as heavy). They were clunky, didn't clean that well, and that spinning filter was a tech idea gone wrong. My local Hoover store (back when Hoover had stores to sell and service their vacs) were selling out their stock of Z's before long at $99 new. I bought two as collector items. They sit here today with almost no use. Certainly, they are a curiosity to look at.
n0oxy
Well-known member
Regina housekeeper
I believe the Regina housekeeper had a similar fate, apparently it wasn't made very well and was not around long.
Mike
I believe the Regina housekeeper had a similar fate, apparently it wasn't made very well and was not around long.
Mike
Kirby Ultimate G Diamond Edition
The Ultimate G Diamond Edition was an example of this in Kirby's stable because it was the only Kirby to have a separate auxiliary "delicate" switch for use on throw rugs and thinner carpets. Most users didn't know how to properly use this switch and mistook it for the rug nozzle's BPI light, or did not turn off the "delicate" mode before using the hose or the Carpet Shampoo System.
~Ben[this post was last edited: 8/13/2017-21:17]
The Ultimate G Diamond Edition was an example of this in Kirby's stable because it was the only Kirby to have a separate auxiliary "delicate" switch for use on throw rugs and thinner carpets. Most users didn't know how to properly use this switch and mistook it for the rug nozzle's BPI light, or did not turn off the "delicate" mode before using the hose or the Carpet Shampoo System.
~Ben[this post was last edited: 8/13/2017-21:17]
vacerator
Well-known member
Electrolux
Oxygen 3 and bagless machines made in Hungary. The versatility also. Maybe not the ultra silencer because it is simpler without all the auto suction motor speed pressure transducuers and fused circuit pcb boards that fail.
Oxygen 3 and bagless machines made in Hungary. The versatility also. Maybe not the ultra silencer because it is simpler without all the auto suction motor speed pressure transducuers and fused circuit pcb boards that fail.
The Bissell Pro Lite didn't seem to stick around to long. It really looked like a failed science project. I think the use of attachments may habe done it in. They looked really awkward.
buster1849
Well-known member
Fantom wildcat
Failed poorly and was returned alot.
Failed poorly and was returned alot.
blackheart
Well-known member
What about...
The Miele Art?
I'm not sure how long they were around but they were only meant for hard floors as they relied upon straight suction.
They seemed to have run anywhere from about $200-$350
They did have an onboard hose but it was a tiny little thing.
The bags were tiny as well.
Perhaps if it had larger bags and a brushroll it could have been more successful. It was a neat looking machine and despite having a chance to buy one i passed it up due to the bags and lack of carpet cleaning.
The Miele Art?
I'm not sure how long they were around but they were only meant for hard floors as they relied upon straight suction.
They seemed to have run anywhere from about $200-$350
They did have an onboard hose but it was a tiny little thing.
The bags were tiny as well.
Perhaps if it had larger bags and a brushroll it could have been more successful. It was a neat looking machine and despite having a chance to buy one i passed it up due to the bags and lack of carpet cleaning.
I can think of a few.
The orange Electrolux Oxygen Upright. Fantastic performer and very convenient to use as it offered a cord reel, hidden onboard tool compartment, and an electronic mechanism to adjust the height of the power head. It seems electrical circuitry problems killed it.
The Hoover WindTunnel 2 with a pair of beltless counter-rotating brushes. Also a victim of technical breakdowns landing them in repair shops.
It seems that weird Martian-looking Panasonic upright with the two air hoses connected to the brush-roll chamber was quite short lived.
The most mysterious case: the 2 or 3 year appearance of excellent Samsung bagged vacuums - winners of some prestigious German industrial design award. Even Consumer Reports top-rated the "Quiet Storm" power nozzle canister. But in Canada, these were all over the place in every vac shop for 2 ir 3 years....then they suddenly completely disappeared overnight.
The orange Electrolux Oxygen Upright. Fantastic performer and very convenient to use as it offered a cord reel, hidden onboard tool compartment, and an electronic mechanism to adjust the height of the power head. It seems electrical circuitry problems killed it.
The Hoover WindTunnel 2 with a pair of beltless counter-rotating brushes. Also a victim of technical breakdowns landing them in repair shops.
It seems that weird Martian-looking Panasonic upright with the two air hoses connected to the brush-roll chamber was quite short lived.
The most mysterious case: the 2 or 3 year appearance of excellent Samsung bagged vacuums - winners of some prestigious German industrial design award. Even Consumer Reports top-rated the "Quiet Storm" power nozzle canister. But in Canada, these were all over the place in every vac shop for 2 ir 3 years....then they suddenly completely disappeared overnight.
Electrolux upright,canister vacuums.The giant rear wheels on the uprights broke all of the time.The hoses,motors,control boards in the Oxygen canisters broke a lot.Lowes stopped carrying these because of all the returns and refunds.
But the suction-only canisters from Sweden's Electrolux that do not have power in the hose (like the UltraSilencer Green) are fine. Mine was bought 10 years ago and it is a great canister cleaner with no problems since bringing it home.
kirbyvertibles
Well-known member
Sanyo transformax
kirbysthebest
Well-known member
Electrolux Intensity
floor-a-matic
Well-known member
Eureka Europa (I dont know why so short production if it was a great vac)
vacerator
Well-known member
Eureka Europa
was made in Sweden. Probably Vastervik. The final product from there was the Oxygen first series, and the Cyclone Power single stage bagless cylinder.
Electrolux AB made good machines then, but their planned obsolescence scheme was/is more frequent.
The Excalubur preceded the Europa, and was a Volta design, as Electrolux owned them as it does Eureka. There were two Europa designs, one having a small hepa filter on the rear exhaust. The other was identical to the Excellio which was much quieter, and had a top exhaust and mounted hepa filter.
The first series Oxygen was marketed in the UK as the Smart Vac cylinder.
I see a lot of Sharks in the trash these days. I don't even bother with them.
was made in Sweden. Probably Vastervik. The final product from there was the Oxygen first series, and the Cyclone Power single stage bagless cylinder.
Electrolux AB made good machines then, but their planned obsolescence scheme was/is more frequent.
The Excalubur preceded the Europa, and was a Volta design, as Electrolux owned them as it does Eureka. There were two Europa designs, one having a small hepa filter on the rear exhaust. The other was identical to the Excellio which was much quieter, and had a top exhaust and mounted hepa filter.
The first series Oxygen was marketed in the UK as the Smart Vac cylinder.
I see a lot of Sharks in the trash these days. I don't even bother with them.
vacuumdevil
Well-known member
Kenmore professional the rebranded sebo x2.
Miele red velvet the s6000 series. This was the second vacuum named red velvet.
Actually had crushed red velvet glued to the outside of the case and was the straight suction only machine.
Hoover Platinum Series Bagless.
As mentioned before the Hoover Z Transformer vacuum in mint condition would be a lovely addition to any collection.
The WindTunnel 2 that came after both bags and Bagless are kind of rare.
Miele red velvet the s6000 series. This was the second vacuum named red velvet.
Actually had crushed red velvet glued to the outside of the case and was the straight suction only machine.
Hoover Platinum Series Bagless.
As mentioned before the Hoover Z Transformer vacuum in mint condition would be a lovely addition to any collection.
The WindTunnel 2 that came after both bags and Bagless are kind of rare.
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Electrolux 4x4
Succeeded the 'Dolphin' Series.
Had four independent castors (like modern Sebo's), high filtration electrostatic dustbag, and an automatic feature of winding in and out the flex as it was moved about. Available in such colours as 'British Racing Green', and blue. Probably also had remote control hose and 'Pulse Power' booster.
Z4440 and Z4460.
Succeeded the 'Dolphin' Series.
Had four independent castors (like modern Sebo's), high filtration electrostatic dustbag, and an automatic feature of winding in and out the flex as it was moved about. Available in such colours as 'British Racing Green', and blue. Probably also had remote control hose and 'Pulse Power' booster.
Z4440 and Z4460.
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Here's the Electrolux bags for the 4x4.
If I remember correctly, the Eureka Europa was a Swedish-made Volta "Gemini" canister married to a Eureka Express or World Vac power nozzle. The American-made electrified hose had a pigtail connection on the canister end.
Electrolux's Volta division provided its North American Eureka division with many good canisters since the early 1990's.
Electrolux's Volta division provided its North American Eureka division with many good canisters since the early 1990's.
carolinaguy1996
Well-known member
Good one. Samsung's machines quit due to blowing up like the Note 7. The Dutchtech failed because it was not as successful as the 8-pound uprights. The Euro-Pro Fantoms failed due to poor tech support and being cheap and unreliable. The Bissell DigiPro failed because it was a failed attempt at a Miele knock-off (check out fantomlightning's video on it from 2015). The Dirt Devil Ultra hand-vac is still around, but it fails due to poor suction, awful motors, harder belt changes, and just being loud even on the low-speed setting.
Forgot to mention: the Kenmore Glide stick vac. Excellent machine that came and went in a year or two. Not sure why.
Also: the Eureka Two-Motor Excalibur Upright. Electrical switch problems sent this model to an early grave.
Also: the Eureka Two-Motor Excalibur Upright. Electrical switch problems sent this model to an early grave.
fantomfan57
Well-known member
Interesting information...
I actually have a Eureka Europa. The unit's burgundy color is darker than the PN's.
Never really have used it, just cleaned and prepped to sell on CL.
I have had it for a couple of years and keep forgetting to list it.
Any interest?
I actually have a Eureka Europa. The unit's burgundy color is darker than the PN's.
Never really have used it, just cleaned and prepped to sell on CL.
I have had it for a couple of years and keep forgetting to list it.
Any interest?
carolinaguy1996
Well-known member
Uh, no. Also, the Hoover Duros wasn't around for long due to being like the Bissell DigiPro (Asian vac sold in America, parts are hard to track, unreliable, weak hoses, poor suction power, and no bare floor tool). At least it's not made in China. The Kenmore Cyclonic Home Cleaning System from Electrolux wasn't around for long, due to design and reliability issues. The Hoover Elite Cyclonic canister wasn't around for long due to being cheaply made and for having issues of its own.
human
Well-known member
+1 on the Electrolux Intensity
We got a bunch of those in when I worked at Tuesday Morning circa 2010. They were priced attractively and sold briskly--but then they started coming back. Cheap plasticrap. I pitched several in the Dumpster after they were returned and was never tempted to try and save one. It gave me a renewed appreciation of my ever faithful--and comparatively indestructible--1205 canister.
We got a bunch of those in when I worked at Tuesday Morning circa 2010. They were priced attractively and sold briskly--but then they started coming back. Cheap plasticrap. I pitched several in the Dumpster after they were returned and was never tempted to try and save one. It gave me a renewed appreciation of my ever faithful--and comparatively indestructible--1205 canister.
carolinaguy1996
Well-known member
I forgot about the Intensity. Seems Electrolux after Eureka took them meant a drop in quality.
dysonman1
Well-known member
There used to be a water filtration (no separator) vac called "The Oasis", made in Arkansas, and then Springfield, MO. Huge, monstrous, overgrown, ineffective, astronomically priced. Think of a Thermax AF but even bigger. It didn't last any time at all.
