Vacuums That Sold Poorly & Died An Early Death

[rolls_rapide]

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.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Here's the Electrolux bags for the 4x4.

 

[eurekaprince]

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.

 

[carolinaguy1996]

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.

 

[eurekaprince]

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.

 

[fantomfan57]

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?

 

[carolinaguy1996]

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]

+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.

 

[carolinaguy1996]

I forgot about the Intensity. Seems Electrolux after Eureka took them meant a drop in quality.

 

[dysonman1]

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.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Let's not forget the Bison and what a stellar performer that was. Quiet, easy to use and lightweight............NOT! It lasted about 5 minutes.

 

[carolinaguy1996]

I don't know Bison. The Oasis was a Rainbow clone but not as effective.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Ah the Oasis, how did I forget that one. I have both models they made. lol Terrible but yet fun to have. I have also seen an "oasis" labeled New Star on Springfeild craigslist.
From what I can find on the web it looks like Oasis started 1997 by tradewinds inc and was gone by 2001 and the patents are currently for sale if someone wanted to start producing it again.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

The first model Oasis.

 

[carolinaguy1996]

It looks so much like a Tristar.

 

[tolivac]

The Oasis looks more like a Vortech Force vacuum than a TriStar-and it does so resemble a Thermax.Had two of those loser machines I got FREE from a Kirby trade in pile-sold them to a vac shop as parts machines!The Kirby folks hated them so bad and got rid of them to me.The Thermax is more of an upholstery cleaner machine than a vacuum cleaner.

 

[carolinaguy1996]

The Hoover Platinum shampooer died an early death due to being not as good as the Steam Vac. The 2006-2009 Constellation died an early death because it was not as ideal as the classics. The Samsung vacs went away because Samsung now makes devices that blow up-yes I said it-Samsung is now a terrorist and not just a poor designer (from the Note 7 cases). The Dyson DC18 went away because it was for a Dyson, ass (no offense to the Dyson fans out there).

Why else would Bissell destroy the bagged Lift-Offs? They were designed better than the POS bagless units. Why can't people realize the fact that bagged machines tend to last longer and be better for allergy sufferers? To people who don't like spending money on new bags, shake-out bags exist for a reason.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Also on the note of the Excalibur upright - they had a commercial model as well under the Sanitaire version. I have a leaflet that shows it.

As for the bagged Lift Off - it was on the market for at least 7-8 years. I think it went away because bagless vacuums were getting very popular by the time it was time to replace it.

The Oasis vacuum above - never seen one in person. The power nozzle looks the one that Singer had on some canisters and also as a dry power nozzle on the Kenmore Home Cleaning System.

 

[mike811]

Powerteams

All powerhead canisters in Finland. They just don't sell. People are so used to use straight suction canisters with the light nozzles. Weight of the powerhead is too much and it's clumsy for the majority of the people.
There is need for the ph canisters and many homes has hard to clean plush rugs. Average home what I have seen over the years has 50% hard floors and 50% carpets (no wall to wall).
Surprisingly Lux (with the ph) and Kirby sell fairly well. Both are only sold door to door. No uprights at all in walmart style supermarkets. Kirby and Vorwerk are only uprights that sell in here.
I can think of just one canister vacuum cleaner with the ph, what is available in the "normal" stores. That is Electrolux Ultraone Quattro with big ph.
We don't have vacuum shops. Only household appliance stores and those naturally also sell vacuum cleaners.

 

[carolinaguy1996]

Possibly the Eureka Atlantis failed. Easy fold down handle, but it was way worse than the Bissell units. It was sold at Lowes from it's 2004 debut. Then it got sold at Wal-Mart only and then killed off. The Express compact was worse than the Little Green.