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Vacuums

The TVClubHouse: General Discussion ARCHIVES: 2006 Mar. ~ 2006 May: Buyers Banter: Vacuums users admin

Author Message
Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 8:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
My vacuum died today. I know Dyson is one of the best but not in the budget at the moment. Any ideas on one that costs around $100 or less that's halfway decent?

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 9:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
Serate, I worked for Kirby for several years and they are the best, but expensive. But over the years I had to "kill" every type of vacuum out there and the best of the "cheaper" ones was Panasonic. I'm not sure of the price of them but they are sold in stores so shouldn't be outragous. Make sure you get an upright vacuum. Much better suction than a cannister.

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 9:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
Thanks Twinkie. Not sure if there are any Panasonic's here. And most definitely I want an upright, and one with a removable hose for crevice cleaning. Brands here are Dirt Devil, Bissel, Eureka....

I think the vacuum that just died was made by Kirby but it was made for ServiceMaster so had their logo on it. Mine could probably be repaired but being a professional model would take as much $$ if not more than buying a new one. And it's HEAVY.

Maybe the chick that came by last week trying to sell me a Kirby put a hex on my old one. I was annoyed that she opened the outside door and rang the doorbell over and over. No need to open the outside door if you are ringing the doorbell, and she was dancing and prancing like a little girl who has to pee but is too busy to go. *L* Annoyed me so much that I wouldn't let her do her thing, just said that I wasn't interested, please do not come back. She had the gall to ask to speak to my husband since he probably made the money in the house and could make better decisions. I can't repeat what my husband told her, but she's lucky I wouldn't let him call the company.


Thanks for your input. Gonna look up Panasonic Vacuums on the net.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 5:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Oreck is very good too, but I think they are over 100.

Penguingirl
Member

01-26-2006

Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 3:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Penguingirl a private message Print Post    
I've had a Kirby, a Hoover Windtunnel and a Golden Retriever. The Windtunnel won hands down (but cleaning the stairs is a joke).

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 6:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Amen, Penguingirl. I have a Hoover self-propelled Windtunnel, and it is a dream, but I still haven't figured out how to vacuum the stairs. THAT is a major pain.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 8:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
STAIRS are a major pain, huh?

I have one vac on the first floor and one on the second, but those stairs (and mine make four turns, just for fun))!! Mine are both cannisters since that is what I prefer. I have an Electrolux that has a nice brush head and a nice long wand, but the one from Sears is just so well designed.. very logical and intuitive.

Of course if I was building a home, or major remodeling, I'd put in a house vac like my brother and SIL did.

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Friday, May 12, 2006 - 1:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Maris a private message Print Post    
The one I bought was a sears one, rated the best by Consumer reports but it cost around 200, beating vacuums that cost 1000.

I can look up vacuums at 100 that consumer reports likes best

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Friday, May 12, 2006 - 1:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Maris a private message Print Post    
Best for most; fine performance and value for the dollar; all are CR Best Buys:
1, 2 Kenmore (Sears), $300
4 Eureka, $140, CR Best Buy

The Kenmore (Sears) Progressive with Direct Drive 35922 (1) has a full-bag alert, a longer hose than most, and a small powered brush for stairs. The Kenmore (Sears) Progressive with Direct Drive 36932 (2) offers many of the same features in a bagless version. The Eureka Boss Smart Vac Ultra 4870 (4) trades some through-the-hose suction for a lower price and good reliability.

If low price is worth a few trade-offs:
10, 13 Hoover, $60-$100

Both of these low-priced uprights cleaned carpets and floor well with low dust emissions, but both the bagless Hoover EmPower U5262-910 (10) and the bag-equipped Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900 (13) have fewer convenience features than pricier models.

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Friday, May 12, 2006 - 8:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
Thanks Maris!!!! I forgot about my Sears card, should be able to go higher with that. I'll have to check out Sears & KMart.

If it weren't for the cats, I'd make due with my broom and dust buster, but the dust buster just doesn't get all the litter tracking up.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 2:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
Serate, whatever you decide on DON'T get a Dirt Devil. They are a joke as far as suction and what they don't get up. For anybody else who gets a Kirby demonstration, don't let them sucker you into the high price. They can go as low as $800 and you still get all of the equipment and warranty. I don't mind sharing that since I'm not in the business anymore. LOL

Racsan
Member

04-09-2004

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 3:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Racsan a private message Print Post    
serrate if you haven't bought a vacum let me be the first to tell you not to buy a kirby. the sales people are pushy and rude - i have had to call the police to get rid of one. not worth the money you spend on them, and you spend allot. and twinki confirms my suspicions that they sell the vacums for more than they are worth. go with the dyson or the sears - you can price shop between stores and know you are not padding somebodys paycheck. check out these websights - they tell the whole story.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/in_home/kirby.htm

http://www.cockeyed.com/citizen/kirby/kirby.html

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 5:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
I found the salesman at Sears to be helpful and knowledgeable, willing to talk about vacs on sale, then I found a returned one that was a really great deal and he confirmed that and honestly told me why it was returned.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 5:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
Racsan, I'm sorry you had a bad experience but not all Kirby dealers are rude and pushy. The people I worked with were good, caring people and I personally made many, many friends of the folks whose homes I was in.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 8:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
I had a kirby for years and absolutely adored it. Our local shop for the couple of minor repairs (retreading the tires) were completely helpful and never tried to push the "newer" vacs on me. Sorry you didn't have that kind of service Racsan.

The central vac we have now, though -- kicks butt! :-) It is by far the best vacuum I've ever used and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!