WTF is up with vacuum cleaners these days?

[flvegan]

I just had to buy a new one. Just bought the last one a year and a half ago. Granted, I didn't spend $500 on a Dyson, but it seemed to be a quality product from a quality company, and it wasn't "cheap" so to speak. Since the day I bought it, a broken or thrown belt was a common event. Clogs? You betcha.

My first vac was a Kenmore, not too expensive, bought 20 years ago. Lasted 12 of them. In the last 8 years, I've gone through 4 vacuums. My mom had an Electrolux from the 50's or something. Worked up until last year, and worked very well. 50 years!

It's like you need a new entry in your budget ledger for yearly vacuum replacement.

Okay, rant over.

[mzteris]

1. planned obsolescence . . .

it's what Capitalism is all about. They don't WANT products to last forever anymore, they NEED you to keep buying and buying and buying. . .

doh damned spelling

[billyskank]

9. Hey you!!

:loveya:

[Tom Kitten]

2. They're just made cheaper nowadays

I can relate...Can't use mine more than a few times before it gets clogged or the belt breaks. It seems if you want one that lasts you have to consider shelling out 500 bucks!

[baldguy]

3. The corporate scheme: planned obsolescence for a consumer culture

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. Please...please...

No more "Man caught..." breaking news stories...

[AlCzervik]

5. i have purchased 4 vacuums over the past 10 years or so, i bought a hoover wind tunnel

when they first came out, it worked great for about 2 years and then died, it coast almost as much as a dyson, then i bought another hoover but not a pricey one, lasted about 2 years which really pissed me off because it lasted as long as the pricey one, then one more, can't remember the brand, also died. I finally bought a dyson about 3 years ago, not one problem, i didn't buy the most expensive model either, just the original yellow one for about $350? anyhow still sucks huge.

[skooooo]

23. did you buy one of those hoovers..

...where you have to pull the whole thing apart to empty the dirt out of it? Those were real gems.

[supernova]

6. I like my roomba

It has very few parts to mess up. And the parts that do, I can take off and clean regularly.

I hate vacuums. Too heavy and mostly don't do anything except spread the dust around.

I like the electrolux sticks with the built in hand held thing.

[ogneopasno]

7. We bought an Oreck three years ago and it is a beast. I love it.

Yes, expensive, but so far worth it. Plus, made in the USA!

[flvegan]

15. I bought a Bissell, which is allegedly also US made.

One of my deciding factors. They also support Petfinder.com, so I was doubly pleased with it.

[femmocrat]

19. We just got an Oreck.

It's a lightweight upright and came with a separate canister vac. I like the upright, but the canister is clumsy. Oh, and I got a free iron which I needed, because my second Rowenta died in about a year.

Irons are a whole other topic! :grr:

We also bought a huge hunk of plastic (a Dirt Devil I think) not too long ago and it's awful. It weighs a ton and the parts fall off as we go. Bulky, clumsy, and looks like a robot. Piece of junk.

[ogneopasno]

20. We must have gotten the same deal

because we also got a canister vac and a funny rinky-dink little carpet sweeper as well. It runs as well as it did on day one sucks harder than the Bush economy.

What are irons for?

[crimsonblue]

8. what's a budget ledger?

you mean you don't just buy shit when you feel like it? hmm... maybe that's why my ass is broke.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. A vacuum cleaner that doesn't suck when it's supposed to...

sucks.

[OhioChick]

11. Good question.

I bought a fairly expensive vacuum cleaner a few years back and although I have 2 dogs....I've always taken care of it. (Cleaning it for clogs/dog hair, etc.) Like you, I always have broken belts, etc. I hate to get rid of it because I was looking around at newer vacuum cleaners and they're so expensive! My old Kenmore that I bought for $59 bucks about 15 years ago was the best!

[auntAgonist]

12. We purchased a new vacuum cleaner earlier this year, love it

It's a Riccar upright. All Riccar vacuum cleaners are made in America. That was one selling point. It does a fantastic job on getting up the pet hair. It's a bit heavy. The tools all work great. I have no complaints at all.

We did have an old Rainbow prior to this and really liked it too.

aA
:hi:

[LeftyMom]

13. Big Lots has the Dysons for like $280?

Which, granted, isn't cheap, but it's what a Hoover or whatever will run you.

[BlueJazz]

14. Men know how to buy Vacuum Cleaners. I bought this one and it cleans like magic.

...Stainless Steel Tank, Heppa Filter and works Wet or dry
Costs 189.00


http://www.shopvac.com/vacs/detail.asp?ID=247&HdnSource=index&StoreID=

[flvegan]

18. I have a small ShopVac for wet or big messes.

They are truly awesome. Now that one has been working for 5 years straight. Thing is, my house is all carpet so I need the spinning brush thing on the front.

[crispini]

16. Buy the Dyson next time, fella.

With pets? You'll never regret it.

[emilyg]

24. I loved my Dyson - but too

heavy for me. Gave it to my daughter. She loves it.

[LeftyMom]

17. I really like my meile.

But they're expensive. I got a used one for almost nothing, which is good because there's no f*n way I'd spend what a new one costs. The cheap models are about $500 and they go up from there.

[greenbriar]

21. Kirby

nuff said

[Angel]

26. Another vote for Kirby

Received mine as a gift a few years ago. Mine does everything from becoming a spray painter to scrubbing the carpets after you are done painting.

[skooooo]

22. We've had one for about 5 months..

...and the rubber on the electrical cord is starting to wear through in a place or two.

Unheard of!! It's not like we're rough with it, or anything. I know you can fix that with tape, but why should have have to? The tape will make it look like crap, and it's practically brand new. Other than that, it runs fine, and we did buy it from a vacuum repair man.

This was after buying some Hoover model that's since been practically recalled because it was such a piece of crap.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. Our Hoover vacuum is 33 years old.

The most I've spent on a repair is $50. Stories like yours are the reason I've never been tempted to get a new vacuum cleaner.

Hmm...Maybe you'd have better luck if you bought a used one.

[flvegan]

27. But I trust the seller as much as I do Sears/Best Buy.

Sad, isn't it?

[JCMach1]

28. Screw it! Buy a Shop Vac... preferably one that can take liquids too!

http://www.shopvac.com/

[amitten]

29. Carpet sucks. n/t