I hate my Dyson!

[JoGee]

First, its heavy. On floors it may turn on a dime, but on carpets, you can't even sweep with it when the nap goes the wrong way.
The manual is a picture book. No written instructions.
When I want to empty the sweeper....I need to look at what's where so I can put it back on. The filter and dust bin come off together. Then they must be separated to empty. Good thing E is home now, because he had to put it together for me.
The hose is hidden inside, if you want to use the attachments. I used it once. But I couldn't put the darned thing back inside.
The worst thing is that it does not get the edges of a carpeted room. I let E do that. He uses his little Dust Devil.
The very worst thing of all, is that when I'm done, my hands and back are really aching.

With coupons along with store discount sale, I bought this for a "bargain" $300.
Despite their ads, it's no better than any other.
My favorite sweeper (and rug cleaner) was a Kirby.........before they removed the gadgets from their sweepers. One of my girls begged for it after she was married. So I gave it to her and got myself a smaller one, which didn't work out for me. Ergo, I got the Dyson, when Consumers Reports praised them.
Now I can hardly wait til this one dies so I can look for something else.

[determined]

JoG, isn't dyson the one that they advertize as being so light weight? I don't really pay attention to commercials but know there is one that they have on. I know there is one comparing themselves with the dyson (maybe that's the one that is lighter weight) but know the end is "And it doesn't cost $300"

[JoGee]

Darla, I haven't seen the commercials. But making the Dyson "turn on a dime" makes it look lighter. In reality, that"turn" depends on the surface it's on. My big area rug will take it nicely in one direction, but turn the vac against the nap and it's not smooth rolling....you'd swear it looks like big tooth marks on the rug then.

I think the Shark machine, definitely cheaper, might be the other competitor. Its displayed a lot in stores now. I bought one some years ago, and it didn't do a satisfactory job on carpets or floors. My daughter bought one more expensive, and ended up screaming at Customer Service, who only received her refund because she was embarrassing them in front of other customers....and she had valid reasons to return it. Mine just went to Goodwill.

[determined]

It maybe the shark one.

Years ago my sister moved from a house with no carpet to one where all but the kitchen and bathroom were carpeted. She used her broom on the carpets since she didn't have the money to go out and buy a vacum at the time. A salesman came to the door so she thought that if she let him demonstrate she wouldn't have to sweep the living room. He got done and asked her to get what she used to clean her carpet with so he could show her that his had gotten everything up. She carried the broom in and swept like she always did and ended up with a full dustpan that his vaccum hadn't picked up. Needless to say he was very embarrassed and left without even trying to get her to sign on the dotted line.

[JoGee]

. That's funny!

They just don't make anything of good quality any more, do they?

[determined]

No they don't, we have become a "throw away" world. And if you find something that works and you like it beware it will become "new and improved" which means that it isn't going to work anymore. . My Dad was a "gadget" person and would buy almost anything that came out, some things were good others he just threw away his money because the way we were doing things were faster and less mess so the gadget got thrown into the drawer and never used. Nothing ever worked like it did in the commercials.

[JoGee]

So true.

Oh, Kirby is the only vac that sells door to door, that I know of.
I really liked mine. It was the older model. They quit putting gaskets in the newer ones. I went to their service center to buy one and he said they no longer used gaskets, giving me a hard time in the process. So he tried to sell me a new style Kirby. I told him if the are short changing customers by leaving out parts, I no longer trusted their product. As I left the store another customer told me she was so sorry she let them talk her out of her old one, and the new style didn't do half the job.
The janitor where I worked gave me a sheet of something that I made my own gaskets from. I did my own servicing on my sweeper, in the middle of my living room, once a year.

[Mayebarnes]

I now own the best sweeper I have ever owned!...... and I have had lots of sweepers in 60+ years of keeping house.

it is a Hoover Self-propelled wind tunnel.... with bags. ....it is fairly light weigh ... but the self-propelled...once you get know-how of the push and pull of the handle.. ... is wonderful... pulls frontwards and then a slight lift of the handle and it flies backwards... lean it back on its wheels and pivot for turning... It sells for close to $250... but I got mine on sale for
$189.. with a great extended warranty .( by the store that sold it.)... had to return the first one.. the off /on switch was not working properly and they replaced it free. .. yes , remembering to replace the bag is a small problem. but it picks up ,, has accessories fitted on sweeper. the heavy step cleaner I leave in the cupboard.

I have $400 Sharp setting in the basement... it got to throwing dust.. took it back to store for a cleaning .and adj.. for $50 but it still had a dust leak..

[JoGee]

Sounds wonderful, Maye!
I'll keep that in mind for sure, in case my Dyson might jam or have some permanent problem. Til then I have no excuse to get another.

As for the Shark, I'd take it back with the receipt and demand they fix that dust leak! The companies live for customers who don't stand up for what's right!
My daughter, the Queen of returns and refunds, would demand they fix it at no extra charge or refund what she paid, plus get her money back for the item! Once she gets talking, she draws a crowd, then the give her whatever she wants to shut her up...and to make themselves look good to the customers who are watching all this.

[karlinann]

JoGee, I disagree that you don't have an excuse to take the Dyson back and get another. If you are not satisfied with every aspect of a vacuum you should take it back. I have used almost every type and style of vacuum invented and am familiar with their pro's and con's. If a vacuum is heavy or does not perform to perfection that is a good excuse to return it. I would never pay that much for a product if I was not satisfied with it. Life is too short and vacuum stores are a dime a dozen.

IMHO the best vacuum for your money is a Riccar. They are sold nation wide and they have a Supra Lite model that is 8 or 9 lbs and just glides across the bare floors or carpets. It has a bag that is micro filtered and I absolutely love mine. I've had it for years. They stand by their products and will take trade-ins and service the vacuum and don't charge if it's a faulty product issue. The micro filtered bags are a blessing when you are allergic to dust and each bag lasts a good while.

[JoGee]

Karlinann, I've struggled with my Dyson for a couple of years already.....receipts have disappeared long ago. But I will check to see if I can check out a Riccar. That's a name I haven't so seen here yet, but I'll check online to find out.

Despite going to the gym, I am not a strong person; and with age, my hands are sore, their veins swell, sometimes my hand-bones crackle, too. Hubby has to help with this machine, sometimes.