Amazon.com Customer Reviews
It SUCKS. - Review written on May 01, 2008
Rating: 2 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful, 1 did not.
It sucks really HARD. Straight to Goodwill. Had I known we could upload video reviews, I'd have filmed the vacuum in operation before I gave it away.
I wanted so badly to love this vacuum, but it didn't work for me. It was SO powerful, it grabbed my considerably-weighted 9x11 area rug and wouldn't let go or move. Whether pushing or pulling the vacuum, the rug came with it. When I finally did pull the two apart, the dirt on the rug was still there. Much to my dismay, this occurred repeatedly. No matter which rug depth setting I had it on, it was still a no-go.
The knob on that depth adjustment, by the way, darned near required a pair of pliers to turn, so if you're arthritic, fergettit.
Maybe it would work for wall-to-wall anchored carpeting, or maybe I had a faulty vacuum, which is why I gave it the benefit of the doubt - two stars instead of one. I hope the eventual recipient of my purchase gets what everyone else here seems to be getting.
Better than expensive bagless - Review written on April 05, 2008
Rating: 5 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful.
I had purchased a bagless Hoover EmPower unit on here for my small apartment. It didn't take long for me to begin to hate it. Even with the small size of my apartment, the dirt cup would have to be emptied about every vacuuming.
I'd have to do it outside. Dust everywhere, sneezing, coughing, dirty hands, dirty balcony. It was enough to make me never want to vacuum.
Then I thought perhaps it was time to upgrade to a bagged vacuum. This bagless fad is awful. It is becoming nearly impossible to find a bagged vacuum in a retail store anymore. When I saw this for so cheap on Amazon with free shipping, I figured it was worth a shot.
I sold my 1-year old Hoover on craigslist for the same price that I bought this one, making it essentially a free trade. So far, I'm significantly happier with it.
Pros:
* Amazing suction. Better than the Hoover that was 2x the cost
* Motor/fan are a stage after the filtration, so they are protected from debris & damage.
* Great cost
* Hepa filter seems to work better than Hoover. Don't smell dust at all.
* No dusty mess to deal with after you vacuum!
Cons:
* I'm not crazy about the color. Not terribly masculine. Luckily this thing stays closeted.
* Hose seems like its going to not stay in place once it stretches some more.
* Hose isn't the most flexible or stretchy.
* Bags are rather small. Certainly not enormous like my mom's old Kirby. Looks like vacuum manufactures are taking the razor-blade/print cartridge business model. Either way, bags are still cheap.
So, you get what you pay for. But if you just need it for a little apartment like me, this is the best deal. Period. Hopefully Dirt Devil can add something to hold the hose in place. It hasn't been a problem yet, but I expect it will become one.
Very good vacuum, GREAT DEAL - Review written on April 05, 2008
Rating: 4 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful, 1 did not.
It's hard to admit to even a teensy complaint when you got a $90 vacuum for $30 and it arrived THE NEXT DAY. FOR FREE. But... yes, it is very heavy/hard to maneuver and noisy. And as someone else said, the long cord--while great for using the vacuum over large areas--requires a lot of babysitting while you're vacuuming. However, it works well and shows up pretty much fully assembled.
Here's where it loses a star: 1) The weight... women, especially small ones, be warned. 2) Instructions are worthless. Like there's a dial for different carpet thicknesses, but no explanation of what the settings mean. They're just lines. I gave up setting it on one line, moving vacuum to see what happens... trying the next line, moving vacuum to see what happens... etc. And there's nothing in the instructions to explain it (unless I'm a total idiot, which I'm not ruling out).
But all in all, I'm glad I bought it.
Better Than They Said - Review written on April 03, 2008
Rating: 4 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful.
I've had this vacuum for a few weeks now, and it's a Keeper. Some other reviewers mentioned a design flaw that makes running over the cord common. I experienced the same thing the first time I vacuumed, but I figured I could always just grasp the cord in the fingers holding the handle of the machine. I guess the joke's on all of us who didn't bother to read the manual... there is actually a clip build right into the handle assembly that is made to hold the cord! So, with that detail "handled" (forgive the pun), let's talk about function. This machine has very powerful suction, decent attachments and the blessing of a HEPA filter. It is solidly constructed. Nothing feels like it's in danger of breaking when I use it. After my previous Oreck machine, it feels like it weighs a ton and is comparatively hard to move around. But it cleans so much better that it's worth the work. The headlight looks cool, but doesn't do much to illuminate the floor. The motor is among the loudest of machines I've owned, but not THE loudest, and not painful, even to my musician's ears. I do like a vacuum that leaves a completely smooth track when it's pulled back, and this one leaves lines, but the floor still looks nice. I read the other reviews before I purchased, and even at full price I'd report that this machine is better than they said. With the discount offered on the day I bought it, it's a steal.
Great for the price... - Review written on March 08, 2008
Rating: 5 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful.
Dirt Devil 091020V Vibe Bagged Upright
I have to say, I love this vacuum so far. It has great suction--which at times is almost a problem. I've had the attachments pulled off of the end of the hose because the suction held the piece so tightly to the surface I was cleaning. I really like being able to (very easily) change the bags rather than emptying the cannister of my old bagless vac. It is also fairly light, and easy to carry when I need to, using the cup/handle on the front of the machine.
I do wish they had included a floor attachment for non-carpeted floors, but this seems to work well on hard floors. Just too bulky for some places. The only problem I have with it is the positioning of the cord. Where it is attached to the vacuum, I think, is too low. I get it tangled up in my feet a lot--well, I did. Now, I just bring the cord up over the upper hook that you wind the cord up on while I'm working. It makes it easier to keep in my left hand while I vacuum with my right, without tripping over it all the time. To me, this isn't a real "problem."
Just to put it all in perspective, I used to clean professionally, so I have some machines to compare this to. I also have 4 cats, and, believe me, this vacuum does a great job keeping up with them.
Overall, I think I got a fantastic deal--I'm very happy with it, and if the price drops again, I may just pick up another to keep as a spare.
LOVE this vacuum!!! - Review written on March 08, 2008
Rating: 5 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful.
Thank goodness for Amazon and its reviews!! I purchased this vacuum based on the reviews here and I couldn't be happier! I have gone through 2 (Yes, 2!) bagless vacuums within the past year and a half. I hate bagless vacuums!! I have two young children with allergies, and I have sinus issues myself. I got to where I would put off vacuuming as long as possible with my previous bagless vacuums, because I absolutely hated the mess and most of all, hated having to constantly replace filters because they would get clogged so often. After vacuuming just one room in our apartment, the bagless vacuum(s) would get clogged and lose suction. I no longer have that problem thanks to this Dirt Devil bagged vacuum! And replacing the bags is a breeze! I used to go out my front door (and wave hello to my neighbors) when I emptied the filthy, nasty cups on the bagless vacuums. Now, I slide the bag off, toss it in the (kitchen, not outside!) garbage, and there's no mess whatsoever! Love it, love it, love it. Will NOT go back to bagless!!