Sunday, August 19, 2007

"Nothing Sucks Like An Electrolux" - What An Ironic Twist




I found this picture to be worth 1,000 words, relating to the previous post "The Ingenious Vacuum Cleaner Industry" - manufacturing cheap vacuums made to break. Truth is, Electrolux (or should I say Eureka, read same umbrella company) vacuums really do suck! Along with many other mainstream vacuums, Dyson, Oreck, Hoover. But, who are the suckers? The future belongs to those consumers that put their feet down and demand change.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

A Miele - This vacuum cleaner works

UPDATE: Due to viewer requests, I decided to film a youtube video of a vacuum cleaner that is truly wonderful - one that is sealed and traps the dust in accordance with the HEPA standard. Enjoy !

Know the difference – TRUE HEPA vs. FAKE HEPA

TRUE HEPA vacuums and air purifiers trap the dust and particles with a minimum efficiency of 99.97%, up to 0.3 microns – as measured with my particle counter seen in my You Tube videos.

Over the years, HEPA filtration has become a marketing scheme deployed by both vacuum cleaner and air purifier manufacturers to lure customers to buy products that do not meet the HEPA definition. Most vacuums and air cleaners that I have tested on the market claim to be “HEPA,” however, lack the filtration efficiency and other important benefits that are intrinsic to HEPA technology – so they are “fake HEPA.” They are simply imposters that do not deliver what they claim – in other words, they do not trap the dust.

To precisely find real HEPA machines, I test products (where the air flows through) with the particle counter. It is important to note, that I not only test the middle of the filter, but also the side edges and other areas of the chasis, where more often than not, there is high readings due to leakage.

I know first hand how air-quality effects health, as I suffer from asthma. Like me and many others that suffer, we know all too well how important it is to breathe clean air. So we run out to the nearest store, seeking to alleviate our symptoms by buying products with the words “HEPA” glued to the vacuum/purifier edifice. In order to trap the smallest particulate, the vacuum and air purifiers must be totally sealed (my particle counter down to 0).
Manufacturers are doing an injustice to the asthmatic/allergic consumer, tricking them into “HEPA” products that have no validity to their claims, whatsoever. To place a FAKE HEPA filter in a vacuum and claim it is HEPA is just misleading the public. I call it what it is – fraud. To include a real HEPA filter in a vacuum/air purifier that does not have the infrastructure in place to attain the HEPA standard (meaning it is not sealed is also fraud!)

Defective products that do not work as stated should be returned to the manufacturer for FULL refund.
We as consumers are entitled to the truth. You deserve the REAL thing. Know the difference before you buy. BUY RIGHT.

Friday, March 30, 2007

Vacuum Cleaners That Do Not Work

American consumers have acquired a bad habit –

Purchase first, try later.

Nowadays, consumers’ go to big-box stores, with empty-jackets for help and buy a vacuum cleaner based on 4 principles: name, color, font and price. There are no professionals to ask a question to.

By the time you open the box and turn the vacuum on, most find the appliance to be useless and never return it. It breaks down (usually after one-year) and the cost to repair the vacuum cleaner is greater than the purchase of a new machine. As a result, the vacuum cleaner is kicked to the curb, found with a white-paper attached to it that says “FREE.”

Among the top ten vacuum cleaners that breakdown within one year are:

  1. Hoover
  2. Eureka
  3. Kenmore
  4. Shark
  5. Oreck
  6. Electrolux
  7. Bissell
  8. Oxygen
  9. Dirt Devil
  10. Dyson .....(Yes, even the Dyson will breakdown - Ranked as the least reliable vacuum cleaner on the market, but also the one most likely to be recommended by a friend).

The department store and manufacturers keep selling the same garbage that breaks just by picking up a nickel, dime or penny. They know only a small percentage will be returned.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are in a new era – The Throw Away Era.

WAKE UP AMERICA. These so called quality name brand manufactures are the ones producing the garbage you buy and the discount stores are dishing you the “dirt.”

It is time for consumers to stand-up to the manufacturers and big-box stores. How do you do this?

Take back control, return items that don’t work. Ask for your hard earned dollars back. Educate yourself before buying. Don’t act oblivious to the shopping world around you.If you made purchased a crappy vacuum once, shame on them. If you did it twice, shame on you. Search out stores that will gladly answer all your questions, show you products that work and also compare by the merits of each product. Check out your independent vacuum dealer nearest you or just visit my website. How about this, just call me, ask for Gerry as I will walk you through your needs and gladly provide free advice.

Support your local stores. Some may say, but why Gerry? We have to pay more money! Yes you will, but you will be getting quality machines and impeccable service.

You have a choice: buy MULTIPLE cheesy plastic vacuums over the next 10 years, or buy ONE vacuum that you can use for the rest of your lifespan.

-Gerry

Sunday, March 4, 2007

The Hoover Vacuum Does Not Work

Stay Tuned

The Ingenious Vacuum Cleaner Industry


Vacuums used to do what they claim, "clean carpets and bare floors." They were made of metal and had amazing vacuuming prowess—renowned for their durability. Today, it is a totally different story as the industry has evolved from floor-care to the floor-miscare business. The vacuum cleaner industry has drastically changed and you would think that with time, research, and development, this would spur innovations. Ideally, vacuums should progressively improve. Well, completely wrong. Nowadays, vacuums are made of plastic, everything goes through both the fan and motor. In the 21st century, if you pick-up a nickel, dime, sock or penny –BANG! Your hit with a costly repair. By the time you shut down the machine to examine the situation, damage is already done. You have two options (which I am sure you, the reader, never had to confront –right?)

1) Throw it away

2) Pay for a costly repair.

The cost of the repair is much greater than the purchase price of a new junky-vacuum. Warranties are not worth the paper they are written on (manufacturers warranty is against defects not against picking up something hidden under a bed like a sock). As a result, you just toss out the recently-bought vacuum and go to your nearest big-box store.

The vacuum cleaner manufacturers made this all possible, who else? Instead of building a sturdy, powerhouse machine, they have changed their approach. Today, they understand the marketplace and the consumer’s behavior. Now, the vacuum cleaner industry produces cheap vacuums with a limited life-span –made to break. Planned Obsolescence. Ingenious idea--right? Selling volume over quality, especially if the consumers are still obliviously buying the product. In fact, the machine consumers think are American made, are no longer. People think they are buying the iconic Hoover, but in fact, Hoover is owned by Hong Kong's finest --Techtronic Industries Co. (which owns, among other companies; Dirt Devil, Royal and Regina). Your mother and her mother’s favorite vacuum,“Electrolux” brand (which does business under, among other companies, Eureka) is not the same company that has been doing business in the U.S. under the Electrolux name in the past. The old Electrolux changed their name to Aerus Electrolux. By exploiting the name-brand recognition of Hoover, Dirt Devil, Electrolux, they squeeze profits from the shell-company, reduce costs (ie. quality) and pass on these ‘savings’ to the consumer.

The bottom line is -
Poor vacuum cleaner construction with short life times ensue vacuum companies stay in a constant state of profit.