Showing posts with label bad customer service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bad customer service. Show all posts

iRobot 610 Roomba Professional Series Review

iRobot 610 Roomba Professional Series
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've used the Roomba 610 and 560. I now have two refurbished 560s in our house, at the same price as one 610. And it's definitely a better value.
Before I talk about the 610, let me share what's good and bad about Roombas in general, based on my experience with both the 560s and 610:
Pros:
- You don't have to vacuum, the Roomba does it for you
- Scheduled cleanings so you don't even have to worry about it or be home to hear the noise
- Floors stay clean without much effort
- One button start it and forget about it
Cons:
- Absolute pain in the butt to clean these things. There's the two brushes, the front wheel, the spinning brush (which requires a screwdriver to remove), and the dust bin. All of these must be disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled, at least once per cleaning session.
- It's not effort free. As I said above, lots to clean, which requires 5-10 minutes each time you want to run the Roomba.
- With pets, the fur gets wrapped around EVERYTHING. Maybe without pets our cleaning of the Roomba would be easier, but the whole point of these devices is ease, and they do not deliver.
So the nice things about the 610 are:
- Easier brush cleaning than the 560. Not much easier, but easier. Hair & fur still get wrapped around the edges of the brushes and into the mechanisms, but it's 5% easier to clean on the 610.
- The accessories case and accessories. The brush cleaning tool is nice, but it doesn't clean the brush holders, where all the stuff actually gets wrapped up and is difficult to clean.
Not so good things about the 610:
- No carrying handle. This seems inconsequential, but after having a way to pick up my 560 without having to pick the whole thing up from the bottom, where all the dust and dirt accumulates, you appreciate a carrying handle. Why didn't they include this on the 610?
- Only two lighthouses. They say it can clean four rooms, but they only include two lighthouses. My experience has been that three rooms is pushing it, so unless you have small rooms two lighthouses may be OK.
So why did I get two 560s if I have so many problems? I hate to vacuum, and I'd rather clean all the brushes and edges once a day than push the vacuum around for 45 minutes. So it's a trade-off.
Read other forums and you'll see that the 610 is not recommended, it's basically a 560 with lipstick.

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Designed for small business owners or those with larger areas to clean, the iRobot Roomba 610 Professional Series vacuum cleaning robot covers up to 4 rooms on a single battery charge. It efficiently vacuums dirt, debris, pet hair, dust, allergens and more from carpets and hard floors into a bagless bin that's easy to empty. And it's amazingly simple to operate--just press the Clean button and the Roomba 610 does the rest. Finished with industrial strength paint and bumpers, the Roomba 610 comes equipped with an additional High Capacity Sweeper Bin, a complete set of replacement brushes, replacement filters, and a convenient storage case.
The Roomba 610's compact shape allows it to vacuum beneath beds, couches and other hard-to-reach places while its innovative, spinning side brush removes accumulated debris along kickboards, cabinet edges and corners. A sturdy bristle brush digs deep into carpet fibers to grab dirt, debris, pet hair and more, while a fine filter traps dust, pollen and tiny particulates inside the bin. It even detects dirtier areas and spends more time cleaning them.
You can schedule up to seven cleaning times per week at times when it's most convenient for you, and when the Roomba 610 is finished it automatically returns to its compact, self-charging Home Base to dock and recharge between cleanings. The Roomba 610 comes with 2 professional-grade Virtual Wall Lighthouses that create invisible barriers that block Roomba from entering off-limit areas or direct Roomba to completely vacuum one room before sending it to the next room.
You can choose between 3 cleaning modes--standard Clean Mode maximizes coverage for a room after calculating its size; Max Mode for cleaning larger areas until its battery is nearly depleted; and Spot Mode for concentrated cleaning in an area up to three feet in diameter.
The unit measures 17 by 18 by 5 inches and weighs just over 16-1/2 pounds. It's backed by a 2-year warranty.
What's in the Box iRobot Roomba 610; Professional Series Virtual Wall Lighthouses (each requiring 2 C-size batteries, not included); self-charging home base; power supply; 2 brush cleaning tools; extra set of brushes; rechargeable battery; 2 extra filters; debris bin; high-capacity sweeper bin; storage case

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Electrolux EL6988E Oxygen Canister Vacuum Review

Electrolux EL6988E Oxygen Canister Vacuum
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)

We had two mid-range Kenmore canister vacs prior to this.
The Electrolux Oxygen (EL6988E) is many ways better and many ways worse.
Check out the list for what matters most to you.
Prices bounce around. Low tide for this model is about 325 delivered.
Better:
* Quieter (significantly)
- Power head pivots in both directions and has larger wheels. Easier to maneuver.
- Wand length adjusts (34" to 47")
- 2-year warranty (vs 1-year for Kenmore)
- LED headlights & height indicator
- Bag-full indicator light (Kenmore's is less visible)Toss-up:
- Suction is quite good
- 3rd party bags: 36 Oxygen Vacuum Bags are available at 50% savings (as with Kenmore)
- Auto shut-off when motor overheats or power head stalls
- Weight: 22.8 lbs (16.9 without power head). Kenmore is 21.5 lbs (16.3)
- Floor Brush: Electrolux is 60 % wider (13.7" vs 8.5") (but suction is less concentrated)
- Both Kenmores died after 5.5 years. Will Electrolux last longer?Worse:
* Cord is only 20.3 ft long (Kenmore is 30% longer. 26.5 ft. Very handy.)
* Dust bag is 40% smaller (appx 180 vs 300 cu. in.) (More expense, more hassle)
* Hose is flimsy (Big difference vs Kenmore) (and replacement is $47)
* Lacks swivel hose mount on base unit. (Hose kinks and will eventually crack)
* Power switch is on the base, not the handle. (and is easily confused with the cord-retract button)
* Floor brush can't be stored on-board (Small nozzle & furniture brush store on the wand handle)
* Generic nozzles won't fit. Must buy Electrolux.
- Manual is less useful. Fewer tips & troubleshooting details. Doesn't include full parts diagram & part numbers. Electrolux provides fewer product specifications at their Web site.
I am comparing to a 2005 Kenmore mid-range vac. Current models may differ.
Check reviews for the Panasonic MC-CG902 Canister Vacuum Cleaner. It's about identical to the mid-range Sears Kenmore canister vac.
Summary: A good vac with lots of flaws: 3.5 stars.


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Includes Oxygen Canister Vacuum - EL6988D-R, Tools Included: Electric hose (direct connect), deluxe power head, integrated wands, bare floor brush, crevice tool, upholstery tool, dusting brush, (1) Canister Bag - EL200, (1) HEPA H12 Filter - EL012W

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Hoover WindTunnel Canister Vacuum, Anniversary Edition, Bagged, S3670 Review

Hoover WindTunnel Canister Vacuum, Anniversary Edition, Bagged, S3670
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I purchased a Hoover carpet shampooer recently, and was very pleased with performance and quality, so naturally I looked at Hoover's line of vacuums. The price for the canister was a bit much, I thought---but I liked the idea of the freedom it offered, having had uprights for the last 10 years. My first impression was that the quality of the plastic wasn't there, so only 3 stars--for example, if you open the top to reveal the two small attachments (the other two: floor/brush and upholstery won't fit anywhere), the lid seems like it wouldn't take much pressure to accidently snap it off. Also, when it arrived, the plastic window covering wasn't attached--no problem, it snapped right in---but it left me with an unsettled feeling about my purchase. The good news is that it's pretty easy to roll, the handle is adjustable, and for the first time in ages I can actually vacuum under my bed :) I also like the way the canister secures the handle; it doesn't take much more room than the upright. The suction is good, as I haven't seen my carpet's nap in a while; it's around 5 years old. Overall, I think if it were priced a little less or the plastic was more durable, I'd feel better...but with both Hoover products, my carpet is looking more like its old 'new' self.
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From 3 Stars to 1: About 8 months to a year after the purchase, the retractable cord started to have issues, and there seemed to be a power-connection problem too. This year the handle (or wand), which was my favorite feature because it moves up and down has broken somewhere, and it won't hold a new position. Suction isn't good anymore, and the bag changing is frequent and messy. Finally, while initially I felt it gave me more freedom in ease of use, it actually is a royal pain to maneuver anywhere: frequently tips over, and pivotal hose difficult to pivot.
UPDATE Nov 2010: I purchased a Shark Navigator in October, with a Square Trade Warranty---and feel LOTS better about it. The Hoover is now my husband's choice for vacuuming out the cars.
(Knock yourself out dear :)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hoover WindTunnel Canister Vacuum, Anniversary Edition, Bagged, S3670

The Hoover® WindTunnel® bagged canister vacuum is easy to use and flexible enough to clean any surface in your home! Powerful suction cleans carpeting, upholstery, hardwood, tile, and more. For a powerful, deep-down clean, this bagged canister vacuum features a 15-inch power nozzle with WindTunnel technology. Three distinct air channels lift and trap dirt, keeping it from scattering back into the carpet, so dirt ends up trapped in the bag and not on the floor. Fingertip controls turn the brushroll on and off for transitioning from carpets to bare floors, while variable speed control with illuminated LEDs makes it easy to control the suction power. The unit also traps 99.97-percent of dust and pollens down to 0.3 microns in size thanks to the HEPA media bag. On-board tools clean hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. The long cord and hose let you reach high corners and under furniture without having to re-plug, while the 360-degree swivel connection on the hose gives you the flexibility to move around corners and into all areas of your house with ease. An 18' cord rewind means no more winding—just gently tap the pedal with your foot to retract the cord neatly inside. With the 14" wide power nozzle brushroll you\'ll quickly and easily loosen and lift out deep down dirt1, dust, hair and allergens. Other thoughtful details include edge-cleaning bristles, a quick-release telescopic wand, and an ergonomic D-grip handle for comfort and control, as well as an electronic full-bag indicator, ultra-smooth rolling casters, a headlight, and a 25-foot cord with automatic rewind. The vacuum cleaner measures 6 by 20 by 45-1/2 inches with the wand and nozzle and carries a three-year limited warranty.
Product Features•WindTunnel® Technology – removes embedded dirt1 and minimizes blowback and scatter on carpet •Fabulous Filtration – rinsable filter and high-quality HEPA media bags. HEPA media traps 99.97% of dust and pollens down to 0.3 microns •Intuitive Power Controls –on/off and brushroll control conveniently positioned where they should be – right at your fingertips •Bag Check Indicator – indicates when the bag needs to be changed •7\' Hose – makes it easy to clean hard-to-reach areas •Telescoping Wand – extends reach with on-board tools •Electrified Hose with 14" Power Nozzle – lets you move from hard floor to carpet and around corners and furniture legs with ease •360-Degree Swivel – hose connection gives you the flexibility to reach all areas of your house with ease •Edge Cleaning Bristles – removes dirt up against baseboards, walls and furniture edges •Smooth-Rolling Casters – protect hard floor surfaces •18' Cord Rewind – gently tap the pedal to activate the cord rewind and retract the cord to store neatly inside •24 Pound Canister – with wide, smooth-rolling wheels – easy to use with thorough cleaning power

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