I need a vacuum cleaner, but don't want to spend a fortune

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Crazy Horse, who owns a cleaning business, swears by the reliability and effectiveness of Riccar vacuums. Said Dysons started off well, but didn't hold up over time.

[RJ]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Crazy Horse, who owns a cleaning business, swears by the reliability and effectiveness of Riccar vacuums. Said Dysons started off well, but didn't hold up over time.

We own one. It was worth every penny. And we have two dogs, BTW.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by RJ

We own one. It was worth every penny. And we have two dogs, BTW.

Own which? The Dyson or Riccar?

[RJ]

Originally Posted by Silock

Own which? The Dyson or Riccar?

The Riccar. Which I believe is the same company as the one Pitt Gorrilla mentioned in the thread link I posted. Made in Missouri.

Also, fwiw, I was told by a gentleman who owns a local vacuum repair/sales store that bagless are not at all good with pet hair because they clog easily. I'm inclined to believe him based on personal experience. We returned a couple of bagless (and expensive) Hoovers before buying the Riccar. That's been a few years and the machine has never clogged.

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Crazy Horse, who owns a cleaning business, swears by the reliability and effectiveness of Riccar vacuums. Said Dysons started off well, but didn't hold up over time.

Riccar was rated very highly by Consumer Reports, but it's the canister version. Some people don't like canisters. Their uprights were middle of the road.

[CrazyHorse]

Originally Posted by Stewie

Riccar was rated very highly by Consumer Reports, but it's the canister version. Some people don't like canisters. Their uprights were middle of the road.

Im certainly not Consumer reports. However, I have tested several vacuums over several years. I dont take into consideration, weight, price, inches of lift.

I take into consideration, durabilty for the dollar. For example, if I use a vacuum for 5 years and paid 500 for it, I spent 100 a year. In that sense the Ricaar lasted 4 or 5 years in the field before I retired it to my house. Where I still use it. The second best machine I ever had for durability lasted 6 months in the field and had too be thrown out. That's a difference thats hard to argue with. The vacuum lasting 6 months would have to cost me 50 bucks brand new before it would be competetive with the Ricaar. 50X2=100 bucks a year. This is something that Consumer reports doesn't value. They look at weight, cost and how well the machine does when you take it out of the box.

Im telling you that 10 years down the road the Ricaar will still be working as well as the day you took it out of the box as long as you dont throw it down the stairs and stuff like that. You wont beat it for bang for the buck. You wont beat it for durability. They are tanks.

I also recommend that you always get the commercial version of vacuums. The difference is simply a different color and a 50 foot power cord. The longer cord is nice. But they are no more durable, just a longer cord.

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by CrazyHorse

Im certainly not Consumer reports. However, I have tested several vacuums over several years. I dont take into consideration, weight, price, inches of lift.

I take into consideration, durabilty for the dollar. For example, if I use a vacuum for 5 years and paid 500 for it, I spent 100 a year. In that sense the Ricaar lasted 4 or 5 years in the field before I retired it to my house. Where I still use it. The second best machine I ever had for durability lasted 6 months in the field and had too be thrown out. That's a difference thats hard to argue with. The vacuum lasting 6 months would have to cost me 50 bucks brand new before it would be competetive with the Ricaar. 50X2=100 bucks a year. This is something that Consumer reports doesn't value. They look at weight, cost and how well the machine does when you take it out of the box.

Im telling you that 10 years down the road the Ricaar will still be working as well as the day you took it out of the box as long as you dont throw it down the stairs and stuff like that. You wont beat it for bang for the buck. You wont beat it for durability. They are tanks.

I also recommend that you always get the commercial version of vacuums. The difference is simply a different color and a 50 foot power cord. The longer cord is nice. But they are no more durable, just a longer cord.

I defer to your expertise. CR is all I really have to go by on things like this.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Crazy Horse, who owns a cleaning business, swears by the reliability and effectiveness of Riccar vacuums. Said Dysons started off well, but didn't hold up over time.

We've had our Dyson for 5 years and have never had an issue with it. Works like the day we bought it.

[CrazyHorse]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

We've had our Dyson for 5 years and have never had an issue with it. Works like the day we bought it.

Impossible.

You're saying that after 5 years theres 0% wear.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by CrazyHorse

Impossible.

You're saying that after 5 years theres 0% wear.

Very, very little brush wear, but half of our house is hardwood, while the rest is carpet. Someone with a fully carpeted home may see different results.

Like I said, it works just as well as the day we bought it, as far as I can tell.

[joemama]

Have had good luck with our Dyson Ball Animal.