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An open letter to Dirt Devil
By Moriah on February 26th, 2010
Dear Dirt Devil:
It’s not that I’m ungrateful for the new vacuum you recently bestowed upon us, especially since we had only filed a warranty claim on our old hose. I appreciate the gesture, really.
But here’s the thing: I would never in a million years have bought this piece of crap new model. Why, you ask?
The reasons I bought the original Cyclonic Upright: THE PUSH BUTTON-RETRACTABLE CORD. This is worth its weight in gold. I despise the manual cord-winding on the new model.
The hose right on the front with a touch-button release and brush bristles built in, no attachments necessary. The hose even pulled out seven or so feet. (The new model? Came with about 4 separate attachments. They don’t even really store well on board. And the new hose falls out of the machine randomly and so you think you’re vacuuming but you’re really not. Frustrating and annoying.)
The old one lays almost flat; I could almost vacuum under my bed. This new model barely goes past a right angle before the front lifts off the floor. The whole thing is much more cheaply made (and also? is over a $100 less than the one I paid for. Yeah.), and the wheels are plastic and look like they’ll break easily. The old model was sturdier.
And the little details…the old model had an on/off button right on the main handle. The new on switch is on the bottom and tucked in very inconveniently, which causes me irritation right from the start.
The old model had automatic height adjustment for carpet pile height and hard floors; this one you have to stop and turn a dial when moving from carpet to hardwood (which I will have to do constantly in this house of hardwoods and rugs). Also, the old one you just step on the front anywhere and the handle is released; this one you have to step on an actual button. Generally inconvenient.
So, all that to say, I’m very very very disappointed you discontinued such a great vacuum and replaced it with such junk. Bad move, Dirt Devil, bad move.
For now we’re vacuuming with our old beloved Cyclone, spit-shined and fixed up with electrical tape. You can have your piece of junk warranty model back.
-Moriah, an unsatisfied homekeeper
4 Responses to “An open letter to Dirt Devil”
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Well, Said! I hate crap vacuums – we went thru four models in five years of marriage and then decided to get a good vacuum!!
I feel your vacuum woes. I just got rid of a Bissel that I’ve had for 4 year and loathed since the day I got it! I now have a Hoover that so far I absolutely love. It only weighs 11 lbs which is a blessing when going up and down the stairs in my house. If you ever want to change brands of vacuums, I can highly recommend this one so far!
The constant vacuum dilemma! I had a Dirt Devil once, early in my marriage, and it did not last as long as I wanted (3 years I think). Then I bought a fabulous Oreck which also died an early death. Now I have a Hoover Cyclone model (bagless, which I love) and is holding up thus far. Sometimes I think we should go back to sweeping – haha!
My mom has a Kirby which she’s had for almost 50 years. FIFTY YEARS!! Can you imagine? Truly, they don’t make them like they used to.
My vaccuum does that whole hose popping thing too, and sometimes it is beyond aggravating when I’m trying to vaccuum in a hurry and realize all I’m doing is dustifying the air!