Dyson Repair?

Dyson vacuums, just like anything ever made can have something go wrong with it. I have heard some people that had an issue with their Dyson blow up over it and turn their back on Dyson forever because it had an issue. Give me a break. For whatever reason, things can and do happen, but that's why there is a warranty on Dyson, and that's why there are people out there trained to take care of those things when they do happen.
Unless it's something minor, like a bouncy ball stuck inside the hose, it's probably good to NOT try to be Mr. Fix-it with your Dyson if you don't know what you are doing. There are vacuum repair shops all over the country, and nearly all of them will gladly take your Dyson in for a repair, but STOP BEFORE YOU DO!!!!!!!! First off, many of these repair shops hate Dyson for various reasons (I'll cover that in another post), and would love to tell you how much of a piece of junk your Dyson is, and the proof is that you had to bring it in for a "common" problem, and then try to sell you some expensive mediocre bagged vacuum. AUTHORIZED DYSON SERVICE CENTERS are the only place you should drop it off. They are the only ones who Dyson will pay for doing the work, and the only ones who can legitimately get authentic Dyson parts. Service centers who are not authorized by Dyson get knock off parts that look the same and can function the same, but if they cause the vacuum to malfunction, Dyson will void your warranty. If there is an issue with your Dyson, the steps to take are:
1. Call Dyson customer service (the sticker with the phone number is on your vacuum) 1-866-MY-DYSON
2. They will try to troubleshoot over the phone with you (be patient with them as they try to isolate the problem)
3. If you can't figure it out via phone, they will refer you to the Authorized Service Centers close by
4. If none are close by, they will pay for your Dyson to be shipped somewhere to be fixed

Don't expect your Dyson to be fixed the same day, or even in the next couple days. Give it at least a week, and go from there. Remember that these repair shops are hounded all day long about people who want their vacuums back immediately because the mother-in-law is coming that weekend and the house has to look good, and everyone thinks their vacuum should be priority #1. They are usually waiting on parts from the manufacturers, have thirty vacuums that came in before yours, and will get it done as quickly as they can.
Lastly, let's face it, sometimes the vacuum breaks for reasons we had nothing to do with, and other times because we were a bonehead in what we were doing (like sucking up dog puke or vacuuming out the tool box). If it breaks because of something foolish we did, no warranty covers that, so don't expect it to; and have some character and don't try to lie to the repair shop about what happened to try to get out of paying for your mistake. These guys can see right through you; especially once they open up your vacuum and easily see whay really happened.

"How Many Amps Does It Have?"

That is a question I've been asked many, many times. Most people assume amps equals the cleaning power in the vacuum. Not the case at all. All amps (or correctly said ampere) are is basically the measurement of electricity moving through the vacuum motor to run it. Most vacuums have a 12 amp motor, some a little more, some less depending on the size of the motor.
What really measures the actual cleaning power or suction in a vacuum are things like the air watts and water lift (interestingly enough I don't recall ever seeing any companies promote that). However, if you wanted to find out, you can go to the company's website, and likely find it on the product specifications.

Is Dyson Worth the Price? Part 1

Dyson cost. How much am I already spending on a vacuum?

First, you are looking at a Dyson for likely one of two reasons: your vacuum just kicked the bucket, or it's about to. You are in the market for something that hasn't lasted for you (probably not as long as you hoped it would) and now you need a new one. You can get one that is similar to what you had before and get the same results, or upgrade or even downgrade, and hope for something better; it depends on how your view of a vacuum. A vacuum is perceived by consumers two different ways:

1. To you, the vacuum is a fundamental tool to keep your home to a high standard of cleanliness and you need to get something good to get the job done right, and take care of what you have. You take the effort to empty out the bin or bag often, don't mind having to spend some money to help your vacuum work better and longer. When it comes time to purchasing one, you go the extra mile and do some internet research, price shopping, and will spend a considerable amount of time in the vacuum aisle playing with the different vacuums to see which one you like the best.

2. To you (and probably most people), a vacuum is perceived as a very disposable item and rarely bother taking measures to maintain it. You'd rather not change the filter (it costs too much, so you'll bang it out once or twice a year), you rarely change the bag (there is always room for more in there, and you can't find more that fit anyway), in fact the only service it gets is a new belt when it breaks because you sucked up a sock under the bed. To you, the vacuum process is as follows: plug it in - use it until it breaks - trash it - buy a new one; no biggie. You are likely looking way at the end of the line of vacuums at the store (no, not the end where the Dyson is, the other end), or the bulk stack of vacuums where they are on sale for $39; you usually grab and go, or just pick the coolest looking cheap one.

So what does that have to do with Dyson? First, consider how often you are having to buy a new vacuum. The average is about every 2-3 years you are forced to cough up the money for one; some go two months, some go two generations. But remember that JUST BECAUSE A VACUUM TURNS ON, DOESN'T MEAN IT WORKS. So if you are the first kind of consumer who values a vacuum, you are likely spending at least $150 every two and a half years, and during that time, buying bags or filters or getting it fixed, etc.; think about the cost on that... it does add up.

Now, if you are a cheapskate when it comes to floor care, and you think all vacuums are the same, you don't mind spending fifty bucks on a vacuum and using it until there is no hope left for it and don't mind dropping another fifty when the time comes, then you'd be better off buying a broom and dustpan and just sweeping your carpet. The results would be pretty much the same, except for the pretty lines your piece of junk vacuum leaves in the carpet. It would pop your bubble on how "clean" you think your place is if a Dyson came into your house and you saw what your fifty dollar vacuum is rolling right over and doing nothing about.

What About Buying A Used Dyson?

Used is often thriftier and smarter way to go. We buy used homes, used cars, used furniture, used electronics, used clothes, why not a used Dyson? Craigslist, Ebay, and local shops make that very accessible, but is it the smartest route to take?
If we could chose between new and used and disregard the cost, we would all likely chose new, but cost is always something to consider. The disadvantages/concerns of a used Dyson are:
1) Is it still in good running condition? You don't know how often it was used, what it was used for, and how it might have been abused. Some are perfectly fine, the owner just didn't know how to take care of it. My brother in law picked one up free that was almost brand new. She gave it away because it wouldn't turn on. The problem, just needed an adjustment on the on/off switch. Bummer for her, good for him.
2) Limited or no warranty. The new uprights and canisters carry a five year warranty, refurbished units only six months, and everything else is up in the air. Some people like to have that assurance that if something did go wrong, the warranty will be there to take care of it.
3) Am I still getting ripped off? Some people will charge you a lot simply because its a brand in demand, so they know you are more likely to pay. Some its fair, some its not, it depends on the true condition of the vacuum, which you don't always know.
There are a lot of used Dyson vacuums out there, and some good ones too; I have sold some. But there are some junk ones as well. Just be wise and don't be afraid to ask questions and put it to the test if you can try it out before handing over the cash, and you will have a great Dyson you got at a great deal.

Where is the Best Priced Dyson?

Often when I was in retail stores, customers would ask if there is any where else they could get a Dyson cheaper. Good question, and easy answer. Brand new, across all retail stores, Dyson products are going to have (or better said, are supposed to have) the exact same MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price). So whether Best Buy, Target, or Bed Bath & Beyond, it will be the same. Dyson as a company has the authority do so being a highly valued product.
Its still not a bad idea to do a little price shopping, however. Stores usually do run advertised semi-annual sales on Dyson that are pretty darn good, or run all floorcare 10% off, etc. Even going into a store, you might find a different story. If Dyson is advertised, they have to sell it for a price Dyson gives the OK on, including a sale (20% off, or something like that). But the sticker price can be whatever they want, as long as they are not advertising it. You could walk into a store and see one priced for $100 more than other stores, or walk into one and see one $100 less (not likely) than the rest. Remember that these retailers are in business to make money, the more they take off the cost, the less they are making, so don't be absurd in expecting something like 40% off. But if you want to know what to expect to pay for it, just go to the dyson.com website, and there will be the expected price.

Is Dyson Worth the Price? Part 3

Dyson technology. What makes Dyson better than the rest?

Why do I think Dyson is the best? It boils down to the overall design of the vacuum. Some vacuums have more suction than Dyson, some are lighter, some last longer; but those things alone shouldn't be the determining factor in a purchase.

The basics off all vacuums are the same. A motor that generates suction through an opening, and a container to catch what was sucked up. Then why don't some vacuums work as well? Why are some better than others? The specific details of how that happens, and overcoming the problems that come with it determines the quality of the vacuum.

Biggest problem - vacuums lose their suction (or more specifically, their airflow). In order for the air to move the dirt into the container, there has to be a strong enough continual flow of air moving. If you've ever been sucking up a shake through a straw and got a chunk of cookie stuck in the straw, that's a perfect picture of what happens to vacuums. The motor is still running, it's still making lines in the carpet, you can hear the crumbs spinning around the brush bar, but the pores in the bag or filter are getting clogged from the dust and debris, that airflow has likely decreased dramatically; which means it's not cleaning as good, or hardly at all.

No matter how strong a vacuum is, this problem has to be addressed if you are concerned about what the vacuum is releasing back into the air (you could maintain perfect suction if you had no filter or bag, but that, of course, defeats the whole purpose of cleaning). There are some vacuums with a beast of a motor that feels like its sucking up dirt from the neighbors carpet downstairs; but with a basic bag or filter, it's getting clogged up making the cleaning performance go down.

What has Dyson done to solve this problem? Root Cyclone Technology (it's in every Dyson vacuum). It's pretty simple, in the process of the air moving through the vacuum, they use cyclones that everything has to go through, and because of the angle everything enters into the cyclones at, the size of the opening, the angles of the cyclones, and the weight of the dirt coming it, it basically uses the laws of nature (gravity, centrifugal force) to pull the dirt out of the airflow so when the air hit the filter, it's able the pass right on through because the huge majority of the dust has been removed from the air. Brilliant!

It's not just the no loss of suction that makes Dyson such a great vacuum. They have been leading the way for years on features that everyone tries to copy. Things like the wand releasing as quick and easily as it does, the Dyson ball, the bin release, the ergonomic carrying handle, a five year warranty to back it all up, and much more. Those sorts of things, in addition to the Root Cyclone Technology, have been what has won many people over in retail stores across the nation. Dyson is an all around superior vacuum.

Is Dyson Worth the Price? Part 2

Dyson performance. Is my cheap vacuum even working?

Perception: after you are done vacuuming, you feel good about yourself and your home. You have a beautiful pattern of lines on the carpet as a signature from the vacuum telling you the job is complete; now you can move on to other things.

Fact: You just wasted your time pushing that thing around the home during that time when you could have been doing more productive things.

Yes, the crumbs are gone and the carpet looks clean, but is that what a vacuum is supposed to do? Just sweep up some things sitting on top of the carpet? A broom will do that! A vacuum has one purpose, and that is to clean your carpet. If it's not doing that, then it's not a good vacuum. However, you usually don't find that out until you get something better, and you wonder where all that dirt and junk came from. Thousands upon thousands have made that discovery when they brought a Dyson home and put it to work. Why do some vacuums work better than others? That will be covered in the next post.