Miele Vacuum...So Not Worth It (Capricorn Canister) RANT

[passatdoc]

note:

I've read on-line reviews where veteran Miele owners had a canister that died and they bought TWO S7 uprights, one for each floor of the house. If you buy the BOL for $429, you get the same motor as the $800-900 model, just no headlight, HEPA, or attachments (but these people already owned all the attachments), two uprights for the cost of the TOL model and less than a replacement canister.

 

[lotsosudz]

Give me an old electrolux tank!

For bare floor and carpet cleaning, I think there is nothing more dependable, than an old Lux tank! They are almost virtually indestructible. Although a little cumbersome, reliable, and fairly easy, and cheap to maintain. Can't argue about suction strength, if properly maintained.
Hugs,
David

 

[aquacycle]

First, the electrical cord is extremely way too short.

Could be a European thing - maybe Miele should make the cords longer on the US models for bigger US homes?

Second, the on board attachments are too tiny (dusting brush, crevice tool, upholstery tool). The upholstery tool doesn't even have horse hair, they use a felt type material. The dusting brush is ridiculously too small.

The material is velour. It's used on most upholstery tools in Europe. Horse hair is expensive to get hold of and just think of the poor horse it came from. Velour does the job just as well, is cheaper and kinder on the animals. 

Third, you can't park the SEB-236 on the vacuum (on the two side slots or the rear on/off parking slot).

This powerhead locks in the upright position, so you shouldn't need to park it on the machine to keep it upright anyway

Forth, wheels on the SEB-236 are too small, no matter what setting you use for carpet thickness, the SEB-236 is hard to push on thick carpet (half inch thick carpet). The beater bar doesn't even pull the power head along, you have to push it with force.

 

Never a problem I've experienced - cannot comment either way, though I imagine this would be a common problem with most powerheads.

Fifth, the wheels on bottom of the vacuum itself are too small, on floors they are great but on carpet they are not large enough and you have to drag the vacuum behind you. This makes the canister flip over all the time.

Again, never a problem I had with mine. Maybe you should run the lawn mower over you carpet?

Sixth, the hose is too short, the canister is right there on you heals. The plastic material is too springy and bumps into things when you vacuum like walls, TV, furniture etc.

Just be thankful it's bouncing off and not taking chunks of paint off the walls

Seventh, one of the c-clips that hold the wheels on the SEB-236 came off on first use. I did find it and put it back on but it wasn't easy, it kept slipping off.

Again, not had any experience with this so I can't comment. 

Eighth, mini turbo brush is air powered (air flowing through the nozzel makes brush spin) not powered by it's own motor, not very effective and stops very easily.

Aren't ALL mini turbo brushes air powered? I've never seen one that's motorised. Plus, a motorised mini power brush would be very heavy and awkward to use, which I imagine would be listed on your initial post if it were. 

 

No offence intended and I'm certainly not saying Miele are perfect, but isn't this all stuff you should've checked out before spending that kind of money?

 

[passatdoc]

Agree with AquaCycle. I don't have the SEB-236 but rather the SEB-217 (top of the line at the time I purchased my Miele). Performance is pretty good on medium pile carpet. Not as a good as an upright, but I felt it better to spend $420 on the S7 upright than $250 on the SEB-236, since my canister has ten years of use on it.

The 217 powerhead does dock on the canister....if the SEB-236 doesn't dock, perhaps that is the design intent (to be able to park it on the floor rather than hang on the canister. All hand held turbobrushes are air-powered. They do a great job on pets (the Chesapeake Bay Retriever loves the "massage"), upholstery, stairs, small rugs, etc.

My only point is that if you are this disappointed with your canister, you might have been happier with one of the S7 uprights. Suction is the same and hose accepts all Miele non-electric attachments and even wands (you can use an electric wand to connect a non-electric attachment, but there is no power in the S7 hose and thus no electrical connection to an electric wand.

Re: upholstery tool, velour is the standard material on nearly all makes now. The onboard tool is a bit narrow, but I bought a wide track upholstery brush for $25 or so from a Miele store. (If you've had a canister for a decade and now know which attachments work or don't work for you, an extra $25 is nothing).

Re: dusting brush...agree that the provided brush is too small for large areas: tops of bookcares/wardrobes, ceiling fan blades, etc. Miele makes a wider brush (about 8" long) with a double-swivel neck to reach any angle, and it's great for when you can't see the surface you are cleaning (top of a fan blade, top of a bookcase). However, the provided brush is good for tight spaces and for dusting objects (collectibles) that are best vacuumed clean rather than being exposed to water. I eventually bought the Micro set for cleaning keyboards, auto crevices, etc. and those brushes are smaller than the standard on-board brush.

Over the years have bought maybe $300 in Miele attachments (turbo minibrush, Micro Set, flexible crevice tool (cleans dryer under drum....), wide dusting and upholstery brush. Since these don't wear out, they are a useful investment. If you buy another Miele, as I did (S7 to supplement my canister), the investment can be re-used. If/when my hard floor brush ever wears out, there is a new hard floor brush with swivel neck which would be a great replacement, but for the cost I can't justify tossing out a perfectly good brush that I have now. There are also wider track hard floor brushes for those who prefer a wider sweep.

 

[Guru]

I would like to say I am sorry for the person who started this thread, but I certainly am not. In addition to being partially illiterate, his assessment of the vacuum is in error or misleading in several different ways:

- The Capricorn's cord is over 30' long.
- The dusting brush's bristles are hair and it's sized for...dusting.
- The dusting brush's bristles do not suck into the hose.
- The vacuum, by the way, has multiple suction settings (even one for dusting).
- Upholstery tools on every brand almost always have felt thread lifters.
- The slots on the sides of the vacuum are for the lesser floor attachments.
- You can park the SEB236 by itself with the wand attached and STANDING.
- The wheels are large enough for the deepest pile.
- The SEB236 is powerful enough to pull out of your hand if it is set low and the vacuum is on a high suction setting.
- Set correctly, you never have to push on carpet.
- One always has to drag a canister behind himself.
- The only reason the vacuum would flip is if it is being mishandled.
- I guess a hose that's "short" is something under 6'.
- I'm not sure what the "plastic material" is, but it might be the soft bumper.
- I have sold the SEB236 to hundreds of customers who have never had a wheel come off. This also sounds like an instance of misuse.
- The mini-turbo brush is, indeed, air powered, "turbo" indicating a turbine within.
- The mini-turbo stops when it "digs in", preventing damage to furniture, etc. It continues to spin freely and effectively when used properly and with finesse.

The Capricorn, which is now obsolete, also had the speed controls and on and off on the wand, which every Miele does/did not.

I have a feeling that this person is somewhat challenged with every complicated device he purchases--i.e.: any machine.