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

[georgect]

I just want to rant here.
This Miele vacuum (Miele S5981 Capricorn with SEB-236 Power brush) will be the last Miele product I'll ever buy.

What a huge let down...
I spent just over $1400.00 ($1,199.00 for the Capricorn/Power brush) and additional accessories (mini power brush, extra bags, extra HEPA filter).

First, the electrical cord is extremely way too short.
I have to use a thick extension cord to cover the ground I did with my Kenmore Progressive canister.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

For the price you pay, you should get way more in terms of features and wouldn't recommend this canister vacuum, it's just not worth the money Miele demands.

 

[super32]

I will keep pushing my hoover

 

[maytagbear]

I am sorry that

you are having such a bad experience.

I love my Miele Capricorn. However, I will admit that my place is relatively small, about 900/925 square feet. I have the SEB 228 power brush, and am well pleased with it.

The cord and hose are fine for my needs, and as an apartment dweller, the legendary quiet is welcome, especially on sleepless nights when I vacuum at 3:30.

I like the other tools quite well, the short crevice tool is great for my computer keyboard, and the upholstery nozzle keeps up nicely with my cat's fur. The parquet twister bare floor brush is a honey for my kitchen and bathroom floors.

Unlike my other vacuums, I never sneeze after vacuuming with my Capricorn, nor is there any unpleasant stale vacuum odor.

(Gentle tone of voice>) Run a damp cloth over it, put it up on Ebay, and get yourself one of those Kenmore canisters Consumer Reports rated so highly earlier this year.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[washernoob]

I am sorry to hear you don't like the Miele! The cords are a little short on them. They are roughly the same length as our Electrolux Oxygen. However, I have found that the quality of the Miele outruns any other canister made today. Their turbo brush is the best, however Turbo brushes are never as good as power brushes, if you have thick carpet.

The casters on the Miele were designed for the best turning abilities, that is why they are so small. The vacuum was designed for mainly European markets, and that is why the cord is short, turbo brush is used, and the casters are small. Low pile carpets are far more popular over there.

The part you may find interesting about hose length is that the Miele has a standard hose length. Same as the Kenmores and many other machines at 7 feet.

 

[aquarius1984]

did you buy it from a 'real' shop?

If bought online then ok.

If bought from a shop.....

With exception to your comments about the TurboBrush which is a point by all means, Did you not look at all the other issues before you bought the cleaner?

Surely the shop had a display model ??

Manufacturers make all kinds of products all with different features. Im surprised you didnt look at these more thouroughly whilst in the shop.

I cant see what you have to complain about if this is the case.

Would you go into a supermarket buy a box of Cornflakes after sampling them at a demo podium then complain that there was no Rice Krispies in the box when you get home?

 

[ronhic]

Our house is nearly 3500 sq feet and I have no problems at all with our 5000 series Miele including the power head/light combination.

Quite frankly, if you bought it or any other product that cost that much without at least looking at the attachments, then you've nothing to complain about.

...and the power cord is at least 15 feet long.

 

[spookiness]

Love my Kenmore canister

A friend recently bought a Miele and no way would I pay that much for a vacuum. I've bought cars that cost less than that. Got my Kenmore about 10 years ago and it is great. It has a tool or a setting for any kind of surface in my house. Works great in my car too.

 

[launderess]

For What It's Worth

Hoover, Eureka and other vacuums that cost less,much less than Miele most always top consumer reviews and choices.

The day I pay that much for a vacuum it better come with someone that does that actual work. *LOL*

My older Kenmore upright (built by Panasonic) does everything a friend's Miele version does including having a small army of various filters.

 

[foraloysius]

IMHO Miele vacuums are very overpriced in the USA. A vacuum from the 5000 series overhere would cost around $300 - $500. That is without a powerbrush. I have had a Miele vacuum for over 20 years and while it was a good performer, I was never very happy with the wheels. When I needed a new vacuum I decided to give Electrolux a try. I couldn't have made a better choice.

 

[georgect]

I wanted to believe in Miele...really...but

I thought I did do my homework.
I watched countless Youtube videos about Miele vacuums, from real world examples of it and of it against other brands.

No one ever talked of Miele's shortcomings, just praises. So I figured if your going to be paying $1199.00 for the TOP Of THE LINE vacuum...that is what you'll get. Long cords, big brushes, real horse hair, long hoses, motor powered mini brush etc.

Another thing is with that tiny dusting brush...when you use it on full power, the bristles collapse in on themselves and get sucked into the hole. They didn't use a long enough plastic guard to prevent the bristles from being sucked into the hose.

No, the place I bought it from didn't have any one the floor to demo. I went by what all the Youtube videos raved about. I guess It's hard to see how small the attachments really are in the real world.

Yeah that dusting brush is great on your keyboard but not your bathroom floor (it takes like forever). The Parquet brush is just too big for my bathroom floor so there is no happy medium.

Everyone and I mean everyone always raves about Miele but I think they only work best for who they are made for (Europeans)...and they are not designed for American type households (large homes).

Miele even abandoned it's Super Large capacity line of domestic washers...big is not Miele's forte. For some reason they haven't been able to expand to the "larger" or "Super Capacity" sized market.

I'm very willing to pay for the BEST (and I though I did) for almost anything and I was convinced that Miele WAS the best but really...I think it's the best for the European market not the American market.

That's my two cents...sorry but it's my opinion.

 

[launderess]

Saw A Miele "Nautrelle" Or Some Such

At local thrift, but as it was missing the power head/hose arrangement decided to pass. Stopped in a few weeks later and the thing was gone.

As one already has the Panasonic upright (use Miele "Z" bags that one got at a good price), plus two vintage Eureka hand vacs (one NIB), didn't really see the need for the Miele regardless of price. Besides most of my home is hardwood floors for which an upright suits better than hauling a canister around.

 

[rayjay]

Hi George.
Are you able to take the vacuumn back and tell them you are very disappointed?

Its worth a try.
I hae always had an Electrolux (Aerus). That is the original company.

The ones you see around like Electrolux Oxygen are not the originals. You have to o o an Electrolux store. Always loved he machines. Every few years I take in for service, have the brush replaced on Power Nozzle and a tune up on vac.

My current one is over 10 years old.

 

[davey7]

If you have wall to wall carpet a European vacuum might not be your best bet. I have an ancient Kenmore canister and it has a power head for carpet, of which I don't have much.

What do people in Britain prefer, since that has more fitted carpet than other European countries, on average.

 

[whirlcool]

We've had a Miele Red "Dog & Cat" canister (S314) for about 9 years now. Nothing has ever gone wrong with it except for the bag design screw up earlier this year. But that has been rectified by Miele to our satisfaction.

The wheels have not fallen off yet, the case has not cracked, the cord is plenty long for our needs and the hose is actually longer than the one on our Rainbow.

Our Miele vac has been the only one to pass the "black sock dog hair test". With all the other vacs we have owned, you vacuum the room then walk through it while wearing black socks and see how much dog hair is on your socks. With the Miele there is none, not even on hair on the socks. And our carpet is very thick with 10lb padding.

Vacs owned before were Bissel, Fantom Fury, Hoover. None of them were as easy to use as the Miele is. We feel that in 9 years time we would have gone through about 3 other vacuums. So even though we paid $500.00 for the Miele I feel we actually saved money with it in the long run.

But I do have to agree that Miele really sticks it to the American consumer with the price. The Miele vacs are nowhere near as expensive in Germany.

 

[norgeway]

I Will!

Just keep using my Model G Lux and my Singer Golden Glide!

 

[maytagbear]

It's the Mercedes Effect

Mercedes Benzes and BMW's are less expensive in Germany...still not cheap, but several thousand less than here.

Some lesser lines of Miele vacuums are sold in Germany at big box stores.

As for my purchasing experience, it could not have been any better. Local vacuum shop, you deal with the owner- and he does his own repairs, and very well at that....I had accidentally pulled out the bag retainer. He said that was a common thing, and showed me how to replace the bag retainer myself, on the spot. I have heard of such a thing as a Miele "Five Diamond" dealer. I don't know if he has that designation, but that's what his attitude and service to me has been. He also sells Simplicity and Royal, and Sanitaire. I feel like a valued customer.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[launderess]

MB & Europe

First time one went abroad was gobsmacked that MBs and even BMWs were used as taxicabs. Who knew?

*LOL*

As for the MB effect there is something else as well.

Once upon a time owning an "European" car like MB or BMW meant you had some serious money or excellent credit. Then both companies began diluting the brand with some "lower" priced offerings and or culling quality. If you believe Consumer Reports MB and BMW have some of the middling to worst reliablity rankings on average than some American brands. Indeed the joke around here is that it's a good thing both have free loaner programs because one is going to need a back-up.

Indeed many have switched to Asian luxury brands such as Infiniti or Lexus which while may not always offer the came cachet have proved very reliable and give value for money in terms of price and performace. Of the European cars Audi has moved up the rankings to even surpass MB and BMW in some areas.

 

[lordkenmore]

I remember in the 80s it seemed like the "European cars are cheaper in Europe" was a huge selling point for people to go to Europe to pick the new car up. It seems to me that I even heard (and correct me if I'm wrong), but if one put enough miles on that car before coming back to the US, it came in with more favorable import duties since it was "used."

 

[tolivac]

bought a Meile "Capricorn" a few years ago-like the machine-and the dealer threw in a larger dust brush and shelf brush with the purchase-and chopped the price on a power nozzle.Like the vacuum-but still my Kirby is best for the carpets-the Meile does the other jobs and goes where the Kirby Can't.Its one of the machines in my collection of vacuums.Do like the Sebo D4P better-has a longer cord-less plugging and unplugging-but don't like the WEIRD Sebo dust brush!the bag in the Sebo is a "bottomless pit" for dust!The machine can pack a lot of dirt into its HUGE Filtrete style bag.This machine is an improvement over the older "C" Sebo machines.