Background
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I'm the owner of an Epic 6000 (the Canadian Version) that predated the US 6500 by a couple of years. The units are identical as far as I can tell and vary only in the model number.
Like many Electrolux owners, I was introduced to them through family. I had an older hand-me-down Electrolux upright that stopped working properly. It just wouldn't pick up dirt so when I contacted Electrolux for the service, they convinced me to do the trade-in and cut $300 CDN (about $210 USD) from the $1,200 CDN (~$900 USD) price in 1995. I ended up paying about $900 CDN plus tax for a total of $1,050 CDN (~800 USD).
The sales process was done by a salesperson who came to my apartment. She demonstrated the unit and I tried to get her to clean the place while she was at it. She then insisted I do some of it as well, so I didn't get a vacuuming job as a bonus. I was probably a very easy sale because I'd been pre-sold on the brand by family experience.
Likes
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In the 10 years I've owned this unit, it really has been a joy to use. The plusses are as follows:
- Ample power - it has an 11 amp motor, but more important, the design allows for free flowing suction which works well on dust and dirt.
- Bagged Design - the bags are effectively disposable filters to reduce the redistribution of dust into the air through the exhaust. This is backed up with a disposable hepa filter. I prefer the bags since they allow you to toss out the dirt and lower the risk of inhaling nasty bits in the process. You also don't have to worry about cleaning a filter over the long haul. This ensures better suction, motor life, and air quality over time. One neat, but often unnoticed feature is the option of hooking up the hose to the exhaust. This helps to clear the hose if necessary, and I have also used the unit as a blower when I couldn't get into places (e.g. getting lint off of a refrigerator coil).
- Quality attachments & accessories - while Electrolux has started using plastics, these are very strong and light. The flexible hose has multiple layers and integrated electrical supply for the powered attachments. Over 10 years, it has maintained suppleness and all of the pieces come together with a satisfying click. The solid pipes come apart in two sections which permits quick changes of length and accessories. The unit includes crevice tool, hogs-bristle brush, a side-kick powered cleaning tool for furniture, and a floor bush.
- Dedicated Sales and Service - After 8 years of steady use, the unit finally started showing wear-and-tear. A relay switch went bad and the unit would trip its circuit breaker after 10 seconds. I called Electrolux and they sent over a delivery person who picked up the unit for repair. While at the shop, they also did a $200 overhaul of the motor as part of the repair. Expensive? Absolutely but I again had the confidence that this quality unit would run well for another 10 years. Two days after the pickup it was in my home and they threw in another box of bags.
Some Negatives:
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- Weight - This thing is heavy if you have to pick up the canister a lot. It's a tradeoff in the design. The canister allows for great flexibility in cleaning, but you're dragging it around. In comparison an upright design really doesn't need to be carried as much, but try cleaning a couch with it and you'll see the limitations.
- Noise - The 11 amp motor is powerful but very noisy. I wonder whether we need all of that power. I suspect that we don't but it's a kind of arms-race that vacuum companies use. It's a little like people focusing on the horse-power of a car but ignore the weight which has more influence on acceleration and handling.
- Price - It's a cliché with the original Electrolux (not to be confused with current models that are made by Eureka) that they include a premium. This is debatable since over the lifetime of the unit, it's probably the same price as several lesser brands that break, and are not worth the repair costs. Still, it's a small fortune to get something that can cost more than a used car.
In the end, I've felt that I made the right decision and have a cleaner home for it.
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