Eureka 4870GZ Boss Smart-Vac Upright Vacuum
by Eureka
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List Price: Category: Home See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Eureka 4870GZ Boss Smart-Vac Upright Vacuum
Customer Review: Thanks Amazon reviewers!
Summary: 5 Stars
I went out today and bought "The Boss" based solely on the numerous positive reviews (almost 500) here on Amazon. I must say I agree 100% with all of my fellow reviewers---this vacuum is awesome! Did I mention that it's cheap too?
Considering that there's little to be said that hasn't already been said umpteen times in these sundry reviews, I'll keep mine brief. I will say though that "The Boss" restored my faith in Eureka. Let me explain. Around Christmas I bought Eureka's notorious "Altima" vacuum. It was horrible! Why, it couldn't pull a greasy string out of a whale's mouth. It could hardly even suck the ash from the end of a cigarette. It was terrible and I swore I'd never buy another Eureka. Well, that was then and this is now!
The Boss is awesome! It has the suction power of a Kansas tornado yet runs as quietly as a purring kitten. Speaking of kittens, this thing is wonderful on pet hair---especially when using the "Power Paw" attachment. The "Power Paw" on my old "Altima" was a worthless clod of plastic, but this very similar attachment on the Boss is superlative! It is an absolute must on steps as well as car seats---just you wait and see! The only gripe I have with it is that there is no practical storage for it on the vacuum itself. The Power Paw will, unfortunately, have to be stored separately.
As I've already mentioned, this thing operates very quietly. This does not mean that it's not doing its job though---far from it. My fairly new plush carpet looks BETTER than the day it was installed a few months ago. Most vacuums leave tracks on plush carpet and I suppose that's to be expected. Not with The Boss though! The Boss seemed to magically "fluff" my carpet as well as clean it. Don't ask me how---maybe it's supernatural or maybe it's just my imagination---but I am impressed with the fluffy feel of my plush carpet.
What more can I say really? This vacuum is a snap to assemble from the box, it's lightweight enough to easily carry with one hand, it cleans as well as a Dyson (in my humble opinion), a drooling idiot can figure out how to operate it in less than a minute, and it can be had for well under $200. To quote The Who, "I'd call that a bargain, the best I ever had!"
Customer Review: Except for good suction it is a total piece of junk.
Summary: 1 Stars
Yes, I read the CR review which gives it a high rating for suction for the price. If suction is your only factor then sure, it may work for you. This gets 1 star because there is almost no design component of this vacuum that works even slightly well.
What's wrong? Try...
* You have to be wearing boots on to stomp on the handle release. It is just terrible and does not work. I can just barely do it with just my socks on (using my heal to stomp it) and I'm a big guy. The wife and kids don't stand a chance with it.
* The cord just falls off the thing due to the poor lower cord holder design. And even if that were designed well, the top cord holder just turns upside down on its own and dumps the entire cord off the back.
* And good luck attaching the plug back onto the cord, it is nearly impossible. I had to trim the tabs with a box cutter to get it to work.
* It is extremely noisy
* It is very heavy
* The bare floor switch (which stops the brush) just plain does not stay in place. See discussion threads for more info.
* You really can't adjust the floor height while it is "down", you need to raise the vacuum off the floor first.
* The light doesn't light up a darn thing. It is worthless.
* It "tracks" crooked across the carpet, if you can believe that. It takes a lot of work to keep it going straight. Very strange.
* The accessories are actually stored behind the cord (when it is wrapped up) so they are difficult to get in and out.
* It is billed as "extra wide" but it doesn't vacumm well at the edges so what's the point in that?
* Even the accessory design is weird. The two extension tubes will only fit on in a certain order in a certain way. You can get used to that but why should you have to train everyone in the house how to attach them together?
Plus points? Nice color. I like the power switch. It clicks on and off very easily (probably made in the U.S.A.)
My wife and daughter hate it and refuse to use it. I am going back to my 15 year old Panasonic instead until I get a new unit from a manufacturer with a clue. Too bad I waited too long to return this. I guess I'll just dump it on Craig's List for buck. An expensive lesson...
Customer Review: About what I expected.... but not disappointed.
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this vacuum to replace our Hoover Wind Tunnel, which we had for two years. It kind of just stopped sucking dirt as it should. My decision on a new vacuum came down to this Eureka model or a Dyson 17 Animal. I was a click away from ordering the Dyson, but purchased this instead... saving several hundred dollars. Upon putting the Eureka together, I noticed it is not made from the most heavy-weight material, mostly light plastic. This is what I expected from a $138.00 vacuum. I took note of several complaints made in prior reviews, mostly the release button to move the handle from its upright position (reported to be almost impossible to move); the weight (reported by many to be super-heavy) and the width/height of the head(reported by many to be too thick and too wide). Well, the button to adjust the handle is a little stiff, but not that much of a nuisance. The weight isn't much heavier than the Hoover wind tunnel. My wife has no trouble moving it up and down the stairs and she is in no way a big woman. The width/height of the head is a little larger than out wind-tunnel, but not a problem at all. Immediatly upon turning this vacuum on and making my first pass on the carpet, I noticed one thing... IT SURE DOES SUCK (and I mean that in a good way). And isn't that why we all buy vacuums? I simply want to pass on to anyone considering buying this model that it seems to be a great bargain for the price. Of course you would expect it to be made mostly of plastic (at this price), but if you are looking for suction, this baby has it. We have two long-haired cats and even though they don't shed much, this vacuum sucked up their hair on the first pass, unlike our Hoover. Even when the Hoover was new it didn't suck like this. I can't attest to the longevity of this vaccum, only having it for two weeks. But if you are looking for suction at a more than fair price, purchase this. And bags weren't hard to find as some say... they were right above the vacuum at the Walmart (I hate Walmart) store I bought it from. Also, the setting to use the hose-only turns off the sweeper head, which isn't then grinding into your floor while using the hose attachments. Good thinking, Eureka! Hope this helps.Customer Review: Awesome!!!! Pets, Children and Allergies
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the best vacuum I have ever owned. The 4870GZ model is the best vacuum for the price. I got it with two specials that were going on at Amazon for only $110. It is under $300 and very good with consumer reports.
This is a great vacuum for any price if you have pets, allergies or children. I have all three. Two children, two large dogs and allergies. I sucks up everything. My model had the power paw which I have come to love.
A vacuum with a bag is the only way to go for someone with allergies. I had a bagless vac, but couldn' empty it because I couldn't breath when exposed to all of the dust. I takes to long anyway to empty and clean. I like just throwing away the bag.
Amazon was really great. I originally got the wrong model. This is because the first one I received was a rebuilt older model, but in the box of the model I ordered. Just human error. Amazon had UPS pick it up at my door the next day and the day after that I received the correct one. Excellent on timing.
I have read reviews where people have reported it is too heavy. I am only 5 feet 2 inches and can carry it. It is a little heavier than other vacs but that is because it works so well. If you want a lighter vac it isn't going to clean as well. I don't really excersise but am use to picking up children. Older folks may have a probelm though.
Also I have read that people have had problems lowering the handle. It is important to know that the button you step on does not go back towards you. It goes to the left. So when you step on it, do not push down towards yourself (assuming you are standing behind it), push out to the left.
Another observation of mine has been that in order to change back and forth between bare floor and carpet you need to have the handle down. The switch is stiff, so don't be afraid to use a little pressure until it clicks into place.
One more thing. It feels like the vacuum is self propelled. I think this is because the roller goes so fast. You can't even tell from looking that it is moving. It just takes off when you start. It is harder to pull back. This just further proves how well it is cleaning.
Customer Review: Makes me want to throw it out a window
Summary: 2 Stars
It has awesome power, so much so that it's almost self-propelled on rugs--it moves forward by itself, powered by the brush roller, so all you have to do is pull it back.
But the handle release is terrible--it's a cheap plastic piece that's supposed to catch on another plastic piece to remain upward; you have to really stand on it (while holding the entire vacuum in place so it doesn't move). If it's on a bare floor, you end up jerking the whole thing upward and forward to get it to catch. I even took a file to the catch to try making it easier, but I don't want to do too much, else it won't catch at all.
The accessory hose is about three feet long. It's supposed to stretch, and it does--to about five feet, and only from the bottom of the vacuum, so you really have to pull on it to reach, say, cobwebs in the corner of a ceiling. Usually you end having to reposition the vacuum to make it reach. That gets really, really tiring after a while.
All the little tools that work with the accessory hose are buried behind the power cord; you have to dig for them if you haven't unwound the entire cord (ok, perhaps my fault there). But they snap into their slots in only one, precise way; I usually end up getting down on my knees to see how they go in. The power cord interferes with the accessory hose; I often get them tangled.
The switch that turns off the rollers so you can use the vacuum on bare floors is so small that you can only operate it with your fingers, and it's very stiff. So, I have to bend over, put a thumb on the switch and my other fingers on the front of the vacuum to pull it. Couldn't the company have made a switch you could operate with your foot? Oh, right--see my complaint about the handle release.
The front panel on the unit I received won't latch properly, so the panel hangs open about half an inch, permanently.
It's very heavy, which really isn't a big deal to me on its own--it's just that, when you have to deal with all the other irritations, I end up getting tired and simply manhandling the damn thing.
Do I really have to pay $400 for a vacuum that won't make me tired and mad?