New Year's Resolutions - how long do they last?
Going to the gym might make it through to the end of February.
Eating less? Done and done the first weekend when you feel a bit blue.
A new relationship? Let's see how that turns out after a long hard gaze in the mirror!
But this New Year I looked around my apartment and noticed that the floor was a tad dusty around the edges. That meant the carpets would also be less than pristine, even if less visible.
My 'old' Electrolux cordless was clearly reaching pensionable age after around three years.
New Year resolution: keep my flooring in better condition!
So, I decided to check out the latest in cordless vacuuming.
Of course, there's the ubiquitous Dyson range, but they are not inexpensive. I was OK with the idea if the value proposition worked out.
I checked out a load of reviews. The Dyson V10 seemed like a good machine but another brand kept popping up alongside. Tineco and the A11 model. As it happens, the A11 seems to be discontinued or about to be as there is a newer model called the S11 around right now with stuff like WiFi connection and app support for smart functions.
The Dyson V10 runs at about €600 with the tools package I'd need for hard and carpeted floors. The Tineco was a LOT less, in part because the main floor head works on both carpet and hard floors whereas the Dyson needs an additional hard floor head to supplement the carpet head.
The Tineco price was discounted on Amazon with a coupon but there were some for sale through Amazon that we listed as 'used -like new' I bought one of these for just €209. The brand new price was about €300. I decided to take a chance on the expectation that I would probably end up with a brand new machine being discounted to shift the last few. I have had a great record of success with this strategy, every time I have saved a load of money and purchased new goods.
Price aside, why the choice of Tineco rather than another brand?
1) Two batteries supplied
2) The package I bought had the accessories I wanted
3) The LED headlamps - they really show up the dust on the floor to my shame and embarrassment
4) Consistently high reviews including reviews from people who actually check and provide relevant measured data.
5) There's a switch lock on the on/off trigger. The Dyson requires the user to keep the trigger pressed all the time in order for it to work.
When the box was delivered it was immediately apparent that this was a new box. Of course, it might have been re-boxed so I reserved judgement. When I opened the box in my living room it was immediately clear that the vacuum unit was brand new, never used.
In fact, the only item that may have been used was the floor head which had some marks on the wheels that suggest it had been rolled across the floor, but it was spotless and the brushes were fully aligned, obviously unused. The instruction manual had been removed from its bag and the bag was somewhat crumpled.
I have no idea what has happened it seems that I have a re-boxed machine, but how come the only item to have been used at all was the floor head how come?
No questions from me though, I am happy to have gotten a machine that reviews and measures similarly to the equivalent Dyson products at 1/3 the price. All it has to do is last its two year warranty period and I reckon I will be quids-in!
Would I have chosen the Tineco if I didn't get a great price? Possibly not. But having used the thing now, I can say that it is way ahead of the corded and cordless vacs I have at the moment. I liked the idea of spending more and getting the smart features, but in the end, I vacuum the floors. That's not stuff I need or need to pay for.
So, 2022 has gotten off to a really sucky start!