I purchased this "steam" vacuum cleaner after hearing an older woman, at my job, praise it so. She was bragging to her girlfriend about how her son worked at Best Buy and that they sold this particular machine. I helped myself into the conversation and the woman told me of her experiences. She said she's bought "cheap ones and spendy ones" and that for value and duty, the HOOVER STEAMVAC was the best. I was impressed with her story and her genuine stories of vacuum experiences, which she continued to share.
I have been happy with this machine up until recently. I don't remember the circumstances of how, but I failed to lock the CLEAN SOLUTION TANK properly. The result was a dropped tank. The tank was somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 full. What I got was a BADLY chipped tank. The problem: there is also a crack that runs JUST outside the tank. 1-2 millimeters further and the tank would have been breached. So you might say "well Roger, you dropped it. What do you expect?" I say "I would expect the manufacturer to make something that lasts!"
The Clean Solution Tank is a component that, by design, is removable and then locked back into place by the user. It is there to store the cleaning fluid (mostly warm water). In my opinion it's expected (or hopeful) that this machine will sell across the demographic landscape. So why is a component that will be frequently removed and replaced, with varying weight within and strength of the user, made with plastic so vulnerable to breakage? You decide.
HOOVER has been in business for decades and this kind of poor quality is unacceptable at any price point. I was fortunate that my first and only drop came during the original manufacturers warranty period, so I should be able to have it replaced. What about other consumers (with varying incomes, resources & etc) that have paid $175+ for a machine that they expect would last a few years, but find themselves with a broken tank outside of the warranty? You decide.
UPDATE: I drove to the nearest authorized warranty/repair shop and they said that this issue isn't covered under the manufacturer's warranty. I called Hoover and their first line of defense (tier 1 customer service) also said that the part was not covered under warranty. If I wanted to replace the tank I would have to pay $30+ and that's before shipping. I told her that was unacceptable and I asked to speak to someone to voice a complaint (tier 2). They offered me a discount to purchase the part at a discount. I didn't ask what the discount was, but I told him that the offer was unacceptable. I continued to explain that this is a matter of principle. Hoover is (supposedly) a trusted and reputable brand. The material (plastic) was not built to last (which I would call poor "material") especially for something that costs $175+. The tank is a component that is frequently removed and replaced, increasing the consumers' chances of dropping or otherwise damaging it. Hoover has clearly chosen to sell a product with "built-in obsolescence" and to not stand by the perceived brand integrity. I concluded the call by stating that Hoover had damaged their reputation with me. I will not buy another Hoover retail product and I highly encourage you to avoid their products as well! You decide.
