Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I purchased this vacuum only after reading many reviews and learning that it was good for pet hair. I've had other Hoovers and have been a satisfied customer--until now. # As with most uprights, to use the tools, the hose must be disconnected from the a rigid plastic tube that comes from the beater bar and through which dirt and dog hair are carried to the bag when it's being used as an upright. # On this model, the beater bar never stops rotating (unlike other Hoovers I've had), so dirt, pet hair, and anything else that might be on the floor or carpet is continuously sucked through this tube regardless of whether it's in upright vacuum or tool mode or the machine is locked in the upright position. # This model was originally made with a cap for the top of the tube when the hose has been disconnected, and it's illustrated in the manual. It's now been "redesigned" (in the words of the several Hoover CS people I eventually spoke to). Even though it's also obvious on the product that it once had a cap, the cap is no longer being shipped and isn't available. # If the hose has been disconnected from the tube to use the tools, the action of the beater bar continues to suck up dirt, etc., through the open tube, propelling and distributing it in a great cloud throughout the room (that's probably just been dusted!). # I called Hoover Customer Service four times. They told me to set the adjustment for the beater bar on high (further away from the floor or carpet) and that that would stop the machine from sucking up and redistributing dirt through the open tube and into the room. This doesn't solve the problem, and I don't even have deep pile carpet. # It does have great suction--but in this instance, I'm not sure if this is the good news or the bad! # The last Hoover CS person to whom I spoke and also I asked to take back the product refused, saying that the vacuum worked as it was intended to. Interestingly, each of the people with whom I spoke knew exactly what I was calling about without my needing to explain it. This suggests to me that I'm not the only one who has had this problem, despite their claim that it's working properly. # Bottom Line: Hoovers aren't made as well as they used to be, and their Customer Service people won't deal with obvious performance problems. No more Hoovers for me.