Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I purchased this item from Overstock.com. It cost less there, but now I wish I had purchased from Amazon, as their return policy is more reasonable. Out of the box, it was very easy to assemble. I love how easy it is to maneuver around a room with the multi-articulated base. It has great suction, and it does a much better job at picking up dirt, lint, etc. from my carpeted floors than my previous vacuum. I was debating between this and a Dyson Ball. From a maneuvering standpoint, it is essentially identical to the Dyson. The attractive feature for me was the lift-away so I could clean the staircase. To the best of my knowledge, Dyson does not have a corded lightweight vacuum combo that can do this. Therefore, I felt this vacuum to be superior. This feature, however, is the downfall of the machine. There are two clips that hold the debris canister to the main motor. When using the lift-away feature, these two clips are the only connection points that keep the handle attached to the motor. My first time using the lift-away feature, I lifted the canister, and the motor fell off. Upon inspection, I noticed that one of the attachments where the clip grips onto had broken off. I thought that it could have been my error that maybe I didn't clip it on correctly. I used some superglue to reattach the broken plastic tab. By the way, that was an amazingly strong attachment with superglue. I was very surprised! Anyway, I then debated whether to make a warranty claim. It is covered under warranty for 30 days. However, to make a warranty claim, you have to send the entire machine in (free of charge), and then Shark will evaluate whether it needs to be repaired or replaced. You then have to pay $15 to have the machine shipped back to you. I decided that my superglue fix was good enough, since it seemed amazingly sturdy, and it wasn't worth the $15 to me to make it "perfect." Two days later, I thought I'd give the lift-away feature another try. I carefully inspected to be sure the clips were tightly secured. I lifted the canister by the handle, and the OTHER clip broke exactly the same way. It was at this moment that I realized it was a design flaw and that these were the only two connection points between the handle and the motor. The motor really is not that heavy, but it must be too heavy to be held by these clips. Please note that it was the OTHER clip that broke the second time. My superglue fix held. I once again debated whether to make a warranty claim, but after I realized the design flaw, I decided it is not worth $15 to fix, because I know it will only happen again. To be certain it does not happen again, I now have the canister held in place with bungee cords. It is not a very attractive look, but I'm sure it will do the job so I can reliably carry the canister up the staircase without it falling off. Pros: 1. Great suction power. 2. Cleans the carpet floor very well. 3. Cleans the tile and hardwood floors of dust very well. Cons: 1. It will NOT clean my area rug. There are two "ON" settings. The first notch puts it on suction only. The second notch turns on the brushes. When cleaning my area rug (even when it is on suction-only mode), it is simply too close to the rug and I cannot push the vacuum forward. It is too difficult to overcome the suction. It works great on my regular carpet floor, however. 2. Poorly designed attachment of canister to motor. 3. The cord is slightly too short, although it would be reasonable to use an extension cord. Conclusion: This is a great idea, in theory. It cleans the floor well if you are planning on using it as a standard upright vacuum. If this is the only use you have for it, then this is a great buy! However, if you are looking to use the lift-away feature, I would not recommend this model at any price (I paid $110, shipping included). Am I happy with my purchase? No. Would I buy it again? No. Would I recommend it to a friend? If they have no stairs to clean, yes. For stairs, absolutely not. SUGGESTION: Do an Amazon product review search for the term "Broke," and you will see many, many other customers who had the same unfortunate experience as me. They all describe failure of the clips where the canister holds onto the motor.