My $550 Riccar 8955 only lasted 4.5 years. When I bought it I was told by Moley Vacuum in Evanston that if I bought this vacuum I would not regret it because it was a quality machine. After 4.5 years the wheels no longer rolled smoothly.
Moley said it would cost over $200 to repair just the wheel problem and that the part alone was $160.
I said no thanks.
I'd have been better off buying a cheap throw away maching instead of an expensive throw away machine. Also, it was difficult to reach Riccar directly because my Riccar manual did not give a phone number for support.

Worst vacuum I've ever owned. I've had it 4 years and have had to take it in every year because something goes wrong with it. The latest is the motor and the chord. It has gone out on me three times. It doesn't have enough sucking power and the wide edge doesn't allow it to get into edges very far. It's high profile front makes it hard to get under anything and it is heavy and hard to push since it's not self-propelled. The foam handle pad wears out in about a month or so of use, so you will have to replace it all the time. The hose sticks in the vacuum also the extender attachment sticks or doesn't stay extended. Mine is now cracked down the center. This vacuum has been nothing but a big pain and certainly NOWHERE worth the $600 I paid for it. I'm going to go get another $200 Hoover. It never broke down and worked 10x better!

This vacuum far outshines any other vacuum I've had through my life! It sucks like a champ and takes care of pet hair... have a loooong haired cat that is very difficult to deal with. It has that under control and we're happy for the first time ever. I love the bags and how they keep the dust under control. We haven't taken the unit in for the warranty servicing, but haven't had any problems other than insuring the bags were on securely... it is quiet, maneuverable, and efficient. It is a bit heavy, but very durable. The long hose attachment is great for stairs and awkward areas. It does disconnect at times, but generally operates great!

I love this vacuum. I don't understand what some of these peoples problems are? I have 3 cats and cat hair was always a challenge this sucks it right off the floor and not like what they are talking about. This has great suction all around. I am surprised by the negative comments. Kirby, Oreck, Dyson, I did a comparison on these to my 8955 and Riccar won hands down. Way more suction. If you don't have suction you have dirt... Changing the bag was easy no dust no problem coming out of the bag plus there bags have a tab you can fold over the hole to prevent dust coming out. Don't buy a vacuum based on a review go and try one out you won't be unhappy with this purchase. You get what you pay for that is for sure

I am used to a 20 year old Kerby. I have not done a direct comparison of how much each one will clean but I would bet the Kerby would win. The only thing I like about this Riccar 8955 vacuum is that the hose comes off easily and I can get a tight spot without having to change anything out or move the vacuum. The Riccar does not suck evenly from both sides because the hose is on the right side, the wand attachment does not stay extended like it should, it is heavy to lift, and the upright section does not have a place down near the floor to grab and lift easily like the Kerby. The Riccar does not pick up cat pet hair very well from carpeted surfaces and instead rolls it and leaves it at the end of a push pull stroke in little clumps of hair. It does not have a height adjustment that I have found so it does not do well on different surfaces. The bag is an upgrade from the old machine, but I am disappointed that it is so hard to put in. The mechanics seem to work really well on it as I have not had any problems with the motor or internal working parts. I have not taken it in for service in the three years that I have had it even though I know it has a service program with it- I would have to drive several hours to take it back to the original shop and if I didnt get it there within 30 days of the original purchase date, the warranty is void. This vacuum was a gift, and I would love to re-gift it to an enemy.

I find this vacuum to be highly overrated for its price. I also paid around $600 for it. I don't find that it cleans any better than an Electrolux or a Eureka vacuum cleaner. I find that replacing the dirt bag is a royal pain. Taking it off is also less than desirable with dust coming out of the collection hole since the bag compresses while pulling it out of the vacuum. Ease of use, meaning pushing and pulling over carpeting, a chore. I also don't like the foam rubber sleeve on the handle, which immediately bunched up and now has an annoying circular rib in it. My advice, look at another brand. Even one star is overrated, but I couldn't make a submission without giving a rating.

This vacuum cleaner is almost 2 years old, and is still working like it was new. I've taken back to the vacuum cleaning store that I purchased it from twice to be serviced, which was recommended by the company. They changed the belt, put in a new bag, and cleaned it. In Jan. of 07, it will go back in for serving which may cost me this time. Yearly servicing is free for the first two years. It also makes for a good arguement that your main interest was serving the vacuum, in hopes that it would provide you with years of dependable service. I paid about $600.00 for this machine. I do have a cat and dog, so my dirt level is above average. I vacuum atleast every other day. If I average my cost over a 3 year perid, I suppose the cost of the vacuum has paid for it's self. The only problem that I have had with the vacuum has been due to operator error. I was told from the get go to be very careful when vacuuming around the cord. I did indeed get to close to the cord, and the cord was sucked up into the machine. The cord was damaged and had to be replace, which cost me $30.00. So far, the suction has remained the same.