L. Fielack Say: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
Disappointing, 2009-12-05
This review is for: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
From [...]I really wanted to like the Shark Multi-Vac, but, God help me, I'm about to throw it out the window! At first I thought having a vacuum with multiple uses (hand vac, upright vac, and canister vac) would be great, but changing from one configuration to another takes a degree in rocket science and a lot of energy. I'm generally a very tech-y girl, but I really don't want to be deconstructing and reconstructing a robot when all I want to do is vacuum the kitchen floor!!Deep breath.For ease of reading, I'll list the pros and cons (of which there are many):Pros: * Low Price: With one of those 20% coupons Bed, Bath and Beyond sends in the mail what seems like every day, I was able to buy the Shark Multi-Vac for about $80 at the BB&B on Queens Blvd. * Small Size: Petite for a small home/apartment * Powerful Suction: The suction was so strong it actually got hard to push on some of my carpets. (Wait, does that make the suction a con in this instance?) * Back Saver Attachment: This attachment, used in canister mode, allows you to get under furniture without moving heavy pieces or straining your back. However, I couldn't even figure out how to convert the vacuum to canister mode and I strained my back with frustration anyway! * Purple Vacuum: Need I say more?Cons: * Crazy Swivel Steering: I would have thought swivel steering would be a pro, but it is actually really hard to steer the vacuum where you want it. I had a hard time pushing the vacuum straight ahead and actually needed to lift it and replace it down on the floor a couple of times. * Complicated Design: As I said above, it is difficult to transition from one vacuum format to another and putting the vacuum together out of the box was like building a spaceship (I exaggerate a little, of course). You also need to remove the entire hand vacuum from the stick to empty the dust cup, which is supremely annoying. * Inconvenient Power Switch Location: Unless you have some serious monkey toes, you'll need to bend down to the bottom of the vac to reach the power switch, which out of multi-use necessity must be on the hand vac canister. This pregnant lady did not appreciate that. * No Beater Brush: The upright vac does not have a beater brush, which means the vac won't kick up things and I had trouble picking up even a feather from our extremely low-pile carpeting. (I did have more success with the upright vac in our tiled kitchen.) * Heavy: Despite being advertised as "light-weight," this Shark is actually a bit of a chore to push around. Perhaps this is an unfortunate side effect, however, of the difficult steering and super suction. * Short Hose: Forget about cleaning your curtains when the vac is in upright mode. The most you're stretching this hose is two feet and it doesn't come with a long-reaching nozzle attachment.The bottom line is that I must return this vacuum before it drives me crazy. I was blinded by how cool and gadgety the Shark Multi-Vac Looks, but I've learned a lesson that simple and dependable is generally the way to go with household appliances.

PERFECTIONIST "Roger A" Say: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
Good Buy for your Buck, 2009-11-22
This review is for: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
Well, I just purchased (and finished using) the Shark "UltraLite". My girlfriend was in need of a new vacuum cleaner so I was looking around for one to purchase for her. She has a cat and her house is always in need of cleaning and vacuuming and after reading reviews and the information about the Shark UltraLite Multi-Vac, I decided to give this one a try. I saw one advertised at Bed, Bath and Beyond for $119.00. It was on sale for $99.99 and with my 20% off coupon, it brought the price down to $79.99. (Not a bad price for this unit)My girlfriend is not mechanically inclined AT ALL, so when I got the vacuum to my home, I decided to put it together and try it out before I gave it to her. It was lucky I did, as the vacuum is quite like something straight out of Star Wars and the high tech design can be confusing to assemble, as well as properly use the various attachments and functions. However, if you have common sense and can follow instructions it should not be that difficult. The hardest thing was locating where you store the crevice/dusting tool on the machine.Once I had everything all together and felt comfortable with what I was doing, I began house cleaning. I must admit that this vacuum has the most powerful suction I have seen in a long time for such a small and versatile unit. The Stick Vac does as it reports and glides over carpet, hardwood and tile floors with ease and does a good job of picking debris up. A couple of times the vacuum had some difficulty getting a piece of dirt or something that may have become lodged in the carpet and this is when I missed a "Beater Brush" on the Stick Vac. Of course just when I thought the unit was a little "weak" on suction, it started sucking the grout from between the tiles on the kitchen floor and when I ran it across a throw rung lying on a hardwood floor, it sucked that up too. This just emphasizes the suction power of the unit. And once I got used to it, changing the equipment from Stick Vac to Portable Vac was quite easy. And by the way, the Portable Vac works excellent with the crevice/dusting tool or the Power Brush. I also used the Hand Vac, but this takes another step where you have to make a change to the equipment by sliding a piece called an "Air Dam" onto the dust cup. The Hand Vac also works as well as the Stick Vac.The unit has a sufficient length of cord (I believe 20 or 25 ft), but with large rooms such as I have, a longer cord (maybe 30+ ft) would be nice. And as I said before, a "quick change" Beater Brush for the Stick Vac would also be a plus. The only problem I really had with the unit was keeping the Dust Cup Cylinder attached to the canister. It twists on and off with a clockwise/counter clockwise motion and it kept coming loose. I solved this with a couple of pieces of duct tape. I don't consider this a big deal because you only have to open this to change the filters, which is recommended every 6 months.Overall this is a very good "Multi" vacuum cleaner for the price and would strongly recommend it.

Jan Honey Say: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
Former Dyson Owner Loves the Shark Multi-Vac, 2009-12-07
This review is for: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
This review is written mainly for Dyson owners that are considering the multi-vac. I own and LOVE a Dyson DC07 Animal, one of their oldest models on the market. It was my best friend for years until we pulled up our carpet and put down laminate flooring in every room of the house except for three bedrooms. New flooring meant a new method of vacuuming and the Dyson just couldn't meet my new needs. After reading the mixed online reviews, I bought the multi-vac on blind faith having been mesmerized by their online commercial.It is every bit as wonderful as the Dyson for vacuuming my bare floors! It picked up glitter from holiday decor, animal fur, my own long hair, shredded paper, corn flakes, mystery crumbs, and half-eaten bits of dog/cat kibble. It really does pick up both big and tiny debris - even better than my Dyson. Plus, I didn't have to pass over the same debris over and over to pick it up - one pass and done. I can quickly vacuum my kitchen floor then un-clip the hose to vacuum crumbs off the counter tops. I have picked up larger debris from my carpeted areas like sock fuzzies, tiny hair rubber bands, and even long strings from dog toys. There is no beater brush, so I will use my Dyson to deeply clean the carpet - but for everyday upkeep, the multi-vac works just fine.I agree that it takes a little patience to put the vac together. It also comes with a little learning curve when it comes to changing from one kind of vac to another. I'm getting faster at it and don't mind the "trickiness."Below is my comparison between the multi-vac and my Dyson.Multi-vac's light weight and swivel head maneuvers better than the Dyson, especially since I had to use the bare floor tool and hose all the time with the Dyson.Multi-vac's cord is shorter than the Dyson's. It's not terrible, but with the Dyson I can vacuum a whole level from one outlet.Multi-vac's dust cup is smaller than the Dyson. This is bad because it has to be emptied more often but good because it's easier to pick out accidental clean-ups (like the tiny accessories from toys).Multi-vac's dust cup is more difficult to empty than the Dyson. It's not too bad, but I'm spoiled by the ease of the Dyson.Multi-vac is easier to haul around and carry up/down stairs. There's a handle that "balances" it's weight so it won't clunk you in the shins.Multi-vac has a VERY low clearance compared to the Dyson so I can vacuum under my furniture without moving it!Multi-vac has better suction on bare floors.Multi-vac performs worse on carpets.Multi-vac has the same accessories as the Dyson (I think). The multi-vac's brush is connected to the crevice tool and pops up to put it in use (and sometimes pops back down on its own) and it isn't as good as the Dyson's.Multi-vac's "power brush" for picking up animal hair works as well as or better than the Dyson's. I don't really use this tool much.In short, Dyson users should not hesitate to buy this multi-vac to out-perform on your bare floors. It won't replace your Dyson, but it's an awesome everyday supplement.

bluemoon Say: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
Great ideas on this machine, 2009-11-23
This review is for: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
I bought this vacuum and returned it the next day. It just doesn't work well on carpet. It needs a beater bar. I Loved it on hardwood floors.....it is really made for that. It worked well on my kitchen rugs too. The edge design is great. I would've kept it if 80% of my house wasn't carpeted. I returned it and got the Navigator. I love it! It actually picked up what my old vacuum and the Multi vac left behind. The navigator has a beater bar on/off switch so it works well on hardwood floors, and fits under the cabinet toe kicks...and pushing a button to empty it is Wonderful! If you need a vacuum for wood or laminate floors, and some low pile rugs. This vacuum is great....and the price can't be beat. But if you have lots of Carpet....the Navigator is the way to go.

Megan Barrow Say: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
Great vac for my apartment, 2010-01-28
This review is for: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
I recently bought this at Bed, Bath and Beyond and I'm pleased with it. I have a spacious one-bedroom apartment on the first floor of a beautiful old house filled with dust -- about 3/4 hardwood and tile, 1/4 low-pile carpet, and a shag rug.Overall, I'd recommend this vac to people with small-ish houses or apartments with minimal, low-pile carpet who want something very affordable with excellent power. I gave it 4/5 stars because there is no beater brush and the hose is too short, which eliminates some important cleaning options. If your place is mostly soft carpet, get an upright (the Shark Navigator Never Loses Suction Upright has rave reviews on Amazon, although I have not used it personally).What I think is great:**Suction is awesome. My baseboards are even clean because it's so easy to just run the hose along them. Careful near curtains, shoes, etc. because it will grab em. This is what I was looking for.**Speed and balance. The suction power and small, flat part (the head?) make it a really quick job to pick up anything and everything, even under low furniture. Nothing has fallen off and the vac hasn't toppled.**Pet hair brush. I don't have a pet but I do have curly hair. Powerful and worked on my furniture.**Sound. Quiet, for a vacuum.What I think is OK:**Ease of use. It's light and the swivel is manageable with one hand once you get used to the weight distribution. Converting between modes is not super intuitive but gets faster once you look at the instructions a few times. The backsaver option is useful. Cord placement is a little funky and can get in the way, but many vacs have this issue.**The construction. Took me a while to understand how to put it together and how to convert to the different modes. I initially had some things on backwards, and the instructions don't tell you that the "air dam" piece is already attached to the vacuum so I spent 15 minutes looking for the thing, thinking it was missing.What I dislike or what could be improved:**Attachments. The hose is way too short to be useful for anyone who can't bend/stoop. I can, but my mom would have a hard time, for example. You can't clean up high with it. The crevice tool is fine but doesn't extend the reach at all, and I can't find a place on the vac to store it.**No brush. The lack of brush means deep cleaning in carpet won't happen. Although it definitely picks up the top layer of particles, I had to run it over the shag rug a few times to get stuff off.**Dumping. You have to take the vac off the stick in order to empty the dust bin.

mrr Say: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
Better than most Shark products, but room for improvement, 2009-12-17
This review is for: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
I bought the multivac a few months ago. Shark products always seem so promising when you first buy them, but it's unfortunate that they don't expend a little more effort with design and use better quality components. Note to Mark Rosen (CEO of Shark): before marketing something, give the product to people in the real world to take for a test drive in their homes for at least 3 months...and then listen to their feedback.As noted in another review, the multivac is very futuristic looking and assembly is not as easy as you'd think. I actually had to refer to the instruction manual (horrors!), but even then, it was challenging. The shape seems backwards because of how the back saver handle bends and where you attach the hand vac part is completely counterintuitive. It seems like you are putting it on backwards. I actually had to watch the infomercial again in order to figure out where the dusting / crevice tool stored on the vacuum because it was not even in the instructions.On the plus side, the suction on this multivac is just as promised, but it really does its best cleaning on hard surface floors. This is not the vacuum for you if you want to clean carpets. I had no problem picking up loose chunky pieces of dog food from the carpet, but unless the pet hair or fuzz or whatever is sitting loose on top of the pile, it's difficult to get hair or anything out of a carpet. It does handle large chunks with ease - no snowplowing and the suction along the edges is formidible. It works best on hard floors and fits easily under all but the lowest of furniture.Having said that, transitioning this vac from stick vac to modified canister vac to hand vac is a real pain. You need the patience of a saint and an engineering degree. I have a real problem getting the canister to attach to the stick assembly using a small butterfly-shaped wing nut that you twist to secure it on, but it's no easy task. You have to slide the vacuum part down the stick and try to keep it flush to the stick while making sure a tab fits into a slot on the stick at the bottom of the vac and then tighten the wing nut down to lock it in place. You need extra hands and a good back to pull this off. Another problem is that even after you attach the vacuum piece to the stick and lock it down, it can come loose and fall off in pieces while you are vacuuming. It just does not hold together well. The modified canister mode really does allow you access under low furniture with the back saver handle, but the hose assembly is short and the stick part just feels loose and floppy, like you have no control over it.I love, love, love the turbo brush used with the hand vac and the hose attachment. My carpeted stairs haven't been this clean in years, and the dog hair disappears from furniture like magic. Bravo. Job well done, and in my house, this is worth the price of the unit all by itself. Unfortunately, the hose is really a little too short, so I didn't feel like I had much reach with it. Even worse, the main vacuum assembly comes apart for cleaning the filter using a slight twisting motion to unscrew. There is no strong positive latch to make sure the pieces stay together. I can't tell you how many times the two pieces have unscrewed themselves while I was using the vacuum, mostly with the turbo brush on the hose, and the pieces fall on the floor. This occasionally is accompanied by the cover to the dust cup flying open and the dirt getting all over everything. The actual hand vac really needs a better latching system. The slightest twist or torque and it unscrews itself. Unlike another reviewer, I don't think a consumer should have to resort to duct tape (which I considered) to hold something together. Make it right the first time. Did no one at Shark field test this vac? There is no way Shark could have missed this design flaw if they used it in a real home instead of vacuuming lines of flour and piles of pennies like in the infomercial.In hand vac mode (without the hose), this thing has outstanding suction. In order to convert it, you remove the hose assembly and slide on a part called a dam so that the dirt will stay inside. I looked all over for this piece when I first got the vac, including pulling packing material out of the garbage and looking for it there. Turns out, it was secured to the bottom of the hand vac. They could have noted that in the instructions because it just looks like a part of the piece it is attached to.You just slide the dam in and then when you use the vac, particularly if you run it back and forth over something that it is actually touching, the dam falls right off - every time, and dirt falls out of the dust cup. Attention Shark Quality Control: back to the drawing board. I also wish the dust cup had a hatch-like release mechanism. I didn't realize that it did not, and the first time I emptied it, the cover fell in the trash and I had to dig through garbage and vacuum dirt to get it back. Ugh. Otherwise, the dust cup emptied easily.It does a great job on hard surfaces and the turbo brush is the best. The suction is everything they advertise. The downside is the unnecessarily complicated assembly, the awkwardness of transitioning from stick to canister to hand vac, the short cord (cheap cord, too), how difficult it is to get the vac to lock onto the stick piece, the way the vacuum pieces unlatch themselves and it falls apart while in use, and the dam that won't stay on the machine in hand vac mode. If you don't mind straining your back putting the vac on the stick and taking it off, and you don't mind using duct tape on the vacuum itself so the pieces don't unscrew themselves or fall off the stick, and you don't mind bending way over to get to the power switch, then this is the vac for you. The crevice tool / dusting brush also has a design flaw. When trying to use it as a brush(you slide the brush piece down the crevice tool and it clicks into place), the latch that holds the brush in place keeps giving out and the brush slides back down the crevice tool. I don't use this tool often so I don't care, but again, attention to detail.Come on Shark. It's easy to see the technology is there: excellent suction and excellent pickup. Stop cutting corners, pay more attention to design, use better quality components (like electrical cable that doesn't kink), and use real people to test the products in real homes for at least 3 months and then listen to their feedback. I was really happy with the vac for about a week before things started to fall apart and I realized that there was a lot of room for improvement. I'd swap the back saver handle for a more conventional design that is easier to assemble and disassemble, and that has parts that hold together and a longer hose, and if you put a beater bar on the stick part (especially if it could be turned off and on), and made the hand vac shape less clunky, it would be just about perfect. You got the suction down, now work on the rest.

Laura Michelle Say: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
See what exactly your other vacuum is missing, 2010-01-13
This review is for: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
After hearing my friend (who just happens to be a male) rave about his new Shark and realizing that I really needed a new vacuum that didn't need to be banged around and out-smarted to function....I decided to purchase this Shark with it's funky design. For $79 at Bed, Bath, and Beyond plus the 20% I figured that I had nothing to lose because A. any new vacuum that I purchase will be in the similar price range B. I needed a new vacuum regardless and all of the previous ones have held a life span of 3 years or less.With this said, I live in a one bedroom apartment (1,000 s.f.) with 2 cats, a boxer, and my husband. Even though I clean the apartment throughly once a week, the animal hairs and traffic throughout the apartment accumulates quickly. The results were unbelievable, vacuuming the entire place I had to empty the dispenser twice. Cat hairs on the couch were no longer a struggle (and yes I had the small pet attachment on the old vacuum). Kitty Litter on tile (which used to require me on my hands and knees with the vacuum hose towing around the cumbersome unit) has been conquered with the quality design suction and requires vacuuming no differently than if I was on carpet. The suction head fits neatly under the sofas allowing me to pick up more crumbs, pet hair, etc. And the Shark's unit "backsaver" is really just that, all you do is press a button near the handle and the entire vacuum unit lies flat minus the handle allowing you to reach underneath hard to reach places (i.e. dining room tables, sofas, beds) Another favorite part is that the canister comes out of the frame and it becomes a little hand held making it easier to clean ceiling fans, sofas, and steps to name a few. Plus the Shark is backed by a 5 year warrant which guarentees me that this vacuum will last longer than the previousI just get excited talking about this vacuum cleaner and my husband who avoids helping me clean house like it's the plague now offers to vacuum.To break it down the Pros are:' great suction' easily picks up kitty litter from tile' easily picks up pet hair' light weight' easy to use' great price' removable canister for a hand held device' washable filters (includes 3)' 3 attachments' Swivel Steering' backsaving lever' 5 year warranty' easily stores away' no need to adjust or transition between tile/wood floors to carpetCons (as if there could be any)' taking the canister out of the frame can be a bit tricky at first' the vacuum takes 30 minutes to put together out of the box' the hose could be a bit longer' the bin that collects the debris is small in comparison to other vacuumswhen using just the hand held, the canister sometimes gets loose and disengages itself; however, the contents do not spill out thanks to a better locking system used. (if you place your thumb on the righ hand side of where the handle and canister meet, this small problem can be overcome)After a month of proudly owning the Shark I've been bragging about it to everyone and anyone who listens. I hope that in 5 years I will be able to continue bragging about it and I'll be sure to update this if there is anything more to be said :)

Diane Mccann "Cake Diva" Say: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
Mostly a piece of junk, but...PET OWNERS TAKE HEED!, 2010-11-29
This review is for: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
This vac must have been designed by a class of 8th graders, who will never make it to engineering school. As others have noted, emptying the dirt cup is insanity. Rather than a removable cup, the cup is part of the motor. Only the lid comes off. So, you have to disconnect the motor from the stick, disconnect the hose, remove the cord from the clip and remove the dirt cup cover. Now, you have a huge motor in your hand, with the hose and the cord dragging behind. I have to lug the thing out to the garage because none of the wastebaskets in my house are large enough to fit the whole head of the motor into.Using this as a handheld vac is a joke. In order to maintain the proper suction, the entire unit must be flat on the surface, not tilted at an angle like a traditional handheld. So, you can only clean areas where there's enough room for the unit to sit flat. And who wants to get on their hands and knees to use a handheld?Attaching and removing the motor from the stick is difficult. Cheap plastic against cheap plastic doesn't make for a smooth slide. Now that I've been using the machine for a few months, it is STILL difficult to slide the motor up and down, but at least I'm ready for it.So, why did I rate this seemingly useless machine so highly?Because the two jobs it does well, it does better than any other vacuum, gadget or technique I've ever tried. And I'm a vacuum cleaner junkie.1. BEST CAT LITTER VACUUM EVER!! I have cats and hardward floors. Every other vacuum I've tried turned the litter into little projectiles, requiring protective eyewear. Or, it justs crunched over the litter turning it into a pile of dust. The Shark sucks the litter right into the head from the front and the rear. No shooting litter, no crushed litter. No missed pieces. And no changing a bag every other day because it's full of cat litter.2. BEST AT REMOVING PET FUR FROM FURNITURE. I've tried countless vacuums and was never satisfied with any. I've wasted tons of $$$ on lint rollers and every other disposable fur removal gimmick. The pet hair power brush attachment on the Shark is beyond amazing. I nearly cried as I watched this magical machine suck every piece of fur from every type of fabric - including all the cat beds. And at the end, all I throw away is the vacuumed-up fur. Not 20 sheets of lint roller or $10 worth of gimmicky pet fur remover sheets, only to repeat the money-draining process tomorrow.I also do like that I can shove the vacuum far under the bed. It's a little unwieldy, but it sure beats lying on my stomach and hoping for the best.Another design flaw IMO, When using just the motor and the power brush for furniture vacuuming, if you want to use one hand to, say, lift a cushion, and the other to vacuum, there's no easy way to put the motor down. The hose extends from underneath while the handle and power switch are on the top. Sideways is awkward, but really the only option.Bottom line -- This unit is a MUST for cat owners. If you have carpeting, you'll need a different vacuum for that, as this Shark does not have a beater brush. (I don't count this machine's impotence on carpet as a design flaw. It's not designed for carpet, so shouldn't be rated for that job. It doesn't make coffee well either, but I don't count that as a design flaw.)

steve "steve" Say: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
Must Have for Pets and Hard Floors, 2010-03-22
This review is for: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
This vacuum is simply amazing for pets and hard floors. It has no brushes for hair to be caught in and a wide suction. It is nearly flat, so easily slides under furniture and is able to suck up all the dirt and hair along the edges. The swivel enables it to drop below to reach even further under furniture and if you want to hold the canister you can reach completely under anything. There is easy access to the attachments and the pet hair remover one is fantastic. It also picks up large items like leaves and acorns that might be dragged in and will vacuum over most rugs. Highly, highly recommended if you have hard floors and pet hair to manage.

Bonjour Danielle Say: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
Greatest Pet Hair Vacuum Purchased!, 2010-01-21
This review is for: Big Save Shark Multi-Vac NH15 Sales
Vacuum must be assembled. I'm not very good at assembling anything and I was able to do it. It's great because you can use on hard wood floors or detach the canister and use as a super high powered hand vac. I have bought "pet hair" vacuums and they barely hold a light to this little shark. When using the floor attachment, dust and other particles just fly towards the vacuum. The fabric attachment greats work on couches covered with fur. I have two cats and it used to take me over 30 minutes to vacuum my couch with my old vacuum and with the Shark, it only takes me at max 10 minutes. I would have given this product a 5 star rating but it lost a star on the canister capacity. Because of all of the pet hair, I do have to empty the canister frequently, which also requires you to detach the canister if you're using the floor attachment. Great purchase and investment if you have pets and hard floors!