Until yesterday, I had owned an electric broom (does what it's supposed to and is handy for quick once-overs), an upper-midline Kenmore canister with all the bells and whistles that isn't worth a bucket of warm spit, and a low end Hoover upright which works adequately, but somehow I knew it wasn't doing a good job. I've used and borrowed several brands of "good" vacs and have found nothing satisfactory ( Dyson, Miele, Oreck). There's been a lot of press about the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser. Almost all reviews I could find online gave it 4 or 5 stars with the majority of the few complaints about the attachment designed for carpeted stairs. I have a ranch style, so this is not an issue.

The search began. Target and Best Buy are the least expensive selling it for $150. I found some prices over $200. Target and Best Buy both said that this model sold out quickly. Yesterday, I popped into a Best Buy which, fortunately, had gotten a small shipment in overnight. I asked the salesman about the hoopla and he said that the Dyson is wonderful ($400+). Yeah, but what about the Bissell? His comment was that they sell well and he's never seen one returned.

I assembled it this morning. Not a big deal once I figured out which piece was which. I didn't use any of the attachments, so no comment there. First the bad news: it's very heavy. It is self propelled which helps. But, it's h.e.a.v.y. Now for the good news: this baby works! I have a tight weave carpet in the den/livroom/dining room area that isn't too much of a problem when it comes to cat hair (Ms. Sasha has long hair and is a copious shedder). I couldn't believe the amount of DIRT that the vac sucked up. I last vacuumed on Monday, so the carpet could not possibly have collected that amount of crud in 5 days. Then on to my bedroom which has a low plush carpet that's a cat hair and everything else magnet. All I can say is that I'm glad no one else witnessed what came up. I had to stop the vac several times to pull literal plugs of carpet fibers, cat hair and who know what off the brush - remember, I vacuumed on Monday. I trust I won't have this big of a mess in the future. It was a revelation. Bottom line: The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is a keeper.

Hmmm... May have to check into this one, someday. I have my grandparents' Kirby Heritage, have used it since moving out of the folks' place. Mrs. T has bought and junked three of her own since we got hitched. She hates the Kirby and won't use it, but since I do most of the vacuuming I couldn't care less what she thinks she wants to use. But if she'll spring for the Bissell and use it, well that's win-win!

I'd like to get the Oreck, simply because it supposedly does the job but weighs only eight pounds. I hate heavy, clunky vacuum cleaners.

Well, I wish my husband had skipped the Oreck, because I hate it. It's great on floors, but it's grabby on carpet. I really don't like it.

That's a bit strange, since they use it in hotels, which have carpet. I don't have carpet and a regular upright just throws the dirt around, so this sounds ideal.