An older friend showed me their rainbow and how it worked and they had an immaculate house in Victoria, TX.. Later, I bought a house and paid $1500 gladly for my rainbow in 1984. it lasted till 2000 and got damaged beyond repair when we moved. I even used it during a church remodeling w/ torn out walls and the dust was thick as an Iraq dust storm! It cleaned out the air in minutes! Do the maintenance once a month (clean and lubricate/brush the plastic thingy that spins in the water) or so, change the water out after vacuuming and do not store the motor on the basin and it will last! Even if you torment the machine as I did. I do not recommend using it for construction work, but I did and it took it. I bought another one to replace my old one off the net refurbished like new form an authorized dealer for $1000, if I remember right. I have had it for 10 yrs and it works great! I have busted a few basins vacuuming the top of cabinets when it fell from 3 feet high off the counter and the motor was fine. Lucky me. Next time I will buy the longer hose, I did not even know they had it till today. I am doing research to buy a newer model. The Rainbow is a GREAT machine and durable as hell ! ! Sorry y'all have had some bad sales folks. Bad times seem to breed bad folks. I have owned Kirby, Dust Devil, one called a "Pig" sorry I cant remember the name, when I was younger and serving in the Army.. I'll stick w/ Rainbows now. My friends say my house is immaculately clean and I love it, THANKS RAINBOW! Do your research and talk to a few folks who have owned one. I am sure if I was not hell on my first one I would still have it. Do vacuum slow and use a N. to S. and the a W. to E. method and it will clean great. I lived in an apartment and they had patched the carpet and my Rainbow pulled up the patch! Replace your carpet and the carpet installers will love the clean floor under the pad. It truly gets all the dirt! You decide for yourself! T.K. San Antonio, TX 2/23/2012