Saw this on Studio's site and taken back a bit as it looks identical to the Gtech AirRam advertised heavily on TV. Searched for reviews and found that the machines are identical. Bissell makes it for Gtech or vice versa. Seems to be sold mainly in Australia. The Gtech version is £199, this one is £124.99 with an additional 10% taken off at checkout and free delivery bringing it to £112.49, a saving of £74. 2 Year Guarantee included.
• Cordless
• 22V
• Powerful brushbar rotates 3000 times per minute
• Built-in Li-ion battery with up to 30 minutes run time
• 4 stage LED display to indicate how much charge is left
• AirRam¼ technology compresses dirt, dust and fluff into a tight bale for easy emptying
• Low profile enables you to clean under furniture
• Lifetime washable filters
• Lightweight - only 3.7kg
• 2 year guarantee
Just checked Currys website and can't see that product anywhere, never mind at that price.
flipflop2
16 Mar 16#60
Having received our Bissell AirRam and given it a good vacuum test our findings were it works very well just like the TV ad. Still not satisfied with Studio's 2 year guarantee claim I emailed them yet again eventually I phoned their customer support, the chap I spoke too didn't seem to have much info on this guarantee claim but he did tell me that replies to customers email will take 14 day's!!.
Like Shadowmans post above I too contacted Bissell and yes they will not recognise this product for any uk guarantee. I have added to the above trying to contact Studio is getting me bounced all over the world when my emails were acknowledged it was still not clear if they really know how to answer the guarantee but I now have the answer, the guarantee will be acknowledged by a Company in the Netherlands that's really useful as I live in the UK, this whole issue is very Mickey mouse so back it goes
uglygit2004
9 Mar 16#58
Received mine yesterday, returned it today, Battery wouldnt charge, faulty battery or charger, contacted studio who said they couldn't replace it as they were out of stock and said they wouldn't be getting any more in! So I returned it!
81splaj to uglygit2004
9 Mar 16#59
That's the end of that then! I tried to talk to customer service about stock showing available online but not being to order a few days ago, very poor service..cut me off first time I rang, couldn't find me on system etc etc. Back to the search.
flipflop2
8 Mar 16#57
Futher to my post I have now received a reply from Studio regarding their 2 year guarantee on this product, they say they will guarantee the 1st year and the manufacturer will do the next. To me this does not make sense and flies in the face of Shadowmans post regarding his research with Bissell where they say it's not for the UK market therefor they will not guarantee it, even that fulls short in my book surely you guarantee what you make regardless of what country it is sold in
81splaj
6 Mar 16#56
Just had email fr Studio24 to say my account has been accepted and order processed...but....there is none left in stock!! Now have to work out how to cancel account. Interestingly item still shows available on site.
IamStillgame
6 Mar 16#55
Like its already been mentioned it comes delivered in the bissell box only and it was undamaged.As for the product it is really good and battery life is good, still showing 4 bars after first charge .It works well and saves on getting the heavier Dyson up and down the stairs. The plug comes fitted in an adaptor not uk plug , but so do other chargers these days .
As for Studio not so keen on them .The issues I had with setting up an account was not so good. I never received my account details with the delivery as said in e mail.Customer services are in Asia and dealing with them was an issue as I never really got my question answered. I did eventually get a letter the next day with my account number and set up my account and paid it off.
I would say the only problem I see if there is an issue with the product and dealing with Studio could be a problem. But I'll cross that bridge if it comes to it .
As for price - with the code and TCB it works out at £105 so a good deal in my eyes.
flipflop2
5 Mar 16#53
We have just received our Bissell airRam, the box it arrived in was unsealed, unpacking the product I can see why they have added a UK plug adaptor for use in the uk.There is a packing note inside for Bratislava Czech republic this bears out a previous comment on it not being available in the UK I suppose.The manual has no English
. All this said the product works ok , my main concern is the 2 year guarantee as stated by Studio but by who? I sent them an email but still waiting for a reply. My conclusion is that they have bought a batch from oversees and are flogging them in the UK at a reduced price under the Bissell brand and not Gtech. It is the same product which makes you think that Bissell (Bex Bissell) as I remember them from way back an American company are marketing this through the guy on the TV who either did actually invent the Gtech airRam or is just the front man for this Bissell product. It is the same unit and it does work. £112 or £199 it's your choice the gaurantee being the only stumbling point if it should go wrong and will this company still be trading in 2 years time.
81splaj to flipflop2
5 Mar 16#54
Thanks for info, have ordered now too, fingers crossed.
shadowman40
4 Mar 16#52
Been digging further on this. Whilst Bissell Uk won't warrant this item in uk, I have found that it is being sold in Germany on the QVC website. Further digging shows that their warranty is being covered by an EU importer called Mesa-products.com based in the Netherlands, so this may also be the case for the units at studio24. Has anyone checked the documents supplied by studio24 with the Bissell Airram?
Andi Keane
4 Mar 16#51
Even better, I have been refused an account as I don't fulfil the application criteria
shadowman40
3 Mar 16#49
I have enquired with Bissell about the warranty situation, as this product isn't available in UK from Bissell. Their response was quite categoric - there is no Bissell warranty in the UK for this product!
Thank you for your email regarding that Studio24 are advertising a Bissell Air Ram. We have just been informed that they are advertising this product. I can confirm Bissell Direct do not sell this product as this is not available for use in the UK. This product is currently available to purchase in the USA or some European Countries
Therefore, if you were to purchase this from them and you have any issues you will need to contact Studio direct regarding if the machine develops a fault as we do not offer a collection for repair service on this model.
Kind Regards
Andi Keane to shadowman40
3 Mar 16#50
And 100% guarantee they will say contact Bissel...
Oh the irony
Clusta
2 Mar 16#47
Anybody received there's yet? thinking of buying one for my mum :smiley:
dealtime999 to Clusta
2 Mar 16#48
Received and returned ours, didn't even unpack it. Box arrived very bashed and already open and this was the actual Bissell box, no other packaging used at all. From what I could see there is an adaptor plug fitted into the standard power plug which is an international variant.
Not too impressed with Studio so far, they were supposed to advise when the account was set-up and when an item was going to be sent but it just turned up yesterday?! Sorry can't help much with the machine but it does look identical to the Gtech - from what I could see within the box.
Andi Keane
1 Mar 16#46
Anyone else had any further information about dispatch/delivery, ordered Friday and not heard anything yet?
Thanks
dz1
29 Feb 16#45
How would this compare in carpet cleaning ability to a corded vacuum cleaner?
flipflop2
29 Feb 16#43
Ordered this on Saturday and had it confirmed by Studio I have recieved confirmation of delivery today and they have upped the price to £124.99 from £112.49. this could be a deal breaker for me as I don't like this type of trading, waiting to see their response to my email.
81splaj to flipflop2
29 Feb 16#44
Can you let us know what it's like please as am interested in purchasing too.
louiselouise
29 Feb 16#42
That's good - I'll let mum know about this offer. She's had her eye on the AirRam for a while :smiley:
louiselouise
29 Feb 16#41
Dyson US still have the banned advertisement on Youtube, and I have my doubts about any company-sponsored testing - independent, unbiased data is always best. Of course Dyson are going to defend themselves, even after having the book thrown at them.
louiselouise
27 Feb 16#31
My mum is a neat freak and always goes for the lighter options in vacuum cleaners. She's very interested in the AirRam but the comment above about one charge only lasting fifteen minutes would put her off. Might hold off a while and see what other users reckon first before recommending it to her.
therealclaireh to louiselouise
29 Feb 16#40
The G-Tech version does at least 3 times that on a full charge, the person only getting 15 minutes either isn't charging fully or has a duff battery
seagullofDoom
28 Feb 16#39
Missed a bit from that same article:
A spokeswoman for Dyson said: “This dispute is over a two-year-old YouTube video, which we have happily removed. As guided by the ASA, back-to-back testing on our latest cordless technology shows our machines possess at least 10 times the suction, and pick up a total of 70% more than the Gtech AirRam across the three floor types tested.”
louiselouise
28 Feb 16#38
I'm pretty sure AirRam (G-tech) took Dyson to court recently over some misinformed advertising pooh-poohing their product.
In saying that, I'm still waiting to see what others make of this before recommending to mum :smiley:
The ASA experienced numerous problems evaluating test data provided by both companies to back their claims and counter-claims – including that the two devices were not properly tested in identical conditions. In the end, the ASA decided the tests were either not comparable or not robust enough to be used to claim the DC59 was superior.
When it came to Dyson’s claim that it had “10 times the suction” of its rival, the ASA used its own independent expert to help evaluate and test the claims.
The ASA said: “We noted that the [Dyson] claim could not be made when comparing their results to those recorded by the independent testing house, or for the other IEC test surfaces [other than on hard flat floors with crevices], regardless of whether Dyson’s or the independent test house’s results were used.
“We considered the ads conflated suction power and pick-up performance and suggested that the DC59’s pick-up performance was 10 times better than the AirRam. We concluded that they were misleading.”
The ASA made similar rulings about the wider claims made in the newspaper ad and the YouTube video.
“Because we considered the test data provided did not show that the DC59 performed better in comparison to the AirRam when picking up dust from the IEC standard test surfaces, we concluded that the ad was misleading,” the ASA ruled.
“The ads must not appear again in their current form. We told Dyson Ltd to make clear the basis of their comparisons in future and to ensure they held adequate comparative test data to substantiate any implied or stated comparative pick-up performance claims.”
dz1
28 Feb 16#37
BS video from Dyson. Who cares if the dyson has more power. It's not needed on the Airram because the dirt only has to go up a couple of inches instead of having to travel much further up a long tube on the dyson. Also, this video shows how incredibly noisy the dyson is compared to the Airram.
cptwhite
28 Feb 16#35
Bit confusing. Apparently I've ordered one, but selected the "no credit" option. I've received confirmation by e-mail it's ordered, but no account registration e-mail (and thus I don't have an account number to be able to login to the website to check my order) and I've not supplied any payment method....er....what's happening, lol.
Andi Keane to cptwhite
28 Feb 16#36
I thought the same but read the terms and conditions, once your order is complete and delivered you will be sent an invoice with your account number in the packaging
Should be at the bottom of your conformation email
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
You have applied for an account with Studio; Studio will search your record at a credit reference agency or agencies who will supply Studio with account information as well as information from the electoral register, which will be used to assess your application and to verify your identity.
When your application has been approved, your order will be processed and dispatched to the address you have provided. Enclosed within the parcel will be your order documentation, at the top of which you will find your account number, please record this and keep it safe.
bavis1
26 Feb 16#8
yes this is same as GTECH it is made in same factory initially for the Australia/New Zealand market only difference is the USB port on the bissel does not work,apart from that exactly the same,best cordless on the market for the price,makes you wonder why Dyson charge so much for the equivalent machine
shadowman40 to bavis1
27 Feb 16#32
Slightly concerned about this Bissell Airram being made for Australia and New Zealand market only. How have this supplier got hold of them, and where would we stand with regards to the manufacturers 2 year warranty for a product not intended for the uk market? It isn't listed on uk Bissell website, and the product registration page only allows Aus or Nz addresses.
They're probably made in the same factory, just upside down.
sam_proctor95
26 Feb 16#30
If the cord doesn't particularly bother you and you just want a machine this slim style that packs a lot of power in you can get the Shark Rocket Powerhead reduced to £89.97 in Currys with a 5 Year Guarantee, really light but brilliant on both hard floor and carpet.
vfxuk
26 Feb 16#21
My grandmother had one of these but returned it as the 30 mins is more like 15, and then takes 3 hours to charge up again. She was ending up cleaning one room per day instead of the whole bungalow in one go. It's also no good for larger things which you would expect a hoover to pick up like the odd stray catfood kibble.
We got her the Gtech instead which is a world of difference.
Don't mistake this for being in the same class as the AirRam, its more like a dust buster on a stick.
dealtime999 to vfxuk
26 Feb 16#28
I thought the internals were identical to the Gtech?
blackrat62 to vfxuk
26 Feb 16#29
It seems to be the same as the gtech - in fact the reviews and visual comparison confirm it is identical - perhaps she had an inferior product from bissel?
TedStriker72
26 Feb 161#18
Why do you need a USB port on a hoover? What does it allow you to do?
speric07 to TedStriker72
26 Feb 16#27
So you can charge your Galaxy S6 when hoovering!
winchman
26 Feb 16#26
Reading between the lines, this looks fine for hard floors and short pile carpets, no good for anything deeper.
The online chat confirmed with me you had to open an account , await credit check & approval .. and then could pay 21 days later . Never had and don;t want any form of credit account .. quite happy to just pay for it !
paulwmather
26 Feb 16#23
Good deal. That said, I own this and the Dyson V6 animal and I find the animal is more powerful, versatile and easier to menouver and so use that 95% of the time. Still, good price for a decent cordless.
tonge77
26 Feb 16#22
Just got the Dyson DC58 which is the best for £149 at Very and once my cash-back tracks be about £130.
georgeb
26 Feb 16#19
Not as good as Dyson v6 in my opinion.
tucka20 to georgeb
26 Feb 161#20
Not as expensive either
pennymakespounds
26 Feb 16#16
it's a catalogue company ... cannot simply buy now . ..have to buy on credit . What a shame
Andi Keane to pennymakespounds
26 Feb 16#17
You don't have to take credit, you can pay once the order is complete rather than credit installments
support28
26 Feb 16#15
How does this compare with a DYSON V6 absolute?
therealclaireh
26 Feb 16#14
The USB doesn't work on the G-Tech either there use to be a time when it did and apparently G-Tech would either sell you or include in the box a cable and software. When i got an air ram last year it didn't include anything to use the USB function and G-Tech no longer support it or supply the kit
adhkarzf
26 Feb 16#13
actually they're really good with returns if you're desperate to save some cash there's no harm in trying. I've given back open items and used items because I wasn't happy with them and I've never had an issue. They even took back windscreen wipers I'd had for a year as they'd started streaking after about 6 months without a problem.
IamStillgame
26 Feb 161#12
Great find. Bought one too
Looks identical apart from name and the non working USB port.Why pay more for the G-Tech, just to get a bridging cable and a working USB port . Although the USB port doesn't work on this Bissell model , it might in the future.
7.07% top cashback offer for new customers too.
For those interested read this review and more about the USB port function check link below http://www.digitalreviews.net/reviews/miscellaneous/who-needs-a-cord-anyway-bissell-airram-vacuum-cleaner-reviewed.html
COMMENT FROM LINK ABOVE
It turns out that the Bissell AirRam is also known as the Gtech AirRam. And from what we can tell, both the Bissell and Gtech AirRams are identical in specification bar one item: Unlike Bissell's marketing, the Gtech website suggests that with a Windows PC, users can "calculate the electricity you have saved, check the condition of the battery and even see how many calories you have burnt whilst cleaning." Hmm.. LOL:laughing:
Andi Keane
26 Feb 162#11
Input code 047 for free delivery and 10%, just worked for me as a new customer
7% quidco.com too
robertoegg
26 Feb 16#10
credit search?!
mishmar
26 Feb 16#9
I've done the same, and used it! Doubt Costco would take mine back?
Anarki
26 Feb 16#7
Showing as £129.98 including the P&P at the checkout for me.
garygdicker
26 Feb 16#6
just ordered. ta
FenwickBOOM
26 Feb 16#4
Just bought the GTECH one on Tuesday for £169 at Costco, if I'd known I'd have waited... heat added.
Opening post
• Cordless
• 22V
• Powerful brushbar rotates 3000 times per minute
• Built-in Li-ion battery with up to 30 minutes run time
• 4 stage LED display to indicate how much charge is left
• AirRam¼ technology compresses dirt, dust and fluff into a tight bale for easy emptying
• Low profile enables you to clean under furniture
• Lifetime washable filters
• Lightweight - only 3.7kg
• 2 year guarantee
Review here: http://www.digitalreviews.net/reviews/miscellaneous/who-needs-a-cord-anyway-bissell-airram-vacuum-cleaner-reviewed.html
EDIT: The link seems to revert to the homepage, not sure why. Search for Airram in the search box. Maybe someone can fix this?
EDIT: Studio have removed the 10% discount offer and free delivery today 26/02. Price now £124.99 plus delivery.
http://homeshopping.24studio.co.uk/february-up-to-80-percent-off/homeware/electricals/vacuums-steam-cleaners/1/bissell-airram-22v-cordless-vacuum-cleaner/6?wmpsorigin=search
Code 047 for new customers for the 10% off and free delivery
7% Quidco for new customers also
- Andi Keane
http://www.bissell.com.au/products/c/vacuum/p/1047f/product.aspx
- winchman
Latest comments (61)
Like Shadowmans post above I too contacted Bissell and yes they will not recognise this product for any uk guarantee. I have added to the above trying to contact Studio is getting me bounced all over the world when my emails were acknowledged it was still not clear if they really know how to answer the guarantee but I now have the answer, the guarantee will be acknowledged by a Company in the Netherlands that's really useful as I live in the UK, this whole issue is very Mickey mouse so back it goes
As for Studio not so keen on them .The issues I had with setting up an account was not so good. I never received my account details with the delivery as said in e mail.Customer services are in Asia and dealing with them was an issue as I never really got my question answered. I did eventually get a letter the next day with my account number and set up my account and paid it off.
I would say the only problem I see if there is an issue with the product and dealing with Studio could be a problem. But I'll cross that bridge if it comes to it .
As for price - with the code and TCB it works out at £105 so a good deal in my eyes.
. All this said the product works ok , my main concern is the 2 year guarantee as stated by Studio but by who? I sent them an email but still waiting for a reply. My conclusion is that they have bought a batch from oversees and are flogging them in the UK at a reduced price under the Bissell brand and not Gtech. It is the same product which makes you think that Bissell (Bex Bissell) as I remember them from way back an American company are marketing this through the guy on the TV who either did actually invent the Gtech airRam or is just the front man for this Bissell product. It is the same unit and it does work. £112 or £199 it's your choice the gaurantee being the only stumbling point if it should go wrong and will this company still be trading in 2 years time.
Thank you for your email regarding that Studio24 are advertising a Bissell Air Ram. We have just been informed that they are advertising this product. I can confirm Bissell Direct do not sell this product as this is not available for use in the UK. This product is currently available to purchase in the USA or some European Countries
Therefore, if you were to purchase this from them and you have any issues you will need to contact Studio direct regarding if the machine develops a fault as we do not offer a collection for repair service on this model.
Kind Regards
Oh the irony
Not too impressed with Studio so far, they were supposed to advise when the account was set-up and when an item was going to be sent but it just turned up yesterday?! Sorry can't help much with the machine but it does look identical to the Gtech - from what I could see within the box.
Thanks
A spokeswoman for Dyson said: “This dispute is over a two-year-old YouTube video, which we have happily removed. As guided by the ASA, back-to-back testing on our latest cordless technology shows our machines possess at least 10 times the suction, and pick up a total of 70% more than the Gtech AirRam across the three floor types tested.”
In saying that, I'm still waiting to see what others make of this before recommending to mum :smiley:
*Actually, one article is here and it refers to that very same Youtube video/advertisement http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/dec/02/dyson-advert-sucks-advertising-watchdog-advertising-gtech
The ASA experienced numerous problems evaluating test data provided by both companies to back their claims and counter-claims – including that the two devices were not properly tested in identical conditions. In the end, the ASA decided the tests were either not comparable or not robust enough to be used to claim the DC59 was superior.
When it came to Dyson’s claim that it had “10 times the suction” of its rival, the ASA used its own independent expert to help evaluate and test the claims.
The ASA said: “We noted that the [Dyson] claim could not be made when comparing their results to those recorded by the independent testing house, or for the other IEC test surfaces [other than on hard flat floors with crevices], regardless of whether Dyson’s or the independent test house’s results were used.
“We considered the ads conflated suction power and pick-up performance and suggested that the DC59’s pick-up performance was 10 times better than the AirRam. We concluded that they were misleading.”
The ASA made similar rulings about the wider claims made in the newspaper ad and the YouTube video.
“Because we considered the test data provided did not show that the DC59 performed better in comparison to the AirRam when picking up dust from the IEC standard test surfaces, we concluded that the ad was misleading,” the ASA ruled.
“The ads must not appear again in their current form. We told Dyson Ltd to make clear the basis of their comparisons in future and to ensure they held adequate comparative test data to substantiate any implied or stated comparative pick-up performance claims.”
Should be at the bottom of your conformation email
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
You have applied for an account with Studio; Studio will search your record at a credit reference agency or agencies who will supply Studio with account information as well as information from the electoral register, which will be used to assess your application and to verify your identity.
When your application has been approved, your order will be processed and dispatched to the address you have provided. Enclosed within the parcel will be your order documentation, at the top of which you will find your account number, please record this and keep it safe.
https://youtu.be/fntwTnJ7_nw
We got her the Gtech instead which is a world of difference.
Don't mistake this for being in the same class as the AirRam, its more like a dust buster on a stick.
http://bestcordlessvacuum.co.uk/gtech-airram-vs-dyson-dc59/
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-03/01/geekdad-tests-the-gtech-airram
It's noisey as hell
Looks identical apart from name and the non working USB port.Why pay more for the G-Tech, just to get a bridging cable and a working USB port . Although the USB port doesn't work on this Bissell model , it might in the future.
7.07% top cashback offer for new customers too.
For those interested read this review and more about the USB port function check link below
http://www.digitalreviews.net/reviews/miscellaneous/who-needs-a-cord-anyway-bissell-airram-vacuum-cleaner-reviewed.html
COMMENT FROM LINK ABOVE
It turns out that the Bissell AirRam is also known as the Gtech AirRam. And from what we can tell, both the Bissell and Gtech AirRams are identical in specification bar one item: Unlike Bissell's marketing, the Gtech website suggests that with a Windows PC, users can "calculate the electricity you have saved, check the condition of the battery and even see how many calories you have burnt whilst cleaning." Hmm.. LOL:laughing:
7% quidco.com too