Sounds like crap to me... I have 2 aunts with Riccar TOL canisters. One has an Immaculate and the other Impeccable, neither have had the slightest bit of trouble with them and both are in use every day if not twice a day. My mom has a Simplicity S36 that is several years old and has never had an issue with it either. Though she hasn't used it much since I gifted her with an Aerus Platinum last April. The Riccar dealer here only has one model on display, the Impeccable, and if you want to buy it, he orders one. The are very expensive, comparable to Aerus, Kirby and Miele and not yet as well known so some are reluctant to buy.... I've met more than the average number of vacuum salesmen, a very small minority are what I would call totally honest, a few more are prone to some exaggeration and the majority are downright lying if their lips are moving. I've heard it all, I know what wholesale costs are, I repair vacuums as a side business - I know what the failure rates are, especially for out of warranty machines. I've seen very few Tacony products that ever need more than cosmetic repairs or replacement tools. I also work on sewing machines and sergers, and the Tacony manufatured machines (Baby Lock non computerized machines) and those made to Tacony spec by Brother, are again the machines I see the least and usually it's user error or just a cleaning that is required. Tacony has always had a very good reputation for reliability so I really have to question the motives of these dealers. I will also say that second to Kirby, Miele is the most frequently traded in vacuum followed by Dyson when I am out selling Aerus.... have only taken in one Tacony upright in and that was worn to death... they USED that machine HARD for nearly 8 years, the motor was burned up due to running with a clogged/full bag and hose for months... the bag was a rock and the dirt path from the floor nozzle to the bag was just as solidly packed with dirt and hair. It was vacuum abuse.