A good one costs between around 530 and 1,300 euros. new cordless vacuum cleaner from our test. Especially with high-quality devices, it can be a good idea to have them repaired after the warranty period has expired. It is also more environmentally friendly than throwing them away. But what is the purpose of the repair service?
Stiftung Warentest tested seven repair services. Only one was very good across the board, two were good. While all the services always found and fixed the most important errors, some overlooked other defects. Others took too long to fix or did not communicate well. The costs varied greatly: the cheapest invoice in the test was 63 euros, the highest was 250 euros, and one service repaired one of the devices sent to it free of charge, without giving a reason.
Why cordless vacuum repair services are worth trying for yourself
Test results
Our table shows Stiftung Warentest’s ratings for seven repair services for the major brands of cordless vacuum cleaners: AEG, Bosch, Dyson, Miele, Philips, Rowenta and Vorwerk. The results range from very good to satisfactory.
The best repair service for you
63 euros or 250 euros? Wait a week or a good 14 weeks? Our test reveals clear differences in terms of duration, costs and quality of service.
Save on repairs
We give you tips on how to fix your cordless vacuum cleaner yourself after the warranty period has expired. And how to take care of it so it doesn’t break down.
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All test results for cordless vacuum cleaner repair services
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On Test: Repair Services for Major Vacuum Cleaner Brands
The suppliers of the major brands of cordless vacuum cleaners such as Bosch, Dyson, Rowenta and Philips either have their own service centers or offer specialized workshops through customer service. All seven tested cordless vacuum cleaner repair services accept defective devices from the brands they serve throughout Germany.
Tip: Even before the test is activated, you can see all the tested cordless vacuum cleaner repair services in the photo gallery below the index.
Repairs work differently
The test showed clear differences in vacuum cleaner repair services. The workshops of both brands ignored a defect that we had installed in two of the three devices we sent. Either the removed seal was still missing or the floor brush was still blocked by generously embedded hair.
Although most of the vacuum cleaners were returned relatively quickly, in some cases the test families had to be patient. After repeated requests, new vacuum cleaners finally arrived to replace the two devices they had been waiting for for more than two months. For comparison: the repaired vacuum cleaners of the test winner were returned after four, five and 15 working days.
See how we analyze vacuum cleaner repair services
We tested each repair service with three devices from the brand they service. In each of them we built two errors (This is how we tested). Each type of error occurred twice per provider.
- Damaged. We prepare housing parts from two cordless vacuum cleaners for each brand. For example, we break the lock on the dust container or suction tube, or damage the power connector that connects to the floor nozzle.
- Involved. We also blocked the floor brushes on two vacuum cleaners from each brand with lots of hair and fluff. Blocked brushes can trigger error messages, weaken suction power and also increase energy consumption.
- Not quite close. Last but not least, we wanted to know whether the services also pay attention to the condition of the rubber seals of the devices. We removed or damaged them on two devices per provider, such as the dust compartment or the suction tube connection.
The test participants secretly contacted customer service on our behalf and simply mentioned a major problem, for example that the device no longer sucks well, can no longer be switched on or that the dust container has fallen off. After the vacuum cleaners arrived at the test homes, an expert checked whether the defects had been corrected.
The testers documented the entire process, from the way customer service recorded the device’s problems from the first telephone contact to the invoice issued at the end.
Tip: It’s not just vacuum cleaners that break down. That’s why Stiftung Warentest also has Repair services for fully automatic coffee machines is for Laptop Repair Services examined.
It is better to replace outdated cordless vacuum cleaners
If you still have an old, power-hungry corded vacuum cleaner, we advise against having it repaired. Good new corded vacuum cleaners cost less than good cordless ones. Stiftung Warentest has determined: If your old device consumes around 2,000 watts of power, it is more environmentally friendly to replace it than to continue using it (Life cycle assessment of vacuum cleaners). Since 2014, these vacuum cleaners can no longer be sold.