I did a lot of research before purchasing this machine.  This will not replace your vacuum cleaner, but serves as a quick easy clean up machine for small messes.  I wanted something to help with stairs instead of lugging our big machine up the stairs one at a time to vacuum.  It serves it's purpose.  I also wanted something in the sense of a motorized "dust pan" for small messes--crumbs from the kids, etc.  It works great!!