The commercials for the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser were funny. A couple sitting on a couch covered in plastic in a living room in which everything was covered in plastic, including their outfits. Having 3 cats and dog (yes, I have a problem), I was really excited about this vacuum and went against my better judgment and bought the appliance. My better judgment usually dictates that I do not buy the first model available of any product and wait until I can read consumer and expert reviews online.
Not this time. I was too excited and wanted it for Christmas.
Basically, the vacuum is very powerful, and that made me happy. Emptying the tank, however, was VERY messy and gross. The tank has a drawer on the bottom that you can easily pull off and dump out. The top of the tank, however is filled with dust and usual vacuum-tank-grossness and you have to reach up there to pull out this cylinder in the middle to release all that grossness. When you pull down on the cylinder, the mounds of finite dust and dust bunnies fall all over the vacuum cleaner because the bottom drawer has to be removed before you can clean out the top.
This seems a very simple problem to detect during pre-release trials if tested in an actual home by and actual person who vacuums on a regular basis. I cannot imagine how this two-part tanks system with bottom drawer has made it to the consumer. There are other vacuums that use this two-part dirt container. Don’t go for it!
I had to drag the vacuum outside so the dirt didn’t get all over the house and the vacuum is heavy! Then I had to clean the damn thing itself after all the dirt fell all over it during the emptying process.
AVOID THIS VACUUM.

I’m going to buy another one before too long and I’ll let you know how it goes. I’m even considering going back to the back system.