Looking for a good sub $250 vacuum cleaner

[Betty]

Ours is currently broken - or so I"m told by the vaccuumer

However, having owned by bagless and bagged, I strongly urge you to use the bagless one where you can empty out the dirt.

Vaccuums work best when empty I think? you are more likely to empty it when your done (or when it's full) when you can see it all in there. And it's very gratifying to have it empty, vaccuum and then see all the dirt it's pulled out.

You just don't get that with the bag. Plus - sometimes the bags fight you when you put them in/take them out. Ours just snaps in place and it's good to go.

Unless it's broken.