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#1
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Most popular sewing-embroidery machines
We are still on the search for a good machine that does both sewing and some
embroidery. Pfaff, Brother, Janome, etc are on the list being considered. We are interested in a good machine, a mainstream machine that a lot of sewing folks own, a machine that is well supported by the company, a machine that seems to have a lot of support from 3rd party sellers of software and useful gadgets. For example, I had a great beta videotape player years ago. The beta format vanished leaving me with useless tapes and an unsupported machine. I don't want this to happen with a $2k sewing machine. Since we are just getting back into sewing after 20+ years of not doing it, we need help with this. Again, what is a reliable, well supported sewing/embroidery machine that folks enjoy using. I'm sure there are several good makes and maybe or maybe not the ones I've already mentioned are on the "good" list. We just don't know and don't want to trust the retailers. Thanks!! |
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#2
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Things to think about: Where will you be if you buy a machine and there is
no local qualified and acceptable support? If you are willing to box one up and ship it back (and they will take it back) if it turns out to be a bummer, that's one thing. If you just must have closeby support, that's quite another. It won't do you much good to find that "X" brand is the favorite but there's nobody around to troubleshoot for you (if you need it.) What I'm saying is - I have the finest serger in the world, but I am really out here "on my own" with it. Nobody within a 100 miles to help if it goes wonky and the nearest dealer has not been to charm school, for sure. Good luck on your quest. Polly "Terry" wrote in message t... We are still on the search for a good machine that does both sewing and some embroidery. Pfaff, Brother, Janome, etc are on the list being considered. We are interested in a good machine, a mainstream machine that a lot of sewing folks own, a machine that is well supported by the company, a machine that seems to have a lot of support from 3rd party sellers of software and useful gadgets. For example, I had a great beta videotape player years ago. The beta format vanished leaving me with useless tapes and an unsupported machine. I don't want this to happen with a $2k sewing machine. Since we are just getting back into sewing after 20+ years of not doing it, we need help with this. Again, what is a reliable, well supported sewing/embroidery machine that folks enjoy using. I'm sure there are several good makes and maybe or maybe not the ones I've already mentioned are on the "good" list. We just don't know and don't want to trust the retailers. Thanks!! |
#3
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"Polly Esther" wrote in message hlink.net...
Things to think about: Where will you be if you buy a machine and there is no local qualified and acceptable support? If you are willing to box one up and ship it back (and they will take it back) if it turns out to be a bummer, that's one thing. If you just must have closeby support, that's quite another. It won't do you much good to find that "X" brand is the favorite but there's nobody around to troubleshoot for you (if you need it.) What I'm saying is - I have the finest serger in the world, but I am really out here "on my own" with it. Nobody within a 100 miles to help if it goes wonky and the nearest dealer has not been to charm school, for sure. Good luck on your quest. Polly And in this same vein, check carefully the reputation of the dealer you intend to use for troubleshooting, advice, repairs. Our local dealer is just nuts when it comes to repairs and customer service. I not too politely told one of them just what I thought the last time the sales girl told me my machine could not make a stitch without a new PRESSER FOOT!! Excuse me, it was doing just fine until the timing slipped out. We got into quite a shouting match right in the store, and I took my broken machine home and fixed it myself! Parts are another problem. It takes these people over 6 months to get anything. I now take my machines to another place, totally service oriented, an hour and a half's drive away. And how long will it take them to fix it? This place wouldn't touch anything until all the replacement parts they want me to buy come in, which means my machine could sit in their store for 6 months or more. And I sew for a meager living! |
#4
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Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Polly
"the other one" wrote And in this same vein, check carefully the reputation of the dealer you intend to use for troubleshooting, advice, repairs. Our local dealer is just nuts when it comes to repairs and customer service. I not too politely told one of them just what I thought the last time the sales girl told me my machine could not make a stitch without a new PRESSER FOOT!! Excuse me, it was doing just fine until the timing slipped out. We got into quite a shouting match right in the store, and I took my broken machine home and fixed it myself! Parts are another problem. It takes these people over 6 months to get anything. I now take my machines to another place, totally service oriented, an hour and a half's drive away. And how long will it take them to fix it? This place wouldn't touch anything until all the replacement parts they want me to buy come in, which means my machine could sit in their store for 6 months or more. And I sew for a meager living! |
#5
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Thanks to all who have responded so far. Unfortunately, no one has responded
to the initial question below. Anyway, I have a new question. We are currently looking at a Brother 8500D. (my wife goes nuts if there is a Disney character on anything). She has tried out the machine. I spent time going through the PE-5 software. Brother manual seems readable and software understandable. People in the store are helpful and pleasant. They will give 3 hours of help (class) and claim that is worth $600. They give a 20% discount card for purchases in the store. For all this they want $2200. Online the machine is $1500. That's one heck of a difference. On the service, the store will service their own machines but will send any not bought there back to Brother. The store will sell the software, thread, stabilizer, couple of classes, with the machine for $2900. This seems awfully expensive for a machine that, when sold for $1500, still provides a profit to the retailer. $2200 -1500=700. $700/1500 is a 46% mark up!! It seems to me that this is excessive! We know that a store has overhead and employees and needs some profit. But so does a car dealership and they don't markup 46%! Could anyone provide some ideas on how and where to buy the Brother 8500D?? -- http://www.pbase.com/tvacha "Terry" wrote in message t... We are still on the search for a good machine that does both sewing and some embroidery. Pfaff, Brother, Janome, etc are on the list being considered. We are interested in a good machine, a mainstream machine that a lot of sewing folks own, a machine that is well supported by the company, a machine that seems to have a lot of support from 3rd party sellers of software and useful gadgets. For example, I had a great beta videotape player years ago. The beta format vanished leaving me with useless tapes and an unsupported machine. I don't want this to happen with a $2k sewing machine. Since we are just getting back into sewing after 20+ years of not doing it, we need help with this. Again, what is a reliable, well supported sewing/embroidery machine that folks enjoy using. I'm sure there are several good makes and maybe or maybe not the ones I've already mentioned are on the "good" list. We just don't know and don't want to trust the retailers. Thanks!! |
#6
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I bought my Brother online and have sewed with it since. It has not needed
service, and is now out of warranty. My "local" dealer is 45 minutes from me by freeway, but will fix any kind of machine, so I have help available if I need it. I bought the machine for HALF of what they wanted at the dealer, and would do it again. "Terry" wrote in message t... Thanks to all who have responded so far. Unfortunately, no one has responded to the initial question below. Anyway, I have a new question. We are currently looking at a Brother 8500D. (my wife goes nuts if there is a Disney character on anything). She has tried out the machine. I spent time going through the PE-5 software. Brother manual seems readable and software understandable. People in the store are helpful and pleasant. They will give 3 hours of help (class) and claim that is worth $600. They give a 20% discount card for purchases in the store. For all this they want $2200. Online the machine is $1500. |
#7
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where did you buy? Also, any hassle with help from your local store?
terry -- http://www.pbase.com/tvacha "Pat" wrote in message ... I bought my Brother online and have sewed with it since. It has not needed service, and is now out of warranty. My "local" dealer is 45 minutes from me by freeway, but will fix any kind of machine, so I have help available if I need it. I bought the machine for HALF of what they wanted at the dealer, and would do it again. "Terry" wrote in message t... Thanks to all who have responded so far. Unfortunately, no one has responded to the initial question below. Anyway, I have a new question. We are currently looking at a Brother 8500D. (my wife goes nuts if there is a Disney character on anything). She has tried out the machine. I spent time going through the PE-5 software. Brother manual seems readable and software understandable. People in the store are helpful and pleasant. They will give 3 hours of help (class) and claim that is worth $600. They give a 20% discount card for purchases in the store. For all this they want $2200. Online the machine is $1500. |
#8
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I bought my Embroidery machine from a place in Florida, but I can recommend
www.MrVacandMrsSew.com They were very prompt and their price was all-inclusive with tons of information available on the machine. There are other reputable on-line dealers too, which I am sure others will be able to post for you....... "Terry" wrote in message t... where did you buy? Also, any hassle with help from your local store? terry -- http://www.pbase.com/tvacha "Pat" wrote in message ... I bought my Brother online and have sewed with it since. It has not needed service, and is now out of warranty. My "local" dealer is 45 minutes from me by freeway, but will fix any kind of machine, so I have help available if I need it. I bought the machine for HALF of what they wanted at the dealer, and would do it again. "Terry" wrote in message t... Thanks to all who have responded so far. Unfortunately, no one has responded to the initial question below. Anyway, I have a new question. We are currently looking at a Brother 8500D. (my wife goes nuts if there is a Disney character on anything). She has tried out the machine. I spent time going through the PE-5 software. Brother manual seems readable and software understandable. People in the store are helpful and pleasant. They will give 3 hours of help (class) and claim that is worth $600. They give a 20% discount card for purchases in the store. For all this they want $2200. Online the machine is $1500. |
#9
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"Terry" a écrit dans le message de news: ... Thanks to all who have responded so far. Unfortunately, no one has responded to the initial question below. Anyway, I have a new question. We are currently looking at a Brother 8500D. (my wife goes nuts if there is a Disney character on anything). She has tried out the machine. I spent time going through the PE-5 software. Brother manual seems readable and software understandable. People in the store are helpful and pleasant. They will give 3 hours of help (class) and claim that is worth $600. They give a 20% discount card for purchases in the store. For all this they want $2200. Online the machine is $1500. That's one heck of a difference. On the service, the store will service their own machines but will send any not bought there back to Brother. The store will sell the software, thread, stabilizer, couple of classes, with the machine for $2900. This seems awfully expensive for a machine that, when sold for $1500, still provides a profit to the retailer. $2200 -1500=700. $700/1500 is a 46% mark up!! It seems to me that this is excessive! We know that a store has overhead and employees and needs some profit. But so does a car dealership and they don't markup 46%! Could anyone provide some ideas on how and where to buy the Brother 8500D?? -- http://www.pbase.com/tvacha "Terry" wrote in message t... We are still on the search for a good machine that does both sewing and some embroidery. Pfaff, Brother, Janome, etc are on the list being considered. We are interested in a good machine, a mainstream machine that a lot of sewing folks own, a machine that is well supported by the company, a machine that seems to have a lot of support from 3rd party sellers of software and useful gadgets. For example, I had a great beta videotape player years ago. The beta format vanished leaving me with useless tapes and an unsupported machine. I don't want this to happen with a $2k sewing machine. Since we are just getting back into sewing after 20+ years of not doing it, we need help with this. Again, what is a reliable, well supported sewing/embroidery machine that folks enjoy using. I'm sure there are several good makes and maybe or maybe not the ones I've already mentioned are on the "good" list. We just don't know and don't want to trust the retailers. Thanks!! You could try bargaining with the store point out the online price and see if they are willing to meet you somewhere in the middle. Point out that you are going to become a loyal customer upgrades ,servicing, attachments etc etc. The worst they can say is no. Claire |
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