Thread: Dollar General Singer School Machines - $129

Buy a Viking, they can sew through just about anything and there's very little maintenance. No oil is required, just clean out the lint after every project.

Originally Posted by athomenow

Buy a Viking, they can sew through just about anything and there's very little maintenance. No oil is required, just clean out the lint after every project.

Guess I should read the responses more carefully!

I would not even consider one of these-go vintage

Originally Posted by malindaann

hi,
are the sales listed for new, excess school inventory of heavy duty Singers worth looking at? My local Dollar General is having a sale today. They advertise them as solid, built for heavy use machines. They also have a "teacher's" model for $199.
They are advertised as "sew and serge" with a "professional" serge stitch and it it "quilts" too.
I am looking for a second machine to do some heavier duty canvas and sunbrella stitching for some projects for my fiance.
Does anyone have experience or know what these machines are all about, especially the difference between a student and teacher model?

I bought a $179 Singer at Wally World a few years back. The inner workings blew out in a couple months. I'd not buy one without some sort of warranty.

I wouldn't exactly call this a scam, but IMHO it comes pretty darn close. Not worth the effort and they will try to sell you higher cost machines. This has been around for at least 40 plus years; I first saw these ads in my early 20's and even went to a couple of these "sales". Machines are not what they want you to think they are.

You did not ask for this info, but I'm going to offer it anyway:

In the '80's my Singer died and I bought a Viking 630 from a dealer. Never had problems with it. It is still my main machine.

A few years ago I had a brain injury, one of the long lasting results is I just can't seem to learn new mechanical things. (this Viking is mechanical and I learned the one that schools used when schools used such tings.)

So I bought a some Viking 630s (and one 620 and 610) on ebay, just to have parts in case mine dies. Well, it has not, and the ones I got all work fine!
I paid $50-$75 each for them.

It free motions just fine with just a regular presser foot and just this week is going through 6 layers of denim, no problems at all.

They all came with t\the presser feet that came with it originally, and one even came with a walking foot. I have no doubts that it could do the job that you want it for.

It does not need oil, and is old enough to be still made in Sweden. I clean it myself with a small brush and a small shop vac.

I agree that for that price you could get two or more of the really good vintage Singers from the 50's that do EVERYTHING and will last several lifetimes.

I'd say get a good vintage machine with all metal gears. You can also service these yourself.
I have a Singer 301A, and it sews through several layers of denim with ease. Also heavy canvas. The vintage machines are also usually a decent price. Shop around, and test drive them if you can.