Candace

I think there's gold in doing machine maintenance!! There's only one Janome dealer(that I'm aware of) in my area. My machine was in dire need of maintenance so called and was told it would be "up to 2 weeks". Gulp. Since I don't have a back-up I knew it would be hard. So, I took it in telling myself I needed to look for a used back-up and would find something. It's been 2 weeks today and hubby called this morning. They are just now working on machines dropped off on the 9th. Mine was dropped off on the 15th. They say it will be another week before it's even looked at. If it needs anything ordered in, well, add more time. I can't believe the back log is this great, but I know it is because I saw all the machines when I dropped it off. Crazy! And it's $95 for the routine maintenance.

Then, posted in another thread, I had a sewing machine lined up on Craigs list, had the money in hand and the seller made an appt. with someone who called after me and sold it to her:< So, I've been out of a sewing machine for 2 weeks, and it looks like it could easily be a month!

Feel my pain:

Shemjo

That is not good news!

Tippy

Does the backup machine have to be a fancy one? I have an inexpensive Brother with "quilting features" that I got at Target for $99. It's an awesome little machine and a real workhorse...

littlehud

I am so sad for you.

Maride

My favorite backup is an older Singer.

I am not sure there is a lot of $$ in the business. I believe more than they don't dedicate too much time each day to service machines. I have brought mine to a shop that has lines of used machines by the door floor and it looks like they are super busy servicing machines. It turned out that those were machines that people has traded. They keep them there and service them when they can before they sell them, and if they don't get to your on time they point at the row on the floor and how busy they have been. I recently found out that the person that does the work only comes twice a week for a few hours.

At my LQS they gave me the number of a man that comes and do it at your home. He is really nice. His wife stays in he car and reads while he works. I called him a while ago to service my older Bernina because it was noy touched for years. It took him 3 visits and some brushes ordered and he never charged another penny. It was all done for $25.00 and he worked around my husband's schedule.

Candace

It doesn't have to be too fancy, like I don't need embroidery. But, I do want knee lift, and yes, I want it to be a nice machine with a selection of quilting stitches and computerized. I don't want a cheapo machine. I'm thinking a used-to-be near the top of the line machine that's say 6 or 7 years old. I have a Janome 9000 and it doesn't need to be as fancy, but I'm spoiled with it and don't want a low end, new one.

Candace

I wouldn't feel comfortable having someone unauthorized in computerized (Janome) machines touching it. I've invested too much money in my machine to let anyone but my dealer touch it. My dealer doesn't seem to sell many used, trade-ins anymore. So, I'm keeping my eyes on Craig's list.

gaigai

I have a Janome, and you don't have to take yours only to a janome dealer. Find a good independent repair shop that handles all kinds of machines and call them. I'll bet they can get it done quicker, cheaper and more honestly!

belmer

I feel your pain girl......Same thing happened to me. So I went straight over to wal-mart and picked up a brother for 1$100 and read the manual.... I was sewing seams together that very same night. We cannot be without our machines, or we go CRAZY.

Candace

There's only one shop in my town that does machine service. They sell Viking, and although they service other machines, again....I've spent up to 4 grand on my machine. I'm not going to cheap out on the service with someone who isn't a Janome dealer. If I spent $100 on the machine, I wouldn't necessarily care. But computerized, embroidery units are pricey and I'm not wanting to risk it. Plus the dealer I bought it from is great. I just hate this wait!!