Thread: Is it possible to trade down at a dealer?

I have a Bernina 820, which is now 18 months old. I bought it primarily because I wanted to do more of my own quilting on large quilts. Most of the time it works beautifully but every once in awhile it becomes very tempermental and I can spend hours trying to get it to free-motion quilt. A perfect example is yesterday when I was 3/4 through quilting a quilt (it had worked beautifully all afternoon) and for an unknown reason it decided it didn't want to stitch correctly anymore. It took me well over an hour to get it to work correctly again. This kind of thing has happened a number of times now and I have had it at the dealers at least three times. I have found out in the last months that these machines, as a model, are quite tempermental. I am wondering if I could take it to a Bernina dealer and work a trade for another Bernina machine. I realize I would take a significant financial loss but it might be worth my sanity. Also, can anyone suggest a Bernina model that is reliabable and not so tempermental. I'm sorry to ask such a dumb question but I only hear about people trading up!

Sorry that this machine isn't working out as well for you as you had hoped.

I am surprised to hear that some of them seem to be rather temperamental.

My MIL had traded her 730 in on one when they first came out. She loved the 730 and thought this one would be better and do so much more. She HATED it, it never worked right and was always messing up. Took it back and traded it for a used 730 and and upgraded 200. Both of these have been great and their used nearly everyday, the 8 spent 4 month in the repair shop the first year. We've not had these other two in the shop for any repairs

I would imagine you'd have better luck trading up. For example, if your dealer carries longarms? I've actually thought about this myself as I have the 830 and it's been in the shop much more than I'd like!! Unfortunately, my dealer only carries a couple of brands of longarms and I'm really wanting the Innova. But, maybe you could work out a deal?

[QUOTE=Candace;5411039]I would imagine you'd have better luck trading up. For example, if your dealer carries longarms?---- Unfortunately, my dealer only carries a couple of brands of longarms and I'm really wanting the Innova. ----

This doesn't address the original question of trading down, but, on the subject of longarms---yes, yes, yes, to the Innova. I don't have one but have tried them several times at the Machine Quilters Showcase and Love them. For one thing they are much lighter in weight than my present longarm.

You can always check - I know that they have new 700 models coming out soon (750, 760, 780 or something). They do have a larger than normal bobbin and the throat space is increased (not as big as the 830 but probably close). The only issue is that new machines coming out sometimes it takes a while to work the bugs out.

forgot to mention you might also contact Bernina headquarters. Not badmouthing your dealer, stating they have been helping you but you just can't take the frustration anymore - you never know

Originally Posted by quiltstringz

forgot to mention you might also contact Bernina headquarters. Not badmouthing your dealer, stating they have been helping you but you just can't take the frustration anymore - you never know

i wonder if the "lemon law" applies to sewing machines. as far as unloading the machine you have...would you feel comfortable passing on a machine that is having issues?

How about selling it outright and purchasing something different? Or working with your dealer for a " downgrade" and another machine, say a serger or a back smaller back-up machine, in trade for your present machine.