Hi! I am new to all of this, but here goes!
I want to buy a Bernina 430 or 440. I see them on Ebay but wonder if anyone has ever bought a machine that way? I am so afraid to shell out so much money and end up with a lemon. Any thoughts or experiences?

I bought a 1957 Singer Featherweight on Ebay about 5 years ago. It was a smooth deal and I got a great machine.

Research the seller before you buy---look at how long they have been an Ebay seller and what their feedback score looks like. You can get a great deal on Ebay if you are a savvy shopper. Good luck!

I have bought several machines on Ebay, and all have been great machines. Look at the descriptions, and in many instances, it will say that the machine has been serviced, cleaned, etc.

I have purchased 4 featherweights, 2 old Singer heavy duty machines, and an 1888 Singer hand crank machines, that is absolutely beautiful and works fine.

Good luck.

I purchased a few (for gifts for people starting to sew). Just be careful- read the feedback, etc. I got one machine, a pleasure, another not what it was represented- still haven't had the time to really sit and figure it out. Probably going to take it to local Singer place and ask for lessons to really use it.

Bought my brand new Juki also from Ebay- allbrands.com. Love it, was the best purchase I made on Ebay (or as my family calls it- Epay).

Good luck! And don't forget all the fabric deals out there- I have added to my stash by buying bundles and scraps, etc. Or- to find more of something you can't get anymore- there's also something fun to be found on Ebay.

I buy from Ebay all the time but nothing over $25. I have had only one bad seller in all these years. Be sure and check the shipping/handling charges before bidding. And that the seller knows how to pack to ship a sewing machine. Ebay now has buyer protection, no seller gets the money until the buyer is satisfied. I would use that if I bid on a sewing machine.

I make purchases on EBay all the time, am usually satisfied but have run into a few problems, most of which were resolved. That said, I probably would not buy a new high-end sewing machine on EBay.

When I purchased my Bernina 440QE, I bought at a local shop with an excellent service reputation, and I purchased an additional warranty. I can take my machine in at any time for cleaning, repair, etc. without charge, and that means a lot to me. I also got free lessons on using the machine. With the newer machines, there are often software updates that can be loaded in when the machine is in for warranty service.

I bought 2 machines on e-bay and neither was packed to travel any farther than across the street. HELLO I live in Alaska. I made it crystal clear before I made my purchase !

One machine is usable the other is still sitting in the same place it was months ago. A quiet reminder of how some people don't care about the reciepient.

I do love my featherweight and use it often! If you live near the machine perhaps it will be ok!

Thanks for the advise.
I would save enough on ebay to open the door to being able to own the Bernina 440. I am getting close enough to being able to buy the 430 new. I guess I am getting greedy want the 440 when I see I could afford it used.
Great point about warranty, I might call the store I use to see what they say about that. Thanks tons!
Any more opinions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks all!

Iam a ebay alcoholic.....LOL I bought my FW on ebay also and have had very good luck with books, clothes etc. If you have dougts buy from a known dealer...Allbrands, Kens sewing from AL is a really good one, good luck

I think it's exciting that you want to buy one of the finest brands of machines available today!! I'm a two time Bernina owner, and was recently looking at ebay for one, myself (before I got the 2nd one). I belong to a wonderful Yahoo Group called the Bernina Thirtysomethings, so called as it was started originally for the owners of the old mechanical 730's, 830's, 930's and so on. They've since branched out to allow any Bernina owner or wannabe to post and have said of late (my loose paraphrase) -

"due to the short supply (once we get 'em, we don't let go of 'em very often) and huge demand of folks looking for Berninas, many of the ones being sold on Ebay are WAY OVER priced! Many people are being taken to the cleaners on Ebay deals over Berninas."

How sad is that? Dunster has given you some excellent advice here, especially when purchasing a Bernina. You will come to appreciate the local service, classes and availability of parts, etc.

Most folks don't know how to truly prepare a sewing machine for shipping, even the ones that say they do, I wonder. I did recently acquire my 2nd Bernie through a dear friend many states away. I was really leary about the shipping, but she knew exactly how to ship them. When Fed-Ex delivered "her", the guy started to trip over the threshold of our front door :shock: and which point I nearly had heart failure, as I could just see my new baby going all over the floor. :shock:

This delivery guy said, "Oh, don't worry ma'am, these boxes are guarateed to withstand being dropped from a 2 story building...." Needless to say, my jaw was on the floor now! :shock: He went on to explain that if Fed-Ex packages your stuff, they do so in such a manner so it WILL withstand a 2 story drop as many of their plants have conveyor belts 2 stories up, and "packages gets bunched up and fall off the belt all the time.." Now, don't you feel better for learning that? :?