Is there a "best time" to purchase a machine?
 

Seems like a lot of us on the QB are contemplating a new machine- be it sewing, embroidery, or quilting.
Many of us have a specific price point that we need to stick too while we drool over a higher end machine.

So I was thinking, do manufacturers showcase their new machines at a certain time of the year just as car manufacturers do? If so when? And are there significant savings to be found with the older models? Perhaps if we all waited a bit we just might be able to purchase that higher end machine. I know the waiting is excruciating.

I bought a class room machine at half price. It was only 6 months old.

A lot of people trade in fairly new machines so maybe you could buy a slightly used machine and get more for your money that way.

If at all possible - buy from a dealer nearby. A lot of them give free lessons along with the machines. Plus a lot of free advice.

I bought my Cover Pro on the last day of a sewing show. I paid 1/3 of msrp.

Often quilt/sewing shows will have machines available for use during classes which are sold off at the end of the show.

I bought my Janome11000 from a dealer for 1/2 msrp it had been a demo machine.

Where I live is Southern California, there are not many places to purchase used machines...nearest quilt store is about 40 minutes away and I still can't afford their prices of $5k or better for a used high end machine that had previously went for $7k.

Then there's always The Viking Gallery at Joanne's....which is 5 minutes from my house and where I purchased my Viking Emerald 118 on sale for $399 last November just before Thanksgiving ( Black Friday in US). They don't sell used machines.

maybe there are stores in So. Cal that I just unaware of.....any recommendations?

I have found that any of the sewing machine dealers have used machines in their stores.

Call your store that sells machines and ask them to let you know when they clear the floor models. I bouight my Janome 6500 that way. You still get a full warranty.

I have yet to purchase a brand new machine, so I'm afraid I'm no help. I think they're just like new "models" of cars, they might not have all the "kinks" worked out.

The best prices from dealers are typically at quilt shows and at the state fair. These are massive sales opportunities for dealers, and I think they get a price break from manufacturers for buying in bulk. It's not always necessary to actually go to the show; typically the dealers will offer the same prices in their dealership during the run of the show (or fair).

This is also the time to get demo models. At the fairs, they will have a number of machines set up for people to "test drive" during the fair. At quilt shows they often provide classroom machines.

Thnks for this thread, I need to purchase a good sewing machine for my granddaughter and would like to get one on sale.

For me; last yr right after the Viking convention was held. All new machines that had been set up to be demos in the classes were sold at the end of the show to dealers for a bargain and a half because they were then classified as "used". First of all; they are all used by professionals there to learn new things so they surely aren't abused in those 3 days at the convention. Secondly; the sale price is so fantastic and I could still get it at zero financing and the same great warranty as a new one plus last yr I also got the luggage for the machine and embroidery arm. By the way, when I looked into the history of use for mine the time on it was 1M, how much used could it be in one minute.

I always checked my dealers website because they would have the trade-ins listed and thier sale price on the site. Not too many dealers will post thier prices but the one I go to does. Now she also will sell machines on consignment even if they aren't Viking. They have a Viking Diamond for 3000 now; thats a good price. I know that by buying mine when I did I saved thousands off of it. It was a price I couldn't turn down even though I'd only had my Ruby for 1 yr; got a great trade in price for it and they had it sold before I could even get it into the store to drop it off. I had to make a special trip so they could get it. I didn't mind because I had gotten a great deal on my Diamond Deluxe and they had always been so nice. When you know what you want; sign up for newsletters, etc so you know what's going on. Viking sends me an email when ever any specials hit the open market. Good luck. Yes, to buy one that is slightly used, the savings are fantastic and even my Ruby, only had 7 hours of use when I bought it for thousands less than original price.