SherriB

I am wanting to get the Janome 6600. I can buy it locally from a dealer for $1599 plus tax and get all the classes and help I would need. Or I can buy it from a dealer on the Internet for $1299 and get quite a few extras.


So, my question is, how hard is this machine to learn? Will I learn that much from the classes or I should I save the money and buy fabric with it? Will I regret buying from the Internet as far a warranty goes?? Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated!!!

QuiltnNan

imo, it depends on how easy it is for you to read the manual and learn from it. how long might you expect to own the machine? divide that into the $300 greater price... that dealer support may be worth that cost per year.

i tend to learn on my own... but i've found that i can go quite a long time before discovering that my [techie product] does something that i wish i'd known much earlier. i like person to person lessons now

QuiltE

The 6600 is a great machine ... I loved mine.
The only reason I do not have it is that I wanted a bigger throat space. I never thought I would get to like FMQ or even straight line machine quilting at all, but the 6600 spoiled me and got me hooked! So you might want to take that into consideration before you make the final purchase decision, and consider whether a further upgrade would be of interest.

Best to find out first as to how the warranty would play out for you if you purchase it on the internet.

Also, who will service it? My Janome dealer will service machine they have not sold, but at a different rate and priority level. This may not be the same for all dealers, so know up front. And too, machines purchased direct from them, they offer free servicing for # years. That could soon make up your price difference.

The machine is not hard to learn ... although I am a firm believer in taking advantage of the classes offered and to have the availability of a local dealer to take care of you if you do have problems.

Easy enough said by me ... as I have a great dealer, who is always there for support and service, long after the classes are had and the warranty is over. That is one reason why I have been a four-time-repeat buyer there.

DebraK

I bought mine online, never having used a Janome or computerized machine before and was able to learn easily and quickly using the manual. I've had it for 9 years with no problems or outside maintenance required.

Mdegenhart

I bought mine used and had no lessons. The manual makes it pretty easy to figure out and I had not sewn much in many years. I haven't used many of the special stitches yet.

KalamaQuilts

The downside of internet purchases, the local dealer probably won't do the warranty work. So you'd have to mail it out to where you bought it..., and that would quickly negate any initial savings.

WandaVA

I would buy it from a dealer, so you have someone to do any necessary maintenance on it. I didn't need lessons, but they were offered...the dealer did show me a few things that were new from my previous machine.

I would try to negotiate on the price. I bought mine 2+ years ago, and it was $1299 (with a bunch of "goodies" thrown in); maybe they would come down, or provide a lot of goodies. It is a sweet machine, and I'm sure you will love it! Definitely consider the FMQ bobbin case ($25), if you plan to FMQ on it.

Sewnoma

You guys are getting great deals on yours! I paid a lot more for mine, but then again everything near me is extra expensive.

I could have paid less for mine and bought online but I opted to pay the extra and buy local. My dealer is pretty good - a couple times I have had questions and I just called and asked; they remember my name and what machine I have and have always been able to help me out right away. I don't mind paying extra for that kind of service, and I like to buy local when I can - this dealer is active in the local sewing community and lends machines out for classes so I feel like by supporting them I'm also helping to support other sew-crazy locals.

I did check reviews for the dealer online before I bought from them, though, since I was deliberately paying extra for their services I wanted to make sure they were good! (They also offer unlimited in-person classes anytime I want but so far I haven't needed that much help - the machine is pretty easy to use and the manual is decently good.)

Wherever you get it...congratulations! You'll love your new machine! I've had mine about a year and a half now; sewn about 25 quilts on it and still love it like crazy! I looked at the next model up recently, thinking about trading up, and decided I liked my 6600 better.

AmyFreeMotionQuilting

I love my 6600 and find it an easy machine to use. BUT the manual is very bare bones basic and I am sure that there are features and stitches that I could be using more if I knew more about them. I also find a local dealer to be valuable. Some dealers will service any machine and some will only work on ones they've sold. Not that a new machine will need anything more than a good cleaning and service, but still....

See if you can get the price down a bit and buy from the dealer if you can.

quiltingfan

I bought from a dealer and never used them at all. Of course I move around all the time also. I love my machine though and it has required no service at all. It is easy to figure out on your own.