I can only tell you what I would do (because I can ... it is available to me). I would go to my local sewing machine dealer with whom I've dealt for nearly 30 years and look at his refurbished machines. I've bought them before ... and have gotten what were very expensive machines when they were new, at the price of a cheap one, but these previously owned ones are trade-ins, have been serviced by the shop and are a wonderful bargain. The key to this is to have a dealer that you trust ... both to tell you the truth and to be knowledgeable about what machines he sells.