NO Phaff will not be sold at JoAnn's. Viking made a deal for JoAnn's to only sell Vikings.
They are wonderfull machines and are not made in China..... the top of the lines are made in Sweeden.
Viking bought Phaff out amd moved them to Sweeden also.... BUT all lower machines are made in China and Tiwan.
Viking does not make Phaff nor the other way around.
Here ther has been a Viking Dealer in the same store for over 20 years. An across the street is the Viking in Joann's so there fore The Phaff dealer can't sell Vikings in his store.... but he has 12 stores and sells Vikings in the next town.
Everyone has cut back with the economy and Viking realizes not everyone can buy or even want the top of the lines so they have Phaff and Singer now.....
Singer did not buy Viking.
I love all my Vikings, through the years I have had 7 of them. Along with an Elna air electronic, and Nechi Logical I still have and a few singers.... Whe we was growing us that is what we heard and they used to be great machines now I wouldn't buy one. I worked for Singer in Colorado at SewFro and had 3 of the new embroidery machine go ca poot.... they was a piece of junk, it was just a JOB to surive I hated selling them and got another job as soon as one came up....
I worked for Viking for 20 years.... and again I will say I love the machines.... Sad how some rumors get started andaway they go. I have a White surger 20+ years old and it is still great but I am looking at the New 7 spool BabyLock.... I go for the best no matter the name. I could sau some negative things about some of the other machines but we do not all drive a FORD. And we don't all live in the city.
I would never trade off a Viking for any Janome, from what I have seen thery is no comparison. Even my 20 year old Viking I would put next to the Janomie's I have seen...I know a lot of people have them and again the Ford/Chev thing. You need to buy and get what you like and does what you need it to do for you. A lot of time it is price points that is part of the decission. But there is another brand out there that is a higher price point but can't touch the Viking usibility....
Viking had so many lines and levels of each line there is a price point for all. Just depends on what you are going to use it for.
I know because I was in the business but the latest and biggest sales lines is it is a quilting machine..... DAHHHHHHH you can piece on any machine and it dosen't make it a quilting machine.
But many are sold as such then try quilting on it LOLOL no way... but you pieced on it just fine.... BIG HUGE diff between piecing and quilting... you need a long big space to roll the quilt...
Sorry but I have heard from this board complaints like that.
Must of been a man that never quilted who came up with that line LOL Ok enuffffff sorry I got so long winded... and hope I didn't step on any ones toes....
I like to be nice and not complain. Life is to short BE HAPPY LOL
Hope all have a great week, happy sewing. Blessings to all
ConnieF