Had I not seen you lived in Mich I would have thought you were using the same dealer as me. Yes, I have called HQ and they are as helpful as can be over the phone. I am in a real pinch as I have as many as 20 quilts I need to get out yesterday. Plus my students use my machin,e for a fee, after they finish their quilts. I've already been down a month and yes it is costing me $$$$. The store that has been working on my machine will not fix it again. They told me I needed to ship it back to HQ. HQ is in Houston this week and is not a good time to ship it to them. Also not a good time for me to be without. Christmas is rapidly coming and my friends/students want their quilts as gifts. Am looking in to buying a new machine. In January I'll ship this one back to HQ to get fixed and then sell it.