I went to a shop in Austin when I was first looking for a machine. Having never sewn, I thought I had better start out with a used and work myself up. I'm looking at the less expensive models and a saleswoman comes up and asks what I am looking for. I told her and she takes me over to this exhorbitantly priced machine. I told her that was out of my budget and she replied, "Well don't you have family or someone that could help pay???" I turned around and left.