I had ordered a Singer from HSN because the price was right and the features were great. The reviews on HSN were mixed and the comments I got from QB members were positive. Because HSN has a great return policy, I took the risk. Well - the darn machine ran like a tank and the quality was not what I had hoped for. I sent her back. I suspect that the machines used for demonstrations in the HSN show are tweaked to meet the guest sewer's needs. So I would not necessarily bash Martha or the other gal, but I totally agree that we need to do our homework.
Just as an aside: Viking, Singer, and Pfaff are now being managed bu a holding company VSP. Nough said on that subject.