I have a dinky Brother that has served me well. Bought about 7 years ago at Costco for about $100. Mechanical. No problems with it at all. then came into a lower end Brother that also has served me well, the little I use it because it is at my son's to use when I am there. Some people on this board have very expensive machines and some of them have problems too. My daughter in law in WA State and I picked out yet a different mechanical Brother for me to use at her house, for mending mostly, and some valance sewing. It worked like a charm right out of the box and I have had zero problems with it over the years.