I also got sucked into the ads saying the machine will pay for itself within a year. I have owned my Statler Stitcher for 3 years now and have made less than $3000. I would have to make over $100 per day for a year to pay for the machine. I know I do beautiful work, usually less then 2 week turn around (because I only get one at a time)am a really nice person, and don't charge that much. Our quilt guild has around 200 members and my business cards are at the LQS. I don't get it. Luckily I have my full time bookkeeping and tax return business to pay the bills. I guess the bright side to all this is that I have alot of time to make and quilt my own quilts!