thanks for the encouragement on the price i paid for my FW, $249. I did figure that buying a machine that was professionally serviced ($70.00), came with a new case ($50?) was pretty much "paying it forward." i've never oiled/taken apart a sewing machine -- so wouldn't have been able to "clean it up" by myself. I am encouraged by the club members who service their own FWs, and i intend to get david mccallum's dvd on the 221 care. i definitely have the FW fever --- am still on craig's list looking for a steal/deal. :)