This machine is on sale for $99 at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B000JQM1DE
By the way, I have a Brother Innovis 4000D (which is a much more expensive machine than this one) and have the same problem with the needle defaulting to the left. Can't tell you how many needles I've broken.
EDITED: Forget the $99 at Amazon. The shipping is atrocious! ($94).