Oh, do I ever sympathize with you. I too bought the Quantum L-500. I bought it in July of last year, and spent the next 6 monhts screaming and cussing,words I never knew I knew. I broke 3 or 4 dozen needles, thinking it was me not understanding the new fangled electronics. Finally, much later I took it to my local sewing machine guy. And by the way they took away his Singer dealership because he wasn't selling as many as say Walmart could. So he is not an authorized Singer repair person. But I paid him to look it over, rather than shipping it or driving half a day to a repair shop. Turns out it came from the factory out of adjustment, hence the broken needles. The actually hook was misaligned. I love my machine,and all the functions and stitches--- now. But one day it wouldn't sew with out knotting and breaking thread. I disgustedly turn it off, unplugged and walked away. When I went back, several days later, it was fine. My good old backup machine still works!