Isn't it interesting the wide range of prices paid, even "back then" (as my kids would say)? I LOVE sewing machines, but I hate the nebulous, secretive pricing, that is, that two identical machined bought on the same day, from the same dealer, might go outcthe door for different prices. Guess it's been going on a long time that way. There was a similar discussion on a yahoo group about the original sales price of the Bernina 830 Record. Same result, a very wide range of prices paid.