It's certainly not awful--while you might pay less getting one from a seller online, the maintenance you'd have to do would quickly put it up near to what you paid, especially if you went with one of the really cheap ones you can find. And I agree with what ckcowl said. If it's worth it to you, it's worth the price. Congrats on joining the club! Just make sure the flat side of the needle goes to the left.
