I love all my 301's. The difference in 301 and 301A is only where Singer manufactured them. They are slant needle machines that are great for piecing and fmq. You can maintain and replace parts yourself. No need for paying for servicing. Great for taking to class or retreats - very portable! The machines come with a long or short bed. The short beds do fit into cabinets - long beds don't. The long beds are much better if you don't have a cabinet. I have been looking for a long black bed to replace my short bed for traveling with. Hard to find! For pricing, I would try to get it down some. Also take into consideration if accessories come with it. Ebay has a lot of these. Check pricing for your area. The bobbin casing also fits the featherweight. Make sure that the machine has all bobbin parts - very important. You can purchase separate but the price should be reduced for missing parts. Good luck and please let me know if you need any additional information. Good luck!