Originally Posted by
momto5
I almost bought one instead of my Gammill: however, the deal killer was that the shop expected ME to take it home, set it up, and educate myself on it while they banked my money. With the Gammill, the sellers were with me all the way; they brought it to me, set it up, instructed me, didn't leave until I was as comfortable as I could get with it and have continued to support me to this day. They also offer free classes but I have not been able to get to them yet...but I will.
So, I guess what I'm saying is that there is a LOT to consider when buying a LA, not just the kind of machine...
Dealer support should be one of your top 3 considerations when considering a LA. Dealer support makes all the difference between a great LA ownership experience and a nightmare. I had the same experience as momto5 with my Innova. Believe me, having a dealer come to your home, set the machine up, train you make sure you understand how to thread it, adjust tension, pin a quilt on, offer unlimited training etc is worth a LOT. The peace of mind you have by having a knowledgable, reliable dealer is invaluable, IMHO. Don't set your heart on ANY brand until you know up front what kind of dealer support you are going to get.
When I was buying I tried out the HQ (which is who manufacturers the babylock LA) and the Innova. The two were very close in price points however I found the Innova was a much better machine and the dealer support was just so much icing on the cake. I never even considered dealer support when I started shopping but it sure came into play the closer I got to actually taking the plunge.