Check with local quilt guilds (check the newspaper and quilt stores if you aren't aware of any groups). There are usually several members with longarms who will be more than happy to share their experiences with you plus someone might have a system for sale as they want to upgrade. I had just upgraded and while at a quilt guild meeting, I overheard another member say she wanted to buy a used system. Two days later my old quilting set-up had a new home.