Originally Posted by miriam

Great deals can be found on Craigslist and, depending where you live, the selection can be excellent
and you can see the machine and test it before buying.
Ask if you can plug it in and try it.
Does it work? Does it have any mechanical problems?
-Is it missing any parts? (They may not know.)
Does it come with a manual?
-Some sellers are extremely thorough and knowledgeable about machines, others are not.
Many sellers claim not to have the pedal, which allows them to claim no knowledge
of whether the machine works or not.
Take along a screwdriver and look under the hood - any plastic?
-If the machine does embroidery stitches, ask if you can see a stitch sample. Many people post a stitch sample.
-If it uses external cams, are the cams included with the machine?
-If it’s not a domestically-made machine, make sure it is wired for American outlets
-Test - does it sew forward and reverse?
-Do the feed dogs drop for doing free motion embroidery?
-Is there any rust?
-What condition is the wiring in? Are there any cracks in the wire or taped areas?
-Does it come with any attachments?