I agree with most of the comments - figure out what features you want and try out a lot of them. Some of the nice features include: self threading (as far as I know, only Baby Lock has this feature), easy threading but not self threading (Viking has one for about $400 in which the left side swings open so you can more easily access some of the threading channel - don't know if any other do this or not), coverstitch - usually (but maybe not always) on higher priced sergers.....and the list goes on. maybe folks here can list the features they really like and which machine has them so you can have a better list of options. Most manufactures now offer extra specialty feet for sergers - beading, extra gathering, etc.