I had heard that you can only get a Bernina repaired by an authorized Bernina dealer because they are the only ones that are able to get Bernina parts. This limits your choices of repair shops and would impact my decision. I have two Vikings that are both around 35 years old and sew like a dream. I have friends with other brands that love their machines too. You're not only buying a machine but also service so the location of the dealership and how comfortable you feel with them is important too.