I once got a guy down from $80 for a 201-3 to $30 because there was no cord/pedal. I brought one with me to test it.
I really really wanted a 201 at that point. I even looked at it in the dark on a side street in mid-sized town Alberta. That would have been great to explain to a cop.
So, I am trying to picture a dark side street sewing machine transaction... BYOCord. And you plugged it in, um, where?