When i was in the market for a 2nd machine for our house on the lake, i looked at the ones at Walmart, Joanns and Meijers. I was uneasy about getting them because i didn't know what the quality was on those machines. I thenwent to the LQS and looked at the Vikings, but they didnt know what stitches were on the machines that hadn't come in yet. I ended up going to the LQS in a neighboring town. They also sold Viking, but not hte cheaper ones because they are made in China. He also told me that the ones from the box stores he couldn't get parts for them. the company didn't have those numbers. I ended up with a Janome 6600. My husband insisted on getting it for me. I was looking at used or floor model machines.