i work in a fabric shop that sells sewing machines. i can purchase a sewing machine on line cheaper than what the shop sells it for. main reason. if something goes wrong w/the on line machine (brother), i have to pack it up and send it back to brother. if something goes wrong w/the one i purchase at the fabric shop, i bring it into the shop and say here fix it. the shop is authorized to fix the machine. i can take as many classes at my local shop as i need for learning that sewing machine. i dont have the support on line. so bottom line is support your local shop. i wouldnt want to have to ship back a sewing machine to any manufacturer. i'd rather put it in my car and drive to the shop.