Buying a Longarm Without a Test Drive
I am currently in the market for a longarm. From everything I've read I should test drive anything before buying - at least the model, if not the specific machine. However, dealers aren't too plentiful in my area. DH and I drove three hours to a quilt show recently and were disappointed to find only three dealers with longarms on frames. We do have a local dealer that carries another brand that I'm interested in, but their new machines are too pricey for me (they have a used one that's a possibility). I have so far limited my thinking only to the machines I've been able to try out, but that's pretty restrictive. DH doesn't have much patience for driving all over creation (meaning more than an hour or so) to try out one here and one there. I want him heavily involved, as he'll be my maintenance man. Also, if I get a used machine he's much better at evaluating them than I am - we already came across one dud. So, finally to the question: How many of you have gotten machines without trying them out first? If you did, were you happy with your choice?
Or should I definitely limit myself to the ones I can try out?
Thank you for any suggestions!!
Debbie