I was always under the impression that these machines were made for the old world markets where people can buy them cheaply and make a living with them, I could be wrong. I do know that people in Mexico were using them that way and have seen some in pictures in other countries. So maybe they actually sew really well and would be worth the 40 bucks, seems like that isn't a bad price for a newish machine even if it did make a bit more noise. Just depends on what you want or need. Most of us don't need one like that because we have quite a few other machines of different types.
I too have viewed that machine on Clist that Cari mentioned. I bet if they keep it on there long enough someone will buy it because they don't know about machines, it looks nice in the cabinet. I have goofed several times in the antique business, but you eventually learn from your mistakes, I guess I am saying he has a right to ask that 250 if he wants to, you never know who will walk by and think it is the most cool machine they have ever seen.
Who in the heck wants to renew those listing on C-list all the time, I have often wondered, there was a really junky machine on there for like 2 years for 10 bucks and they just kept listing it day after day, made no sense to me.