Originally Posted by Shorebird
Originally Posted by BKinCO
Thanks everyone for your input so far. In actuality, I am not looking for an embroidery machine. First and foremost I am looking for a machine for quilting, and I'm not sure how much I would use the embroidery features. The Bernina has lots of embroidery features on it, which is a bonus if that's what I decide I like doing, but that's an unknown for me now....
Ugh...decisions decisions...it's kind of like trying to choose between the red or black car :)
My 5 cents' worth - if both machines have the features that you want and need - remember that SERVICE AFTER THE SALE is worth a TON! I too was ready to buy a Bernina, had cash in hand for their top of the line model in 12-06, and the dealer kept walking away from me to chat with others.........their store is twice as far as the viking dealer....Bernina's classes (only one for owners, no repeats) did not compare with vikings (3-4 owners classes with repeats as often as you like with space available...I had tried to speak with Bernina dealer on the phone before my visit, and got nowhere.........unlike viking who answered all of my questions, gave me a full demo on their machine, and is still available for questions I have - both when I call....and if call cannot resolve, their answer is bring it in and we'll take a look....While Bernina makes a GREAT MACHINE, what good is that if you do not understand how to make it do what you want, and you cannot get the service or a response from the dealer? It seems (my experience and that of many of my friends across the country) that the Bernina dealers are less service oriented than any of the other major dealers.......
BOTTOM LINE - you decide which machine has the most of what you want, and how important the service after the sale is to you.........and based upon those 2 answers, buy the one indicated........both are great machines. Let us know what you decided to do.
It's dissappointing to hear that so many of you can't get good customer service at your Bernina dealer. They aren't all like that. MIne is absolutely wonderful. If you buy your machine there, you can take as many classes as you want as many times as you want for free. If you didn't get your machine there, they still welcome you for a small fee. I have been to two 3-day training classes for my new 830, and the dealer had the classes in her own home so we wouldn't be distracted with customers, etc at the store. She even let one of the girls who lives over an hour away spend the night at her house for the classes. They go overboard to satisfy customers, and the economy hasn't hurt her business one bit. As for the top of the line Bernina giving trouble, the bobbin is much larger than other home sewing machines, and therefore the hook system is very different. It does taking some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it it's great.