Unless it's a very high end machine I would buy one from Amazon or other online machine site. Why? Because after using it and find out the machine isn't a good match for you, it's easy to return. A dealer will not do that even an hour after you buy it. That is my pet peeve about high dollar machines. Even car dealers will let you return a new car within a few days now. I bought three machines from Amazon before finding the right fit for me. Returned two with no problem at all after sewing on them at home.