i priced out a blindstitcher for garments, which is a one-piece unit, and they are far and away the best deal out there. there's no shipping aver $300. and if the warranty is given by the manufacturer, i believe it's in effect no matter where you buy it, as long as it was new and you're the original owner. as for service, dealers would have you think that they are the only ones that are allowed to fix your machine, but that's not true. any certified repairmen can do it.
i'm sure it's like everything else: do your homework on pricing and know what's included.