Originally Posted by
pennyhal2
I own several Bernina sewing machines and have been very satisfied making quilts with them. However, if the circuit board fails, you may just have to throw the machine out depending on how old it is. My local shop could not repair them. I've put 1 in the dumpster...yes, it was old and very well used. I keep a mechanical machine for such events. I think this is called "planned obsolescence" that they do now so that things will fail over a planned life span so that you have to buy a new one. I think it is called "American Greed."
Sorry that you have been frustrated with the ability to get repairs on older Berninas. I imagine the same applies to anything with a circuit board. I am certainly not using any computer or phone or automobile that is older than my Bernina 1090. The choice seems to be to stick with mechanical only with fewer “features” or embrace the computer with more “features” knowing that today’s computers will be made obsolete by ones available in the future.
In any event, the Q series Ashley is interested in was only introduced in 2015 and is likely to be fully supported by Bernina for many years. In shopping for a sit-down long arm, I’m not sure there is an option from any brand that is mechanical only (maybe an older industrial model?).
I also believe that Bernina probably supports its older models as well as any brand out there. For example, I can purchase a ruler foot for my Bernina 1090, which isn’t an option for my mechanical Elna Lotus.