wbfrog

Good for you, don't feel bad bout store#1 they have the ability to give out sale prices to get sales. My local viking dealer went out of her way to try to get me to purchase the new Epic she even got my credit limit increased knock off $5,000 the works, but I was just not ready to get into debt again and plus I want to up grade to new 10/16 needle embroidery machine for my business. Have fun with the new machine and happy sewing/quilting/embroidery.

Stitchnripper

May I ask a question? Are those very expensive machines really worth that much money? I can afford a Bernina but don't see it as something I would put out that much money for. I have been using basic Brother machines and some vintage and they seem to do everything I ask them to, even FMQ, maybe not every machine with every function. I think all my machines put together in cost wouldn't exceed $1500 and I have about 12 working machines and a serger. My most recent purchase was a used Brother PQ 1500 Nouvelle which is a straight stitch mechanical machine that has plenty of room for FMQ. It has needle down and a thread cutter. It has a knee lift I don't use. I could live without the thread cutter. It works fine, but, just not necessary. I guess for am embroidery machine or someone who needs all those stitches it would be good to have a computerized machine. I did have a minute of wanting a Dreamweaver when it first came out and went to a demo on it. Then thought about it and figured for my needs, it would be overkill. The group of women I quilt with bring fancy big machines to piece on, and send all their quilts out for quilting. They have never used their special stitches. One of them uses the appliqué stitch. Anyway, sorry if this is offensive, I don't mean it to be. Just wondering.

MaggieLou

I usually check out prices online before going to the store. That way I have a general idea of the price range and it gives me some bargaining power at the store.

cactusmomma

Sorry you had a bad experience with your store but glad you got your machine and the trolley. And, yes, machines are getting way too expensive. I too retired and knowing I would be living on very little income I bought my machine the year prior to retiring. It is a good machine so hope it lasts me as long as I need it.

cashs_mom

I think online shopping is fine if you aren't buying a complicated machine, but I know I would never have figured out the in's and out's of either of my Bernina's without the extensive guide classes offered by my dealership. They helped me SO much.

bearisgray

duplicate post

bearisgray

is there a reason why a dealer will not qoute a price over the phone for a particular model?

Trudii

I am strongly thinking of upgrading my current machine but every time I go into the dealer they either claim they cannot find the price list or flash the rate sheet with every machine at me for 30 seconds. I think I know how much it costs, with or without a trade in, but who knows. The same store used to post the price list on the wall by the machines, which was perfect, so I don't know what changed. I get the feeling since I do not go to their classes (I do not sew clothes) that they're really not that interested in me as a customer. But they're my only choice for ~100 miles or so, for the brand I've used forever. So I guess I'm stuck with them and they're stuck with me...

peaceandjoy

Every time I see threads like this, I am ever so glad to have a wonderful dealer close by! People drive hours - really! - to go to Penn Yan Sewing (aka "Leroy's"). Owned and operated by a Mennonite family.

They are a Bernina dealership, but service all brands. Very friendly and helpful. If they are busy and you need just routine cleaning/tune up, you can schedule it, bring it in the morning and pick it up later that day. Some folks do this and go to the Windmill, a craft/farm market nearby, to "kill time". There is also a wonderful Mennonite fabric shop a couple of miles down the road. Can't say LQS exactly, as it's in a metal pole barn type building and no cute ambiance - but good prices, selection and service.

Re are they worth it? Well, my 1st Bernina was purchased with part of my inheritance from my father's estate. Almost 20 years later, I still have and LOVE my 153QE. Still works as beautifully as the day I brought it home, in spite of being pushed onto a concrete floor!!! I do wonder about the newer models, that are so computerized. It just seems that the software will be obsolete sooner rather than later, and replacing motherboards is quite pricey.

They are extremely heavy, so I bought a Janome for travel/classes. Hated the stitch quality. Thought perhaps a bit higher Janome, known for being popular for classes and such, might be a better option, so tried that too. Nope. It sits unused. The poor quality of stitches and the lack of power turned me off. So I bought another Bernina, an Activa 240. Another great machine. Slightly smaller than my 153QE, but every bit as much as a work horse! I can easily sew through 8 layers of fabric when making bags.

Along the same line: A friend is as loyal to Pfaff as I am to Bernina. She was quite surprised to recently find that parts for her machine, not 10 years old, are no longer readily available! Annoying indeed.

Maire

[QUOTE=Stitchnripper;8014873]May I ask a question? Are those very expensive machines really worth that much money? I can afford a Bernina but don't see it as something I would put out that much money for. "

I think it just depends on what type of sewing you enjoy the most, what you are comfortable spending and stage of life. I love sewing machines & sew just so I can play with the sewing machine. I do have the Brother Dream machine & love it, I do use a good percentage of the features & stitches but impossible to use them all. I mostly make quilts & quilt my own quilts. To me it was worth the money, I'm nearly 80 years old, so don't know how long I'll have to enjoy my hobby. I worked for 50 years, we lived simply & frugally but put 4 children through school (a couple of them helped by winning awards & academic scholarships) so have totally no guilt about what I spend on my hobby. I enjoy more whimsical type quilts, crafts, etc so that is why the Brother machine with Disney called to me, I test drove the Bernina but they were too formal for me, I had more fun with Brother machines. Old ladies just wanna have fun-LOL