quiltingbee12

Hi,

I purchased a Husqvarna Viking Designer 1 on ebay. Here is the link to the listing http://www.ebay.com/itm/272132504969...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I would like to know what I should look for, to find potential problems as the seller does offer a return policy. I was told to take it in when I asked customer service about it and the dealer wouldn't give me a price for just looking for problems. I'm not up for that at all as if there are problems, I will be returning it and want as little money out as possible.

Help from more knowledgeable people would be wonderful. This is my first embroidery machine. It has 611 hours on it, supposedly made in 2006. It is the floppy disk version and everything seems to work. The machine has no visible signs of hard use on it.

What tests can I run on it to find out if I need to return it or not? I really don't want to throw away 800 dollars, this is the most I've spent on anything. Also, how good is it for piecing?

Thank you

Chasing Hawk

I would be leery about spending so much on eBay for an older used embroidery machine. My Brother PE770 was purchased new for $700.00 and later I added a hoop set for $99.00 all from a seller on Amazon.com.

I would check out stores in your area, some may have a machine in price range and you will have a place to take your machine back if problems exist.


Buying an older machine like the one you posted a link is tricky. You stated it uses floppy discs, software maybe hard to come by. Most newer machine use a USB port for extra designs via hooked directly to a computer or use of a flash drive. I would try to find a newer model, you will be happier in the long run.

donnajean

This is the machine my sister had in the mid 1990's. You had to purchase very expensive disks for embroidery designs. I think later there was a software program that would let you download patterns. So, be sure it meets your expectations as to what you can do with it.

PaperPrincess

You have to have specially formatted floppy disks for this machine. You may have to purchase a 3.5" floppy disk drive for your PC to download designs from the internet. Find out if software to do this is included. I think you just need "Organizer" not the zillion dollar full blown package. If they don't have the Organizer, the only other option you would have is to purchase premade design discs, as DonnaJean said, and probably only available on Ebay or purchase Embird embroidery software which is the only other application I'm aware of that will create the disks.
Having said this, I've have my machine for years and it's a real workhorse, both for embroidery and general sewing. It will sew thru anything. You can hem jeans.
PM me if you have more questions.

Snooze2978

I watched their video as they were doing some of the specialty stitches so I would test stitch some of them too and check the back side to see what they look like. Also test out the embroidey unit to see if it works well. Also check out the thread cutters and all the various screens. If you don't have one of their programs to transfer the designs onto the floppies hopefully you have Embird which can also transfer the designs correctly onto the floppy. Having extra floppies would be a good idea as floppies will go bad from time to time.

I have a Designer 1 from 2000 and it still runs like a champ. Have issues with the thread cutters from time to time and the upper tension has troubles even though the repair shop supposedly corrected it but it started having issuses a week later. I found a "go around" to correcting the tension myself though.

Its a great machine and I most all my piecing and apparel sewing on it. I have another embroidery machine so never bother with the embroidery unit. Seems like you have extra stuff coming with this machine which may add to the price. Think one hoop is missing, the little 2 x 2 which I find is just a waste in my opinion anyway.....but thats just my opinion for what its worth.

DonnaPBradshaw

I bought my first embroidery machine and it didn't do what I expected. Luckily I could take it back to the store and upgrade! buying a used machine from an individual you can't do that. Hope you like it!

ManiacQuilter2

My best friend last year bought an embroidery machine that requires the computer hookup to run XP. Doesn't matter if this seller says no returns, it is PayPal that if is doesn't work, you can get your money back. Just don't be too surprised at how much it will cost for you to ship it back to the seller.

Pennyhal

I have a machine that uses the floppy disks. I had to buy a special "box" to transfer designs from my computer to the floppy. When I got a new computer, I had to buy a second box because the first would not work with it. When I got my next new computer, I had to buy a third box from a different mfg because the mfg. that made the first two no longer supported the boxes I had.

My newest embroidery machine uses USB drives, so I can't use any of the boxes I previously purchased.

The point of this story is that technology changes. I would advise you to find a machine that uses a USP port instead of a floppy.

Further, if you really want this machine, I'd find out what kind of "box" it needs. If it comes with a "Magic Box," you need to know that you won't be able to use it with your computer because the mfg of it no longer supports it...meaning, you need a "key" from them to unlock the box and they won't give you one.

If it comes with an "Ultimate Box" you need to know if the software and instruction manual that comes with it is included with the machine. You also have to have a computer that has a USB port. That way, the computer can send a design to the box, the box can write to the floppy, and you can put the floppy in the embroidery machine.

If it doesn't come with a box, then you will also have to purchase one.

Windblown

Penny Thank you for this information, I have just started to look for a used Emb machine. This was very eyeopening.

joyce blint

I have a Designer I like you describe. I can download designs directly onto the floppy which fits into the machine. I was very happy with it and never had it switched over to USB. The 2nd one I purchased for DDIL was 2nd hand from a dealer for ?$600. It came w a few designs, several szs hoops, and several feet and manual, was newly serviced, and w a year's warranty etc. This was 3-4 yrs ago, so I wouldn't pay over $600 today esp on eBay!