Help! Fear of Pfaff QE4 Buy :-(
03-23-2010, 08:58 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 32
Hello everyone :-) Any Pfaff Quilter Expression Owners?? I have been for the most part a 'lurker' and have enjoyed reading everyday all you have to post...and now I could sure use your help and advice.. I am afraid of a decision I made and now am a little worried for the following reasons... I just recently put a down-payment on a new Pfaff Quilt Expression 4. I am a
quilter...definately not "Show" quality guilter, but hope to be someday. I was
looking at and comparing the Pfaff QE4 and the Bernina 440. I really liked the
Bernina 440 and I have an old (25+ yrs) Bernina 910. I have always valued the
quality of Bernina. I am however on a limited budget (poor nurse) :-) so I
decided not to purchase the MUCH more expensive Bernina. With all that said...I
am feeling kind of sick now, because I have been looking on the internet at "the
reviews" of the QE4 and so far, most all of them have been horrible!! Many of the
posts were about the tension and the 'breaking of thread' frequently while
quilting? The #1 complaint mentioned was "Thread Jam" indicator showing on the
machine when no 'jam' had occurred. I really am scarred at this moment...feeling
like I got caught up in the salesman's pitch and jumped into something before I
did my research. Most of the comments I read on the internet are from 2009...so
does anyone knows if the machine I am buying soon is any different from the 2009
or not? This is a big purchase for me and now I am having second thoughts and
thinking about going back tomarrow and asking for my check back. Of note, the
dealer has been in business for many, many years, is local and is family owned.
Thank you all for any advice or comments...hope I can sleep tonight! The little
bit I sewed on the machine before making the 'down-payment' I Loved it!! Thank you for any response...good or bad r/t this machine.
quilter...definately not "Show" quality guilter, but hope to be someday. I was
looking at and comparing the Pfaff QE4 and the Bernina 440. I really liked the
Bernina 440 and I have an old (25+ yrs) Bernina 910. I have always valued the
quality of Bernina. I am however on a limited budget (poor nurse) :-) so I
decided not to purchase the MUCH more expensive Bernina. With all that said...I
am feeling kind of sick now, because I have been looking on the internet at "the
reviews" of the QE4 and so far, most all of them have been horrible!! Many of the
posts were about the tension and the 'breaking of thread' frequently while
quilting? The #1 complaint mentioned was "Thread Jam" indicator showing on the
machine when no 'jam' had occurred. I really am scarred at this moment...feeling
like I got caught up in the salesman's pitch and jumped into something before I
did my research. Most of the comments I read on the internet are from 2009...so
does anyone knows if the machine I am buying soon is any different from the 2009
or not? This is a big purchase for me and now I am having second thoughts and
thinking about going back tomarrow and asking for my check back. Of note, the
dealer has been in business for many, many years, is local and is family owned.
Thank you all for any advice or comments...hope I can sleep tonight! The little
bit I sewed on the machine before making the 'down-payment' I Loved it!! Thank you for any response...good or bad r/t this machine.
03-23-2010, 10:33 PM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 3,357
I cannot help you, but just wanted to say that I feel for you being in this situation. Hopefully they have corrected whatever caused such neg. comments from 2009. You however need to do whatever you feel is best for you. I do wish you the very best.
03-24-2010, 03:17 AM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Southern Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,474
I have a phaff quilt expression 2044 I purchased 6 yrs ago and never had a problem. I just bought an Janome em machine so sits my lovely phaff but will use it to take to class.
I don`t think you`ll e disappointed, especialy if you have a good dealer.
Gale
I don`t think you`ll e disappointed, especialy if you have a good dealer.
Gale
03-24-2010, 03:41 AM
#4
Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Colorado
Posts: 16
I was in the same situation. Looked at the Bernina 440 and was ready to write the check, then they showed me the 830! $10,000!!! I want that one but could not part with the $$$. What I did was go to Sears, bought a Kenmore---walking foot and 1/4" foot and will sew on it until I can make up my mind. My old machine is a 40 yr old Bernina. When I do finally choose one I think it will be the Bernina and I have bought some time without too much investment.
Kay
Kay
03-24-2010, 04:06 AM
#5
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Milverton, ON, Canada
Posts: 13,209
I have a Pfaff and love it, but it is not the same model as the one you are buying. I think in general Pfaff can be a little tempermental but once you have the right combination of thread, needle and fabric just stick with it. I have ordered the Hobby 1200 and have read the same reviews about threads breaking on it as well, but I intend to have my dealer give my the lowdown on what threads it likes and what needles to use and hopefully that will solve the problems that some people have experienced. I stuck with Pfaff since I wanted the feet etc to be inchangeable with my current machine.
03-24-2010, 04:10 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Home town: Rehoboth, MA Now living in OK
Posts: 7,774
Originally Posted by MamaBear61
I have a Pfaff and love it, but it is not the same model as the one you are buying. I think in general Pfaff can be a little tempermental but once you have the right combination of thread, needle and fabric just stick with it. I have ordered the Hobby 1200 and have read the same reviews about threads breaking on it as well, but I intentd to have my dealer give my the lowdown on what threads it likes and what needles to use and hopefully that will solve the problems that some people have experienced. I stuck with Pfaff since I wanted the feet etc to be inchangeable with my current machine.
03-24-2010, 06:02 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Lebanon, Missouri
Posts: 602
Since your machine will not be the floor model, ask the dealer if they will be testing the machine BEFORE you bring it home. Also, ask the dealer if you can test sew on YOUR machine for a while before you leave the store. Plan on playing with it for at least an hour. ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS! Keep asking questions until you are comfortable with your purchase.
The "tempermental" part of a machine just gets me. If I pay X amount of dollars for a machine, short of using postal twine, I should be able to run just about any thread to my liking!
But the old saying goes "Follow your gut feeling". If you really are not comfortable with the thought of your purchase then it really may not be a good fit for you.
Good luck!
The "tempermental" part of a machine just gets me. If I pay X amount of dollars for a machine, short of using postal twine, I should be able to run just about any thread to my liking!
But the old saying goes "Follow your gut feeling". If you really are not comfortable with the thought of your purchase then it really may not be a good fit for you.
Good luck!
03-24-2010, 06:30 AM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Outer Space
Posts: 9,319
Does this dealer also sell Bernina? If your heart lies there, maybe it's best to transfer that down payment to the machine you really want. Even if it takes longer to pay for it-installments etc. you won't be full of second thoughts...
03-24-2010, 08:15 AM
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Puget Sound, Wa. State
Posts: 2,462
I heard alot of negatives when I was considering my CV 5.0 but the price was sooo good and I loved the machine that I bought it anyway!
I use any thread, Schmitz needles and have never had any problems!I LOVE THIS MACHINE!!!!
Kirsten
I use any thread, Schmitz needles and have never had any problems!I LOVE THIS MACHINE!!!!
Kirsten
03-24-2010, 02:07 PM
#10
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
I recently bought a Pfaff (not the same model) that sewed beautifully in the store, but now that I got mine at home, it is a temperamental thing and there are some features that are driving me nuts.
Do you get classes with your machine? If so, take it through the paces. What would happen to the down payment if you don't get the machine? As for the reviews: 2 kinds of people post reviews - the lovers and the haters. There is usually a large batch of users that don't feel compelled to review an item. They are happily sewing along on their machine and you deal with whatever glitches happen as they happen.
Do you get classes with your machine? If so, take it through the paces. What would happen to the down payment if you don't get the machine? As for the reviews: 2 kinds of people post reviews - the lovers and the haters. There is usually a large batch of users that don't feel compelled to review an item. They are happily sewing along on their machine and you deal with whatever glitches happen as they happen.
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