Thanks for all the good replies. I took the risk of buying from an online quilt shop, something I may live to regret, but the price was incredible. They are leftovers that are in stock, with the newer 830 replacing them. It comes with full warrantee. I didn't want to buy from my local dealer. I did not want to deal with her personality, so I looked for other options, short of traveling a hundred miles to the next nearest Bernina dealer. So I am hoping this machine has no future issues, and I hope it is as good a machine as my Pfaff 7550 and Creative 2170 for sewing and embroidery. I love them both and they have been very reliable.

I have a 730 and have had it for many years (can't remember how long) but haven't had any issues. When people are talking about issues with the 7 series, they are talking about the 3 new ones 710, 750 & 780 which have only been out I think a little over a year. As with a lot of the machines, issues are usually when they first come out. They don't seem to always get the "bugs" out when releasing them

The Bernina company is family owned but still mass produced in a factory. Bernina has a factory in Hong Kong too. I have an older Bernina 1260.