That is a great dealer!

If you buy the machine early in the show and then have to go back for it at the end, be sure to make arrangements for them to get you back in so you don't have to pay admission again.
We did that when we made a big purchase at a fair and the seller just had us call when we were at the gates and he came and met us and brought us in. Saved us $30.00.

Watson

I would test drive at the show but purchase locally. Unless the machine you have your eye on isn't available locally. You can always ask at the show, who's local and call the local to double check what they say. I have heard of Bernina not offering classes when a machine is purchased from someone else.

Since this show is fairly close by, definitely check the vendors--many will be local to the show. I bought my Elna Quilt Queen Pro in 2011 at a show and paid $500 less than the store price. I did end up picking it up at the store so they could show me all the features again. But often, vendors will want to NOT have to load up machines so will let you take on the last day. The class machines are usually even a bigger discount cause they are now considered "used" instead of demos. good luck!

Thanks for all the helpful ideas and information! I would like to buy from a local dealer if possible. But a great price on a demo might persuade me otherwise. I am looking for a good basic quilting machine, preferably mechanical, with at least a 9" harp if possible, knee bar, needle up/down, and adjustable presser foot pressure. (A little worried that it might be too fast for my nonexistent skills at this point ;-). I'm thinking something like a Juki 2000 or 2010? Maybe dealers bring mostly computerized machines to shows though?

You can get good deals at shows. My dealer is always at the shows in my area and he does sponsor some of the classes so there are always used classroom models at shows.These tend to be the good deals. If it is a newly released model the dealer generally has less deals on them unless the manufacturer is having a special. My dealer for the classroom models the people in the classes get the offer first and then at the end of the show he will offer them at a special price and if they don't sell then it will be offered during their sales throughout the year. To me the best deals I have found on machines is at my dealers special events like floriani or anita good. I have seen machines at good price with tons of extras thrown in. I bought my machine before going to one and the next upgrade I do will be at an event. Generally me dealer doesn't like to haul stuff back from a large show so going towards the end might be a good idea if its a large volume dealer like mine

I bought my juki at a quilt show. I got a good discount as it had been the machine they had set up for free motion quilting. I purchased a trolley to fit it in which made it easier to transport to my car. I've never regretted the purchase.

I hope I can be so lucky. I wasn't planning on taking a class at the show since I'd undoubtedly be out of my minuscule depth. Heck, I'm not entirely sure whether there will be dealers at this show - this will be my first time attending a show, and this is a fairly new show (the Los Angeles Quilt Show). If you're not in the classes, how do you find out if any likely machines are being offered at the end of the show?

(and Dolphyngyrl, what are the Floriana and Anita Good events? See how clueless I am? ;-)

I purchased my Janome 8900 at MQX. I was the first one to use the new machine in a FMQ class. They told us the machines would be offered at a great deal and could be picked up on the last day of the show...but having explained that I was leaving that afternoon and lived 3 or 4 hours away, they packed up the new machine and I was able to take it home with me so I had been the only student on the machine. Plus the Janome rep gave me extra feet, bobbins and a stand-up thread spool.

I would call my local dealer and see if they will match the show price. Most important, ask about service after the sale.