Buying a longarm at a show
 

Almost a year ago I purchased a used HQ16 and am about ready to upgrade to a newer, bigger machine with more features. There are three shows coming up in the next few months and I hope to test drive and purchase (yay!).

At this point I am considering an HQ 24" or an Innova 26".

My question is what to expect of pricing at a show. How much of a discount is typical? Or do they throw in some of the optional stuff?

Will I have to bargain? Would a local dealer who is not selling long arms at the show be likely to meet a "show price"?

Any hints would be appreciated. This is a huge investment.

Thanks in advance.

Marcia in NJ

P.S. I already have an interested buyer for my HQ16.

I'm going to be interested in the answers to these questions too. DH has finally seen the light and decided I need to get a HQ Sweet 16. I'm looking for a used/floor model, but a show machine would be just fine too!

I would go for the Innova 26" with lightening stitch in a heartbeat!

You might want to join the Yahoo groups for the two brands you are interested in and ask there. I know the Innova group (actually there are two groups now, a manufacturer's group which is bigger and a newer group that is independent of the manufacturer) is quite active, so you should get some good responses there.

As Innova very publicly publishes its prices http://www.innovalongarm.com/shop/innova-packages.html I suspect it will be entirely up to the dealer to offer a show special. Most LA at shows are not marketed at a show special like a DSM that would be a more cash and carry item, they (the LA Vendors) are there for potential buyers to try out and compare brands. As it is such a significant purchase, I would think most deals are not sealed at a show so no incentive to offer a special. No cash and carry is possible with a LA.

You could try haggling, it may get you something, like free shipping (machine head and racks are drop shipped via common carrier from Texas, usually around $500!) or free installation. Or they may have a financing special you can take advantage of. If you don't have to finance, you may have more room to bargain.

IMHO (but I am extremely biased being a happy Innova owner) you can't go wrong with the Innova. The rack and machine are much more heavy duty than HQ. The Innova rack is pretty rock solid. HQ is a great machine too, but when I was comparing machines, Innova beat them hands down and the two were comparably priced.

Like Prism, I lust after the lightening stitch. So don't cut corners to get the standard SR, definitely order your machine with the LS upgrade. I am saving my pennies for the someday upgrade. Actually I have them squirreled away now but am loathe to part with the $$ and see my savings go down so much. So I think i will continue to make due with my standard SR and upgrade only when my current one goes to the big sewing studio in the sky.

Edited to add, if you have the room for a 12ft rack go for it! I only had room for a 10ft which I thought would be plenty big enough but I am limited to quilts only 100" wide and even then it is tight. So go for the bigger rack too! 12 or 14 footer!

I bought my LA (Innova 22in) at MQX last year. They offered a deal on the lightening stitch, about 10% off if I added it to the machine. Which basically came out to the lightening stitch being free with the set up. I did have to pay for shipping though. My local dealer (in VA was closest) delivered all the LA's bought at the show. He said they had 4-5 different machines delivered. But I didnt pay extra for it.

You can also talk them into other things to sweeten the deal :p I got the red snappers tossed in.

The owner of Innova was there, plus the dealer nearest to me, they also had to get a dealer in from the NW area. At all the long arm dealers at the show were the main company and the local dealers.

I think I misspelled "lightning stitch" as "lightening stitch". But I don't feel too bad, as I think everyone else did too! :D

I also have the Innova 26" with 12' table and the standard SR, the simplest and cheapest SR they provide. I would love to have lightning stitch (and can spell it, LOL) but it wasn't available when I purchased my Innova, and the upgrade is costly. For what I do (not longarming as a business) I am happy with what I have, and haven't really noticed stitch length differences as being a problem. In fact many professional longarmers don't use a SR at all. I haven't seen huge discounts in longarm prices at shows, and I do believe that any Innova dealer would honor the show specials and maybe throw in some extras. You can always pick up a paper at the show that shows what specials are offered, which makes it even more likely that you can get the same deal from the local dealers. I also highly recommend Innova, for quality and service.

MQX is one of the shows I plan to attend.

BTW, my son lives in North Andover..

I recently purchased an Innova 22" with lightning stitch....love it. Innova has a great reputation for customer service.

I'd do Innova....I have a dealer within 10 miles and they will have great customer service. That is where I rent my machine time. Too scared to own a big machine...at least at this point! ;0

This is the machine I would like as well. Gently used is fine with me. Just need to find one I can actually afford

MQX is a local show for me as I live in southern NH. Unfortunately, a LA or even a shortarm machine is way, way out of my price range. I also have no place in my home to set one up. :( I do love seeing the gorgeous quilts at MQX, though!

Anita

Love My APQS Millenium. Be sure to check them out. I've been to the factory in Carrol IA. I especially enjoy having it paired with the Intelliquilter computerized system. So many possibilities.

www.LongarmUniversity.com

has a clearing house for used LA. I have not purchased anything but watch the site for something near me. I also look on Craigslist.

If you have a dealer nearby, check with them for their prices, and if they will match a "show" price. They often will to move their product. When you go to the show you will know if you are getting a deal, the regular price or an inflated price. If you don't live close enough to a dealer call one. These are all franchised machines in the shops, and often enough the dealers know each other from their own conventions and training workshops.
MaryKatherine

Of course I'm partial to the Innova only as I have one now. When I went to my 1st quilt show I wasn't even in the market for a quilt machine as I had an 18" with robotics on a 10 frame at home. One of the ladies I was with mentioned she had an Innova with the same robotics as mine so we stopped at the Innova booth. I decided to try my hand with their machine and fell in love instantly. Of course the price was out of my reach at the time but thought maybe in a year I could afford one. Took their brochures, went home and just mentioned it to my mother who was living with me at the time. A couple weeks later my mother told me to order what I wanted. The dealer I talked with at the show was also the one in my area. She gave me lots of extras which I thought was quite generous. I'm sure each dealer has their own agenda to what they're willing to add to the pot. Mine gave me the red snappers and crosshatch ruler setup which isn't cheap. I'm very happy with my setup.

Please email me about the machine you want to sell. I have been wanting a long arm machine. Thanks Lynn Smith(e=mail edited out for safety reasons, please use the Private Mail)

A friend of mine got the floor model from a show at a really sweet,no pun intended, deal on hers. I thought I got a good deal when I got mine at the show price new. You have to speak up quickly for one though.

2 of the 3 floor models were sold by the 2nd day of a 4 day show here in Phoenix. If you know what you want and what you can afford, jump quick!

I love my Innova. I have the 26"/LS with a 12' table. I bought my Innova from my dealer and she matched her show price. I think she even included delivery and setup. They do include a 3 day training class at their store. Innovas are very low maintenance.

Innova does list their specials on their website: http://innovalongarm.com/shop/special-offers.html. As soccertxi said, you can try and get a floor model at the show, or even ask the dealer if they have one when you visit their shop.

When I went shopping for a LA, I looked at the HQ and tried it. Handling wise, it wasn't bad, but the dealer told me I would have to bring the head into the shop for servicing. The Innova had a lighter touch and my dealer will either help me by phone or send the tech out if necessary. I have read in the innova group (original one) that customer support is very helpful if needed and very responsive. I have asked a few questions by email and gotten a quick response from the company.

Definitely join all 3 groups (the HQ group and the 2 Innova groups on Yahoo - one started by ABM[the mfr] and one started by a member of the Innova group who is not an ABM employee) and see what people have to say, but I love my Innova. She is light and easy to use. I also love the fact that don't need to buy a new machine anytime there is a new upgrade that I might want. Additions are very easy to make.

Glad to hear you already have a buyer lined up for your current machine.

Do your homework ahead of time so you know what the going price is. Then at the show, you will be able to see if the prices are compatible or if you can look around some more.

After trying the Lightning Stitch at a show in Virginia, I just placed my order for one today. I too hated depleting so much of my savings, but i decided it was a need more than a want. Now I can hardly wait for it. Since I'm going for broke, I ordered a few other things too.

I've seen some amazing prices at shows. Longarms as well as domestic machines. Next time I'm in the market for a machine I'll try every machine at a show and buy one there.