Expensive Lesson Learned
 

I wanted a dependable, lightweight machine for carting to the homes of quilting friends. $20 for a Husqvarna Viking 310 (without foot control or power cord) appeared to fit the bill. Surely these parts were easily available and cheap. NOT!

I've yet to stitch a lick and now have over $90 invested in a machine I could have purchased for significantly less on EBay, complete (including feet and manual which have yet to be bought)! Of course, the foot controller is on back order (the cord for it costs extra) and is priced over three times what I paid for this uber basic machine. Foolish me!

Here's what I learned. Loving to quilt means it is worth lugging a nearly 40 lb. vintage machine to the house of a friend. Yes, those muscles deserve a good workout. Never assume basic parts for a modern machine are available or inexpensive. And... When that little voice inside your head tells you to not purchase something, LISTEN TO IT!!

Know where you're coming from. Hope your parts come in soon and you have many many years of enjoyment out of your machine.

I know the feeling. Often wish that I were more technologically astute. If I had a smart phone (and knew how to use it!) I could have saved myself some grief by checking eBay *before* buying a thrift shop machine! (However, I still wouldn't give up that little vintage Bernina that needed only that $100 power cord in order to work......)

I solved part of the problem of the weight of my vintage Singers - it seems I am collecting rolling cases for them. Thrift stores are good sources for the cases.

That is a very good idea, but you still have to lift it in and out of the car.

I guess that's way so many of us have Singer FW's, although I did have to get a power cord for my old HV. The repair shop wanted $50, I got one at Radio Shack for $5 or $6...

I went to my electrical "junk" box and found one! It came off of an old computer drive so I know it can handle the power needs of the HV.

Thanks for sharing...I'm sure all of us at one time or another has made mistakes that have cost us.

$90 is a good bargain for a nice sewing machine. I hope you did a search for onlines parts. The repair shop wanted $110 for a foot pedal and cord for my machine. I found it online for $34.99 at a wholesale sewing parts store. The repairman said he had to order it from the company that's why it cost more.

I have an app on my phone that scans the bar code of an item and then lists stores in the area that have the same item and the price. If the store won't match the lowest price I go buy it at the other store. This has saved me more then the cost of the phone and many times the phone bill each month. I don't have to clip coupons for JoAnns, Hobby Lobby or other stores, they are on the phone to be scanned when I need them.

Been there, done that! I bought a Pfaff serger without a foot control and other acc. It took over 5 months to get the parts,Pfaff sent the wrong foot control,it was a mess. After all the problems that I had getting parts, I called a dealer that USED to be a Pfaff dealer and is now a Babylock dealer. The reason he quit selling Pfaff machines is because he couldn't get parts for the Pfaff machines. It took over 6 months for Pfaff to send him the parts to fix their machines. He finally got so fed up with Pfaff's customer service, he switched to Babylock instead. He can get the parts that he needs to fix his customer's machines. He told me that he hopes at some point that Pfaff becomes a stand alone company, instead of being part of SVP.I will never buy another Pfaff even though I like the machines. If you can't get the parts to fix them,they aren't sewing machines anymore,they are a piece of modern art. Your advice is excellent, if the little voice in you head tells you not to buy something, listen to it.

BellaBoo...what is the name of your app...I would like to have that. TIA!

I know just how you feel. I bought a vintage machine at an antique store, not noticing that the power cord was missing. I haven't even tried to find one... and I don't even remember whether it has the foot controller. $$ down the drain, but a lesson learned.

Post a photo over at the Vintage sewing machine section and I'll bet someone has the cord you need!

wow! If it were me I probably would have done the same thing for $20. (if it makes you feel better) :)

How true God is the Best Quilt!

I"ve paid $50 for an old machine that I picked up for next to nothing. BUT it wore out on my watch.

It does. The upside (as I look at it from my chair) is the free arm. None of my vintage portables have this capability. Not that I need it for quilting. :o

Sometimes finding missing parts for these machines is much more difficult than finding the machines. We have had a lot of luck dealing with machine repair places when needing parts. Good luck and maybe you will have a great machine when you are finished.

If they don't work they are just a doorstop! If you like the machine it is worth the cost for years of great sewing and less backaches.

I found this out the hard way too....saw a fairly new kenmore blue machine in resale shop, no cord, foot control but had the feet...$30 not a bad deal..told the lady to save it for me...called sears, $50 for cord and foot control. LOL, could have bought brand new machine on ebay for $100 free shipping...didn't get it LOL

Clipping coupons
 

I love the apps on my phone, but still clip and print online. All of the JoAnn's around here let us use all of the coupons and I love that. I don't live close (about 70 miles to closest) but I take advantage when I can.

I also learned a lesson by buying a Bernina SU 68 on ebay to fix the one I have. I have since bought two more and still do not have enough good parts that I need to fix one. People on ebay tend to lie about what they are selling. Hopefully I will find a good one in a thrift store someday. Sorry you are having problems...You are not alone....

I know about the parts after the sale, my husband just bought a used Ford F150. He needed two keys made for it...and this applies to all new vehicle keys these days....$80 for each key! Remember the day when you could get a key made for a few dollars. You can still get a $20 key to open the door, but it will not start the engine. These keys have a "chip" in them. So don't loose your car keys. These keys at the dealer were $100+. The $80 were done at Ace Hardware.
Diana

Yes, this is a a great reminder! Thanks for telling your story.

And you have to lift it into and out of the case.

What app is that? I have a Blackberry and would like that app. Thanks!

Don't you just wonder what happens to foot controls, manuals, feet and cords for these perfectly good sewing machines...I have such a hard time understanding this, as I have a Singer Red Eye with everything including the payment book from 1927 (well of course not a cord or foot pedal). Lol. And Yes it was paid in full way back when.


Judy in Phx, AZ

Judy, I do wonder!! The gal that sold this machine was barely 21. I do know folk who regularly throw away cords and such that have no application to their world. I appreciate all I have. My mother taught me well because she was a Depression child. I thank her for sharing her wisdom with me. That's why I am totally learning from this experience!

I feel your pain. We all do silly things in the realm of sewing and quilting! I have a Singer Spartan without a motor. I don't know what I was thinking when I bought it. Only paid $20 for it and even if I bought a motor, I would have to have someone put it on for me and who knows how much that would cost. It's in great shape other wise. I have one just like it that works perfectly though...

Experience has shown me, this board has so many members that you surely have one able to help quite near you! One never knows what the future brings. Only you must first ask. One of my very best friends is a result of a request on this board. Perhaps one is just waiting for you to ask!

Can you get a generic foot pedal? Maybe check with a sewing machine repair-they might have something that would work, even if it isn't manufactured for that specific model.

I read a very good hint on this board -- often machines are sold on ebay with "lost" cords or foot controls so the seller can claim "don't know whether it works or not because cord is lost" ! (Until I read this I couldn't believe how many machines were separated from such essential items!) so beware this type of listing -- there's often a lot more wrong with the machine.

My request at repair shops was met with, "Welcome to the world of electronic machines. Yes, they are that expensive. No generics are available." I am very curious about the innards of the foot control. What makes it worth so much money? Why can't I just use the foot cord and hardwire it to a generic foot controller? Inquiring minds want to know!!! :-)

gee, 20+ years ago my viking was stolen and they left the foot pedal and the presser feet, etc. i would be worried that any machine that came without parts may very well be " second-hand " by a two handed discounter.