Help choosing a new machine New Janome 9400 vs slightly used Bernina 770
 

Hi all, I’m new on the board and looking to upgrade my sewing machine (a 14 year old bernina). I’m choosing between a Janome 9400 which is new in box for $2500 or a slightly used bernina 770 for $3200. Both are sold by individuals not shops and are strangers to me. If I decide on the bernina, I would insist on a shop check to make sure it is in good working order. Thanks in advance for your advice 😊💕

Sorry I can't help you but welcome to the board. I'm sure somebody out there will be able to help.

I'm partial to Janomes and for $2500, you're not going to find a 9400 anywhere else. However, I would be leary of buying from a stranger. That's a ridiculous amount of cash to part with if you haven't tried it out. If it's Craigslist (?) I would meet in a public place and take someone with me. Sometimes crooks use a fake picture and bait a woman with an object that mostly women use.

I have to agree with Zozee on this. There are scammers all over these days.
For machines- I've never had a Janome but I love my Bernina and wouldn't buy anything else. I'm not familiar with the 770 but I'm partial to them.
Good luck and welcome to the board!

Thanks Zonee. The 9400 would be shipped and I could pay with a credit card so partially covered if it is not the real deal. The bernina is via craigslist but I would only meet publicly.

If you meet publicly, how are you going to be able to test drive the Bernina? That's a problem. I once bought a used Pfaff from a lady on craigslist, who had me come to her office (she was self employed) to test drive the machine. That worked great, however, most sellers are probably not in the same circumstance to own a business open to the public.

Welcome to the board!

Can't help you with the machine question... I'm not up on the machines with all the bells and whistles. I'm a Juki girl! Have a Juki longarm and a Juki domestic and love both.

[QUOTE=JustAbitCrazy;8245318]If you meet publicly, how are you going to be able to test drive the Bernina? That's a problem. I once bought a used Pfaff from a lady on craigslist, who had me come to her office (she was self employed) to test drive the machine. That worked great, however, most sellers are probably not in the same circumstance to own a business open to the public.[/QUOT

Thanks JustABitCrazy. As I mentioned in my post, I would insist on a certified Bernina person to look over the machine first.

For the last 30 years I have had Vikings and have been happy. Having said that I bought the 9400 a year ago and wish I had bought it earlier. .

I would choose 9400but I really don't care for berninas. I think they are overrated and overpriced compared to other machines I sewed on a 550 and a 765 for an entire day did not care for either but that's me 9400 has awesome features

I would get the new Janome because it's new in the box and it's a great price. I have a Janome 7700 and I love it.

I own a Janome, 8900, and love it. I purchased mine off Craigslist and chose to search for a Janome as there is a dealer about 45 minutes from where I live. The piece of advice I have to offer is this, consider picking the machine that has a dealer near you. If you have issues with a machine, relying on the dealer to fix it and service it is important.
The 9400 is the next step up from my machine, it has all the bells and whistles, there is also an expansion kit available to purchase that adds even more features to the machine. I don't know anything about Bernina machines as I have never sewn on one but as I've read on here multiple times, I have observed several of us quilters have our preferred brand of machine, so I'm sure someone will offer advice on the 770 for you to consider. Good luck on your decision.

They are both lovely machines. Do not think you could go wrong with either machine. One of the main differences that jump out is horizontal drop in bobbin vs. vertical bobbincase system. The horizontal systems are easy to see and no case to futz with. But IMO, the vertical sometimes gives better results, especially with FM work and never tries to pull out if something goes wrong. And the bobbin can be changed without removing your project. Feature wise, they are probably very similar. I have both brands, and no complaints about either, but if I had to choose, it would be the Bernina. Bernina has the big bobbin, if that matters to you. Both have top feed. And maybe compare prices on eBay to get a proper range of acceptable prices. I suggest paying with PayPal on both of them, as you get a layer of protection that really works. Buy all my machines this way. Best wishes for fun!

I almost bought a "good deal" until I learned that it would be shipped from a recently flooded area. Buyer Be Ware.

I'm a BERNINA gal all the way! I have owned them for 50 years. I would choose that one. I, however, would ask the seller about the history of maintenance. Perhaps he or she has documentation. I know I save all of the documentation when I have my machines serviced. I have sold a couple of machines in the past and have always provided maintenance documents for the buyer so there would be no questions. Perhaps you could ask for/about that. At a price of $3200 the owner can afford to do that.

I have two Janomes (6600 and 8900) and have enjoyed both of them but my go to machine now is a Bernina 770. In either direction you choose, I would most definitely want to test drive the machines.

Excellent price on the 9400. I have one that I paid $3000 for about a year ago. I love all of the bells and whistles and because I have other Janomes I can share bobbins, feet, etc. with my other machines. I have very little experience with Berninas, but my cousin purchased a lemon a few years back. It can happen.

The Janome sews great, has all of the features I love, but has one flaw -- when the pressure foot goes up or down, I hear a loud cricket sound. If I have it set to auto lift (absolutely love this option) I hear it more often. The sound did not bother me at all until I took my machine to a guild sew-in and then I worried it would bother my table mate. Now it kind of bugs me. I asked the technician about it when I took it in for it's annual cleaning and she said it was normal for this model.

I wish you the best of luck.

I would be wanting proof of service history and/or a recent written technician inspection on either machine and also a 'sit down and sew" on them.....perhaps even take a friend who is an accomplished sewer to do a test drive with you who could play devils' advocate for you. I had a series 7 Bernina and a Janome 8900. I sold both with full service records. (They are both long gone and replaced with 2 Juki's ...I couldn't be happier...enough said!)

I have both, a Bernina for 27 years and still love it and a Janome Gem purchased years ago to take to workshops. I really never bonded with the Janome and ended up giving it to my daughter. I guess I'm a Bernina girl all the way. Good luck in making your decision, its a personal choice that no one can choose but yourself.

I also own the Janome 9400. It's a dream. I've owned it for three years, not had even one issue. My first computerized machine was a Janome that I purchased in 2003 and I still use that machine. I sold my Janome 7700 when I decided I'd sure like to own the 9400. I have been brand loyal ever since my first purchase which seems to run true with gals and their sewing machines. I like that the 9400 has a notification pop up when bobbin thread is getting low and you can set the level of thread left to your liking. I like that you can wind your bobbin without removing thread from machine! I love all the lighting, the sound the motor makes, and the quality that comes from Janome. I believe it is a solid machine.

Well, I decided to get the “new for me” (ie used) bernina 770. Picked it up today. Very excited but scared to start using it lol

Put those big girl pants on and get to it, lol. Don't be afraid. They don't bite. It's just a machine. You are boss in the sewing room.

Congratulations on your new to you 770. You’re gonna love it... check out sewingmastery.com for tutorials on the 770 or on YouTube. Good luck.

Thanks all!