Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for providing info. about your machines in my other thread. As you know from that thread, I'm shopping for a new machine. My most important features include a large harp space and beautiful, even stitches for FMQ. I have found what could be an amazing deal and I wanted to ask for your input and what I should be looking for/checking when I go to test drive her tonight!

On Craig's List, I found a lady who is selling her brand new Janome Horizon 7700. She's only had he machine for 3 weeks and sewed on it for approx. 20 hrs. I was really sceptical at first, thinking it was a lemon because why would you buy a new machine and sell it after only 3 weeks? I asked her about it and she said that she has a portable Janome to take to classes and a Bernina sewing and embroidery machine already and just bought the Horizon (without doing her homework) to put on a long arm quilting frame that she wants to get. A lady who has a frame told her she wouldn't be able to use the Horizon on a frame because, being a computerized machine, the vibration wouldn't allow the Horizon to tension properly. SO - although she likes the Horizon and hasn't had any problems with it, she needs to sell it in order to make room/$$ for the frame and another machine more suited to a frame.

Basically, she's got an almost new Horizon she's getting rid of (at a GOOD price) and I'm going to see it tonight. The thing is, I really want to do my best during the test drive to make sure nothing is wrong with it. Would those of you who have a Horizon (or know about them) please tell me what features I should check and how to check them? Also, if you can think of any specific questions I should ask her, I'd really appreciate it!!!!!! I'm excited!

Thanks!
Rebecca

If she's local to you, and the machine is only THREE??? weeks old, I would imagine it's still under warranty. And the dealer is ?nearby?.

I would be checking out how transferable it is, did/does the dealer include free lessons which still might be available for you to take, and the details of the warranty, and any servicing already done to the machine.

But it sounds like a great deal. Good luck.

I, personally, love Janomes. I used to sell them and think they are a great machine. Much more bang for your buck....and if you can get one for a great price...go for it! You won't be sorry. The 7700 comes with almost everything you would ever want!

The warranty transfers, but sometimes the free classes do not.

I called Janome yesterday and they told me that none of their warranties transfer to a second owner... :?: Would you buy a machine that was no longer under warranty???

Oh lucky you!!!

I don't have the 7700, I have the 6600 and based on that I would say test drive the following ...

Different thread weights in top and bottom. I've found it to be fussy with 60 wt in bobbin and 50 on top. Play, play, play with tension.

Accufeed foot, make sure you like it.

Play with some of the designer stitches including the letters.

Make sure you test piecing cotton as well as quilting it.

Also, I like piecing with the 1/4 accufeed foot. I use this foot and then re-position the needle for my "scant" 1/4 seam. Try piecing with it. I pieced tons of 1" strips and I will tell you that the foot is SOOO wide I couldn't hold my strip on the left of the needle to guide it through so I would guide it with pin heads I used to pin it. When I get near the end I have to use a stilletto for the last 1" or so to make sure it doesn't "migrate" to the left.

Also check out what attachements it comes with. Does it come with the single hole plate or just the regular plate? If you have to buy the single hole plate or any of the other attachments (like the 1/4" accufeed foot), then figure those costs into your total purchase.

Good luck - it's a great machine.

Did you call Janome or the Janome dealer? All you have to give them is the serial number and the warranty should transfer. They use the serial number to pull up the warranty info when servicing.

I would still buy it if it is a great buy. 90% of the service issues we had on the Janomes were because they were threaded wrong...either up top or in the bobbin. Customers would just get frustrated and have brain 'farts' when re-threading and usually they missed the loop on the needle bar, causing tension issues.

I have one, LOVE IT !!!

Dont forget to ask her if she has received the "replacement" 1/4" foot that Janome sends out when the owner registers the machine online. The early 7700's came with a flawed 1/4" foot so if her's is one of the first ones made they would have sent her the replacement foot.

I called the actual company, not the dealer. Do you think if I called the dealer with the serial number, they'd still honor the warranty?

We always did.....

Rebecca,
I don't know anything about the machine. I don't have one. Just want you to be very careful. Don't go alone. AND, remember, if a deal is too good to be true, it usually isn't. Don't set yourself up for disappointment.
I don't want to be negative. I'm just old enough to know.

Thanks Kathy. I will be going with my husband and our children, so I won't be alone. Good to remember about a good deal being worth looking into! I called the dealer she told me she bought it from, they remember selling it to her, and told me that they would take care of me (teaching me the machine and servicing it if any problems come up). I'm going to definitely be thorough in my checking when I test drive the machine tonight.

Okay. Glad you did all your homework and got the bases covered by taking your husband and kids. Hope it is just want you want and you can enjoy it. Nothing better than a nice machine and a good deal.

I would say TEST TEST TEST. My best machine turned out to be a Babylock and the Janomes simply did not work with me/for me. It is like buying a car. Some look good on paper and when you test drive you realize that it is not the make and model for you.

Good Luck, if the dealer is willing to work with you, that's great!! Having a local dealer to service it for you is invaluable. have fun.

I would be very hesitant ... have you gone to the dealer and price checked?

If the machine is so new and she realizes she bought the wrong machine, I'd wonder why she didn't deal with the dealer as a trade?

When I bought my Janome, they offered a FULL $ back if I traded it within the first year. One of the enticements as to why I dealt with them ... though they had a strong enough reputation that I would have still bought from them.

I'm always cautious buying 2nd hand (sewing machines and other things too)! usually the drop in $$ isn't enough to woo me, and would sooner pay that bit more for more security. Just me!

Thanks for your thoughts here. I'm not sure why she wouldn't deal with the dealer she bought the machine from in order to trade it in. Perhaps they didn't carry the type of machine she is going to need for her frame when she eventually gets one? The price I'd be able to get this machine for is roughly $1000 less than the lowest quote I've been able to get from dealers for a new 7700. I also called the dealer she bought the machine from, explained my situation and the owner (who remembered her buying the machine 3 weeks ago) told me that while technically the Janome warranty wasn't valid for a 2nd owner, they'd take care of me in terms of teaching me the machine and working with me should any problems arise with the machine.

If I find no problems with it during my test drive tonight and like how it feels, I'm thinking I will probably go ahead and buy it... especially since I've got a resource in the dealer she used.

Thoughts?

From what you have said, I do not think you have met this dealer face to face. I'd at least want to see them IRL to know I feel comfortable with their offer. I truly believe talk is cheap ... til you have to call on them!

Will they put it in writing?

Yes, call me skeptical .... though the large cut in price by the seller, does add a red flag for me. I've said my piece ... and now I'll back out of the thread!

Good Luck .... I hope you get the deal and machine you will be most happy with!

Just bought the Janome 7700. If you decide to buy make sure you have the directional DVD. Very helpful. Haven't had any lessons yet, the store owner is on a cruise, but will take them when she returns.

if the price is right, I would go for it. I did a test drive on the Horizon at a craft fair, it is a beautiful machine. I would have bought it but I just got my Symphony which I also love

I've read this whole thread and agree - Be Cautious.
I think it might be that the woman has a loan on that machine and wants to pay it off so she can purchase the new machine that she wants.

I recently purchased the 7700 for the same reasons you want it. I love it, haven't taken the classes yet, but own other Janome machines which operate much the same. Taking a FM class at a LQS next week, can't wait !!! Good luck :-)

Good luck, I hope you get it!

A lady who has a frame told her she wouldn't be able to use the Horizon on a frame because, being a computerized machine, the vibration wouldn't allow the Horizon to tension properly. SO - although she likes the Horizon and hasn't had any problems with it, she needs to sell it in order to make room/$$ for the frame and another machine more suited to a frame.

I am not familiar with the Horizon or Jancome, but I don't understand not being able to use a computerized machine on a quilting frame. Or maybe it's the frame she wants. I have the Bernina 830 (computerized) and the Bernina frame, and I have not had any problems at all.

Janome warrantees do not transfer. That can be a big issue, because when major problems occur, the machine must be sent back to the Janome for resolution. They can only handle relatively minor problems locally. I would beware of purchasing this machine.

Interesting.

ooc, and not to go OT, but do the other big names allow warranty transfers?
I'm the original owner of my machine (Bernina) so it's never been an issue that's come up.

Great deal. Hope it is what you want.

http://content.janome.com/index.cfm/...ilting/Horizon

I do not believe the warrenty is transferable.....I have had several Janome's...
Personally I would buy from a reputable dealer...emphasis on reputable. Yes it may be more expensive BUT you have free lessons, and your warrenty will be active. I don't believe in test driving a machine then buying online. Not fair to the dealer..online they can sell a machine and be done with you ...no matter how you buy online, personal or dealer. That is just MHO... :) :)
Good luck on your purchase, Janome Horizon is a nice machine.

I agree with all the above. As to why she's selling, the first things that came to mind was unexpected surgery, hospitalization or treatment either for herself or a family member.

Thanks for all your thoughts and tips on this, Everyone!

Long story short, I spent a lot of time with the seller and the machine last evening, asked a ton of questions, sewed quite a bit, spoke with the dealer and the company... and ended up taking the machine home. I feel very comfortable that I made the right decision.

Thank you all for your help!

Have fun with your new machine it should serve you well.... :)

I own a Bernina Activa 240 and its warrantee says that it is not transferable. I don't know whether that applies to all Bernina machines or if it just applies to that particular machine.

I knew about the Janome warrantee because I passed my Janome MC6500P along to someone else and found out at that time. Janome also used to say that their warrantee was only good if the machine was not purchased over the Internet. I don't know if that is still true or not, as I heard that around 6-years ago.

@countryone77,
Thank you. That's really helpful information to know should the need arise.

The word I got from Janome when I called (yesterday) was that the warranties are only valid when purchased from an authorized dealer and don't transfer to a second owner :?

Not that anyone is going to jump through hoops for you, but, hypothetically, if the machine were returned to the dealer, and THEN the dealer sold it to you, would that be kosher?

I really don't expect an answer, I was just thinking.

If the dealer is going to work with you, perhaps you should get a copy of the warranty and have them sign it or give you some letter letting you know they'll stand behind it. Even if it costs you, let's say, $100 extra to them, it might be worth it if the machine is such a good deal.

Just babbling.

You've got a tough decision to make. I wish you good luck, and hope it all works out for you.

And thanks for the thread - I learned a lot of new information.

Good for you !! Happy sewing :D

Hopefully you won't need to ever take it in anytime soon. Other Janome Horizon owners that I know that bought at our LQS have not had one problem with them; they love their machine and it has been problem free. I hope the same is for you and your's. Let us know how it is doing and show us your first production!

Happy sewing! Enjoy your new machine!

Hi,

Just for information.... I put my horizon on my little gracie II and use it and it works great!

Hugs

I'm sure it would - I'm not sure I quite understood her explanation of why the Horizon wouldn't be the right machine for the frame. I think it might have had to do with the type of frame she's planning to get. She's getting a tabletop frame (not a stand alone frame). I don't know much about quilting frames, but she showed me a video clip of the frame she's buying and it was definitely different than the others I've seen. The lady she's buying the frame from was the one who told her that the Horizon wasn't the right type of machine for that frame and advised her to get a straight-stitch only, like a Juki.