"Global policy to deceive customers"? That's untrue and defammatory. Bernina prices in the UK and elsewhere are posted online. Check it out. I don't have any trouble getting prices over the phone if I explain that I'm not willing to make the drive without that info. Maybe it helps to be polite.

By the sound of this conversation I must be one of the most fortunate customers out there to have found my Husqvarna dealer (SewnSew of Waupaca and Appleton, Wisconsin). They have all of the MSRP and their own prices listed. I have heard them on the phone quoting prices. Sales people are knowlegeable and patient (thank the lord!) They will also have sales from time to time. Service is done right in their store and if the sales person can fix my problem on the spot I have not even ben charged for it. Along with the sale I get a shopping spree of one time 20% off and a discount of I think 10% as long as I own their machine. Along with that I get all the training I need for as long as it takes to learn my machine and any software I may purchase from them at no charge. I feel I got a good price on my machine. maybe not the cheapest but in the long run with all the freebies discounts and training I got a bargin at twice the price. They have been upfront and honest with me from the start. I have also found that although the price may seem steep, they don't make as much as you may think on their machines. If I didn't think that they were being honest with me I would have been out of there in a second but in the years I have owned many of their machines I do not have one complaint!

On Facebook yesterday a new Janome was shown with a price tag of between 11 and 12 THOUSAND dollars.....could that possibly be right. I almost had a stroke!

When discussing a position at what is a nice quilt shop that sells two brands of high end machines, in a conversation with the owner about teaching classes and so forth, the owner said as a reminder, "This is not a fabric shop, it is a machine shop". ( Interesting 'eh)

The dealer I do business with has all their prices on the machines in the store. I've asked for prices over the phone with no problems. I do know that, as has been mentioned, they have some restrictions from the manufacturers about posting prices on the internet. Also, some manufacturers offer warranties and some don't. I have one machine with a dealer warranty. I'm buying another one this week that comes with a manufacturer's warranty. Both are from the same dealer. I love my dealer. The service is great and they work so hard to make sure the customer is happy.

I think dealers don't like to quote prices on the phone because they know other stores will do the same. Once they get you in the shop and your hands on the machine, it's hard to walk out without one! I found the more I hesitate, the more items they offer as freebees....

The prices are so hard to find because the prices are so high sky, IMHO. When a home sewing machine costs upwards of $10,000 I believe that the dealers and manufacturers try very, very hard to keep that price out of sight until customers have salivated, fallen in love with and convinced themselves that they CANNOT live without the machine!!

I agree, I've been wanting to compare prices to. Barb

I guess we are fortunate--our shop posts the prices right on the machine-- both retail and what the sale price is. We have also had calls from customers asking prices and they are given over the phone. If it's a model we don't have on hand, we call our distributer to get one for our customers. It's shouldn't be a big secret. Sometimes the price can be adjusted a little to benefit the customer who can pay with cash or check instead of credit card since there will be no additional service charge from the credit card company.

I think the reason for the secrecy is because it is like a car in that there IS a lot of wiggle room on the price. I HATE, HATE HATE, to have to "deal". Just like with a car, I figure if you have to deal on the price and they let you buy it, you probably paid too much. Just tell me the price and I can decide to buy it or not!

OH yes Sheri, I know the feeling. I want to get a good sewing cabinet at a fair price that will hold the machine and serger. Any place that would have several choices would by at least an hour or 3 hour drive and then I wouldn't know what stores to go to. Good prices on the net for exactly what I want it a dream. Need to know stores that have sales and prices to see to order it. Another dream I guess.

I also hate that, when you are on a limited budget, I don't want sticker shock, some are like buying a small car. Sorry, I don't have 7-8,000 to spend on a sewing machine

Are you kidding "How would this person think she got a better deal then that person" Has to be a secret

Good for you Bella, At least you did get a good machine. I have a BabyLock and love it but my dealer sells the one you bought and I see girls doing classes with them and they seem to be very nice and the girls are happy with them. I too hope you went and told the other dealer you got a better one anyway and thank her for making you walk out. LOL

I like to know the price as well. It really bugs me to look at a machine with all the bells and whistles and then have no idea what the price is. Some of us are on a budget and would prefer to look at machines within the budgeted amount.

sewingmachinesplus.com willl quote a price.

I agree with you. Actually, I was looking at a Pfaff a few years ago and the closest store was about almost an hour away. I told the salesperson I wasn't going to drive that distance to find out the machine was out of my price range. After a few minutes of chatting, I finally got a general pricing out of her, which was out of my range.

I think they figure if they get you into the store, they have you.

Our local Babylock dealer has prices on all their machines which is nice.

When I was in the market for a new machine I went to a large quilt show and all the machine vendors were there. I researched several brands and their prices before buying a machine in my area.

I think things should be priced; if I go to even a garage sale and they are too busy to ask- it stays!!! It has to be something extra special for me to stick around to ask prices - and I don't haggle in price for long - it is either reasonable or forget it -

Me too!

When I went to buy a new vehicle, I made up my mind that if the car salesman ask this one particular question I was leaving. The question was, and little lady what color would you prefer? I asked the salesman is the color going to make it run differently? I left 5 dealerships before I got a salesman to tell me the bottom line price and the reasons I should buy from his company. Sewing machine companies need to know with the internet available to most people that a good consumer will check out all the features on a new machine. Since we are spending our money, not theirs, putting costs on the website, even if it is a high and low costs would be to their advantage. I won't buy a new machine unless the price is stated on the product. We can start haggling from there if necessary.

Cragislist Knoxville, TN sale-sufja-2579179084
6 sewing machines

I think they charge whatever the traffic will bear and it varies from one place to another. Irks me as I think there should be a standard, posted price.

We only have one dealer in town and it is a Viking dealer.

I have no patience with shopping and haggling. I want to get in and out fast.

When I needed a new machine I went in and told him "I have $700 to spend and that's out the door price." Got a fine machine within a few minutes.

Car dealers make me cry I get so frustrated.

In the end - sewing, machines, cars, washing machines, etc. you are going to pay whay they want you to pay. The best make you think you have gotten a "good deal".

I never ask prices on anything. I look at whatever and if there is no pricing I'm outta there. Have had them ask me can we help you? My answer, you could have had the things I was looking at been priced. Now it's to late, I will find somewhere they post their prices and then I'll buy.
Plus I'll be loyal to them in the furture. You can't believe the stunded faces as I leave, LOL.

This is exactly why I bought the machine I bought, the price was POSTED.

I agree.

Totally agree! Although with the event of Google and blogs, you can usually find the info if you're willing to do a lot of searching around.

That's probably the new Janome 12000. Several years ago, Bernina's top of the line was $11,000. I figured for that price it should probably cook the meals and clean the house!

I agree with you 100%.

It is amazing that it still occurs, since there is supposed to be no price fixing (supposedly illegel) by mfrs. However, that is what it is. However, the MSRP is not usually what the dealer sells them for. I'm guessing that is why they won't post prices.

Manufacturers setting a minimum price, restricting Internet sales and prices, and restricting price quotes is not actually "price fixing". As much as we don't like the nebulous, secretive system of machine pricing, it's not illegal or even unusual. Breastpumps, for an example from my professional experience, are marketed and sold in much the same way. But many models of many brands of sewing machine are available online, so it's not as if you can't buy a sewing machine without haggling or playing their game. Some dealers don't like the policies, but enough of them want them or they wouldn't exist. Plenty of dealers find their way around them also, like only selling "floor models". Every floor model is the next machine sold, then a new machine gets put out. Or giving a trade-in allowance for much more than the trade is worth.

Is there a way we can all do a little local research and post the results here?
For example, some have said that their dealer has msrp prices and the price they sell it at listed. We could have it listed by machine brand then model. Just save the comments about the dealer and other things for another location so that it would be easy to see of list of models and prices.
Is this possible?

That already exists to some extent on patternreview.com

Frustrating - "borrowing" a quilter's pro from SIL and if I like it have the option to buy - how do I know if her asking price is realistic or not? The style has been retired.

Fellow quilters, the starting point in buying sewing machines is to know that they have 100% markup for the dealers. That is without any "deals" the company may make on top of that for more sales, purchasing a set amount of machines, etc. So when purchasing always remember if the machine's regular price is, for example, $5000 it probably cost your dealer $2500 or less. If the dealer needs money to pay for inventory he will quote you a much better price.

I can't believe that is an actual price that is a car!

Higher price...higher commissions for the seller ! ! ! It's all business. Unfortunately, now days, you have to haggle over, almost, everything you buy. It's all so sad that, we, as consumers, can't get a fair deal. I like going from state to state, same grocery stores, have different sale prices in their weekly circulars. My sister lives in a different state than I do, I take my weekly circular with me when I go just to prove to people that they are getting 'taken' for a ride...It happens everywhere, all the time......So sad and unfair.

Totally agree...if the dealer doesn't know his bottom line...well...I think we're all adults and can make a decision based on the "real" pricing....