A week ago I posted how my machine had not been shipped out to me from the seller on EBay. Well I finally received it, took it out of the case and it wouldn't sew. At first the needle wouldn't move, but after a phone call to the seller and his telling me to "take out the needle" and tighten up the clutch, it began to at least move.

Yesterday was the first time I've actually had time to sit and sew. Guess what, it won't sew. Oh the needle goes up and down fine but no stitches even after threading and unthreading the machine 100 times, using the bobbin that came with it, threading a new bobbin, etc. nothing.

I've written to the seller but I notice on his website that it says "all sales final". Has anyone had this type of experience before? Other then leaving a negative comment on the feedback, is there a way to send this back and retrieve the $300 that I dropped on this.

Any suggestions are welcomed. My DH is beyond furious. :|

Oh, NO!!!!!!!!! I really have never bought anything from ebay, since I have no credit card and no pay pal,so no advice, but I really hope she will take it back or something!!!
If she WONT, you could send it to our Billy here to have it fixed.....but I know you dont want to pay MORE money! UGH!

Spending more money is not possible. I maxed out on this.

I've bought tons of things through EBay and PayPal and this is my first negative experience, figures it would be the most expensive.

the number one reason a fw won't make a stitch is because it is threaded wrong....

http://www.april1930s.com/html/upper_threading.html

http://sewingneedlework.suite101.com...sewing_machine

the other reason is the needle is set in wrong:

"The Singer Featherweight will NOT sew unless the needle is installed correctly. The problem is that the needle is installed on the Featherweight differently than almost all other machines. How do you remember the correct installation? There is a simple visual for you right on the machine! Look at the needle plate. Notice how it is shaped like a capital 'D'. This is EXACTLY how the needle is shaped at the top (end that goes in to be clamped). Make the flat sides match. Now you will be able to remember and 'see' how to do it every time you have to replace your needle! "
copied from:
http://www.novamontgomery.com/singer...-the-month.htm

Roberta, I really hate this for you. Can you check to see if the needle is bent? If so do you have a new needle to put in? I would also take out the bobbin case and lower the needle to the lowest position while looking into the area where the bobbin case belongs. You should be able to see all of the eye of the needle while it is in the lowest position. But no more - no needle above the eye should be showing. If you can't see all of the needle eye, you will need to lower the needle position. On a featherweight I don't know how to do this, but you might be able to find a link on the internet to show how to time a sewing machine. Wish I could be of more help.

sorry you're having a tough time with it.

Have you printed off a manual and followed it. Have someone else go over it with you...even if they don't sew.

Needle's threaded - right to left not left to right.

Bobbin's Case on left - thread coming to you - put in case - thread comes to you and then goes back. It should fit snug in the grove thing.

check websites for which way the flat side of the needle gets put into the needle holder.
I think the cheat is *NFL* needle flatside left....

I'll bet it's something simple. For $300 I'd keep working on it. If after researching and trying, I'd look into Ebay and PayPal's policies about getting your money back....did the ebay ad say it worked?

I sent you a PM.

You can open up a dispute. If the seller said it works, and it doesn't, you will win the dispute.

I buy a ton of stuff on ebay, too, and I've had things not work twice.Go figure both were from Hong Kong. I've quit buying from overseas, though electronics are SO much cheaper there.

Anyway, both happily refunded my money or sent a replacement. They know if you open up a dispute that you will win on something not working.

If you can, make a video of it. The more evidence you have to present, the more likely you are to win a dispute.....but, most will give your money back the minute you open a dispute.

I would try directly asking him for a refund(they pay return shipping), and if he says no, then tell him you are opening a dispute.

You did pay with paypal, right?

If all of the above doesn't work...........

It actually sounds like a bobbin case problem. Does it snap in and seem to fit right? I would take the bobbin case somewhere and check to see if it is the correct one. I'll try and find a pic of one and send you the link.

http://www.amazon.com/Singer-Bobbin-.../dp/B003AJUNJ6

There is also a yahoo groups for featherweight owners. If you join (its free) you can post questions and read other posts to find answers to other questions.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/featherweight/

yes just went through this on ebay.........file complaint, ask for full refund, if machine doesnt work say on there not as advertised because im sure they said it worked. notify seller, tell them u will return item (even if they say not too...keep record of ups or fed ex, i used fed ex.) they will try to work it out with seller first but u wil get refund just takes a while. dont give up and let them get away with it.Pack in original packing and keep receipt, give ebay tracking number. will get original price of item and original shipping. not shippig to return, sorry.

Ebay has a protection program, and even if the seller wants sales to be final, he has to give you a product that works. Contact the seller and then e-bay.

Try contacting Billy in the vintage machines section-he is a wonderful source of knowledge and may be able to help you for free :)

Thanks, I'll try to contact him and see if he has any ideas.

File a complaint with Paypal. I've had luck and not so good results with them.

Assuming you used a credit card for the payment, you can open a dispute with your credit card company. This is why I always use a credit card when paying by Paypal.

Sounds like your machine came with only one bobbin. If that's so, it may be the wrong bobbin. Also don't forget to insert the needle with the flat side to the left and to thread the needle from right to left. If the machine wasn't advertised as serviced, it may be in deperate need of oiling and greasing. Billy has wonderful tutorials for caring for vintage machines on this board, and is a tremendous source of information.
Maybe if you post a picture of the machine and what came with it, some of the other knowledgable vintage and FW owneres on the board will have some great ideas for you, too.
You might also want to check out the groups on Yahoo dedicated to Vintage Singers and I think there is one also especially for Featherweights.
Good luck! I bought one sight-unseen on the Canadian equivalent of Craigslist. I was very fortunate. So sorry for your bad experience!

If you have a manual check to see if the bobbin case is lined up right...I can't explain it here but if the needle plate has ever been taken off there are two grooves on it that must line up with the bobbin mechanizium. really hard to explain but I bought my FW on ebay and when it came it wouldn't sew and sure enough the bobbin case was flopping around. LOL Found this out on my 301 thru a good friend whose DH was a machine repair man. try it...it will not sew if its in wrong....sounds like it needs a really good oiling also...

This is just a guess, but it sounds like the tension mechanism isn't right. If the thread isn't being caught just right it won't sew. If you can't get it to work, and the seller won't give you any satisfaction, contact Ebay.
Was the machine advertised as in working condition, or as is?
For that much money, he should have to stand behind the sale and make it right! :|

FW takes a certain bobbin. It looks almost like the average meatl bobbin but it isn't the same at all. It is flatter and thinner. Also the featherweight sews better with the Singer needles. Singer needles are a teeny tiny bit longer from what I have read about them. Also the thread goes in the needle right to left. The flat of the needle goes to the left. There is a notch under the faceplate that the bobbin case has to be in perfect position to. Really there is not much that can't be fixed on a FW unless it's physically broken. Give the seller a very bad feedback and enjoy your machine, it can be fixed to sew perfectly.

judging from all the advice i've read so far i think it's much to soon to recommend complaints to ebay.

let's wait to see whether she gets the machine running after trying all the other steps recommended.

Contact ebay.They are good about handling things like this.I had a couple of episodes and they gave me all of my money back!Good luck and hopefully it is nothing major!If they said as is..then that is a different story.But if they said that it worked,then the ball is in your court.First you have to contact the seller to see if he will handle it fairly and then if he doesn't then call Ebay.

I second what Linda said. When I got my Featherweight, it sewed fine, till I cleaned and oiled it. I took off the needle plate and did all the normal cleaning stuff. Put it back together and it was a mess. It is a miracle I did not break something in there.

I looked at the online guides and thought I was putting it back together correctly. But it still would not sew. It was so exasperating. I finally just happened to go to a little quilt shop in Vegas. I noticed they had several FW's there and got to talking to the gal in the store. She showed me exactly how to put the bobbin case back in the machine. A light bulb went off and I knew what I had to do.

So, ok, here is what you do. Take off the needle plate and look at the bottom of it. See the two little box type looking things that are on the bottom? They stick down a bit, maybe a quarter of an inch. Now look at the bobbin thing that comes out when you oil it. Not the bobbin case, but the part the bobbin goes into. I forget what it is called, but it has a pointy part and a boxy part, and is round. When you put this in you need to make sure the little box part on that goes into the space between the two on the needle plate, which would be at the top. It is tricky, but you have to hold this all together, bobbin thingy and needle plate and screw it down. Make sure it stays before you put the bobbin in.

Clear as mud, right? Hopefully this is all that is wrong with the machine.

Mine sews, but I hear a little clink so I plan to take her in and have her looked at. The husband of the owner of the little quilt shop I go to is a Featherweight specialist. So I think I will have him look at it. I have heard other FW's running and they should hum like a sweet child, no clinks, tinks or grumbling. Or so I have been told.

I got mine off Ebay for $120.00 but they did say they did not know if it worked. I bought it anyway and when I got it the hand wheel would not turn. I took it to the Singer dealer and it had a needle broken off in it. I asked them to go over it and clean it up. It cost me $60,00 dollars more but it purrs like a kitten. I am sorry you are having problems with yours.

I just used my PayPal account. I'm going to give him until 5pm and then file a complaint. He's had two days to answer me and actually he knew there was a problem when it was delivered.

I think maybe I'll use a cc from now on with PayPal, thanks for the suggestion.

I'm just worried about "tinkering" too much with it and being accused of doing something to make it not work. I really can't afford to throw away $300. I kick myself for even ordering it now.

Aw, dont kick yourself! Hopefully you can get it resolved!

Sure hope you get this resolved. I got my Featherweight from Ebay back in 1998 or 1999. Back then I didn't know much about them, but was fortunate to find replacement parts for what was missing, just little things. Mine works like a dream, she is dated 1956. I would love to find a scroll faced one and have her repainted in RED!

There really isn't much other than the motor, that breaks on a Featherweight - hopefully your problem is just a matter of adjusting something that may be out of whack. Keep us posted and good luck.

Try a couple of things. First make sure you have a Singer needle. Then, take the needle out and turn it 1/4 turn, tighten it up, thread it and try again. Keep doing this until you find where it works. On mine the flat side has to be on the left. Make sure it's the right bobbin.
After that file a greivance with Paypal. If it was sold to be in working order it won't matter if he says "all sales final" or not.

Complain to EBAY! Right now, don't waste another minute. I did on my last purchase AFTER i tried to contact the seller without any help. He was not happy and refund me $30 to buy a power cord (it then worked). Ebay will refund your money or work out a plan to make you happy!

Unfortunately for you "all sales final" means wha it says. I doubt ebay will do anyhing for you. I've always said if you buy something used thats a chance you are taking. I would guess that it will work. Its probably something simple. Hopefully for you its something simple. I have 2 featherweights that I found at sales and flea markets. Buying one that you can't see first is risky.
Judy in Ohio

I have a scoll faced 1938 and also an 1950 fw. Love it! I will be selling my 1938 soon on this board. Have another one that is not a FW but an 106 and a 66 model. something has to go...mama needs a new roof!

You need to try what some of the Ladies here have suggested. You need to find a manual on line as suggested and just keep trying until you get it to work right. Sometimes you have to help yourself.

If it comes down to it, file a not-as-described claim with PayPal. I believe you have 45 days to do so, but you might double-check that.

After the claim is filed, if you and the seller still can't mutually resolve the problem, PayPal will have you ship the sewing machine back to the seller. It is CRITICAL that you use a tracking number or delivery confirmation number, because that's your proof that you returned it. I personally would insure the package as well.

Once PayPal has determined that the sewing machine has been returned, they should issue you a full refund. Do note that you won't get a refund for the return shipping, but you should get refunded everything you paid the seller.

What kind of feedback does the seller have? S/he may not realize that "all sales are final" doesn't mean much when it comes to buyers who pay through PayPal and/or with a credit card. You do have recourse if the seller doesn't make things right.

But I hope you're able to work things out before it comes down to having to file a claim. Hopefully it's just a simple thing. :)

Did the box have any shipping damage?

moonrise is right...

I had a bad experience a few years ago with a seller. The item I purchased never came. He claims I never paid for it. I had proof that I did. I contacted Ebay and they never answered me back. I gave him a very negative feedback and in turn he did the same on mine. I was furious but there was nothing I could do. He didn't appreciate my negative feedback and comments and put the money back in my PayPal account. I think he was pulling a fast one and reselling items. I didn't buy from Ebay for several years.

I still don't understand WHY jump on complaining when advice that has been given has not even been tried yet. Tinkering or trying the advice isn't going to do any more damage to the machine if in fact, it is broken.
Plus, with items SOLD AS IS, it's buyer beware and I doubt you'll get any money back.
Just saying.......

I bought a machine on eBay and when I received it,it didn't work. I contacted the seller, but he basically told me he wouldn't do anything about it. I contacted eBay and told them my story and how I had to have it fixed before it would work and I did get a refund on that. I could have sent it back to the seller for a refund of my money, but I knew it was basically a good machine, just needed a good cleaning. If you bought thru PayPal, there is a good chance you will be able to resolve the issue some how. all of this must be done within 45 days of purchase. Hope this helps.

I feel for you!! The heartbreak of the machine the angry DH!!!! Mine would be too!!! I have bought numerous things on ebay, never had an experience go that way!!! I have worried about it but been very fortunate!.... did you pay through PayPal? don't they have some sort of resolution process? Just a thought.

The needle goes in differently than the newer machines. Make sure you have it in the proper place.

Roberta,

I hope you tried all the advice given here. Sometimes machines we're not familiar with give us a hard time until we figure them out. The things suggested here seem simple enough; I doubt you're going to make the machine any worse by checking these things out. You may save yourself a lot of time and trouble. Let us know how you resolve it.