Is the store owner leaving the area or just changing over to an online store? If the owner is staying local, I would see if she/he is willing to provide the mastery classes, etc. Otherwise, I would get the money back. Now! Do not wait until June 30th. The Bernina is a fantastic machine - I have one that I bought second hand from a fellow guild member when she upgraded. I also have an Elna 7200 that I bought from a friend who just didn't use it. It is also fantastic. As some others have said, if the cost of the mastery classes is included with the machine and you still want to buy it, that cost should be deducted up front. My 2¢ worth.

How about asking your lqs about it first. It looks like it is only 1 day that you'd be different than their closing date. I'm sure they'd still be able to do that for you. AND, there are many service centers around as long as you take your sales receipt along w/you that you can get the manufacturers warranty honored at. Wish you well in your purchase. RELAX!

That happened to me too and I was told I could go to a shop about an hour and a half away....NOT. I had already bought and picked up the machine, hadn't had 1 lesson yet so I was out of luck. I had to learn the machine on my own. I no longer own that machine due to so many service problems with it...too much aggravation to get it to service.

If you don't have a local (or almost local) service center, it's not worth the trouble....even to take it in for cleaning.

I hate when we shops do this to people without any reasonable notice.

But good luck on what you decide.

Please contact me, I think I might be able to give you some information that will help.
Kay in NJ

It's so important to take classes for your new Bernina. My dealer is 2 hours away and over a snowy mountain pass, so I only get lessons in the summer. There is a quilt shop with a Bernina dealership closer, but they won't teach me classes. I didn't know about the closer one when I bought my machine.

First you need to make sure that you get a full warranty and the other "perks" that go with a new machine because you mentioned that yours is a "demo" model. And find out if other Bernina dealers will honor that.

I assume that there is a Viking dealer nearby for your "alternative" machine....but how "solid" are they? You might face the same issue down the road with the Viking.

I feel your pain because my trusty long-time Bernina dealer retired and closed his store. Another store in the area took over the franchise but I'm a bit leery of a "new" technician -- although he's been through all the training classes etc.

Difficult decision......good luck.

Call the other dealers and ask them. Bernina always stands behind their warranties and products.

I would ask for my money back and if they gave me trouble, I'd then contact Bernina.

My BFF is a Bernina tech. Another friend of ours bought a Vicking machine from another company 2 hours away from us. She still is trying to learn her machine because the classes were group classes with multiple machines and she couldn't concentrate on what she needed to know for hers. Bernina offers lots of classes on line even they are wonderful since I have taken many of them myself. I wish I were in your shoes and could buy a new Bernina They are wonderful machines. But the most important thing is to have the support you need local. There are no gurantees in life and things always will change but planning for your future enjoyment of your machine is a smart move. Check out www.berninausa.com you might be able to get some help I hope.

hi everyone!

here is the follow up--after the fact that she yelled at my way to sweet of a DH....no way will i ever set foot in her store, in person or online, ever. this experience has soured me on bernina. I still think it's a great machine, but not willing to encounter another attitude.

I'm a viking person-i have a great 350 that is such a workhorse. Today i went to my local viking dealer-about 45 minutes away. over the course of 15 year, i have bought my 350 from him, my babylock embroidery machine from him (an ellure...it's old, but great!) and vacuums. he's been in business for at least 30 years. they aren't going ANYWHERE!

Long story short...I'm getting a viking tribute 140 c. got a GREAT price (even better than the special that viking is advertising) and the little extras coming with it, as well as an extended warrentee through the store. They did not have one in stock...but i played with an 835 and an 875 long enough to know that I will LOVE the tribute. These are people I trust. they aren't fancy, but they do good work.

Here is an great example of why I don't deal much with local smaller businesses anymore-especially with sewing machines. I buy from the larger chains with a good long term (at least 3 months) return policy. I also buy simple mechanical sewing machines that are cheaper purchased new than if you take them somewhere to be serviced. I generally service it myself periodically (keep it clean inside & out, stored in a hard case when not in use, & oil it if needed-although the 2 present ones I use now are permanently lubricated at the factory). I usually keep the sewing machine in question 10-25 years (average 18 years) with hard use! What do I need to be depended on stores that always seem to disappear from the landscape or even that I move away?

i think this is key...your original dealership made arrangements with the closest dealer. this one did not, and will not. but it's all ok...everything works out in the end.

I too am curious what you will end up doing. Is it a particularly involved and advanced machine? Glad you are thinking about this now!

I would definitely email Bernina. I like getting things in writing so I have some kind of recourse if needed.

I bought my Bernina used, out of warranty. If a good brand of machine has been sewn on a lot for a few years, there is rarely any major problems with it. I saved thousands of dollars. Online free Bernina sewing classes and many forums have all the answers to my questions how to use it. I don't like even walking in a sewing machine dealer shop anymore.

If you're going to be nervous about it, I'd get my money back and go with what you know.

Shop Closing
 

According to a friend of mine that just bought a new 820 Bernina at the Paducah show..she said Bernina pays the shop..any shop that carries Bernina machines for the classes you take on learning your machine. Guess now you need to see how close the next Bernina dealer is from you. Viking are great machines. I have the mega quilter but I don't think they are as great of a machine as Bernina. Sorry all you Viking owners!! LOL I don't even own a Bernina either. I thought about buying one..but decided that my vintage machines would last a lot longer....wouldn't have to take classes to learn how to operate them..nor would I have to take them to the shop to be cleaned once a year. I could save that money and spend it on something else..fabric!!! and clean my own machine. Just my .02 for what it's worth

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: So glad that all things are resolved and you have your choice on its way.

Thank you so much! truth be told, I think i made an excellent choice...even better than the bernina, for my wants and needs. so it all worked out!

Betsey,
Contact your LQS ask all the questions and request in writing if you get the right answers and decide to make the purchase. I would ask for a contact person at Bernina that can confirm your questions
The shop should continue to make someone available to offer mastery classes. If there is another dealer close they should contact them and make arragements for service. Contact Bernina they will take care of their customers and give you reliable information.
If you contact me I will give you a number. I sold bernina machines for years and found them to be reliable and customer friendly. Bernina is one of the best on the market. Good luck.

Take the check to the bank ASAP. You're lucky he went to the shop.

thank you so much for your offer of help! i did "go a different route" and am very very happy with that decision. I agree Bernina's are super nice machines.

allready cashed. and yes, i think i am lucky he went when he did.

As it is a demo/classroom machine are you sure you are entitled to warranty and lessons?

that happened here and the quilters are driving 50 miles away!

Sorry, didnt read all the way

You must have felt like the poor brides in Pittsburgh who went to pick up their wedding gowns to find the business closed and dark.:thumbdown:

nahhhhh, not really. i got over it pretty quickly. I can't imagine those brides though! Krysti pointed me in the right direction and i do believe i will be VERY happy with the Viking Tribute. I have a viking 350 that i love....so this is all good! it was just such a shock yesterday and had me spinning a bit.

our Bernina shop is also closing in June....she said to get your $$ back now and wait til you can find a shop to take classes!

Pick up your Bernina and all the paperwork they have register it. When I moved from South Dakota to Texas, I could not find the paperwork,The new Benina dealer called the dealer in South Dakota for the purchase information. I realize that the new dealer could not call, but if you kept track of the paperwork they HONOR the Bernina warranty/repair.

The problem that I had was the classes. They new dealer let me attend but had to pay for the classes. If you saved enough money or made a good deal on your Bernina it wasn't to tough to pay for the classes. Also you will LOVE your Bernina. I suggest that you go thru with your deal and enjoy.

I have read thru this entire thread and I find it quite alarming that the LQS seem so rude. Telling folks, well you should have bought it here, etc. I am old, but I did learn that a bit of sugar goes along way. IF I were told I won't give you lessons because you did not buy it here, I simply would NEVER return to that LQS. Now on the other hand, if I were greeted nicely and told well unfortunately I cannot offer you the free classes, but your certainly welcome to join our classes, but, you will have to pay for the lessons, and mind you its going to be how they say it, that will impress me. The one things sewers do, is upgrade!! Yes we do. Maybe not every year or so, but we do upgrade, and how do you make a customer for life, you treat them well. You make them feel special when visitiing your store, you offer them things they need, you help them. And when it comes to upgrading, where are they going to go first?? Why my LQS is where they will shop first...because I have establised a relationship with them, I have been kind, and I have been understanding, and all that sugar just passed right on up to me, as they walk out with their latest upgrade. This is why stores, of any kind go out of business, they have forgotten that the customer is always right (lol ) and being kind pays off in the long run of things. Just some thoughts,

extremely well said Amythyst! and my 81 year old mom always tells us "things always work out the way they are supposed too". sometimes, that's not fun...but in this case it is. I have never had a bernina, so i don't know what i am missing! i DO know that i will LOVE the new viking Tribute that i ordered...at shop i have done business with for 20 years--bought two sewing machines (my first viking and a babylock ellure for embroidery...and a couple of vacuums). They aren't a quilt shop-it's an old fashioned sew-vac place. but they have always been more than fair with me.

If the owner of the shop had said to fred, or to i..."i can call xyz shop and tell them you are a new bernina owner......" we would have continued with the sale. but sorry folks...i support local small business 100%, but not when i get yelled at. and not when my sweetie of a husband walks through the door and gets yelled at.

all in all, tuesday was a bit rough, but things, like my mom said, worked out!:)

Congratulations on your new machine. What fun. I have a Bernina and a Brother machine. I love them both but use the Brother much more. Being happy and feeling happy when you stitch on your machine is what matters to me. I get that more from my Brother than my Bernina- it's just a personal choice. I could name a few reasons but it doesn't really matter.

So, it was meant to be for you wasn't it? Have a blast stitching with your machine. I love it when people write about how happy they are with their machines- whatever make or model. I have a friend that calls her machine "my baby".

Have a great day!

I would just buy a different machine.That just sounds like future problems.....Just me,maybe.

glad you've now got a machine on the way that you think you will be happy with.

I would get my money back and buy another Viking, if you think you would be much happier with it. Just my Opinion.

Is there only one Bernina dealer near you? Contact the Bernina USA website and ask for a dealer near you. The term, Nothing beats a Bernina, is correct. I could not be happier with mine. You will need a dealer for service and classes. I wish you the best of luck.

twoxover,
I'm so happy that things worked out for you. I work in a Viking company store inside a JoAnn's super store and I really like the Tribute 140M, you'll really like your new machine. I own a Sapphire 875 and its becoming one of my favorite machines for piecing and quilting. I also own 2 mechanical Berninas that are at least 20 years old.
Sharon W.

thank you sharon! (and everyone else).

all's well that end's well. will be interested to see if "my" bernina is up on ebay in 30 days...