Love my Bernina 630. Bought it new in July of 2010 and they financed it for 0% interest. It will be paid for in July 2011. They have lots of good used machines and if I bought again, would think seriously about buying a used one, and they are completely serviced by dealer. Good luck and have fun shopping. Have a Janome backup and love it also.

I love my Pfaff, my Singer and an old Kenmore I had forever! I hate changing thread! :)

I'd check ebay. I have seen some excellent used Bernina machines for little money.

I haven't read all the posts, but I agree with this one. I wouldn't buy a new cheap Singer for anything in the world. Wait for a great sale on a GOOD machine, or get a good used machine. I paid what I thought was an astronomical price for a new Bernina 9 years ago! I've never been sorry. It sews WAY, WAY better than the cheap machines I always had before. The difference was like day and night!

I have had one of the brother machines from WalMart before. Don't get one of those. It never did so right.

My DD got her Bernina 930 that way. It was only $300, she's a happy camper; has all the attachments & the hardshell case.
DD makes costumes and clothing for herself
and is thrilled to have a machine that doesn't ask if she really needs to sew that now. :lol:
I bought a Pfaff 1222E from the same dealer who sold the Bernina to my DD. The machine is about 25 years old, has the built in walking foot(IDT), it was only $250 and had a 1 year warranty. The dealer had to fix it twice and now everything works right.

Have to add my vote for a good used machine with available service.

I bought a back up sewing machine from wal mart it is a brother and it works good paid 169.00 they call it computerized it has 49 built in stitches i use it alot because i have my bernina sat up for embroider and I don't want to take the time to take it part of sew.

I had to buy a machine a couple of years ago when my machine of 30 years quit! I did not have a lot of $ to spend so I searched and found a Brother in the local Wal-Mart for $129.00 and it came with a lot of feet to use. It has only 40 stitches, but it is quiet, sews through almost anything, and I love it. Easy to use, and the local repair shop gives them good a thumbs up too.
Good luck with your search.

Singer Machines aren't as good as they use to be - they are extremely sensitive. I have 1 Singer and 2 Brothers- I prefer my brother machines, they are work horses. My Singer is so tempermental I end up putting it away.