Not sure of what part of NC you are in but Bella Fabrics in Suffolk has alot of floor models on sale right now and they'll pay the taxes. They recently moved to new store and found lots of floor models that had been set aside to set up a new machine and then forgotten about. I bought a $1200 Huskylock 21 serger for 300 and 24 mo 0 financing. They have a great shop.

I've had two Brothers, cheap ones from Walmart and Costco, and both have developed the problem of not catching every stitch, causing skipped stitches. One lasted a couple of years before doing that, the other only a short time. Can't figure out what causes it, but it does it on thicker spots, like over seams, or sewing on the binding to begin with, then the one progressed to not catching most of the stitches even on piecing.

I had this problem with my Kenmore/Janome. Every time I'd go over a bulky seam it'd skip. Yesterday I found a fix. On my foot to the machine there is a little black button on the side, well, if you push that little button in right before you go over the bulky and as you come off the bulky it should take care of itself. I was watching its so easy yesterday and that's what she did. I never knew what that little black button was for and this is the only problem I ever had with my Kenmore. I don't have the problem with my Viking because I can tell it what I'm sewing and it auto adjust itself.

As far as the machines from Costco, BJ's etc. Its not that they are getting 2nds for machines. They are the same machines sold elsewhere but normally the serial or model number will have an extra letter or number to it to show it was made to be sold at places like that. I found that out when buying my HP printer yrs ago. Its just that some machines have issues and some don't, like everything in life, including people. There are lovers and haters to all machines.

This weekend I was at the Anita Goodesign workshop and we had Brothers, which I've used in the past and had no problems. The one we were using was the Dreamweaver, ours kept breaking thread, no matter what the brand and the other on on the table did just fine. I still think that they are good machines its just that the one we were using had issues.

I love my Viking and have had no issues with it. There are things about the Brother that I'd love on my machine but then there are things on my machine that Brother doesn't have and I'd have a hard time doing without. Different strokes for different folks

I have an inexpensive brother, (35 stitches) from Walmart, and a high end computerized Brother that I bought at a sewing machine shop that has hundreds of stitches. I would not trade either of them for anything. I have been a Brother user since I started sewing, and have never found any reason to change now. (For the record, I have never had a machine in the shop for any reason, so I will just stick to what works for me.)

I bought my first Brother machine at Woolco in 1959. That is 54 years ago. I still have it and it still works. I also have a Pfaff 2040, a Brother 1500 and a new Brother NX2000. Love all of my Brother machines.

I am on my third Brother. It is also my second Brother Embroidery machine. I would highly recommend this brand to anyone.

I have 3 brother machines and love them all

I have a Brother that's 37 yrs old & the only reason I'm not still using it is that the wiring is old & brittle. I bought a Brother HS-2000 from AllBrands.com in 2010 & I love it! It's my traveling machine as it's light enough for me to lift with one hand. Excellent customer service!! My main machine now is a Laura Ashley, Innovis, NX-2000. It is amazing!! Both the HS-2000 & the NX will sew over blue jean seams without a problem.

I began on the Brother SE-400 sewing/embroidery machine, I LOVE IT! It was easy to learn on and also quilted a queen size quilt on it...it was a bit of work but I got er done :-) Embrodery is great on it. My soon to be 8 year old grand daughter is now learning to sew and embroider on it. I now have a Brother Quattro Innovi-is 6000D which is sewing/embroidery machine and soooo LOVE it! Brothers are sew(pun intended..lol) easy to use. While taking some advanced classes at a local quilters shop I had no problems learning where the buttons and gadgets are, but those using Jenome and Bernina were having a dickens of a time...Not against Bernina or Jenome, I just think Brothers are more user friendly. I apologize if I offended anyone. I would never mean to do that!!!

I have a Brother SQ9000 that will be four years old in July. It has not had to go to the shop one time. It has 80 stitches, many feet, a see though bobbin case, thread cutter, and several other things. I love it. You would not be sorry with this. I was in Walmart a few days ago and they are still going for just $199.

Oh my....I cannot believe that I have already answered this. Only 60 and the mind is going.