Purchase Advice
 

I am interested in a used HQ Sixteen Stand-Up. I live in Canada and I know our prices are always higher than yours in the U.S. :rolleyes: She is asking $4000.
I have been communicating with the owner who has downsized and no longer has the space. It is a lightly used machine purchased 7 years ago. She has not had it professionally maintained as it has worked like a charm and she oils it regularly.
It comes with its own frame for that machine, but it does not look as sturdy as my Imperial frame. She lives quite a distance away from us so am not able to see it other than the pictures.

I really would appreciate feedback re: this machine and the table. I have no idea whether asking price is reasonable or not. Our exchange rate is sitting at .32 today. I have heard good things about HQ but ??..?

Thanks for your help!

It depends on which frame and what accessories are included. With or without robotics, etc. However, $4k is not an outrageous price, but I would suggest that you make the trip and try it out before you decide. Call it cheap insurance, if you just don't like it or can't bond with it, you can leave without spending a great deal of money. If you love it, you complete the deal.

Handiquilter is a good company, based in Utah. Visit their website & check out their products, frames, machines. I would not purchase a used set up/ machine for that much $$ without checking it out, test driving. You also want to find ( as local as possible) service support. How far will you have to travel if something goes wrong? Are you technically adept enough to trouble shoot over the phone with service from Utah? I had an HQ 16 for 10 years, had a few occasions of trouble shooting, dealing with things over the phone ( their service people are great to work with) my hubby was able to replace a couple things with their guidance. I also had to take it in to a dealer/ shop twice. It was a good machine. I traded in, upgraded a couple years ago.

If it's $4,000 Canadian dollars then that translates to about $3,000 US dollars.

You need to ask for the style of frame (HQ has made several). Also, how wide is the frame? Does the machine come with a stitch regulator?

There are a couple of places online where used machines are posted. You might want to scan those to see if you can find a similar setup to see what people are asking. (Asking prices can be inflated; setups may actually sell for considerably less.) Here are a couple of websites to check:
http://www.longarmuniversity.com/MachinesForSale.html
https://www.handiquilter.com/forums/...hines-for-sale

To me, the asking price sounds reasonable. A new Sweet Sixteen runs about $5600-6000 in US dollars (without frame). A frame would be at least $1,000 more. So $3,000 for both used sounds okay. However, you can always offer less. Used setups tend to be difficult to resell and, especially if you cannot try out the machine for yourself, you may have some maintenance costs.

Edit: Not sure how you get a .32 exchange rate. I Googled Canadian dollar - US dollar conversions and got 1.31 for USD to Canadian, .76 Canadian to USD. That's how I came up with the $3,000 USD equivalent.

I might also suggest that you consider where you are going to get it serviced, get training etc. There are some places in southwestern Ontario who sell Handiquilter, but my experience wasn't very good when I needed service, or advice.
i ended up selling my HQ for that reason. Hopefully, you have better luck.

Prism, thank you for your advice. Have compiled the questions and am awaiting a response. There is a dealer approx. 85 miles from us and have anticipated getting them to check it out. You are right about exchange ...I reversed it ... .24/dollar is still pretty stiff (sigh).

Remember, if you buy something used from an individual, you won't have the support of a shop with classes and technical support.

Thanks Janice an excellent point. The nearest HQ dealer for me is in Newmarket, Ontario . I will phone them and ask them about service and training.

Yes Tom you are right ... it is cheap insurance! Will likely go down. Thanks for your comments.

ck I am so fortunate to have a husband who understands electronics and so many other things. I have a background in computers and am too used to explaining thinks over the phone lol. As you and Tom recommended it is cheap insurance to actually check it out personally ... we will do that.

I had a sit down Sweet Sixteen that I upgraded to a standup. For a 12 ft frame it was a Studio one. The upgrade was close to $5000 and I already had the machine so your price sounds very good to me! My machine was only 3 yrs old so there you go! Good luck to you if you get it!I love mine now!

I bought a used HQ16 with a 10ft table setup, for $5,000. We traveled 3 hours one way to pick it up and I have found that most quilters are very honest. It does have a stitch regulator but I don't use it...too noisy. "Harriet" works wonderfully, she is not difficult about threads. Previous owner was upgrading to a bigger HQ. Even after I had it for several months she called to check out how it was working.."Harriet" is about 13 yrs old.

A friend bought a used quilter. The sell said the machine was slightly used and did not have any problems. The machine did have a problem and it could not be repaired. Be careful and have someone check out the machine as a condition of the sale. You may be able to have someone with the same type of machine test it for you.

Not sure about that price but I bought one used. I had no lessons or anything. It is very easy to learn. Videos are readily available. The lady showed me how to use it for enough time I knew it was working properly.

The only caution I might have is that it's a 16" throat...that seems huge now, but it just seems a lot of LA'ers are moving to 18"...don't know if it's because of bells and whistles they want, or the throat space. You can always get it and use it till you know if you're happy with it, then sell and move on if you need to. I would buy it!

I just looked at the new HQ Simply 16 which comes with a 5 foot frame it also has a stitch regulator . That is priced at $8999. but being introduced for $7999. The dealer I talked to said he would meet what was being offered at the Creative Festival being held in Toronto April 22. At 7999. that is about 2000 more than USA I have been agonizing over what to get for sometime now . Good luck I live in Southwestern area closer to Sarnia