Repair sticker shock
 

I picked up my sewing machine today after having it serviced and was stunned by the charge -- $30 higher than the last time just a couple years ago. Is anyone else experiencing this rise in labor costs? I'm wondering if it has anything to do with covid or if it's just the way things go from year to year. I believe in keeping my machine in good running order but OUCH!

Inflation. The price of EVERYTHING has gone way up. Gas, groceries, insurance, you name it.

I have my Juki serviced in May. The price hadn't gone up then.

My friend has a Brother Dream machine. She said it the service fee was $75 dollars more the last time she took it to the Brother dealer.

Sounds like inflation due to Covid. I wonder if everything has to go up so much, or maybe there is some gouging going along with it. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...s/rolleyes.png

ummm....thinking about the number of machines flying off the shelves at the beginning of the mask making, maybe the techs actually were swamped with repairs and set-ups, supply and demand!

Price will go up as long as the customers pay the price. When goods stay on the shelf not sold then price will drop. Demand has to drop for prices to drop. Those that paid thousand of dollars for high end machine has invested too much not to get the machine serviced so will pay the higher prices to keep their investment.

I currently have a machine sitting in my living room that needs repaired. I actually decided with the cost right now that I was a better option to replace the machine. My Brothers 1500se died some time ago and like you I contacted the local repair place (20 miles away) and the cost had gone up by 30%!! As sad as I am I found it better to just get a new machine. I have one in route, A HQ Moxie. I am so excited about this that it only cost little more that the repair would have been.

My LQS had a special in July for $99. When I called they were very busy but put me on the list. The owner called in September that it was a slow time so I took my machine in. It was a short 2 day turn around with no charge. It was worth waiting.

I am using one of two straight stitch only machines and they have never been in the shop. I do maintenance on them and keep them oiled. 11 and 13 years old.

I haven't taken my machines for a while, but I am fairly sure with all the people demanding higher wages it's not surprising. And they really need to get some new people in the repairing of sewing machines because it seems to be a dying art. I know of 2 shops in my area that closed when the owners retired. And one shop sends their machines out - no idea where but they say it's not done on premises and will take 6 weeks or more unless they have trouble getting parts.

It's still $69.95 at our local shop. Turn around time is 1 to 2 weeks, and they are really busy! The owner, who is also the head tech, is one of the most honest people I know. Last time he raised the price (about 10 years ago), was to discourage so many people from bringing in their "disposable" machines for repair. Because he can fix a "disposable" machine, but it won't stay fixed, then he has a customer who is unhappy with him. He has plenty business with good machines coming in for service and doesn't have time to waste on the cheap ones.

Having worked as a tech for 8 years, it blows my mind how high the prices have gone!

I usually pay $79.95 for just a general cleaning. It's probably gone up also.

I don't understand someone's mindset when they think a new inexpensive machine can be repaired like new. Not worth anyone's time. Buy another one.

maybe it’s someone with limited funds thinking it would be cheaper to repair vs new one. Or someone trying to keep things out of a landfill. And they might be novices to the sewing world and not know.

How much was it? Embroidery machine?
I just had mine serviced - Viking - not embroidery machine - $110.

I remember a tv documentary show one of the 60min or 20/20 type shows that did a segment on recycling centers. The centers had lots of waste going to landfills/dumps. Going out of my way to recycle may make me fell good by doing my part but it will most likely end up in some part in the landfill anyway.https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/shock.png

sadly that is the case. Here we are in an unincorporated part of the county so have to contract for trash/recycling. There are 4 separate companies coming in. Two don’t offer recycling. One says they recycle but dump it all. We are with the one that recycles. Sometimes there is no market for goods which is why they don’t take glass anymore. There is a recycling center a short drive. It is commercial so they do recycle. They have a drop off for lots of things and I bring the glass there. I also collect it from someone else in another county which doesn’t take glass. It is a tiny part and maybe insignificant but as long as I can do even that part I will.

I don't understand why he can't simply tell people their machine cannot be repaired. That's exactly what happened to me - I was given a Brother SE270D for Christmas. After about 10 years, the LED light dimmed. I couldn't figure out how to replace the bulb, so I took it in to the tech. That was exactly what he told me - it's not replaceable or repairable, it's a disposable machine. I took it home, clamped the little IKEA light onto it and kept sewing until it finally seized up about 2 years ago.

I had to take my Viking in last week for some much needed tlc, got the call yesterday with what isn’t fixable but is switchable… I’m just happy it’s going to be under $300. I’ve been sewing on this machine for 18 years- hoping with a few new parts it will last that many more. 😉

My take on repair costs for my sewing machine is the same as my view on repairing my older vehicle. It's cheaper than buying a new one.

exactly! While on the phone with the owner of the sewing center while he was telling me what my machine needed and what it was going to cost he did say…Or, Colleen I could put you onto a brand new machine. My response was…not for under $300 you couldn’t.
he laughed & said- you are right. The last time I looked around in the shop I don’t think there was anything there less than $1500, lots way more. My Viking has been a great machine for me and we know each other. I will keep her. 😉