Safe to ship a sewing machine in original packaging?
 

I'm considering the purchase of a used BabyLock Jewel. The owner has the original packaging. Pick up is not an option....I live in Wisconsin, and the machine is in Georgia. Would you have it sent in the mail and take the chance of damage occurring during shipment? I've heard many stories on the board from members receiving damaged machines due to rough handling during shipment, but how many of those were in original packaging? I'd love to hear the good and bad experiences you all have had so I can weigh the risk. Thanks.

I have purchased two sewing machines and a serger on e-bay. All 3 were packaged well (one was not in original packaging, but, the seller did a great job anyway), and I purchased insurance for replacement if they arrived damaged. I think all were delivered by either fedex or UPS due to size, and were placed on the front porch with no evidence they had been handled roughly.

I think it's a gamble. Clearly one I was willing to take. Three times! I don't regret any of the transactions.

Good luck to you!

I purchased mine from EBay and it was shipped without any problems.....no breakage at all.

Enjoy!

delma

I've shipped my serger to be repaired and then he shipped it back to me UPS no problem. I would think if they have the original box and packing materials it would be fine. After all they were shipped to the dealer in that same packaging. Insurance and a tracking # is a must!

I bought two machines off of Ebay, NO Problems.

My Brother was shipped to me and the original packing is very sturdy :)

I purchased my Babylock Ellegante as a 15 month old demo model. As I received the full warranty, I was having difficulty with the needle threader, so I decided to get it replaced through the warranty as a defect. I was asked to ship it in the original box as it had the best formed styrofoam surrounding the sewing machine. This was put into another larger box with peanuts all around it. Ask the owner to try this. I did not have one scratch or dent or anything on the machine. There was a small ripped dent in one corner of the outer box, but no damage to the original inside box or machine. IMHO--you cant go wrong with a Babylock. Is the warranty being transferred?

I would definitely purchase insurance.

NanaCsews2, this machine is several years old (not sure how many, but maybe three?), but hasn't been used much. Do you know how long the warrantee is good for? I didn't think that warrantees on machines usually transfer with ownership.

My Pfaff in it's original packing went fron Texas to IN 3 times round trip. I did not have any problems. I did insure it mainly because of theft. It went UPS. The insurance cost more than the shipping.

UPS has a great packing program and will put anything inside a box with more styro and air bag pkging.... they also have an inexpensive insurance program... i have had many knitting machines sent to me by them and all have been great...

I bought a Janome 1600p recently, not on eBay but on the net. It came in the originial box, with the original syro, and was perfect.

I don't know about the warranties transferring, so here is their policy from the website
http://www.babylock.com/warranty-policy/
Mine was purchased at a quilt shop (retailer)that has since gone out of business. The machine was 15 (I am thinking maybe even 17 months) old as a demo model, and I received the full 25 year warranty. As far as UPS packing program, we have used both the UPS depot to mail packages, and the UPS Packaging Stores. They do a great job at the stores packing and shipping and insurance, but when you don't package it yourself, the expense is really up there. Locally anyway. We shipped 8 boxes of dishes and odds and ends across 4 states and the bill was $1300+. Ouch. They also shipped a box inside of a box. Again, they did a great job packaging it up and getting it to our friends within a week with no problems.