I found one at a garage sale (don't think it had ever been used) with a leather case for $20.00. It works perfectly.

Brother 5234...I bought it from Ken's sewing center for around $500...easy to thread and have had no problems...noisy but I think all sergers are. Have no problems with tension.

You need to go out and test drive one of these machines. I did NOT like the bulkiness of the seams so I wish I had never bought this Baby lock back in the 90s.

Babylock and the latest Vikings are great. Even though Viking doesn't have the air threading its pretty easy and has the self adjusting tension so you don't have to mess with it. If you lived closer I'd offer my Viking 21, it sells for over 1200 but I got a great deal from our local shop so it would be within your price range. I've only used it once or twice because I went to a training class at our local sew n vac and they had the Babylock ovation and I fell in love. Since I could afford it at the time I got it. I never even registered it. Babylock and Viking may not be in your price range though.

You should check out Nancy Zieman's book on making quilts with a serger. I've done table tops, bags, quilts all on my serger. They aren't just for garments any more. I'm just now getting back into garment making after years. Boy has things changed. I love Peggy on fit to stitch and she also has Silhoutte patterns on you tube and there is also Angela Wolfe, I'm takine a class in Oct at a retreat here in Va Beach. Good luck and you are a wise person for checking them all out. Like sewing machines, there are so many bells and whistles to them now.

I would pick up a serger on craigslist, or vgarage sale or such for a great price. If you watch, you can get a nice one many times still in the box and never used. So many people buy them and are so scared of them when they get them home. Let's face it, they are not for everyone. My friend bought a nice name brand one for $35 at a local quilt auction and happy as a lark with it. I have an old one I bought many years ago and still use it. I like having a serger but I find I only use it for certain things.

Brother 1034D which you can always find for under $200. I have used mine for 2 years sewing over 300 donation pillowcases and never had a tension problem. It is pretty easy to thread too. I highly recommend.

Just for grins, I checked my local Craigs List.... 21 different postings, prices ranging from $100 - $900 (the more expensive ones were "industrial" sergers.

I use my serger for making little sun dresses for my nieces... and now that I have a new granddaughter, she'll definitely get lots of little sundresses.
I also use my serger for my pillowcases - "Million Pillowcase Challenge" - plus I make a set of two pillowcases for my longarm customers for their quilt to "go home" in, instead of a shopping bag. A little pricey for a bag, but it sure does create repeat customers!!
BTW, my serger is a Singer, about 25 years old, manual everything, but once you get the hang of it, they're little workhorses!!

I have a Pfaff that I paid 500.00 on sale at Christmas time
All I have made with it is dog coats

I had a babylock for years and one day it just quit working. I replaced it with a janome and have been very happy with it.

Thanks so much for all of the input! I look forward to the shopping.