Never regretted buying anyone of my six machines. All have worked wonderfully for me. No complaints at all.

My Juki is a pain to thread. I have tried the "automatic" threader over and over so I just do it the old-fashioned way. But I love the machine and it isn't a deal breaker.

My latest machine was purchased by my husband as a gift, but I agreed to buy it. It is a Handi-Quilter 710. Handi-Quilter has made long arms in the USA for a long time but in the last couple years have gotten into the 'domestic machine' market. I wasn't shopping for a new machine, but I knew from their advertising that Handi-Quilters were made in the USA. So I eagerly agreed to obtain this machine--only to find out it is made in Taiwan. I can't tell you how disappointed I was!!!!!

I have always felt like machines were over priced , and getting worse. Recently I wanted a straight stitch only Juki but couldn't justify the price. I ended up buying an older model(2000) for at least $500 less than the latest model. I was disappointed that it did not come with a 1/4" foot. I don't find the bobbin area easily accessible but I knew about that before I bought. The manual is almost useless, also.

SusieQOH....I watched a utube video that showed a side view of where the thread went when using the threader and I don't have an problem now. I did when trying to follow the diagram in the manual:(.

I can't add anything about the "automatic" threader, as I don't have one on my machine, but I do find a pair of tweezers work wonders for holding the thread to thread the needle, or for grasping the bobbin thread and needle thread to put to the back of my work when starting - my fingers are don't easily fit the space on my machine as it isn't large enough to accomplish those tasks easily with my fingers. Once I adjusted to using the tweezers, it became a breeze....

My 15000 has the same set up and I couldn't figure out why my thread was breaking all the time. Discovered it was getting caught on that little cutter next to the bobbin. I put a piece of blue painters tape (all I had at the time) on the blade and have not had a broken thread since.

Handiquilter longarms are made by Handiquilter.

Handiquilter domestics are not made by Handiquilter.

Rob

I have 3 Janome machines, but it's the MC6500P that I wish i had investigated more. It has more settings than will ever use, plus alphabet fonts for making labels or monograming....I've never used them at all. What they call quilting stitches, I call decorative stitches, and don't think I've used them more than once. Wish my money was better invested in a slightly larger throat space, and more metal in the machine instead of plastic parts. Now I'm thinking about an embroidery/quilting machine so I can program it do to wonderful even quilting stitches.

I had stars in my eyes over the extended length of the bed of the machine. I never even considered the height from the bed to the underside of the arm - it is less than 3.5 inches! Thank heaven for screen lock because I changed the stitch and settings several times trying to fit a small quilt under the inadequate space. Now I do my quilting on a Brother PQ1500S which is a smidgen shorter in the bed but over twice as high to the arm. I use the fancy machine for embroidery.

that it was only going to last two years and I'd better buy it from someone I could trust to provide service . . . I've had so little trouble with sewing machines in the past I didn't feel that was important when I bought it.