Because you are not paying for what they do, you are paying for them knowing HOW to do it.

DID marry a sewing machine repair man. The only machines he services now are mine and a very few of his favourite old customers. I get mine done for free.

Isn't that the truth!
Took mine in to be cleaned, nothing major wrong. The bill was 175.00, oh well.....not much you can do.

Sorry! I had my Bernina in LQS for 6 weeks and they didn't even take the cover off yet. So picked it up and took it to another shop, Chestnut Ridge in Walnut Creek OH, they looked at it WHILE I WAITED, tried one part which didnt work and said they would have to order one and would take 2 weeks. Got the call to pick it up in one week. Total cost for replacing part AND completely going over the machine was $100.00!!! This is an older (25 years) electronic machine - runs like a dream again. If you are in this area, that is the place to go for machine repairs.

I was in the same situation, I have 2 trusty kenmores-took one in for just a tune-up [ 80 miles away] cost was 90.00 that poor machime hasn't been the same since-with that bad experience I really hesitate taking the second kenmore in...bought a brand new brother for under 200.00-alot more bells & whistles then the 2 kenmores put together but I still would like to have my old trusties for back up.

Having had been in a service biz I certainly understand that but.....where I live its 90.00 just for a cleaning/tune-up and they want to keep the machine for a week or more.

I agree there, paying them for what they know. Recently had the motherboard go out on my Pfaff. It took a few months waiting for the part to come in from foreign lands to the tune of $324.00, about a 1/3 of that was for labor. Two months ago, had our new flat screen TV go out, lucky for us it was still under warrenty. Tech I talked to said the repair could run over $600 and on up. We won't even talk about car part$.

Thank goodness I have a brother who is a Ford certified mechanic, or I would be walkig.

Wow my service man charges $45 for cleaning and the top I have seen in my area is $75. They are pricing themselves out of business. That is what is wrong with this country Greed. I call my service man and ask him how busy he is because I drive and hour where ever I go for service. He will tell me if he can get it done in a few hours or not and I arrange to shop and eat lunch with a friend while he does his thing. Guess I am spoiled. Some of my machines he has taught me to care for, but my Vikings he does.

Or, if you are at all nimble fingered, go into the sewing machine repair business yourself. LOL
I think part of the high costs are because to get the tiny little replacement spring in as fast a time as you want/need it the parts supplier charges through the nose and the repair person has to meet his costs and pay for his time etc.