Would you ever buy a machine without a dealer near?
 

I go back and forth constantly about whether I need one better sewing machine instead of the 3 or 4 so-so ones I already have. Specifically, I am looking at the Juki HZL-DX7, but there are no Juki service centers I can find in Virginia. I can buy it from Joann's, but I don't think they do classes or actual service. Is it insanity to even consider this?

I always said I would never buy a machine without a dealer near, but then my wonderful local Elna dealer/repair person retired due to poor health. There are Viking and Bernina dealers locally also although they don't do service but rather send things out. Sometimes I read about machines that sound great, and I am tempted but haven't yet taken the plunge.

I would definitely look at where the dealers with service is are....hopefully, there will be one within driving distance even it it is an all day drive. But if there is not one....of the brands I would consider buying.....I just may get one anyway....knowing if it needs service and probably also just for a general servicing periodically, I probably would get one anyway...but....I definitely would make sure I had another machine or two to keep me busy should I have to send the fancy machine in....and I would make sure that those extra machines were basic machines....that probably could be serviced by just about anyone....even the vacuum repair man....gotta have a least something that does a basic straight stitch at all times....

You sound pretty much like me. I read stories of people having to put their new-ish machines in for $200 service that takes weeks, and this is not even repair. My really inexpensive Brothers never seem to need more than cleaning out. They work fine, just are not great, do not do the extra things the more expensive things do. . .but then would I really use those things? I just discovered a setting on my stove that says I have features I never knew were there. . .get my drift?

Have you checked with any of the Juki owner groups on Facebook? There are two groups: Juki Owners and Juki Junkies. I have a Juki Miyabi J-350QVP that I bought in January 2020. I love the machine, but there are a couple of dealers within driving distance, including the one where I purchased the machine. The dealer I purchased from provides absolutely awesome service, not only for Juki, but even for my vintage Singers.

The guy who services my mechanical machines also does vacuums. I Googled Juki dealers and Juki service and nothing at all comes up in my state, but I could drive to another, I guess. But that leaves out classes. Part of my problem is that I have four other sewing machines besides the Brothers -- gluttony -- tho they are all older (at least 40 yrs or more) machines that are just too good to let go to less than a good home. Yes, I have sent machines to Haiti and to a group teaching girls to sew, but right now no one seems to really want the old non-plastic work horses.

I don't know that one but I have a Juki 2010Q that I bought on Amazon. I don't even know if there's a dealer nearby but it wasn't an expensive machine. My Bernina is a different matter. I've dealt with my local dealer for decades and fully trust her. And she's really close by. This machine cost a lot more than my Juki (which I love) but my Juki is all mechanical so I'm not worried.

You might want to read this post, which indicates Juki will not provide parts to non-approved servicers Which would you choose?

(Entire topic here Juki topic )

and search the forum for Juki service. Some folks have reported Juki does not have the greatest customer service.

True story. My guild had a well known international teacher give a workshop and lecture. She was asked what type of machine she used. She said a week before a deadline her high dollar machine froze. She was in a crunch so ran to Walmart bought a Brother off the shelf and finished her quilt. It was entered in all the major shows that year. She said her machine is still broken, in the closet and she uses the inexpensive Brother for all her sewing. That made an impression on me and put logic back into my sewing machine wants.

My friend bought a new Bernina from her LQS just before COVID. Before she got her training completed, that shop went out of business. Just saying, even if you buy from a local shop, you're not guaranteed that it will be available long term to service your machine.

I bought my Juki DX7 from Allbrands and it came with a 10 year warranty, I also bought my Juki F600 from them and it also came with 10 year extended warranty. I actually called about the warranty on my F600 when it was acting up, the company said they would send a technician to my home. The issue resolved itself and I’ve never had a issue with either machine. I did save the boxes just in case.

Purchase a Janome machine I have six of them. NEVER BEEN IN THE SHOP. I clean out lint and oil the wick, change the needles often. Call any dealer and ask for the repair tech for brand least seen in his shop.

I have a Juki TL98 QE it has never been in a shop. It is straight stitch only. I would buy another if I need to. I don't know where a dealer is. I bought it on line.

I don’t buy complicated machines so it wouldn’t matter to me. The machines I use are relatively straightforward and there is plenty of free help on line. The only machine I have had a problem
with I bought used and traded it in at a dealer for the same model but a newer version. I take care of it myself. If I had a machine worth a lot of money I might feel differently

The shop where I bought my machine does service (an hour drive) but we are fortunate enough to have an independent sewing machine tech in the closest bigger town to me (a twenty minute drive). I had a long conversation with him when dropping my small machine off for a basic service. When I told him I wanted to upgrade, he said something like, of the electronic or computerized machines, the Janome Memory Craft models came in the shop the least. He does not sell machines so I felt like I could take his word without there being any bias. I bought a Janome (though not a Memory Craft) based on the machines I tried and keeping that conversation in mind. The recommendation to talk to a tech directly and ask which machines they see least is excellent.

I'm in an area in Missouri where it seems like a couple of hours in the car and I've got a sewing machine dealer. Now that I'm homebound because of a disability and unable to drive, I would be very cautious about buying a new machine.

I'm more comfortable with the mechanical machines anyway, I know I can fix my own problems and I can clean and service my own machine, so trips to a dealer or even a service person are very few and very far between. If you're able to find a dealer close enough that a day trip would satisfy, then I say go for it, but do some heavy homework on the machine you want first and read up on reviews. Buying a machine and then finding out later that it's a problem child would be a bad situation to be in, especially now.

Hello Lee - I purchased my Juki machines at Fabric Hut in Hampton Roads and they are an authorized Juki dealer. Hope that's helpful! FYI - I love my Juki machines!

I found this Babylock Dealer that repairs Juki also

https://www.allbrandssewingcenter.com/

Phone: 804-270-1882
Address: 8079 West Broad St
Richmond, VA 23294
Hours: Sun-Mon - CLOSED
Tue - Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sat - 9:00am - 4:00pm

In addition, our certified, experienced, and expert repair technician, Billy Callahan, can also service "all other brands" of home and commercial sewing machines as well.

I bought 2 of my Berninas from a dealer in the Chicago area which is a couple hours away. The 1st time I bought my Q20 at the Chicago quilt show and this dealer was the 1st dealer that had the Q20. And I really wanted one. The 2nd machine I bought later from the same place. There’s a local Bernina dealer, and I used to go there. But the last time after I had a machine serviced there, the bobbin thread kept acting up. So I found it hard to trust him after that.

My preference is to buy a machine that has a dealer in my area. I own a Janome, and I love it, and the dealer is about an hour away. I bought my Janome from CL, but specifically searched for a Janome knowing there was a local dealer. However........
there is a sewing machine repair person in the town next to mine. He is a certified repair man for several brand name sewing machines. So if your truly interested in this specific machine, and know there is no dealer near you, there still may be a certified repair person for Juki near you. It's worth asking around, and making some phone calls to figure it out.
Good luck. Hope it works out for you.

Where I bought my Janome, the two guys at the place service all machines. My Janome is 8 years old and I've never had it in for service but I clean the lint out and oil the wick myself.

I bought a new Janome with a "dealer" and before I had even completed the "free training," she had health issues, closed the shop, no one is near. I never had the free training completed.

I have paid an online Janome dealer to take online training classes.

I would like to have the Janome serviced and there is no dealer around.

Buying from a dealer is not a guarantee as soon as you walk out the door....

I wouldn't do it. My QVP Mini has a 5 year warranty but that is based on me taking it in every year for servicing. I'm not sure how you would accomplish that without a dealer within driving distance.

I so understand. The closest dealership of any machine is about 50 miles unless I go to JAF for a Viking. That I am not comfortable with. I love my older Janome, it needs to go in for repair right now and I haven't been going anywhere with COVID so that has to wait. I am doing all my sewing right now on a FW. I so want to upgrade.
So if I want to buy something I have to buy without trying and online which I am not likely to do right now. I want a dealer and feel pretty strongly that I need a dealer close by. So I am still looking around.

I am fortunate that there is a Sewing Machine/Vacuum repair shop within a mile of my home. They are also dealers of Pfaff, Viking, and Husqvarna. Not sure they may have other machines - but they repair and sell used machines. I also have Sewing Machines Plus within a 15 mile drive and a Bernina dealer/quilt shop 18 miles away. And a Janome dealer/quilt shop is about 12 miles. I have taken my Janome MC6600P in once in 10 years. My Husqvarna is an embroidery machine and it went in once in 8 years. (Turned out my machine did not like bobbin thread while embroidering.) And since I do clean out my machines on a regular basis both repair shops said my machines were so clean they weren't sure why I brought them in. My concern would be in case you get a lemon - which does happen. I quit ordering anything mechanical from QVC because I was getting things that didn't work as well as they should. So I buy local where if it doesn't work right I can return it easily.

Maybe it's because I grew up in Alaska and have lived fairly remote -- some of us don't have much of a choice or any dealers near us, I'd rather have the machine I want than pick another brand just because they have a local storefront.

Now that I live in town, I really prefer dealing with the repair guy at the Viking shop. I was given a Bernina which is a different shop and I really don't like their attitude over there as much. Hadn't been there for a number of years and the Bernina needed a repair, they were better but I still like my other guy so next time I'll use him.

I purchased my Janome from a dealer who then retired. So much for that

I purchased my BabyLock Tiara second hand and approached the Handi Quilter dealer out of town for service. He wanted me to bring it in, but gave me the number of another sewing machine repair shop in town and they came and serviced it in-house when I said I couldn't move it.

I'm not sure if Juki is the kind of machine that *only* a Juki repairperson can fix, but if that is the case, it isn't something I would buy unless I really couldn't live without that particular machine.

Watson

The location of a trusted repair person would be higher priority to me.

I prefer to purchase from local businesses because I want them to stay in business.

I have that exact machine and no dealer nearby. I now realize that it was a mistake. If a place is not an authorized dealer, Juki will not send them any parts to "ensure quality control" which means that you do have to have it repaired by a dealer. I had to ship mine 1300 miles. That adds a huge shipping cost plus additional time not being able to use it. While I was given information about the machine while I was first looking, there are always questions later on down the road. Furthermore, Juki is not known for its customer support. I like the machine, but I would never do it again.

Lee, check with the local Bernina dealer, Blue Crab is their shop name, they’re in the far west end, near short pump. They sell the Juki straight stitch only machine, but I don’t know if they are an authorized Juki repair shop. Other than that, the closest Juki dealer that I know of is Fabric Hut in tidewater.

Rob

I purchased a Juki Miyabi J-350QVP in January. Recently I was having trouble when the needle wouldn't stay in the up position when I used the side handwheel or needle up button to lift it. I phoned my dealer and he put in a call to Juki. The Juki service representative phoned me back within one hour. She told me how to fix the problem, stayed on the phone until I made sure the fix worked, then ended the call by giving me her direct phone number and email. She also gave me the email for their Service Dept. manager if I couldn't reach her. I would classify that as great service.

I bought my new Bernina from a Dealer locally, but..they were new to bernina....they had been selling janome for years....and my new machine had an issue....so.....I took it back in twice now.....their tech has been going to Bernina tech classes......so hopefully, he is learning more about maintaining Bernina's....they said they were surprised at how different the Bernina was from the Janome. Both are good machines but the Bernina has some unique engineering to it and apparently has the tightess specs on the moving parts...which gives it the precision it is known for...but also makes it harder to adjust. My old Viking tech told me that the vintage singers for the most part are a breeze to work on as you just have to be somewhat close to any adjustment that needs to be done and they will work...he said you did not need much precision....of course the vintage singers were not designed to do embroidery which really requires tight precision.

That is great service. I receive the same kind of service when I call the dealer but the service rep. that messaged me was so unhelpful I called the company to complain about her. That is something I rarely do.

That is great service. I receive the same kind of service when I call the dealer but the service rep. that messaged me was so unhelpful I called the company to complain about her. That is something I rarely do.

There is a reliable machine dealer that services all types of machines about 40 min. from me. My goal is to always buy a machine that the service folks can get parts. with some exceptions, most machines are made by a handful of manufacturers who make several different brands.