Sewing Machine Savvy
08-19-2012, 08:05 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Southern California
Posts: 6,254
The reason babylocks run at a different price I was told by a brother rep is that the companies have different marketing strategies so the price is dependent on ow much is spent wich is why the laura ashley was more expensive than the symphony, but the qc-1000 was cheaper than the espire because they pay for the name use, laura ashley, nancy ziemen, eleanor burns. they pay these people to endorse their products. If you notice babylock spends a lot of money on having shows endorse their products, fons and porter, nancy ziemen, quilt in a day which is why their machines are higher. They are the same machines from brother. the only difference is in embroidery brother uses disney designs and babylock uses nancy ziemen designs. Also brother has the my custom stitch feature which babylock doesn't have on their machines.
08-19-2012, 08:43 AM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Live Oak, Texas
Posts: 6,133
My go to machine has always been my Singer 401A I bought in 1958. Love that machine. I wanted some more stitches that it does not have so I bought the Brother project Runway cheap at Wal Mart. I loved it and when my DD said she wanted a machine I gave it to her. I went to get me another one and they had come out with the Brother SQ9000 with all the quilting goodies with it so I bought that one and it is a great machine. I turn to it more and more for all my sewing. I think I payed $ 169.00 for It and I have already got my money's worth out of it and it is still going great. My DDIL is still sewing on a cheap little Brother she bought when she we in High school in the 70's and she would not give it up for anything.
08-19-2012, 11:12 AM
#14
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 155
Originally Posted by carolaug
the Brother machine may have plastic in side were as the Bock Lock for the price should be metal. You maintence man would know the difference. Just cause things look the same does not always mean they are.
No - they are the same. There are machines with nylon parts - but you can tell the difference, in weight if nothing else. There are some cheap - as in poor quality machines out there. It is worth checking reviews, but don't assume that because it has a hefty price and a status name - it is better than one that doesn't.
08-20-2012, 03:00 AM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 4,116
It is my understanding that Juki made the 1500 machines and the different companies re-badge them. I own the Brother Nouvelle 1500s which is essentially the same machine. I bought it when it was on sale here, reduced to $2,000.00. It is now selling for $1700+ so my view is that if one were lucky enough to get it cheaper. it is a bonus. A truly useful machine.
08-20-2012, 03:08 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: New York
Posts: 5,665
Originally Posted by jitkaau
It is my understanding that Juki made the 1500 machines and the different companies re-badge them. I own the Brother Nouvelle 1500s which is essentially the same machine. I bought it when it was on sale here, reduced to $2,000.00. It is now selling for $1700+ so my view is that if one were lucky enough to get it cheaper. it is a bonus. A truly useful machine.
08-20-2012, 04:52 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: N. Atlanta, GA
Posts: 805
There is a lot of "slippery pricing tricks" in the sewing machine world. This is a video done by a man who wanted to buy his wife a Bernina...very informative and somewhat irritating. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mNOoQkQ14s
08-20-2012, 05:28 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 619
Originally Posted by kathdavis
Don't let them fool you. I questioned my repair guy and this is how he explained it. Brother makes Baby Lock and usually makes a twin to each Baby Lock in the Brother brand. They are the same. An example is Brother's Laura Ashley NX 2000 (I own) and Baby Lock's Symphony. Baby Lock usually runs a little higher for the same machine.
Now, Brother does make a lower line with plastic inters machine, but not all Brothers have plastic inters. Baby Lock just doesn't carry a lower line. Baby Lock is a bit "snobby." But, lower priced, lower lines serve a purpose too. They give people a chance to try out sewing to see if they like it. Most people wouldn't try it if they had to purchase a $900+ machine right off the bat, not knowing if they were going to like it or not.
Shopping around is a great idea and getting to know your repair guy is also important.
Now, Brother does make a lower line with plastic inters machine, but not all Brothers have plastic inters. Baby Lock just doesn't carry a lower line. Baby Lock is a bit "snobby." But, lower priced, lower lines serve a purpose too. They give people a chance to try out sewing to see if they like it. Most people wouldn't try it if they had to purchase a $900+ machine right off the bat, not knowing if they were going to like it or not.
Shopping around is a great idea and getting to know your repair guy is also important.
I bought my Brother 1500 when they first came out, over 10 yrs ago, might have been 2001. I can't remember for sure but I think the introductory price was $1200, I paid $799, that machine is still going strong, love it.
Maire
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