Thread: Those with Viking Dealerships in your JoAnnes...

I'm interested in knowing if your Viking Dealerships are renewing their leases. Both Viking and Pfaff dropped my local dealer after the SVP buyout and I was wondering what the future held. Today, I went into JoAnnes for the big sale and saw that the Viking dealership in the store is closing. Most notions were 40% off and the demo machines were marked down. I'm wondering if this is going on nationwide or just here?

i will have to take a look

Ours was still there last week. This was in Aurora, Colorado.

Wow I hope they'll be staying. I bought a Viking because the dealer is 15min from me. They lost the franchise but Joann's is 45min from me so that's still okay. If Viking leaves Joann's I'm SOL!! Was in Joann's 3 wks ago and I didn't notice any changes; will check tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up.

I would just as soon have them leave Jo Ann's and go back to the traditional dealer. I know a few traditional dealers that got there dealership abruptly ranked when they really were pushing the dealer ships in Jo Ann's. I know the dealership's in Joann's is just a lease space.
I'm going to check into my JoAnn's .

Well, I think it would have to do with each stores lease date to Viking. Each date would be different. All I was told was that Viking is "not renewing their lease". So, I would assume that means they have to be out of my Joannes buy the end of Feb. or March latest. It will be interesting to see who (if anyone) takes over the space.

I'm going to my two Joann's stores tomorrow. I'll check it out.

Mine was suddenly gone - in Knoxville TN. But the same folks have a HUGE store across town that I had been to several times instead of dealing with the limited selection at Joanns.

Viking has been bought by a Chinese investment group. They have closed their factory in Sweden and moved it to China.
My local dealer said they would no longer carry the machines but would still be able to stock some things. Wonder how long before won't be able to get parts? I have an older Vinking. He also said Pfaft (not sure if that is spelled right) was another and they will not import to the US any longer. Was a third in the group but I cannot remember it I was so shocked at the time. I did not know Joann's was having a sale. I have put in numerous changes in the last four months and still have not received a flyer.

Originally Posted by toomanycats

Viking has been bought by a Chinese investment group. They have closed their factory in Sweden and moved it to China.
My local dealer said they would no longer carry the machines but would still be able to stock some things. Wonder how long before won't be able to get parts? I have an older Vinking. He also said Pfaft (not sure if that is spelled right) was another and they will not import to the US any longer. Was a third in the group but I cannot remember it I was so shocked at the time. I did not know Joann's was having a sale. I have put in numerous changes in the last four months and still have not received a flyer.

Flyers are available on-line.

I was just there yesterday, and talked to owner for long time, I think it will be there for a while. May be just those locations that aren't doing the business.

In my area in Phoenix, AZ, it is based individually on the store. Some are gone & some stay. They say it is a business decision.

So if we can't buy Viking or Pfaff, all we'll have is Brother, Janmoe and Bernina. That's sad. I don't even have a place to get my Pfaff serviced in this area.

Originally Posted by toomanycats

Viking has been bought by a Chinese investment group. They have closed their factory in Sweden and moved it to China.
My local dealer said they would no longer carry the machines but would still be able to stock some things. Wonder how long before won't be able to get parts? I have an older Vinking. He also said Pfaft (not sure if that is spelled right) was another and they will not import to the US any longer. Was a third in the group but I cannot remember it I was so shocked at the time. I did not know Joann's was having a sale. I have put in numerous changes in the last four months and still have not received a flyer.

Guess China wants to take over ALL the sewing! That tics me off! Wonder when they will buy the rest of them?? All my JoAnns sells is Singer...wonder if THEY are made in China? Don't get me wrong, I'm not prejudiced against the Chinese, I just want some of the things we buy to be made here or in the countries that made it in the first place. Vikings and Pfaffs are great machines.

Singers have been made in China for many years. That is why so many of us are into the 'vintage machines'. The new ones are plastic with plastic gears. The old girls are all metal and made to last.

They had already sold the longarm, but they had demos of the other TOL embroidery/sewing machines for sale. Though, I don't know what you'd do for service or warranty work? I did see a sign pinned to one chair that said "Stockton" store. So, I'm guessing whatever is left goes to another store, in Stockton. I suppose you'd be able to get warranty work there but what if that closes eventually too? I would hate to spend 6 or 7 grand on a machine and be left dangling:<

Well , I went this AM .... and mine ... the Viking dealer in the JoAnn's is gone! ... and nobody on the store staff was going to talk about it.
I do have a terrific dealer ( sew and vac) about the same distance from the house. I prefered to deal with them anyway.. much more knowledgeable. Sometime the JoAnn /Viking did know what foot was used for what.

Our JoAnn's only carriers Singer machines which I don't think are selling because there is no repair shop for Singer in our area.

Looked at the Walmart sewing machines today and the Brother machines they sell are made in China!

Originally Posted by Lori S

Well , I went this AM .... and mine ... the Viking dealer in the JoAnn's is gone! ... and nobody on the store staff was going to talk about it.
I do have a terrific dealer ( sew and vac) about the same distance from the house. I prefered to deal with them anyway.. much more knowledgeable. Sometime the JoAnn /Viking did know what foot was used for what.

Very interesting. It looks like Viking may be pulling out nationwide.

My sewing machine dealer says that the Chinese government owns Singer now and just bought the name. I don't know if this is true or not though, but doesn't see impossible.

I used to work for Viking in a JoAnns store. The manager received some training from Viking, but did not have real sewing experience. for Viking the whole thing is a business (ie. profits) decision, although some of their decisions don't make a lot of sense. Our location replaced a local dealer who pulled out because JoAnns customers really don't want to pay for the top of line machines. Our store was closed because we didn't sell enough machines. What did they expect with a well established full service dealer with excellent repair service about a mile away? Our remaining stuff was shipped to another city, in a very similar situation. No $$ in that town either.

Yes, I've wondered how Viking made any money in this JoAnnes because there is a Viking Dealership/quilt store 5 minutes away.

Originally Posted by pocoellie

My sewing machine dealer says that the Chinese government owns Singer now and just bought the name. I don't know if this is true or not though, but doesn't see impossible.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/112/112208.html
Here is some information on the Singer, Viking and Pfaff merger. This happened some time ago.There are really only a few places that manufacture sewing machines.

Well, the space at our Joannes is completely vacant and roped off now.