athomenow

This is the exact reason that when I was selling sewing machines I would try to get a feel for what the person intended to do with it. If they had never sewn before I would encourage them to not get the latest and greatest with things they wouldn't use. I've had people say but I have to buy the most expensive to get a good one. I've had people trade up within the first year but Viking has a good program for that with full price toward an upgrade. To me that's the smartest way to work your way up to a higher priced machine and seeing if you're really going to use it.
I wouldn't buy anything off Craigslist unless I could use it and see it and even then some problems are intermittent and you wouldn't know about it. Maybe if they had a clean bill of health from a service tech?

Skratchie

This is why, when a friend asks me what sewing machine I recommend for someone who's never sewn, I tell them to go to Walmart and buy the nicest Brother machine they can afford there. There's no reason for someone who's never sewn to spend more than $500 on a new machine because they don't know if they'll ever use it. A lot of people on internet boards get irritated with me because of that, but I don't care ... if someone is going to learn to sew, they'll do it just as well on a cheaper machine than an expensive one with all the bells and whistles.

Jingle

One of my Grandsons was given a brand new, never used, never oiled machine. A Singer 15 Clone. He helped the family move, I bought it off of him. He is a smart young man and knew it was a great deal. It was manufactured in the 1950s for a local department store. After oiling and a new belt it works like new and looks like it. We don't know the history but abslutely brand new.

Jingle

One of my Grandsons was given a brand new, never used, never oiled machine. A Singer 15 Clone. He helped the family move, I bought it off of him. He is a smart young man and knew it was a great deal. It was manufactured in the 1950s for a local department store. After oiling and a new belt it works like new and looks like it. We don't know the history but absolutely brand new.

FroggyinTexas

My best friend got carried away at a quilt show and bought a machine that remained in the unopened box until one of her children made arrangements to sell it. I, myself, bought a used machine in a nice cabinet at a garage sale, got it home and decided I hated it and took it immediately to a sewing machine repair shop, after hours. and left it on the sidewalk for the proprietor with a note that said, "Fix it, use it for parts, sell it for junk--whatever you want to do, and take your wife out to dinner on the proceeds." I didn't sign the note and don't know what happened to the machine or cabinet--maybe someone stole it off the sidewalk! People do lame stuff, even some of the people on this board; the ones who don't are probably the ones who don't own seam rippers because they never make a mistake. froggyintexas

madamekelly

happy,ab- I wish we were closer, I am the person everyone calls to put things together. I have a weird knack for it. I could have it together. You could try a craigslist ad to find the local "McGiver type person" to help you. Good luck!

just_the_scraps_m'am

by the sound of some [& pictures] on the board, I think MORE, more, more!!! LOL and I AM speaking for myself.....

Friday1961

I have a friend, who I love dearly, who bought an expensive computerized Brother apparently because her sister in law had that machine (the SIL is an experienced sewer and makes quilts for their church nursery). To date my friend still has not even taken her machine out of the box. Needless to say, she has yet to make her first quilt.

Some people are shoppers, and as Jan said, have more money than, if not sense, then at least good judgment.

maggy

We are called fabric hollicks...just waiting for the right project so we can use the fabric. Thats how you build up your stash. I am quilty.

Pam B

I have a machine I bought several years ago. It is still in the box...never been opened.