I bought my Bernina 830 Record in 1972 for $329. It was the top of the line then and it was a lot of money for a nursing student working part time in a department store fabric department. I still have that machine 41 years later and it sews beautifully. Guess it was money well spent. Mind you, I spent way more then that for my Aurora 440QE and way-way-way more for my Bernina 750QEE. Gotta love those Berninas!