Info/opinions please on Singer 3-120 and Singer 221
#11
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Location: Texas
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#13
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
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"What is it worth?" and "what should I pay?" are common questions that no one can really answer. It depends on so many different considerations, that it really comes down to the question of what it's worth to you. Rather than looking at what others are asking on eBay or Craigslist, I like to look at the history of sales on the Shop Goodwill site to see what others actually have paid. Here's a link to all the sales of machines described as Featherweights for the last 30 days. http://www.shopgoodwill.com/search/S...&showthumbs=on
#14
Yeah, I feel the same way about ShopGoodwill for acquiring VSM as you say about ebay! I have won 5 machines (2 Berninas, 2 Vikings and a singer 66 redeye) from goodwill and 4 had serious issues with frozen mechanisms AND broken cam gears. The 66 was dirty, no foot control and cord cut. But that I could tell from the pictures. I wanted it for my treadle, so didn't care about electric components and for $9.98 I didn't expect pristine decals so that is the only one I am still happy about. I won't even let myself look at shopgoodwill anymore. They always have several FW listed and, like the 66, they are simple and robust enough to probably be easily repaired. But, for the price they go for I can also find one on craigslist that I can test first! At least in SoCal, where vintage sewing machines are widely and cheaply available.
#15
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,585
There are so many sellers out there who do not know how to pack a sewing machine for shipping, and I've known of many, many people who have received sewing machines improperly packed that are absolutely destroyed. That's the reason I won't buy online, but since I have a FW and more machines (all inherited) than I'll ever be able to use, I'm not interested in buying anyway. The machines I have have all come from family -- so they're precious to me for that reason. I did get a machine for my cousin, but the machine was located here in Florida (about 40 miles from where we live) so I went to see the machine before I handed over any money and there was no packing to do because we picked it up. JMHO
#16
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Victorian Sweatshop Forum
Posts: 4,096
You should always be aware that the machines on ShopGoodwill are donated items and the people listing them have no way of knowing whether they work properly, if at all. They have to photograph and describe many, many items all day long and cannot take the time to thoroughly test each and every item. Whether or not the item is packed well is the only thing you can blame Goodwill for, not whether the machine is in working condition or not. After all, how many times have we seen here and on other groups when some has a machine they can't fix and they say they just donated it rather than mess with it any more.
Cari
Cari
#17
You should always be aware that the machines on ShopGoodwill are donated items and the people listing them have no way of knowing whether they work properly, if at all. .. Whether or not the item is packed well is the only thing you can blame Goodwill for, not whether the machine is in working condition or not.
Cari
Cari
#18
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Victorian Sweatshop Forum
Posts: 4,096
Those Vikings are famous for being frozen from non use. Keep at it, don't give up yet. Just don't force anything. It takes time to get all of the old oil and gunk out of them. the insides need to be thoroughly cleaned, all of the old grease removed. You're not the first person I've seen who's been about to give up on one.
Cari
Cari
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