SO disappointed!!!!
 

As some of you may know, I have been trawling the Internet to find someone who might be able to copy their Phoenix Kl.250 manual for me. I'm in Australia and there are very few of these machines around (for sale, anyway) and they are much more common on eBay in Germany.

So... dutifully.... when I see one listed, I usually contact the seller to ask if the machine comes with a manual and offer to pay them separately for a scanned copy of the manual.

FINALLY I GOT A REPLY! I was so excited!!

He asked me how much I would pay for it... I said, well - you're the one that has to do the work. I don't know how many pages it is etc. I was eagerly awaiting his reply and noticed it had come through last night. .................$150!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the worst part is that I just don't know what to say. I think that any response I give won't be able to hide my hurt. Sure, I was offering to pay for it and make it a worthwhile exercise for them.... but I was not expecting such a blatant extortion attempt. There is also a part of me that feels tempted to try and reason with him and suggest ways of copying it more easily and then asking him to lower the price, but I feel instinctively that I shouldn't deal with him any further...

What would you do? - I am so disappointed to have lost this opportunity. I STILL can't figure out how to use the machine and I was so hoping that having the manual would help me figure things out :(

I do not think I would even deal with him. That is nothing short of extortion. (He/She should be ashamed of himself.) And after you pay, I'm not even sure you would get the manual. Keep putting out the request. Maybe someone her on the QB will be able to help you. :(

I am so sorry! I cannot imagine how disppointing that was.

I think I would write back and basically say, I'm sorry, that is much more than I am willing or able to pay. Good luck with selling your machine.

Leave it at that.

Sounds like extortion to me,unless he had no clue what it is really worth. Step back,take a breath,pretend you're a horse trader in the Wild West,and make lower than reasonable counter offer. Or,calculate the cost per page,and the shipping and offer to make him a nice table runner to go with it...ie,change the game and get him off guard. Good luck!

Oh my! That seems outrageous! I wouldn't want to deal with him either.

I wouldn't grace him with a reply.

that is awful-he is not nice-trying to take advantage of you

Thank you so much Judith... and everyone else who's replied in the meantime! I knew that sharing my story here would make me feel better! It's so nice to be among people who understand. Sometimes I think when people start thinking about money, they forget about everything that makes life actually worth living; they forget they are dealing with a living, breathing person who actually has feelings and a sense of right and wrong.

I suppose I should be positive and think that if it worked once, it might work again and I may hear from someone else who will be more reasonable. I really wanted to share the manual with others on ISMACS and Needlebar, too (as well as here) so that nobody would ever be in the same predicament as me. Seriously, these machines are being thrown away because nobody wants them or maybe they are like me and just can't figure out something-or-other... It's the most beautiful machine with a simple mechanism to lower the feed dogs and a lovely long reverse lever. Sigh....

I had thought about this Francie and I'm not sure. I think he has listed the whole machine for about $30 more, so that would suggest he's simply trying his luck with me because I've contacted him and said I would pay good money for it. I suppose I would have nothing to lose by asking but I don't know... it's the principle of the thing I guess. I'll definitely give it some more thought. Thank you.

I also question if you would ever get what your paying for. Any one that requests that kind of money for a photo copied item seems a bit shady to me. I think I would go with a thanks but no thanks. Best of luck.

How much does he want for the machine? Maybe buy the machine, copy the manual and re-sell the machine. Phoenix is a good machine. Offer him about half what he is asking...

He is in Germany and I am in Australia. I only paid $30 for my machine but have spent hours cleaning and polishing it. Everything moves freely and beautifully, including the treadle. I got a new belt for it and it's ready to go - if only it would stitch!!! I wish I knew more to understand why the stitches aren't being properly formed, but I am new to this. I will have to study one of my other machines that is working and see if I can compare. I have a manual for another Baer & Rempel machine but it hasn't helped me overcome this problem. Perhaps even owning the correct manual wouldn't help if there's something really wrong with it that's beyond my level of comprehension.

Is the needle in right? The curve of the needle needs to go next to the hook. The groove of the needle goes away from the hook. Try that and see what happens.

Does the thread break or just not make stitches?

Don't deal with someone like that! Someone will be able to help you eventually. I know waiting isn't easy tho :)

Do not reply back. He sounds creepy.

Have you tried contacting "Treadle Lady"? She has some German machines and possibly she would have some ideas for you.

I would NOT pay him a dime! When you play with snakes, your gonna get bit!

I feel your pain. What a bummer. I would not deal any further with the scoundrel. I've been searching the web for you and may (or may not) have found something that will help. Found a reference for the Phoenix when searching a German site. My computer had an option tab open up on upper r. side to translate to English, or I'd been doomed. Not very good with all the computer stuff, but I've copied down what I could for you: www.naehmaschine-antik.de There was a tab on left for Instructions, and free manuals come up. Top of the page was "The Iron Lady." Had to scroll down a bit to get the the references, instructions & diagrams of the Phoenix. I'm so hoping this is what you need. You deserve a break today!

It picks up the bobbin thread and looks like it's going to make stitches and then it sort of draws the bobbin thread up through the eye of the needle or something. You can go for a good inch or more before noticing there are no stitches and before this thing starts to happen with the thread looping up. The thread doesn't break and it doesn't get tangled in the bobbin case. It's nothing I've ever seen before and therefore I'm stumped!

The other manual I have says to use a system 1738 needle with the long groove facing to the front.
I just happened to have some Schmetz needles that have this number on the packet, but they are round shank. There was a giant (denim weight) flat shank needle in it when I got it but we suspected that this needle wasn't right, however changing the needles hasn't seemed to help the problem, nor has it made the problem worse.

Any clues?

Could he have in his mind that you want to buy the machine too. I wouldn't give him the time of day. He thinks he sees a good deal. wow!

So sorry, no way would I pay hime that much for it.

What does your machine look like? I would be interested in seeing pictures of it. Thanks, Amy

Hi Amy
I have a photo album here - you can also search this forum for Phoenix 250 and see all of my previous posts about the machine, including the story behind finding it. Thanks for your interest :)

Try this web site. They say it is a free download for the manuel. Hope this works for you. www.gobookee.com/klr-1996-service-manual/

It looks very similar to a Pfaff 130 without the zigzag capability. Nice!

I'll wait to get a personal endorsement on this one... any site that appears to have exactly what you want - says that it's "free" - then asks for your credit card details is giving me alarm bells!! :shock:

The zig zag capability would be even nicer!! ;)

Needle must be in right. So the machine doesn't do zig zag? or could but doesn't do zig zag yet? The thread breaking can be from the tension not set right or a ton of other things. Is the thread flowing smoothly? Some times the newer threads don't go off the spool without a little hitch or something. There is a thread on here about someone else with a messed up tension - http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...e-t218411.html a lot of good advice on there. When you thread it can you pull thread through easily with the presser foot up? down should have a bit of drag?

How awful of him! Maybe he misplaced the decimal point and meant $15.00 instead of $150???

I would not deal with this person. It would give me bad vibes & it is not safe to give this person too much personal info.

Don't even bother replying...when you want something and you finally find it, it is so disappointing to be held hostage...you will get it for a reasonable price, just be patient. I wanted a Cinderella machine, it was posted on eBay for $600. They kept lowering the price, when it got to $200, I politely told them I looked it up and it is worth $100. I would pay them $100, no response. They finally put it up for best offer and I offered $105. and they took it. It took 6 months...

I would write him back and say....oh 1.50 is too low...I would be willing to pay you up to 2.00 or 3.00, thank you so much you are a dear : )

See what his reply is to that.

I do believe this site is for a Kawasaki motorcycle!

Have you tried this site? If it's not listed maybe they can track one down or advise you where else to look.

http://www.tias.com/stores/relics/

I think I would reply and ask if the seller added a zero on the price by mistake. That is a ridiculous price.

I do not think I would even deal with him.

Me too, lots of red flashes went off in my mind on this guy.......let him keep on wondering if you are going to answer him. I think he thinks he found a live one in you. Best of luck; you'll find it yet.

they have a phoenix maual here for a 283. from what I have seen most manuals run 15-25 bucks.these I think are for 10 bucks. Some brands work simialr maybe these might be of some help. that guy is not one to deal with for sure. sorry ran out of time to search further for today, good luck ravonda

http://www.tias.com/vintage-sewing/m...anuals/page/3/