Thread: Surprising response from supplier - Buying a sewing machine online

I’m in the unfortunate position of having to buy a machine online, unseen.

Remembering that I’m a novice-intermediate and there’s NO service center near me, I’m looking for a machine that is reliable, easy to learn but allows growth and development, and is likely to run without a service for about 3 years.

At this stage, I'd like input on what brand to consider.

I had looked at the Brother, but I've since found a LOT of reviews commenting on problems with tension and poor customer service. No, no and NO.

Two others that seem to be good options are the Janome and the Bernina.

Help?

I have an Elna sewing machine and and Elna serger. They've both been very easy to use, and have been very reliable. Of course I do live near a service center and both have been back for service annually. I think they're a machine that will last you for many years.

What is your budget? I really do think you get what you pay for! I had an Elna I *hated*- constant tension problems, I had to keep mailing it to the service center and spent way more fixing it than it cost- but it was their low-end model. I have a Baby Lock (same company as Brother, I believe) which has done *much* better- tho I didn't realize at the time how much I hate the press button start feature. I can plug in a foot pedal, but i can't control the speed with foot pressure which annoys the bajeebers out of me. My Janome cover stitch machine is an absolute dream, and I will definitely be looking at another when the time comes. I once had the opportunity to purchase a barely used Viking industrial machine when the school district where my father in law worked was getting rid of them, and I am SO kicking myself for not getting one. I had just purchased that darn Elna and didn't think I needed a second machine. Stupid, stupid, stupid...
My favorite brands are definitely Janome & Viking/Husqvarna- I do like White's for a reliable low end machine if your budget is tight. (gah- how I babble on! Can you tell this is another addiction area?)

No matter what you get, it is still a good idea to have it serviced regularly, even if it means shipping it in to a service center once a year. Is there a center anywhere reasonably near that you could travel to? When I was out in the 'bush' I was able to have the service center show me how to do basic maintenance on my own, so I'd last longer before having to ship it in.

Just to throw in my 2 cents from someone who uses a machine every single day...
I have a singer Merritt from the 80s. My mom used to make my halloween costumes with it!
I have never serviced it although I do clean it and oil it myself.
It finally died. Not forever dead but dead enough to need an overhaul. I just bought a Husqvarna Selectronic 190 on ebay. I am waiting for it to come in the mail. Also from the 80s. I chose this machine because it is old and sturdy. I used my friend's one time and fell in love with it because it is so similar to my old singer. I don't want anything plastic or computerized. I need a heavy cast iron machine that can handle any weight fabric. I want forward, reverse, chain stitch and zig zag and that's it! I want it to take a beating and keep on going. Nothing fussy or fancy for me.
Most seamstresses need more features. So it's important to think about what you want your machine to do for you. Are you making costumes or simple things like curtains? Or do you want to embroider blankets for the grandkids? Both require different machines but if you have a lot of $$$ you can get a great machine that does both.

What Eshta said.

The "standard" advice - which I took with good result - is to buy an older, all metal machine that can zig-zag. A Singer, White, Kenmore, Wards, etc. Buy it from a store that has a good rep - they would have been through it, will stand behind it, etc.

With this said, *if* you MUST buy mail order - AND you're not an experienced seamstress - I *personally* would buy a new Bernina. NOT a computerized/electronic one - but a "standard" mechanical version. I'm prettysure (anyone who knows better, chime in!) they still make one, you'll pay $300-400 for it but it'll last a lifetime.

If you're feeling a bit brave, you could try one of the sewing machine refurbishers who sell on eBay and elsewhere. If you know your way around a machine, you can always buy "whatever" and fix it yourself (Warning: BIG addiction!!) - but I suspect that isn't what's desired.

You are QUITE correct about Brother, by all accounts. "Oh Brother!" An old one from the 70s or earlier can be a very good machine, but the $69.95 Brothers from Wal-Mart are a definite stay away from - you're far better off spending $75 on an older refurb.

One of my dance sisters has one of the new, plastic Singers and has had pretty good luck with it, although every time I sit down at it I swear that the thing is possessed! Considering its owner, I wouldn't be surprised...

Oh, as for what I have: A 1976 White 690 - my first and main machine purchased from a local dealer; a 1957 (1911 design) Singer 99K that I restored, a 1954 (1939 design) National Reversew - purchased and repaired by me; a 1952 Micro-Bell, and a 1992 Pfaff 766 Serger. Sewing machines are like costumes - the necessary number is n+1 where n is the current number owned...

Dem's me thoughts - I hope this random babbling helps...

Originally Posted by zorba

One of my dance sisters has one of the new, plastic Singers and has had pretty good luck with it, although every time I sit down at it I swear that the thing is possessed! Considering its owner, I wouldn't be surprised...

I have a Singer Esteem II from Target, and it's been working great for me. I borrowed a friend's to sew a skirt and liked it so much I decided to get my own. I'm a novice, so I don't have the experience to judge this machine in comparison to others, but I can say that I've found it reliable and easy to use. It also had the benefit of being inexpensive enough that I could justify splurging on it even though I'm not an avid seamstress.

You guys are terrific! I knew you'd come through with some great advice. Thank you.

I'm currently in a tiny African country where sewing machines are impossible to find. I have an old Empisal machine with a matching serger, and am being begged to sell them before I leave. We're moving to Papua New Guinea and my initial research seems to show there's nothing there either. I'm not going via any country where I can go to a dealer and try out machines, and I'm concerned that if I sell my machines, I'm not going to find a replacement for at least a year. That's too long! Hence the online requirement.

At this stage, I'm tempted to keep the machines I have, but I can get great prices for them if I sell them here and they are overdue for an upgrade.

Gaaaah! I hate making decisions where I'm gambling on the outcomes! Keep the machines I have, and risk having them break and be unable to fix, when I can get really good prices if I sell them here? Sell the machines and buy new with the chance that I could be getting a dud? (At several hundred dollars - VERY loathe!)

I do "service" my machine myself (clean and oil) and tinker with repairs (hey, Zorba, have you seen this? Basic Sewing Machine Repair - Autonopedia ) but shipping them out for service would cost me about $250. It would be cheaper for me to buy a Brother CS6000i (currently $159 at Amazon) and throw it away every year.

Anyway, thanks for all your input so far. It has been helpful, but I'm still dithering.

P.S. LOVE the n+1!

P.P.S. Budget would be about $300-500

bump....i'm trying to figure out which one to buy as well :/

Given the additional data; for what its worth, this is what I'd do:

I'd buy a new Bernina *now*, get used to it here, and take it with me.

Take my advice at your own risk!

Haven't seen your link - I'll check it out! Thanx.

Originally Posted by BooBah

bump....i'm trying to figure out which one to buy as well :/

Will this help? Top 33 Best Sewing Machines: Brother Juki Janome Singer Sewing Machine Review

I found while trying to research some of the replies I got here, and I think it's a great outline of options.

My mom has an old Kenmore, all metal mechanical parts, that she used for years, then she bought a really fancy Elna - I think like a $2000 Elna - fancy. The Kenmore was a really solid machine and did the job. The Elna was a dream sewer to me, it had computerized fancy features and made the perfect rolled hem. I really envied that machine.

For myself I've had a garage sale singer that I later replaced with a garage sale Elna. They are both old, all metal mechanical parts, and both worked pretty decent, well the Elna better, so now it is the only machine I have. It isn't like my mom's dream machine Elna, but I got it for $20 at a garage sale so I can't complain. It does the job, and hasn't malfunctioned on me yet in several years, I don't think I ever serviced it, although I do oil it and clean it out with canned air from time to time.

I know I'd lean towards an Elna if I were buying a new machine, but it is good to know not all Elnas are made alike. It makes sense that different brands of machines may be better than others in different price ranges. Good luck to you. I hope you pick a good one.

Originally Posted by zorba

I'd buy a new Bernina *now*, get used to it here, and take it with me.

Thanks Zorba. Unfortunately, that's not an option. It takes 3 - 10 weeks for anything shipped to get to me, and I leave in less than 3 weeks.

I had a look for Bernina's online and can't find any, but I have found a bunch of Janome's I really like. I'm trying to narrow down to a shortlist as I currently have 7 options, 3 of which are mechanical.

*hijack* hey BooBah, is all this helping YOU any?

It's been enormously helpful to me, I'm really grateful to everyone for input.

Having narrowed down to the Janome, I emailed a supplier with pretty much the same explanation as in this thread and asked them for their best suggestion. I had found 4 machines I liked;
2 mechanical - the Magnolia 7318 and the HD3000
2 computerized - the DC1050 and Magnolia 7330.

To my surprise, they wrote back that the Magnolia 7330 gives them the least problems. I was sure they'd go with one of the mechanical options!

I'm not sure that they answered my question (will it survive 3 years without a service), so I'm still wondering which to buy.

it's interesting that Brother machines get a bad rep in the US. From what I've researched, they have good to excellent ratings in the UK and Europe. I got an entry level computerized Brother about 1.5 years ago and love it. Of course, I have very basic sewing skills, so I haven't tried anything too fancy with it. I've hemmed all sorts of skirts and pants and have made hip scarves, training pants/tops/shrugs and costumes on it. That's about it.

Mine is the Brother Innov-is 10a version.

Originally Posted by Ainsley

I have a Singer Esteem II from Target, and it's been working great for me. I borrowed a friend's to sew a skirt and liked it so much I decided to get my own. I'm a novice, so I don't have the experience to judge this machine in comparison to others, but I can say that I've found it reliable and easy to use. It also had the benefit of being inexpensive enough that I could justify splurging on it even though I'm not an avid seamstress.

My experience is similar, I have a cheap Simplicity machine, and with the exception of some tension issues, which require a bit of oil (and can be frustrating if I want to get things done), this machine has been a fine tool for years, despite my lack of care for it. So, even neglected low-end machines can serve one quite well. I am not a pro seamstress, but I am happy with the price-use ratio.

My new sewing machine just came in the mail. Old Husqvarna selectronic - new to me. I promptly broke the bobbin spindle when I tried to change threads. I was so sexcited. The design is amazing! It's easy to use! But the bobbins are ever so slightly different and I put the wrong one in and broke it. Oh well I want to have it serviced anyways. But it's a great model and I'd buy another one. Cost me $70 on ebay! yippeee!

I have had Kenmore's, Babylocks, etc. in the past. Not impressed.
I bought a computerized Husqvarna "Lily", a non-computerized 905 serger and a computerized 936 serger, and love them all. I take them in once a year for their "10,000 mile checkup", and it's worth it. They completely oil and clean and adjust the tension spools, etc. I'm sold on Husqvarna's!!!

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

... I was so sexcited.

You must REALLY like that machine!