Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: Tia
Date: 01-19-2005, 10:56 AM (1 of 10)
|
Hi, I'm new here and hoping to find some advice on purchasing a new machine. I have looked at the Janome 3018 ($400) and Janome 3050 ($500) at a dealer and liked both. I then looked at the Janome Harmony 8080 ($300)which is manufactured exclusively for Sears. It has 50 stitches like the Janome 3050, but is the quality the same as that of the "true" (not manufactured for someone else) Janomes? I don't really need a lot of fancy stitches, but I must admit that it is tempting. I used to sew a lot (clothing, curtains, etc.), and am hoping to find the spare time (ha!) to do it once I get a new machine. I have an old mechanical Kenmore which served me well for 22 years. Rather than spend $60 to fix a minor problem, I have decided to upgrade. Can anyone give me information about the quality of the Janomes manufactured for others (like Sears) vs. the Janomes manufactured for Janome? Thanks, Tia |
User: Tia
Member since: 01-19-2005 Total posts: 2 |
From: beachgirl
Date: 01-19-2005, 08:30 PM (2 of 10)
| I don't think the quality is there in the ones Sears sells or anyone that isn't a Janome dealer.As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.The warranties aren't the same & most Sears don't have classes. Also they don't repair any machine without sending them away. Sears was going under several years ago & Janome helped them out. Those sold at Sears aren't made by Janome, but for some reason Janome is letting them use their name. This is just my opinion. Possibly you could buy from them & end up with a decent machine. Myself, I wouldn't. I have 3 Janome machines, the 9000, 10001 & the compulock. No problems with none of them. The 3 Singers I have are the old metal ones that won't quit. Maybe someone else will differ from me so you just have to decide for yourself. |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
|
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 01-19-2005, 08:33 PM (3 of 10)
|
My first Kenmore was made by Janome.. It is still alive and kicking at DIL's house.. Its more that 35 years old now.. I bought myself a retirement present of a new Janome Memory craft 4000 back in the early 90's.. I retired in 99.. I can tell no difference in the performance of the 2 machines.. Both have been perfect.. Any problems I have had with this one were because parts of the manual have been translated from another language strictly word for word, by someone who knows nothing about sewing.. (they are just giving generec translations for words.). This is only in a small portion of the manual.. To combat this problem, I just started at the front and read the whole thing carefully and concetrated on the parts I needed to study and change the wording, and made notes there.. I paid $800.00 for my machine and it was on sale.. The full retail price was $1199.00 at the time I bought it..I had paid $169.00 for my Kenmore back in the early 70's and it came in a wooden cabinet.. Quite a difference... Of course my Janome does a lot more.. It even has 2 alphabets in it..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
|
From: toadusew
Date: 01-20-2005, 09:50 AM (4 of 10)
|
I have 2 Janome machines myself; both bought from a local, reliable dealer. When I was teaching, one of my clients had a Kenmore that was made by Janome and it was pretty good, although it did have a couple of quirks, and I would still recommend a Janome over the Kenmore. Personally, I don't like Sears and never shop there, but I can't comment on whether there is a difference in quality between the Janomes and Sears and those at a dealer. My suggestion would be to buy from a reliable dealer since dealer support is extremely important, in my opinion. The dealer will also know what the current upgrades are, can help you with any questions you might have, etc, and I don't think you would have that same support from Sears. And I have to agree with another poster--there is a lot of truth to the old adage of " you get what you pay for". I own a Janome Memory Craft 8000 and a Janome MC 10000 and love them both! Janome is a good brand. You might want to go to the Janome website and even contact them to see if they could answer your questions about the quality of the machines sold at Sears, and whether or not Janome actually makes those machines. Good luck! 
|
User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-20-2005, 04:23 PM (5 of 10)
| Somebody mentioned that Janome does not make Kenmore? Possibly it is the New Home company then..which is also Janome but in America. My computerized Kenmore 19365 has a 25 yr warranty and is of the same quality as my other Janome machines if not better. I find that my Janome Kenmore is superior to the Janome 8080 that Sears also carries. Kenmore machines vary greatly in features and quality just like different models in other brands. The 365 stitches on my machine are the same as the new Janome 6500 and it also has many of the same other features at much less of a price. It has up/down needle, mirror image, stitch editing, memory of 50 patterns, stitch elongation, several types of buttonholes, block and script alphabets both upper and lower case, numerals and punctuations, and has many Janome feet. The Kenmore models that begin with the numerals 385 are made by the Janome company. It is definetly the same construction as my other Janomes bought from a dealer. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-25-2005, 02:14 AM (6 of 10)
| I called Sears in regards to getting a catalog for sewing machine feet for my computerized Kenmore. The machine came with many feet but somebody on line in a sewing forum told me there is a catalog of feet that Sears will send on request and I have recently seen a binder foot for the new Sears Kenmores that you can only purchase at Sears..made especially for them. Well, to make a long story short..Sears put me through the Janome Company. They are sending me a catalog and this Janome company 1-877 number handles all Sears sewing machine problems and questions and carries their accessories for the Kenmores. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Tia
Date: 01-25-2005, 07:59 AM (7 of 10)
|
Thank to all of you who have responded to my post. I really appreciate the information. I haven't made a decision yet...call me indecisive! I did call another Janome dealer to ask about the availability/cost of the DC 3050 that I had looked at at the first Janome dealer ($500). I was told that it was available online only. When I told him that I had found it at another dealer, he said that dealer #1 had probably bought a large quantity of them and was reselling them. I'm leaning towards the DC 3050, but my previous Kenmore was so good to me... Thanks again. Tia |
User: Tia
Member since: 01-19-2005 Total posts: 2 |
From: Sewhappie
Date: 01-26-2005, 06:14 PM (8 of 10)
| I have a Sears-Janome, and it's not a good machine at all!!!! I hate it, it's given me more problems than I care to remember. I also have a Sears-White, that is a work horse!!!!! I also have the Sears serger, not a good machine. I wish that I had my old Bernina back!!!! |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 01-26-2005, 07:37 PM (9 of 10)
|
I have had my Janome Harmony 4052LX for 3 years now, and not a problem once. I have the extended warranty and have it serviced for free yearly for the duration of the contract. My dh added a Kenmore serger (made by Janome) 2 years ago which I also couldn't do without. Then this year for Birthday/Christmas present spoiled me by upgrading me to the computerized Kenmore 19365 (made by Janome). I, personally, am hooked on Janome and Kenmore machines. I had bad luck with Whites and Singers in the past, and plan to stick by what I know works for me .Good luck in your quest. I wouldn't worry too much about the quality of machines at Sears, though. I have found it to be excellent! Happy Sewing! Jen in CA |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263 
|
From: lemonbalm
Date: 01-26-2005, 09:39 PM (10 of 10)
|
Personally I will never buy another Sears machine. I bought an embroidery sewing machine 2.5 years ago. I have a new computer with xp and can't get the reader writer box to work with it. The technology was outdated when I bought the sewing machine by about 7 years and they charged me $1500 for this machine. I can still use it to embroidery but I want some other designs which would cost me $100 for a card. I decided it wasn't worth putting any more money into it and bought myself a new Brother PC6500 which I really like. I'm downloading free designs from the internet and can find about anything I want. I have no support from Sears. I called the phone # listed on the back of the instruction book and they told me to call the Sears store where I bought the machine. I tried that but couldn't get an answer in that department. I think its just a waste of money to buy a sewing machine from Sears. I also had a sewing machine from sears in the 70's and after several years the nylon gear split and the repairman from a sewing machine shop said he couldn't get a replacement for it and I had to buy a new machine. Burned twice doesn't make me like Sears. I don't buy appliances from them anymore either. Nancy |
User: lemonbalm
Member since: 01-26-2005 Total posts: 2 |
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-14769.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft