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: mitznvero
Date: 02-07-2005, 01:44 PM (1 of 23)
| I have a found a website called SewVacDirect that sells several brands of machines at really good prices. Has anyone ever purchased through this site or any of the other sites? |
User: mitznvero
Member since: 02-03-2005 Total posts: 11 |
From: Hogmami
Date: 02-07-2005, 01:58 PM (2 of 23)
|
Yes, I got my Brother PE 150 from them. Had no problems at all.
Carolyn
Michigan |
User: Hogmami
Member since: 09-30-2004 Total posts: 800 
|
From: soverysewey
Date: 02-07-2005, 04:19 PM (3 of 23)
| I have bought two over the inernet. One from Mrvacandmrssew and one from sewinginusa . No problems either time. |
User: soverysewey
Member since: 12-19-2003 Total posts: 56 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 02-08-2005, 03:54 AM (4 of 23)
| I have purchased several times from both Allbrands and SewVacDirect and had great service from both. I purchased a serger and a Janome Jem Silver with a carry bag from SewVac and they even through in a free walking foot. I had free shipping several times and always had tracking on my pc to see where my purchase was on any given day before it arrived. In fact I am now tracking an embroidery card I just ordered. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-08-2005, 10:42 AM (5 of 23)
|
The only disadvantage I can see to purchasing over the internet is that it sometimes invalidates the factory warrenty. You also often have to return the machine to them for service.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: mitznvero
Date: 02-10-2005, 09:08 AM (6 of 23)
| Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on ordering a machine off the internet. Luckily, I ended up with a great deal from a dealer here in town who had a Janome 6500 Memory Craft. I will definitely order my serger over the internet now however. Thanks for the replies. |
User: mitznvero
Member since: 02-03-2005 Total posts: 11 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-10-2005, 09:24 AM (7 of 23)
|
You are almost always a little better off to buy locally. You have a person to go to with your problems. You can take advantage of the sewing classes offered through the mfg. (sometimes even more than once). Many times you can get a "special deal" with the dealer. Often the dealer will offer free cleaning/adjustments after the first year. You may get trade-in/trade-up allowances if you trade your machine to move up in the first year. If your machine should have to go to the shop, you don't have it out of your possession as long and you don't have to worry about shipping. If your dealer has any sewing or embroidery "clubs" you need to take advantage of those too!!!
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 02-11-2005, 01:42 AM (8 of 23)
| I have tried the trade up thing with my dealer. I like my dealer and they are reputable but when it comes to the trade up within a year it is a farce. I owned my serger a few months and wanted to trade up to the next model. Their policy is to mark up the model you are interested in to the manufacturers retail price which is a higher price than they ever sell it for. You never get the sale price either of the wanted new machine when trading up..it is not allowed. So by the time you trade in your machine..you pay what anybody walking in the door without a trade in would pay. In my case..the model I wanted was on sale for $700..The dealer put the price at $1199 mrp for me to trade up and plus trading in the model I paid $599 for with another trade (another machine) I would have to pay $699. The dealer has 2 of my trade ins. The trade for my first purchase, and the machine I purchased from them and paid off that was only 2 mos old plus my money. Anybody walking in the door would just pay $700 anyway It is their policy..this is not a policy they change for anybody that buys a new machine from them. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-11-2005, 01:53 AM (9 of 23)
|
Some dealers will do it right. As a matter of fact, a few years ago, my current dealer was willing to use the price I paid when I purchased my machine from another dealer. I ended up not doing it when I realized that the machine I had was a better machine for me than the newest TOL machine.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 02-11-2005, 02:03 AM (10 of 23)
| Paroper, yep me too. I ended up keeping my serger and went to another dealer and got a better model to my liking without any trade in and getting it at half the manufactured retail price and about $400-500 less than internet prices. I am happy now but still have an interest in new models etc..just bein nosey. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: mamadus
Date: 02-13-2005, 03:00 PM (11 of 23)
|
I bought my ULT over the internet before Brother introduced their internet ban... I got a great price and my machine is really user friendly so I didnt' really need any lessons, however, I can really see the advantages of buying from a local dealer,.. the trick is to find a good local dealer though... I recently bought a new serger, and that I got from a local dealer... I knew I would need lessons and I wanted a local resource in case I got stuck... I did work with my forum friends to get written quotes that I could take to my local dealer so that I made sure I got the best price I could... And with many brands nowadays, if you buy over the internet, the machine company voids the warranty... for example... Allbrands sells some of the Brother Pacesetter line, but they offer their own warranty... there is no Brother warranty on machines sold throught their internet site... My thoughts now are that if the price differential is just a couple hundred dollars(less than $300) you're better off buying from your local dealer... just my 2 cents... MO life is too short, not to explore
|
User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004 Total posts: 492 
|
From: Kylnne2
Date: 02-13-2005, 03:30 PM (12 of 23)
| Where I live there are no Brother dealers, nor Babylock nor Janome. We can by Brother at Walmart and Janome at Sears. If you drive out of town you can find a Janome dealer however. I think internet sales of these machines is great for people that don't have a dealer close by. Dealers here however don't say good things about Brother. You can ask if they can find a certain Brother model for you and they say "Why? Who will service it for you when it breaks down, and it will break down. Also parts are hard to come by." I mentioned this to the Bernina dealer telling him what other dealers say about Brother..his reply was.."Why would they say that? I am a certified Brother repair person." I do know that the other dealers here had problems with repairs from the out of town person where they sent the machines to be repaired and they stopped carrying Brother machines of any kind. I had been telling this dealer what a good little Brother computerized machine I had just purchased from Walmart. It had the thread cassette, stitched great..I felt foolish when after having it only a few weeks it stopped working and I returned it. It would be nice to see the higher end models that both Brother and Babylock makes however. I have seen how owners seem to enjoy them by reading their posts. For now I am very happy with my Pfaff and Kenmore. It is nice to see the models not available here on the internet also. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Stitchwitch
Date: 03-06-2005, 08:29 PM (13 of 23)
|
I've bought from that online dealer before. Very good products, very fast shipping
Blessed be...
|
User: Stitchwitch
Member since: 04-22-2004 Total posts: 10 
|
From: andreamlott
Date: 03-07-2005, 10:09 PM (14 of 23)
I bought my first machine recently from Ebay. I don't remember the name of the vendor right now, but it's one of the huge ones (16,000+ positive feedback). Let me say I am thrilled with both the machine and the service I have received from the dealer. I am "budget-challenged" and needed a good price, especially since I'm new to sewiing. I'm a big Ebayer and recently bought a car on Ebay so I feel that it's pretty safe, and feel like buying on Ebay at least gives you some recourse if not all goes OK. Plus I shopped around a lot and got the best price this way. Well, when I got the machine, there was a problem with it. Not having a machine before I wasn't sure whether the problem was me or the machine, but no worries, they sent me a new machine, let me compare the two, and a pre-paid shipping envelope for the one I decided to send back at no charge. Come to find out, the problem was the machine, but I didn't have to wait to send it in to get a new machine and they were patient and kind. There is a full manufacturer's warranty, an optional purchased extended warranty, and the dealer has a no-questions-asked 30-day money back guaranatee for any reason. How could you go wrong?! 
|
User: andreamlott
Member since: 03-03-2005 Total posts: 4 |
From: mamadus
Date: 03-08-2005, 01:34 AM (15 of 23)
Andrea.. that certainly sounds like an excellent dealer... my only caveat would be, I hope they do follow through on their words... but it certainly sounds great!!!  MO life is too short, not to explore
|
User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004 Total posts: 492
|
From: MaryW
Date: 03-10-2005, 07:31 AM (16 of 23)
Andreamlott, that sounds wonderful. I have never heard such a glowing report for an online ebay vendor before. Congratulations on your machine. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
|
From: JoanieB
Date: 03-24-2005, 04:34 PM (17 of 23)
|
My husband ordered my new Brother CS8150 through Amazon.com for Christmas, and so far I've loved every second of using it. JoanieB 
|
User: JoanieB
Member since: 01-28-2005 Total posts: 68 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 03-24-2005, 05:07 PM (18 of 23)
Never bought a machine via ebay but DH bought a car! from california no less,all went well 
Jeanette
|
User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
|
From: teacheraid95
Date: 03-25-2005, 12:06 AM (19 of 23)
|
You mentioned the Brother machine at Walmart that you purchased then took back, because of problems. They have a Brother, that I am interested in, it has an extended arm (for quilting), walking foot, etc. Did this happen to be like the one you took back. Or has anyone heard about this machine. It supposedly has a built-in button hole maker. How easy was/is that to use. Teacheraid95 |
User: teacheraid95
Member since: 11-04-2004 Total posts: 12 |
From: smith972
Date: 03-25-2005, 08:20 AM (20 of 23)
|
I have brought two machines via ebay...one was a brand new kenmore and the other was a barely used brother for my son...both were great buys and we use them almost daily..well i use mine daily and my son sews about 3 days a week (he is seven) Jada |
User: smith972
Member since: 09-10-2004 Total posts: 241 
|
From: Bama
Date: 03-25-2005, 12:34 PM (21 of 23)
|
I bought a Brother machine from louanns.com before Brother banned internet sales. I got it for less than half the price my local dealer wanted. I think Louann deals with Singer machines now. I've only heard good things about her. She was very helpful to me. I would order from her again. 
|
User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116 
|
From: Kylnne2
Date: 03-25-2005, 03:22 PM (22 of 23)
| teacheraide, the machine that I had and returned was a smaller computerized model. It was the CS 8150 as I recall. It was an easy machine and stitched nicely. I did like it very much until the many problems started with it. I have sewn on machines far to long that had no problems and didn't wish to have one that did so I bought a computerized (Janome) Kenmore with many more stitches and mechanical Pfaff and love them both. Bama, I also have heard good things about Louanns. I have never made a purchase with her but I do receive her emails. If she had something I wished to purchase I would not hesitate to buy from her. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: mamadus
Date: 03-28-2005, 09:11 AM (23 of 23)
|
teacher aid.. I just bought a Brother quilting type machine from Walmart while my ULT is in for cleaning... I got the XR-65... I think I paid about $155... It has the one step buttonholer... I haven't tried the buttonhole function... I've been using it for piecing... so far I like this machine quite well... it has an extension table for working with quilts... it seems to sew quite well and seems very solid.... I bought the machine because I was in the middle of a project when the need became apparent to take my ULT in, and I knew I would be super antsy without a machine...my thought was that I could give it to my dd once the ULT comes home, but now I'm not sure... I may just keep it myself and buy her a separate one... I guess that says that I really like this machine a lot... It's totally mechanical.... nothing at all computerized about it.. It doesn't have a whole lot of decorative stitches or anything special, but it certainly seems very solid... I was piecing denim for a dog bed and it went right through heavy denim (i used pieces from dh's old jeans) with no problem... just my 2 cents... MO life is too short, not to explore
|
User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004 Total posts: 492
|
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-14972.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft