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From: Devon
Date: 12-30-2006, 06:54 PM (1 of 6)
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Hi everyone, New to this site, and not very computer-literate, but wanted to say I just got a used Artista 200e that had already been upgraded to a 730, and am hoping I got a decent deal. I paid 3999.00 for the machine, and I can take the Machine Mastery classes as many times as I wish to, no time limit, and can trade in the machine and get the full price paid toward a different model within a year if I also wish to. It doesn't have the embroidery module, as the shop owner had already sold that separately to another customer. No matter, I prefer thread painting, and it has free-motion stitching, a BSR, and I purchased the walking foot. I was very impressed with the owners offer to come to my place to give me a lesson if I need one before they reopen in two weeks, as they are in the process of moving to a better location just down the road. A big Thank You to all of you who have said what you like or have not liked about your machines, I read all of those posts and the sewing machine reviews on Pattern Review during the past two weeks to help me decide. I spent a lot of money on a used machine today, but hopefully it was well-spent. The staff is very helpful and the owner is very, very knowledgeable and personable. That counts a lot for me. The other considerations were two Pfaff models, the 2056 and the creative series machines. But their staff wasn't very knowledgeable, and I got different answers depending on who I asked questions of. Also, their service tech just got into that business. I wanted more experience working on my machines. I pick it up next week, after she has it all spiffed up for me, and will begin the Machine Mastery classes probably mid-january, so will let you know. I can't wait to try out that BSR!!!! Oh, and forgot to add the woman who had the machine before me is a teacher there at the Bernina shop and supposedly takes very good care of her machines, but wanted to upgrade to the 730E with the cabinet promotion going on until Jan 2. THAT little number was 6499.00, so I figure a 200e upgraded to a 730 for 3999.00 wasn't too bad. I hope! 
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User: Devon
Member since: 12-29-2006 Total posts: 7 |
From: paroper
Date: 12-30-2006, 09:28 PM (2 of 6)
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I don't think so. The embroidery unit is around a thousand I think but it might be less because I think it is "dumb" (no computer in the unit itself...some of the machines are dumb and some have computer componets). There is a new weird couching foot you need to go with your BSR. It is rather strange...it is a big round plastic disk and the cording feeds down from the top of the machine...pretty cool. It is for freehand counching. The foot isn't terribly expensive but it has a couple of very tiny parts. You need to be sure you don't loose those when you open the package. The 200 machines had some freezing problems when they first were released. Since yours was owned by someone from the shop it should be as up to date as possible, with the latest releases and the boards should have been replaced for you. The fact that they are extending the trade in/trade up policy lessons to you is more than fantastic and makes that machine a much better buy than you know!!!! There is just so much to learn with these machines!!! Personally, I would just as soon have the 200 as the 730. You can add the embroidery module if you decide to do that and you'll still have a better buy. They are exactly the same machine with the upgrade except that the cover is different and the spool pin is different...the 730 has a cool spool pin...but not worth the difference in price. I'm more interested in the trade in/trade up that they are offering. I don't know how long it will take but there is certainly room in the stable for a 740 machine...it is rather obvious that machine is missing from the line up...the fact that the 730 was not really a "new" machine makes it even a little more obvious. The reason that they only upgraded the 200 was that it was the only one at the time that had enough room for the upgrade and enough memory. Of course, since then, they've revamped the rest of the line. Bernina usually releases new machines either in the spring if they have a "hot item" or in the fall...I don't know that there will be a new machine this fall or that it will even be better than the 730, but I don't think the possibility can be overlooked. Rumor has it that a year from this fall they'll release the long arm quilting machine so that makes the timing a little more interesting...with the new software upgrade already released. 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: paroper
Date: 12-30-2006, 09:35 PM (3 of 6)
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By the way, I'm thrilled with my 200. I have had it 3 years. It was a VERY hard decision to make about the BSR upgrade but I decided not to do it because I don't quilt nor do freehand embroidery (or freehand couching...much). Mine was one of the earlier and more severe machines with freezing problems. I ended up having 3 boards replaced (thank you, Bernina) and have had no problems since. I cannot tell you how important it is to have a good electrical supply to these machines. You need it on a circuit that is not used a lot by other rooms/appliances and you also need to put that baby on a good UPS. These machines get really weird if they are starved...I've even seen that in class.
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: Devon
Date: 12-31-2006, 09:43 AM (4 of 6)
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Hey Pam, I was hoping you'd be someone to reply to my post, as I'd read your previous posts with interest! Thanks for the info about the UPS. We will be hooking Nina up to one as soon as I get her from the shop this coming week. (Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy - so excited to get back to sewing!). On the other hand, there's been this ominous silence from the shop that has my poor, abused Viking....  Hopefully, I didn't kill it - it has that awesome capability to pull out a knob and slow the motor down, way down, to sew heavy stuff. Love that machine for what it can do, sniff.
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User: Devon
Member since: 12-29-2006 Total posts: 7 |
From: paroper
Date: 12-31-2006, 12:09 PM (5 of 6)
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It is a honey of a machine...be sure they show you how to set your button holes by the size of your button (pretty cool).
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: Tom Land
Date: 12-31-2006, 12:57 PM (6 of 6)
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Pam you are right about something new coming. Everybody has just been updating their machines for the last few years. This year we will see entirely new machines from just about all the manufactureres. They won't admit it until they come out and honestly will not even let the dealers know but there are tell-tale signals we know to watch for. This is the year.
Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
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