back from Chicago

It sounds like you had a wonderful time. I can't wait to hear more, once you've rested, of course!

Well, Merry Christmas to Musicmaker! Coming home with a machine instead of a bochure works MUCH much better!!

Karen, Queen of Squishies

Congratulations! That sounds like an outstanding weekend! I thought about popping over, then realized I had things to to around here instead. Boo hoo. I should have gone anyway. I'm not sure I accomplished much here.

Sounds like a super trip - and the way to do it.

Linda PATCHogue, NY

On Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:31:42 -0600, Musicmaker wrote (in article ):

Sounds like you had a great time.

Maureen

Way to go, Musicmaker!

Sunny

I really am jealous now!

We have a biggish show locally this weekend, I even have a free ticket, but I'm not going to be able to go, it would have been really good if I could have gone and tried out machines.

Anne

Congratulations on the new machine! Did you get it yet, or do you have to wait for it? I waited 2 months, and just got mine last week. I'm currently free-motion stippling a queen sized quilt on it.....giving it a real trial!!

I forgot to mention that I got the quest at 1/2 off - it was a special only for purchases at the show, so I called hubby and told him about it and he said he'd consider it my Christmas present. THAT's why I bought it! So I do have to wait a few weeks for it, but since I took the fusing workshop with Laura, plus all the holiday trips and preps between now and Dec 25, I really don't mind the wait. From what I've been hearing, I'm the first in IL to buy one of these, and there are a lot of dealers out there that are having trouble getting one for display, let alone for sale. I don't know if it's a common practice to sell brand new models for half off, but the retail price is supposed to be 2499.00 and I paid half that with no shipping.

Did I mention that Juli and her stepmom were enrolled in the same workshop and I didn't even have to go looking for her? That was neat.

Musicmaker

wow wow wow! Even better!

That was definitely a great class! Sure wish I could have walked out of the show with a Longarm though...I guess I still have my dreams. ;)

Ya know, it's a crying shame they play around with the prices like that. If they can sell them at the show for 1/2 off retail, then that should be the price all the time. I almost fainted when I saw an ad for the TOL Janome. They are "giving" away a $4K sewing cabinet with the purchase of one! If they can do that, then why don't they just reduce the price by that amount and sell the machine alone? (Yes, I realize they most likely get that $4K cabinet at a much reduced price, but still.....)

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

I'm with you, Leslie. When I bought my Designer 1 I got the huge Koala Outback "free" with it. It was a choice of the cabinet, a serger, or their computer program Since I already had a serger and software, I took the cabinet. I sold it later for a very good price. I tried to get them to come down on the machine if I chose not to take any of the "free: things. Wouldn't do it. I still haven't figured out the sense in that! Gen

It's sooooo frustrating. I think in the UK there are some rules surrounding what you can do and what you can't, I think at one point it was very difficult to sell something at anything other than RRP (our name for MSRP). I think things have changed a bit, for example, books can be sold not at the publisher's price right from day 1, though it couldn't be advertised as being "on sale", just as a special offer. Mostly the offers aren't as extreme as the sales are here and if something is advertised as being on sale, then it has to have been sold at full price somewhere within the last 6 months, not necessarily that exact store, but within the same chain. There are still lots of ways around it, but it does seem to mean there is less of the sensational sale thing you get here.

It also appears that some manufacturers do not allow stores to put prices on line, nor is the MSRP available online, so you don't even have that to check against what they say in the shop. It's not always clear what is included in the basic package either. I'm planning to buy a new machine and I want to be able to do my research at home, I know I couldn't get an accurate price, but I can't even get a vague figure or work out what I need extra and what the most extra that could cost his. This means some machines that I think are affordable might be too much once I add everything on and others that are affordable, but I overlook initially.

Anne

Hey Musicmaker,

Congratulation on your purchase of the Babylock Quest. There are a few of us in this group who have tried out this machine, it is wonderful. I know I sure like mine and I think Alice is enjoying hers.

I am sewing chair cushions with mine now and hope to get back to quilting after this week.

Piece,

Marsha in nw, Ohio

Musicmaker,

You must post pictures of your quilts from the class. I completely forgot to take pictures during the class, so now I must plead. :) When I have a free moment, I will be posting mine in my webshots.

Juli

Juli - can you believe I've already made, not bound yet, 2 more complete wallhangings?!?!?!

Musicmaker