Want to Buy Janome Memory Craft 4000

Have you been to your local sewing machine store/repair shop to see what they might have for sale that is used? This board is dedicated to the discussion of sewing and all things related and is not a 'sale' board. HTH

G'day Rod

Have you looked on eBay? With the Janome 11000 being released recently there are quite a few people upgrading so that gives you more opportunities. Good luck in your search

I don't see that one wanted ad on this group will cause any problems.....afterall there are lots of off topic discussions that don't relate to sewing!!

Bronwyn ;-)

Rod wrote:

Hi Rod,=20

This is a sewing discussion group, & we chat about 'how to' sew in a zipper, alter a blouse, etc. It's not for selling and buying but would be great for your daughter after she gets her machine!=20

You can try the rec.crafts.textiles.marketplace or other marketplace group for sale items. EBay is another choice but a lot of sellers don't really know how to pack sewing machines properly because they're not in the sewing machine shipping business.

Guess another question I have is, dO you really want to buy over the internet from someone you don't know and who cannot provide help for it?

Try a local sewing shop that sells sewing machines so that your daughter can pick out the machine and - more importantly - also get lessons as part of the sale. Lots of shops sell used machines that people have traded in.

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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Careful with eBay. A lot of sellers do not know how to pack a sewing machine for safe shipment. I'm on a few Yahoo discussion groups for sewing machine collectors and this is a big complaint.=20

Besides, we'll kindly point him in the right direction :)

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

--------------

I have first-person experience buying a sewing machine on e-Bay. The idiot who sold it snapped a plastic carrying case over it without securing the actual machine inside OR packing ANYTHING like newspapers, bubble wrap etc. in there with it. Then the cheap dumb-a## put it in a cardboard box they had made from a cut-up carton diesel engine oil came in and mailed it. By the time I got it the machine had rolled around inside to the point it was completely destroyed. I paid $80 for it, then discovered the "insurance" claim has to be made by the SENDER not the recipient. The seller (sender) denied any and all responsibility. I ended up writing the whole thing off rather than deal with the elevated blood pressure, and buying a new machine locally -- after writing a scathing review/complaint that was posted back on e-Bay. The only thing I got for my $80 was the satisfaction of seeing the low-life that stole my money twist and turn in the wind with a terrible, detailed complaint posted that they could do nothing about. I hope they lost their hat, a## and raincoat afterwards. I'm sure they had to change their e-Bay name and start over. I would NEVER buy a sewing machine there, although I know many have done so successfully. One screwing is enough for me, thank you very much. Caveat emptor...

Fred

If buying a machine (or similar) on eBay it's easy to ask the seller to pack the machine in it's original box complete with polystyrene insert. If they don't have the box any longer the can always get one from their local sewing machine shop. I requested this when I bought my latest machine and the lady was thankful for the suggestion as she wasn't sure how to pack it. It arrived in perfect condition, although I made sure it was insured, just in case.

Any lessons included from your local store won't be freebies, as such....the cost of them is added to the machine, so imho it's better to buy the machine you really want, rather than be tied to a particular store because of the lessons.

My last three machines have been through eBay, the one prior to that was through the local dealer where I got absolutely NO help when there were problems, nor were any lessons or assistance offered.

As you can see, we all have different views and buy where it suits us. Good luck with your purchase...there don't appear to be any 4000's on eBay at the moment anyway, but a search of newspapers, notice boards etc in your local area might uncover one.

Bronwyn ;-)

IMS wrote:

I always email the seller before a purchase, and when it came to sewing machines packing was the fist question I'd ask as I am a collector who also sells them, and packing is very important. Not only the 'stuffing' but the box itself needs to hold up to be jostled around.

I offer to not only pay for additional packing but also point the seller to two web sites that explain how to pack a machine properly. =20

One seller refused, saying she knew how to pack a sewing machine properly.

It arrived with substantial damage to the box. Despite the mounds of styrofoam peanuts The machine had shifted in transit and suffered a broken handwheel, the motor mounts damaged, and a dented light.

After the third time this happened, I refuse to buy another machine through eBay.

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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Rod, I realize it has been stated this is a group for sewing tips and questions. I don't know how to obey that and swallow my experience in the light of some of the other posts though. I've bought three great machines through Ebay and one through a person on a sewing forum, but only after much questioning and "feeling out" the sellers. I only buy from ones who are easy to communicate with and express intelligence as well as interest in pleasing their potential buyers. My success in sewing is related to the tools I select. Ebay offers potential tools. I've enjoyed the advice of many here, even who insist a dealer is the only way to go. They have reason to say what they do, but I've spent some time trying to find something at several dealers recently. My experience was incredibly disappointing. Mind you, it was just a few data points and does not omit the experiences and advice of others. The sales persons were nice and informative until they realized my budget was less than a $1000. Then they were exasperated with me and sought other people to help me. I wasn't allowed the freedom to just take my material I brought and try out a few machines. They hovered over my shoulders. I wanted to try some different brands but for some reasons was hearded to one brand at each shop which I assumed had something to do with the return the shop received if I bought that particular brand. Lessons and service wasn't a big plus for me as I live too far to just pop in. At one shop, they handed me a big package of thread that was a "$50 value" to help me decide. Thread of a brand I don't usually use was not going to help me decide to buy a machine priced out of my budget. For me, I can only afford a second hand machien that has been well cared for. I wish people wouldn't snub those of us who can't just drop enough money on the counter to cover the cost of a new second hand car, and make the sales person nice enough to give me a "good experience." All that said, if you can afford it, a new machine may be better. If you are a new sewer with a shop nearby that offers lessons you can benefit from, go with a dealer. They have to make a living too. If you don't fit into these categories, put on your research hat, dig deep into the patience bin and find a good second hand machine that suits your needs. Just my two bits.

They must have been getting a commission on machines sold. Perhaps they don't realize that the vast majority of machines that are sold new carry a price tag well below $1000.

We encourage people to bring in the fabrics they use and try various machines. Some of them are shocked that we wil actually let them sit down and use the machine instead of just watching staff demo the various functions. If the store is not busy at the time, someone may "hover over the customers' shoulders", mainly to be available to answer any questions.

That could be the case because some machines will provide a higher margin for the dealer. We usually try to determine a customer's needs as to functions and features, then may "herd" them toward a particular brand or range of models that meet those functions and features. Sometimes a particular stitch is only available on certain models. Some models don't have a needle threader, some have front-loading bobbins and the customer wants top-loading. Some people have no idea what they want, so we'll start at one end of room and go through all the machines and their features.

There are two types of customers shopping for machines: those who do a lot of research and have an idea of exactly what features they want right down to the brand and model; and those who "want a sewing machine". We get a lot of people who buy a machine at a big box store and can't even get someone there to tell them how to properly thread the machine, where to put the bobbin, etc.

I think having a strong network of local dealers is essential for the future of the sewing machine industry. We get visitors to our store, from areas where there are no local shops, who say they have not sewn in years because there's no place close to them to buy a machine and get support. Some companies almost seem to be encouraging that situation. In recent years I have seen a brand of machine being sold through big boxes at prices lower than the wholesale cost to that company's own dealers. I noticed one company's ad suggesting consumers could get their machines through Amazon.com. Way to support your dealer network!

Anyway, that's enough rambling for now. I just wanted to make some comments from "the other side".

gwh

The only time I was ever treated like this was by a Janome dealer at the NEC in 1998. Helped put me off Janome machines for life! Wasn't the only thing, but it surely did not encourage me to buy, and I *was* looking for a TOTL machine at the time, just not the embroidery one with the bigger commission!

This seems to be standard practice in sewing shops here in the UK. Both my local ones have been MORE than happy to sell me machines for less than £100 used, and under £300 new: just as happy as to sell me my £1100 list price whizzy thing! A satisfied customer is one that comes back. A cherished customer will come back often and bring friends and family!

You sound like my pal Wilf! Over the years he has sold me 2 brand new TOTL machines, one new budget machine, and a couple of good used ones. And got repeat custom on shedloads of thread, fabric, etc. as well as custom from several friends.

Choice is good. Sometimes we need to save the pennies, sometimes we need the network.

GWH, I really appreciate hearing from "the other side." Sometimes things can look negative when there really is a logic behind them. There are often times situations that can be looked at from both sides, neither of them resembling the other! I had brought my fabric I was using for several projects so I could see how the various brands worked with, most of the new ones I would suspect would all be more than capable of handling what I would be throwing at them. I really wanted to see what a HV was like and a Bernina since I have never sewn with them but the person told me I wouldn't like them and your get more for your money with a Brother, which she may be right, but I had really been looking forward to trying the others out and felt too intimidated to insist. She was a nice person, and genuine, but the herding was too intimidating for me. I appreciated that this store had quite a selection and lots of used ones. I really want to support dealers, and wouldn't buy a machine from somewhere like WM, but some of the mark ups push most machines out of my budget. This is hard to justify for me personally if a dealer online offers a machine for less and I know I won't make it to the "local" dealer for support (probably wouldn't need what support they'd offer for free) anyway as it is too long a drive. Our fabric store in town is for sale and I wish I had the wherewithall to give it a go, but my husband just doesn't think there is enough business here to support that hobby anymore. Just that attitude alone makes me want to show him and others wrong. I think sewing as a trade or hobby will be kept alive by what our dealers/shops put into it. I expect to pass my passion for it on to both my daughters (and my oldest son has an interest in making hunting gear!)