I own a 15-year-old Bernina embroidery machine ($6,300 when new) which has software that can no longer be updated -- essentially obsolete. I also own a Bernina serger which if fine, but a bit complicated by today's standards. I live about 1.25 hours away from Sew Special Quilts, but it's my nearest Bernina dealer.
I decided to check the store out before bringing my sewing machine in for routine maintenance (since the existing software is currently still working), and was told that I would have to leave the machine for about a month. I asked if I could "get in line" and bring it in later -- say, three weeks. No. I was also told that they weren't interested in my old serger for re-sale, although I only saw one Bernina serger in their used offerings, and it was less capable than mine.
I purchased my Bernina sewing machine back east where the store had a policy of always taking your old Bernina as a trade in against a new one, assuming you purchased the old one from them. This local store has no such policy, so I will be looking around or possibly returning to the store back east for my next embroidery machine purchase.
I did purchase a new serger, a Babylock, from Sew Special. The salesperson was not very familiar with the sergers, but I was, so the deal went OK. The store had to order the model I selected, which took about a week. When it arrived, they said they had to "sew it in," so the machine was dirty with lint when I picked it up. I have no idea if the serger was new or if it was their floor model. They walked me through threading it and told me I was entitled to three orientation classes which wouldn't begin for a month.
Part of the deal was a Babylock 60-day free online lessons package. I wondered why it was for only 60 days, since you'd think a $5,000+ serger would give you a lifetime of online lessons access.... and come to find out that the Babylock online lessons cost over $700 for two years after the 60 days is up. Really? You can probably benefit just as much from watching Youtube for free! Oh, and I also received a store card that entitles me to a 10% store discount....for a year. Living so far away, how often do you think I'll be able to benefit from that? A big-dollar purchase, I would think, should entitle one to a forever 10% discount.
As we all know, sewing machine accessories are severely overpriced. I purchased two presser feet at Sew Special at a total cost of $150. Ouch! I wanted to buy a trolley for my new serger -- cost is $259.99 at Sew Special. I found the identical trolley -- same model number -- online at a Sew & Vac in Pennsylvania, no tax, and free shipping. I emailed the link for the Sew & Vac trolley to my Sew Special salesperson, asking if they could match the price. After a run-around story about "that must be the trolley that the wheels fall off," and a "no" answer, I wrote to Babylock corporate office to ask about which model trolley had the wheel problem -- obviously I would try to avoid that model. They were unaware of any wheel problems. I purchased the trolley from Pennsylvania, saving over $60.
I would have reservations about recommending this store for anything except fabric. I don't plan to do much business with them. I can find most things online at better prices, and the same fabric locally. I understand there is another Bernina dealer in the same vicinity, and am going to check it out for servicing my Bernina embroidery machine. read more
