Why buy from a dealer?

I am often asked the question," why should I buy a sewing machine from a dealer when I can get one cheaper somewhere else?"

This is a tough question for a dealer, and one we are constantly up against. There are two schools of thought here. You can certainly purchase a machine from a "big box store" (Walmart, Kmart, Target) at a slightly cheaper price. But then you are on your own. You don't have anyone to show you how the machine works. If you are an experienced sew-er (there's that word again) you may not have any problems figuring out the machine. But if you are an experienced sew-er, you will also want a machine with features that help you sew easier. The occasional sew-er, one who only uses it for mending, will probably be OK with a lesser machine. But the occasional sew-er is also the one who will have more trouble with the machine because she lacks the knowledge and experience to operate the machine properly. The occasional sew-er will benefit from having someone show her the correct way to thread and operate the machine, a service you will not get from a "big box" store.

The second school of thought is to purchase a machine from the internet. There are certainly some good deals out there, but this is a case of "buyer beware." I have seen people purchase Bernina machines from the internet only to get just the machine, without the accessories. Is that really a deal? It's hard to make it go if you don't get the foot control and presser foot. The other thing we see is that someone purchases from the internet, then when there are problems with the machine, they want us to repair it under warranty. Guess what! Unless you purchase from an authorized dealer, the warranty is invalid. That's a 20 year warranty that is voided.

So you have to decide if coming to a dealer is worth the extra cost. Lessons on how to use the machine and the first year's service is included in the cost of the machine. And the lessons can be repeated as often as needed. And finally, we have a trade-up policy that allows you to trade the machine back in within the first year, and you receive the full sales price toward the retail of another machine. It's a great reason to support your local dealer! Plus purchasing machines and accessories keeps this small business in business.

You don't get that kind of service from a "big box store!"