My favorite time to buy is always late summer / early fall at the County Fair. Find the sewing pavillian and be prepared to spend a while hanging out and testing. ALL the dealers will be there so you can cross compare machines.
You can buy a demo machine at a great discount and often they have fab packages to go with. Sometimes you just "reserve" the demo and pick it up towards end of fair, sometimes you get it at that time. Do your research in advance... so you know a bit about if you're going for the latest model or just looking for a great deal. Warning.... while you get to look and see everything, you're also going to be working with their best sales folks. If you're going to be getting something on the top end.... unless you go in knowing the other prices... collect the info... and take a breather. At least get away from that area for a few hours. Better... overnight at least to do research on the web. Check the cost of the "extras" to see if you're getting a good deal on those too. (Most times you do, but sometimes...) If you're not buying the absolutely latest machine, confirm the price you're getting on the "older" model really is a deal. (Again, most times it's a steal... but occasionally hard-sell salesmen are dumping on commission.... if you come back with real prices... those prices will dump and you don't have to worry about getting it mail order.) The good thing: these machines are being demoed by real experts so you can really see everything they can do. Insist on a test drive. While the big guns are demoing... these machines are backed by a local sewing center. OK, in a really big city, "local" may be relative... but still you've got someone you can drive to. Often local dealers will give "free" lessons. (Note, the lessons, they're going to try and sell you more stuff while you go along... but if you buy the good foot pack at the show, you already have the extra feet.) One more warning... don't let them push you into overbuying what you need. You'll feel like a kid in a mega candy store... but if you're coming in for just a good sturdy sewing machine... (Viking), you don't need a lot of the funky bells and whistles, keep your head down and buy what you need and stick to your budget. Then again... if you are going for that new Viking Embroidery machine... hey, it's just your Christmas present for the next 3 years (or your next car)... and just enjoy. -Cat- _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
