Skyangel

I agree that the dealer makes a lot of difference. I have a 440 that I bought used. My dealer has an "adoption policy" where I paid a fee to her and then could take all the classes and have servicing covered for a year. The classes were so worth it. You can get the mastery books online, they have the class exercises, but the teaching is invaluable. I have never had a problem with my 440, I've had it 6 years. It is the nicest and smoothest sewing machine I have ever had. The embroidery unit was never used by the original owner, turned out it had a bad board from the factory when I tried it the first time (at my dealer's, in a class). She covered the labor, I had to pay for the board as I was not the original owner. That was my only beef with Bernina that the warranty is not transferable. I wrote a complaint letter to the President of BerninaUSA and they sent me back half the cost of the board in Bernina Bucks to spend at my dealer. Better than nothing.