wishfulthinking

So, I finally make it down to the local Janome dealer to test drive the 6600 (loved it) only to find that he is going out of business. He will still be providing service, just no sales. He did say that there will be a new dealer but was vague about it. Do you see this as a problem? I didn't think to ask about classes but will do that when I go back today to test the 7700. Would I be able to take new owner classes from the new dealer without having to pay extra? Thanks

nabobw

I do not see him going out of business a problem if he is going to service your machine. As far as classes everything is in the book you get with it and easy to follow. The 7700 is a wonderful machine.

dunster

Bummer. Your questions are good ones, but I think you will need to get the answers from the new dealer. If the old dealer will be providing service, will it be warranty service, and will he have full access to the Janome parts? Will your machine still be under warranty after he works on it? In general I have found that the new owner classes are offered by the dealer you bought from, and not from others. I was considering buying a sewing machine at Puyallup (good prices) and the sellers there said I could get the classes from my local dealer. But I've learned not to completely trust what someone says when they want to sell you something (imagine that!) When I asked the local dealer about offering classes, he said that his classes were "premium" classes, and that I would have to buy the machine from him to get them. I wound up with a different brand machine, but that dealer matched the Puyallup prices. I do think there's an advantage to buying your machine from someone who is going to continue to stay in business, and also from someone who has a good reputation for service after the sale. Here you have one dealer who is going out of business, and another potential new dealer (vaguely defined) who has no reputation (but may develop a very good one in time). Be careful.

wishfulthinking

Thanks y'all. I'm about to leave the house to check out the 7700. Dunster, great questions to ask that I hadn't thought of. Thanks!

ncredbird

My biggest question would be if he is going out of business and the other business that is supposed to doesn't start up how far do I have to go to get this machine serviced and or classes? I purchased a Janome 7700 from a local dealer that had been in business for 12 years and two weeks after I purchased they went out of business. Retired and left the state. Thankfully, I never had any problems with it. The new dealer was another 45 miles past where they used to have their business. When we left NC I had a Viking. There was no dealer close for it either. Now that we have moved to TN it is even farther for it. Can't afford a Bernina which is the only dealer left in the area. Ann in TN

Candace

Personally, I wouldn't buy a machine such as the one you're looking at from someone going out of business. Any higher priced machine I've ever bought has come with support(classes etc.) Dunster has some really good points. I would probably wait and see what happens and if I like the new dealer or not.

BSKTLOFR-QUILTER

I had to call Janome about a question about my machine. I was informed that while a machine is under warrenty that you must take it back to that particular dealor for servicing. Drats because we have a new dealor in our area and I wanted to take my machine to that shop since I buy fabric and shop with them. At this shop I was told that I would be charged a small fee for services offered thru their shop since I didn't buy the machine from them. (They weren't selling machines at the time I purchased my machine 6 mos. ago.) I'm keeping my fingers crossed that nothing happens until the warrenty runs out. So good luck and I hope you get a better answer than I received. The lady at Janome was really nice and worked with me so you might want to give them a call. I got their phone number from the Janome website.

wishfulthinking

Just got back from my test runs. Still love the Janome 6600. I also liked the Horizon, but maybe not as well as the 6600, except for the throat space, of course. The 6600 is $1299 and the Horizon is $1999 and I don't think there is $700 difference. The owner won't budge on price and won't throw in anything to sweeten the deal, I don't think. He's an old curmudgeon and I don't much care for him. There's one year free service and he would provide any training. I do know there will be a new dealer as she had an employee there learning how to use the newest big Janome that does embroidery, too. I'm wondering if I should just wait till the new dealer opens up. I'm also wondering what you guys think of the pricing on these two machines?

Next, I went to JoAnn to try out the Vikings. They just aren't set up there to demo free motion. The machines are all sitting on top of a table and they're free-arm. The sales person put together an extension table and put it on the machine, but then it was way too high for any kind of sewing. Plus, she said she wasn't allowed to remove the protective cover on the extension table, so the fabric still wouldn't really glide around. On top of that, we never got a stitch, during free motion, that didn't show the top thread coming through on the back. She told me that they hardly ever had anyone come in to test drive quilting. Isn't that odd? At that point I was pooped and called it a day. I may try the Vikings again on another day, just because the sales person was so nice. I'm finding machine test driving to be exhausting.

eastermarie

Does JoAnns have a certified Viking repairman or do they use a door to door service repairman that pickups machines from several locations for service work. If it is the door to door service guy, that will negate your Viking warranty because he is not trained and certified by Viking. JoAnns sells the machines but does not service them themselves, they are outsourced. Be very careful. For dealers to maintain their certified status with the companies, they have to have updated retraining for repair and servicing their machine models.

wishfulthinking

JoAnn's is getting a new repairman, who is actually the owner of a Bernina shop that has just opened. He is taking Viking training now. Thanks for the info.