rmb282

Hey ladies, thanks for your help. I actually spoke with the other store location and felt much more comfortable with that salesman. He didn't seem near as pushy and said both machines offer different advantages so he thought I should definitely compare the two. He is actually the manager of the first store but is working at the second due to people being on vacation so it is all working itself out. That store has both machines there to compare side by side.

Prism99

I have to agree that the Melody seems to have a much smaller throat. The dealer may not understand the specialized requirements of quilters -- especially for the large throat. Many also like the accufeed feature for piecing.

quiltstringz

I don't know anything about either machine but if one has the accufeed as EasyPeezy says - I would definitely not buy until I had tried that. I have that on my pfaff and LOVE it

JustAbitCrazy

I don't know what the features are for the Baby Lock Melody, but I have a Baby Lock Symphony which I love. It has dual feed dogs (upper and lower), "needle down", and a vertical bobbin just like my older beloved Pfaff machines had. It also has some features which my older Pfaff doesn't have, which I really love and use: knee lift for the presser foot, thread cutter, huge clear plastic table to fit around the machine. The mark on the throat plate for a quarter inch seam is accurate. As already advised, learn the features of both machines from the internet and read reviews on each before you go. Know exactly what features are most important to you and list them on paper, then test drive both machines. Both brands of machine are good, so I don't think you can go wrong here. The only drawback I remember to the Janome 6600 is that part of the bed doesn't pull off to sew around a narrow opening, like the cuff of a long sleeved shirt or infant's clothes (no free arm). That may or not matter to you.

sarge1

Sounds like he's trying to sell you what he has in stock. Maybe it IS the better machine of the 2, but you will only know for sure until you try both. And even if he does sell more of the Babylocks to quilters, that doesn't mean it's the right machine for YOU. Don't let someone talk you into anything. Just my 2 cents worth.

NJ Quilter

I'm with sarge1 on this one. If you can make it to the other location, particularly since you seem to have a better rapport with that person, I would do that.

I know nothing about either machine so can't help you there. I will tell you that the dealer I normally go to has for the most part switched brands over the last couple of years. They still have a few Vikings but not many. They are really pushing the brand (and don't remember which) they are now carrying...so much better, etc. Same story as you were getting from the first store. I did a lot of online searching for features, etc. before I bought. Determined which were must-haves and nice-to-haves and let that be the determining factor for my purchase (viking). And, of course, $$ played a part. I couldn't be happier with my Viking. At 10-12 years old she still just purrs along with no servicing in that time. The repair guy at the local dealer I purchased from can fix just about anything so that was also a factor for me. But I knew that before even looking there at machines.

gale

I had an older babylock and hated it. I ended up giving to my mother in law for simple patching jobs. To be honest, I felt bad for giving her a crap machine. I bought it at a dealer but they closed shortly after I bought it so I had no help from them. I also bought a babylock serger at the time and it's now an expensive door stop. Maybe they've improved since then-I can't imagine that I got two lemons.

I have 3 Janome machines, including the 6600P, and love them all.

JustAbitCrazy

Correction: My machine is a Serenade, not Symphony. Sorry 'bout that.

DogHouseMom

I suspect he's really talking up the Baby Lock because that's what he has in stock

Make your own decision. Test drive it, and if you like it and it has the features you like, get it. If not, hold out for what you want.

I don't think the Baby lock has a built in dual-feed system though and it's one of the things I love about my Janome 6600.

Good luck!

bearisgray

From what you've said - I would be very wary about that first sales person.