Buying from Graiglist? what is your opinion I saw some good machines.... Brothers innovis 4000D Pfaf 5.0 ?

I would go to a dealer and keep an eye out for a machine someone traded in for a newer one. I had my machine for a year or so and then traded it in for the newer model. They dealer sells them cheaper because they are traded in but they have gone through them to make sure everything is OK. Then you can try them see them and decide.. Don't do internet please. Too many horror stories and disappointments.

Thank you all. I do appreciate your advice. and Yes I will buy from a dealer. My only problem is I like Brothers, and the only embroidery machine dealer close by only sells Vikings.

Craigslist is where my Son this last weekend just bought me a Designer SE. Location of seller was very close and we went to test machine. I took a file on a USB stick that stitches for tension issues and it stitched perfect. The man had bought the machine for his wife in 2011 and she passed shortly after. We had no adverse issues with the seller. I am sure there are dishonest sellers out there I guess you just have to be diligent about checking everything out.

1 comment

by dennis999 18 Aug 2016

And there you have it Mary...........................thoroughly try before you buy

As everyone has said, go to a dealer. It is worth it. In my area there was a person selling a laptop computer. When a guy went to see it, he was robbed. The minor savings is not worth it.

Please don't get caught again. Even if you have to save a bit more and wait a bit longer buy from a dealer in a bricks and mortar shop.

I bought a babylock esante from a lady on craigs list but I communicated with her on the phone for a while before I decided to buy, then we met somewhere away from home with other people present and I tried out the machine and made sure it was what it was supposed to be and it was. I am still friends with her now on facebook almost 6 years later. I have had 2 family members to get scammed on craigs list in the past few years so I would be extremely careful.

Sadly we live in a time where people just look for ways to get paid for things of little value or that they acquired through little cost to themselves. Ebay, Amazon and Craig's list are full of stolen or ill acquired items from theft of storage units, theft of items left by the UPS truck etc and other ill gotten items. Some honest people do sell at those locations but you will not be able to tell which are the honest ones that are just trying to stream line the unneeded items from their over filled homes or if they are one of the people you should be staying as far away from them and their ill gotten goods as possible. Often those who are one of the honest ones are just as afraid to let a stranger inside their home to try out a machine for fear they could become a victim of someone with evil intentions. It would be far less risky to become friends with the sewing machine repairman or sewing machine distributor that is well respected in your area and let him know just what you are looking to find at a reasonable price. There will always be people who purchase top of the line machines and then find they do not have enough interest to justify keeping it around or they have a turn in their health and are willing to sell it or are looking to upgrade again. If you are the person who has been into the machine shop multiple times requesting a similar machine then hopefully your repairman or sewing machine dealer will think of you. Any machine capable of embroidery you would want it to have been tried out, either by the shop or yourself if you know just what to be watching for, to determine all is in good working order. Having at least a short term warranty would at least give you a line of help if something was out of sorts. Hope you find a machine at a fair price and good follow up from a reputable source with many happy stitching hours ahead in your future. Pam

I agree with everyone else. Mary, please go to a reputable dealer where he can service it and you know it's been looked after if you want a second-hand one. I trust my Husqvarna dealer completely with my Designer 1 and he will service the Brother if I need. Otherwise I would take it back to where I bought it at Zig Zag over in Georgetown and there is someone there who can do it too. Love Chris, Newcastle, Australia.

Oh, Mary....please find a local dealer...please do not venture into an online machine purchase...E-Bay was enough to be weary...and fortunately you got your money back...in my book...lesson learned...

Be careful of Craigslist. Don't set your self up to be ripped off! No recourse! Kay

Mary you have some really good advice here...craigslist doesn't seem very reliable place to spend good money on a maybe machine. Scary stuff & risky too. the news is full of scam artists & so many bad things make the news regarding this format I agree with everyone here go to your dealer or one near by & get one where they will be there for warranty purposes. if you don't get an authorized dealer to repair your machine it will not carry any warranty at all. Be careful ~hugs~

Mary, I saw one advertised on Craigslist, a few years ago. I don't want to say I'm mistrustful of people but some people advertise as perfect condition, may just be the looks, not the workings. I told my husband unless I can drive and try it out, I wouldn't just 'take their word' for it. After we drove over two hours, it was no good, to be sure.
Then a few weeks later another was advertised. I called, drove over an hour to 'try it out' and bought it because it was good.
Bottom line, unless you can go and try it out yourself, don't buy it just on their word. If they don't want you to do that, then there is a good chance it's not working properly. Too many people out there to rip you off or stick you with their junk.

1 comment

by toogie 17 Aug 2016

And don't go by yourself! Bring a posse if need be!

Please go a sewing machine shop and purchase a machine with warranty, whether it be new or second hand......other wise stick with what you have!!!you have already been caught with a Dud....

1 comment

by bevintex 16 Aug 2016

yes, go to someone who will be there after the sale

I would never buy a machine on Graiglist...but all the reasons those have listed below. That is unless you actually know, personally, the seller.

I do not think that Craigslist will get involved in the return of money should the machine turn out to be a dud, while Ebay will.

I cannot say that I have had any experience of purchases via Craiglist but just remember that it operates in a similar fashion to EBay and so you really need to be very careful. Don't take the sellers description for granted and remember that any pictures will only display the intended good points and indeed may not even be of the machine being sold. You have already had a close call with your EBay experience and my advice would be not to entertain a purchase unless you have personally seen and tried out the machine, viewed any available service/repair documents, etc. The most important guidance to follow is "Let the buyer beware." I don't mean to be negative here but equally I don't want to see you going through the same or worse traumas than you have already experienced.

Just be careful. on Craigslist they usually want cash and if you get a bad deal there is no way to get your money back, I think some people go there just to make a quick buck and everything that they advertise may not be as described.

Mary my dealer has a selection of 'hardly used' machines bought on such sites in his shop which have been brought in for repair. For hardly used substitute 'clapped out' or 'worn out' Unless your able to visit a seller and check the machine out and have a good sew take great care. I presume ebay have refunded you for your previous purchase?

2 comments

by asterixsew 16 Aug 2016

PS I prefer Brother

by mary51 18 Aug 2016

I prefer Brothers too,beside my embroidery sets are PES