by meganne 28 Sep 2009

use of it for 8.5 months!!!

I can't believe their incompetence!

When it came back it wouldn't read any of the Smart cards and they said there was nothing more they could do with it!!!

But they wanted to sell me an exchange unit (a multi card reader/writer) for another $200 because they said it would let me transfer designs to cards so the machine could read them.

OH DUH!!! I already have 2 X-Drives and a Laptop that read/write to Smartcards, plus I have Pulse's Xpressive software (designed specifically for Elna XQ machines) and Embird both of which will convert any format to Elna's EMD format and write it to Smartcards.

Janome wiped their hands of it completely saying there was nothing they could do, even though they are the NEW Elna distributors. (So Beware, anyone buying Janome or Elna machines in Australia, I'd be thinking twice before I parted with my hard earned money, you just may not get any support if you need any repairs).

OH, I reformatted all my Smartcards and the machine reads them perfectly, now. Guess I know more about computer peripherals than the supposed "Xperts"????

At least I have my machine back and I've already stitched out 4 redwork designs to finish off my long awaited machine cover that I started making in March 2008.

Sorry if I sound bitter, but this is only the tip of the iceberg, if I told you all everything that this company has said and done to me over this machine...........
The owner of the company even hung up on me today and if you think I wasn't spitting chips, hopping mad, upset and frustrated........ I was ready to smash something and it's the first time in 20 years that I have thrown a temper tantrum, ending in tears of frustration.

Oh well, at least it's working now and if I ever (touch wood) have any more problems with it, I'll be voiding my warranty and paying the local Singer agent to fix it instead.

Sorry to vent. Thank you all for being here and keeping me sane with little digitising jobs.
Hugs n roses, Meganne

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by clawton 28 Sep 2009

Sounds like you have good reason to be upset!

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by debleerl 28 Sep 2009

I don't think I will buy an Elna. You are not the first persone I've heard complain about one. As for my Janome 10001, it's 2 years old and was only in the shop once for a check-up and cleaning. It's a workhorse. As Marji said, we have the best dealer. I'm thinking about getting another machine, that just embroiders; so I'm really paying attention to the posts that talk about down time on their machines. I'd like to hear more about the Brother/Disney machines. But I'm not in a hurry, so far another machine is still a pipe dream.

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meganne by meganne 28 Sep 2009

It's not so much the machine as the lack of support for the particular model, they don't make them any more since the Janome takeover.
The new Elna's are made by Janome.
Hugs n roses, Meganne

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by jrob Moderator 28 Sep 2009

I'd be mad, too and I would get on every board remotely related to this company and tell EVERYONE what poor service I got. I'll be right back, I'm gonna go hug and kiss my Bernina. ;)

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meganne by meganne 28 Sep 2009

I'd be hugging your serviceman too, (if he's any good that is) LOLOL!!!

I'm hugging my baby now she's back but you wouldn't believe the bobbin tension screw was too loose and it wasn't sewing like it should have been.

So much for them saying they "had it working perfectly, except for reading the smartcards". Their words. Aaaaargh!!

I love my Elna, it has so many great features, I'm just grateful to get it back, finally.
Hugs n roses, Meg

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by mops Moderator 28 Sep 2009

Congratulations and shame on the shop!! Hope you get as much joy out of it as you had trouble! hnr.

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by avaclaire2 28 Sep 2009

hi meganne it sure does make one mad when things go wrong .very glad it's all sorted out one hears so many horror stories glad your has a happy ending ava

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by lisaatwell1984 28 Sep 2009

This place that services should loose their ability to service and sell that brand machines. I would write the manufacturer and tell them just exactly every incident, and how long you had to go without your machine. You should not have to break warranty, especially on something the manufacturer states should be covered. You are a better woman than I, I would have went to the manufacturer long before. NO business should ever hang up on a customer, I would notify the chamber of commerce and the better business bureau. I would tell everyone I could what bad business people they are, they would never sell another product when I was finished.

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meganne by meganne 28 Sep 2009

That's half the problem Lisa, they aren't the Elna distributors any more, Janome is. But Janome won't be held responsible for any Elna's sold before they took over from Jacksons, so Jackson's are responsible for the warrantees and they aren't threatened by Elna because they have no hold over them any more.
It's all pass the buck! But I'd rather take the machine to a competent mechanic and have it repaired professionally and quickly than go without it for as long as this again.
Huggs n roses, Meganne

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by marietta 28 Sep 2009

Gosh Meg, I am so sorry that you had to have such nonsense from them. I am very lucky to have a lovely Elna workshop about 5 minutes walk from our house, and have always had good fallback. I only work with Elna machines and find them marvelous to work on.
Hope this is the end for you with frustration and anger. I wonder what the Elna people in Switzerland will say ,if they heard about their agents down there by you.
Hope this finds you in a better and happier mood, and mabe, I think I would also trust Singer more than those Elna okes you have there.
Here is to happy sewing and no more problems. Keep smiling and send in many projects. Would like to see your machine cover too.
Hugs and may God bless you.
Marietta

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by blhamblen 28 Sep 2009

I'm glad you got the machine back...it is so important to have someone that you "TRUST" with your babies!! I think that a letter to the PRESIDENT of Elna about the dealership is in order....I'm sure you are not the only one....or perhaps sitting in front of the store and questioning their customers would be in order toooo!!

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marietta by marietta 28 Sep 2009

I totally agree with you.

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by jennyt 28 Sep 2009

isn't there a "lemon law" i know there is one which applies to cars, i wonder if it applies to other things as well... may be worth asking someone in a law firm about. i would want my money back. definitley.

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meganne by meganne 28 Sep 2009

Thankfully it's not a lemon, Jenny. It only broke down once but it took them nine months to get the part from Japan because the machine is no longer in production.
Then I had it back for 6 weeks but they hadn't repaired it properly (they hadn't even re-set the needle correctly) so it stopped again as a prevention to worse damage and this time they had it 3 months because they are totally incompetent and replaced the wrong part in the first place.

Otherwise, it is one of the best machines on the market and it is just shameful that the support isn't there for it since Elna and Janome merged.

I certainly don't want my money back, I'd rather have this beautiful machine working perfectly the way it should.

Thankfully it is stitching beautifully now and I'm going to really give it some work to do this time. :-)
But thanks for your concern, it is really appreciated.
Hugs n roses, Meganne

marjialexa by marjialexa 28 Sep 2009

Hey, Meg, maybe you should have had Yoriko take it to Japan with her when she went, hee hee hee, you would have had it back faster!

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by bikermomfl 28 Sep 2009

Poor baby - want me to send some of my 'biker buddies' to straighten them out? Course it might take a while to get 'down under' :-) I know my bff had a terrible problem with her new machine she had to send it back to the manufacturer. They fixed it but they were so nasty. I've got my Husqvarna Designer 1 and only had one problem with it and it was only caused because I used the livin' daylights out of it and it was full of link and dust!!! Imagine that, cleaned it up and poof good as new. I think that a normal shop charge would be well worth doing without the hassel of that lousy dealer in Melbourne. But your baby is home so keep her safe and warm and happy, cuss if ya want, it won't hurt anything and don't let anybody push you around. Don't make me come over there, I'll get tuff on em for ya. Just let em know YOU DON'T MESS WITH CUTIES!!!!!!!

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marietta by marietta 28 Sep 2009

Goooo, girl, goooo !!! That is saying it just as it is.

blhamblen by blhamblen 28 Sep 2009

OH those "boys" don't mess around...some are worse than "VITO" so I've heard!!!

meganne by meganne 28 Sep 2009

Thanks for the giggle. I needed that.

I actually threatened (to the receptionist) to get on a plane to Melbourne to throw the machine at Peter Jackson. It's just lucky they are in another State or I would not have been responsible for my actions if they had been close enough for me to vent my frustration and anger in person.
Have you ever seen a Lioness in full attack?
Not a pretty sight, that's why I keep such a firm control over my emotions. LOL!!!
Hugs n roses, Meganne

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by marjialexa Moderator 28 Sep 2009

Well, finally!! And I hope she's home for good this time. I can certainly understand your frustration, we had the same thing, only it was with our house! I've burned up the phone wires a time or two, myself. No, really, I know that's hard to believe, but true, mpffff giggle, hee hee hee, guffaw. I have the Janome 300E, and I know Debbie has Janomes because we go to the same dealer. Our dealer is so superb it's unbelievable. If you have a problem, it gets fixed the first time, usually while you're standing there. Of course, I haven't had anything really major go wrong with the 300E, it's just a workhorse of a machine. But the dealer is respectful, helpful, will tell you how to fix stuff over the phone, and doesn't hesitate to tell you when the problem is 'operator error', and then laugh with you about it. That's probably why these folks have been in business some 25 years, and just opened a second dealership. Do I pay $6 a spool for thread from them? You bet! That's how most of their customers feel about them. I wish every embroiderer had access to a dealer like mine. I'm so very sorry for your frustration, Meg, and at this point I think I, too, would just not bother about the warranty (which is fairly useless anyway, it would seem) and take it to someone you trust. I can certainly see how you wouldn't want to be dealing with Janome in Australia at this point, that is such a shame. Well, go sew on it and get your money's worth now! Hee hee hee, you could always embroider an off-colour 'greeting' card on the machine and send it to Janome, hee hee hee. I know, I'm bad. Hee hee hee. Big big hugs, Marji

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marietta by marietta 28 Sep 2009

You are so funny, and I agree whole heartedly.

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by gerryvb 28 Sep 2009

you had to wait a long time, but you've got it!this see image is from a much longer time ago.

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marietta by marietta 28 Sep 2009

Boy, and could the old one's work. I have a student that still works on a original old "Empisal". Sounds like a tractor, but works like a ox

meganne by meganne 28 Sep 2009

Yes, I have a 41 year old Elna Supermatic, that has never even had a service, even still has the original light globe yet I've worked it like an industrial and sewn on things with it that most people wouldn't dream of sewing on a home machine.

Oh and I love the animated Gif Gerry how fantastic is that!
hugs n roses, Meganne

mops by mops 28 Sep 2009

My Elna Supermatic was bought Nov 1963. I have had it service in the spring, just to make sure and boy does it work! I bought a spare light bulb when we moved to England - just in case there wasn't a local dealer - and that's still in it's original box as I too never had to change it. Once repaired a sail with it and my dad's tent. A real workhorse!

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by waterlily 28 Sep 2009

I'm so glad you got your machine back! I hope that you are able to keep it home for a very long time! I would be frustrated and bitter, too! When you put a lot of money out for something, you expect to be able to use it! AND...I would be voiding teh warranty too....It is worth putting out the money, if you are able to get it repaired quickly, as opposed in the shop for MONTHS!

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by shirlener88 28 Sep 2009

Congratulations! Meg, this has been long awaited and so sorry for your frustration. I do feel for you, dear one. But you have your machine, no support and it is working - so happy for that. We will be here - any time you need us.

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sans by sans 29 Mar 2010

I bought an elna Xq with Xpressive software in 2001. I have had no problems with my machine or installing the software on win 95 or XP. Being an IT person I purchase the latest hardware running the latest Win versions. I am tole by Elna- USA - Geneva and South AFrica that Version 1.06 does not install on Windows 7 and I would have to purchase the new software. This is not what I was told when I bought the software. It comes down to the fact that Elna can tell you every 2nd year to purchase the same software if you change your operating system to a later version of windows. THIS IS SHOCKING. xpressive software can also only be loaded 3 times. So if anyone out there is thinking of changing to better hardware, forget about it. Because of Elna's policy, you have to be stuck on old 32 bit versions of Windows.

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