but I reached that amount in a year! She said it should have taken me 3 or 4 years to reach that amount. (She offered to sell me a used commercial 6 needle one for $3800) I won't be pressured. I asked her just how much I could sew on it before it messed up.... once a day, 4x a day, once a week? She didn't know the answer but said it had to do with the number of stitches.

Many good points to consider in earlier comments. The first is the manufacturer. My personal experience leads me to buy from companies whose only business is sewing, like Babylock, Janome, Pfaff, and Bernina. Companies whose main business is office equipment, for example, or lawn mowers and motorcycles, do not seem to support their sewing machine dealers adequately (at least, that's my experience).
And after selecting a manufacturer, the second factor is the local dealer. Different countries, states, provinces, cities, etc. may have a lot or only a few dealers.
A good machine is worth the money to me, and a good dealer is worth the drive to me.
The comparison to a car is very appropriate. It's the manufacturer who backs up the warranty. The dealer (whether a car dealer or a sewing machine dealer) is the primary interface between the manufacturer and the consumer; the dealer is NOT the ultimate decision maker about whether a warranty has been voided by 'excessive stitching'.
I suspect that if I bought a car and used it as a taxi, the car manufacturer might have grounds to void my car's warranty if it were driven a million miles in a year or two. Cars are not manufactured with a pre-set maximum number of miles, but even with regular service, most car buyers don't expect their cars to drive an unlimited amount of miles. Cars and sewing machines both experience a certain amount of 'wear and tear' over the years (i.e. you need to replace brakes and tires, just like you need to replace a needle bar and a bobbin case).
As far as maintenance by the owner, car owners used to be able to do most of the maintenance themselves. Now, there are so many computer chips under the hood that even very savvy car owners who used to do all the service on their own cars are limited to changing the oil and the oil filter. It's very similar to sewing machines. Many of us who grew up with mechanical sewing machines did most routine service include oil. Now, with electronic machines, we don't have access to the lubrication spots. Most of those parts of the sewing machine are deep inside the machine and only the technician (i.e. repairman) can locate them.

I think they just want to make sales,,,I have never heard of such a thing. I do know that stitch counts are used to tell when it needs to be serviced. Hugs

3 comments

by mjdg 14 Aug 2011

You are right. My problem is the woman at the store says if the total stitch number has reached that amount (15 million) that I've been using it too much in 9 months.
There is no way I have done that much. A million and a half at the most.
They don't want to admit that the computer in the machine might have put a false number there for total stitches.
It is under waranty so they will either fix it - give me a new one - or I will go to Brother with the problem.
MJDG

by wishfulthinking 14 Aug 2011

Way to go girl! You tell them!

by sewfrenzie 14 Aug 2011

I agree mjdg, they need to fix it or replace it. Thank goodness it happened while still under warranty!!

I have a brother se 400, and I mentioned your problem to my hubby and he tells me all mechanical objects weather a motor or sewing machine have cycles of time, meaning a spring or a needle arm have so many cycles before it breaks.


He can purchase a motor at his favourite shop called a surplus motor for a lessor price because it was used for half of its cycle time, changed out before it breaks and replaced then the motor only has half the life of a new motor and so he gets it for a lot less, I guess it makes sense to him, so my response to him was start saving your pennies because I may be running out of stitch allowance for my machine...

I wish I new the answer to this, I only recently got my machine and I hope it lasts longer than 2 years. I will be looking at how to oil and do maintenance more frequently.

Thank you for sharing your story.

Lucy

I have a brother se 400, and I mentioned your problem to my hubby and he tells me all mechanical objects weather a motor or sewing machine have cycles of time, meaning a spring or a needle arm have so many cycles before it breaks.


He can purchase a motor at his favourite shop called a surplus motor for a lessor price because it was used for half of its cycle time, changed out before it breaks and replaced then the motor only has half the life of a new motor and so he gets it for a lot less, I guess it makes sense to him, so my response to him was start saving your pennies because I may be running out of stitch allowance for my machine...

I wish I new the answer to this, I only recently got my machine and I hope it lasts longer than 2 years. I will be looking at how to oil and do maintenance more frequently.

Thank you for sharing your story.

Lucy

1 comment

by mjdg 14 Aug 2011

The service count is just a number that tells you it is time to service the machine.

My problem is that it says I've sewn 15 million stitches in 9 months and I have not - but the machine still stopped. I'm thinking it might be something with the computer.
MJDG

My little machine of 10 years old sometimes goes all day. I have no stitch count on it. Probably just as well as I would have a heart attack. All sounds a bit fishy to me.

2 comments

by loosie 14 Aug 2011

What kind of machine do you own? is it a brother as well?

by mjdg 14 Aug 2011

The service count doesn't mean your machine will stop it just means that it is time to get it serviced.

I think once it is serviced they reset the service count.
MJDG

That's not very good for their business. They should know that you as an embroiderer, in this day and age, belong to one or two emb. sites and will vent and let others know about the problems you're having both with your machine and with them.
I didn't know the machines have a total stitch count. Where is it?

1 comment

by mjdg 13 Aug 2011

The total stitch count is just to let you know that when it reaches that number it is time to have it serviced.

Good Heavens!! the thought of machines being 'programmed' for limited stitch counts never even occurred to me when I went looking for a machine. Is this real or just a sales gimmick? Also, sewing is sewing - no-one else's business what we do with the end result!!!

I think I'd be contacting the company at the highest level I could possibly reach and ask if all that information you've been given is true. And, if it is correct, why isn't the information made clear for prospective clients before they outlay large amounts of money.

Sounds like you're being 'got at'.

Stand your ground. Go straight for the Big Fish and don't mess with the Small Fry.

AlmaG.

1 comment

by mjdg 13 Aug 2011

As I said above....the number is to let you know when it reaches that number it is time to have it serviced.
MJDG

Stand your ground. Speak to someone at Brothers and if they give you the runaround and you can get no satisfaction to your problem just tell them you and all your friends will NEVER buy another Brother machine again. See what they say about that.!! Do not lose your cool though. That is nonsense...
I have a 300E Embroidery only machine and that poor little thing goes and goes. I have no idea how many stitches it has done.
Yvonne

my goodness, you made me go to my machine to see what the stitch count is. over 33 million. wow. have a 2500D brother. the only problem i've had is needing oil. they tell you not to oil your machine, well when you bring it in to be serviced, this is what they do. you wonder why your machine locks up? try running any machine without oil or grease! find out how to do this. ask the man who fixes it to show you where it needs it, if you can. I have always used sewing machine oil for regular sewing on my pfaff, if I don't, I can hear the gears start to grind, give a drop or two and it's fine. I really believe this is just a racket to get people to bring their machines in so they can keep charging big prices. I have two numbers for the stitch count. a service count and a total count. I put one drop of oil on the arm that goes up and down, and this seems to do the trick when I hear a different noise from my machine. turn your machine off when not in use. keep it clean. you can call Brother Co., they have technitians who can answer question for you. I have never heard of a machine being programmed for a set amount of stitches. good luck. let us know the outcome please. by the way, my machine is not three years old yet.
have you every thought that they sold you a used machine? something is definately wrong with the stitch count. betty

2 comments

by spoolies 13 Aug 2011

Hi Im with you, I give my machine some oil when things start to sound rough. I hate taking it in for a tune-up it seems to take a while to get it working how it once was.

by mjdg 13 Aug 2011

I think I will ask him when I pick it up where he puts the oil!
Thanks,
MJDG

I've never heard of a stitch thresh hold but I do know that the manual says it is not supposed to be used for commercial use. Because it says that, I think I would not tell the repair person that I use it for that. Even if it's not used for commercial purposes maybe I sew as much as someone that does use it for business. Who's to say a home sewer doesn't sew 15 hours a day? We have our habits/addictions to keep up with. Right?

Talk to the owner. There is no stitch threshold that I have ever heard of. I did 3 million on my 780D in a year with no issues = had it serviced because it was skipping some stitches - but not because it ran out of stitches in a cycle.

2 comments

by mjdg 13 Aug 2011

I think it was over 15 million stitches on the need to service message.... I have probably done about a million, or less in 9 months.
MJDG

by pcteddyb 13 Aug 2011

Then you have not overused that machine. I did 3 million in a year without any issues.

This woman is out to make a sale. She probably gets a commission and that is why she is so pushy. Talk to the owner and get his advice.

1 comment

by mjdg 13 Aug 2011

Yes, she is pushy and I don't like to deal with her, but have no choice. I will talk to the repairman/owner when he calls. It just occured to me that she might be a relative of his..... or she sells a lot of machines for him.
I will not be pushed into anything, and the more she pushes the more I stand my ground! I really like the Brother and wish there was another store somewhere close.
MJDG

You know - times are different and the embroidery store owners and their sales people need to get up to date with what their clients are doing with these machines that they are selling.

I have had a salesman, the owner of the store and a repairman tell me - that I used my machine much more than any other that they ever sold - that might be true - however - I don't embroidery commercially - I have a website - but I still don't sell - in volumn like a store front - they tried using that against me - but I stood my ground - the machine might get used more than any of the other ladies that have bought before - but I loved doing what I do and even if I wasn't selling my items - I was going to stitch them out - just because that is what I bought my machine for. I also said - just because several different people buy a car - the warrenty is honored whether it has been driven across country many times or just across town a few times. That made them stop and think - don't let this aggressive sales person tell you what you should or shouldn't do with the machine that you bought. They can't void your warranty, that is silly.

3 comments

by mjdg 13 Aug 2011

Exactly my thoughts. If I can't do what I want to do, what good is it.

Your example of the car is a good one.

I called her and told her that I had added up the stich count of all the designs I have done (and I can do that because I have a picture of everything I have done) and asked her if the computer in the machine could have given the wrong thread count..... She said impossible. My son in law is a computer geek and he says she doesn't know computers and it could happen.
MJDG

by pcteddyb 13 Aug 2011

How many stitches are on the machine - you can check it yourself - does not require the technician to check the stitch count.

by mjdg 13 Aug 2011

The machine is at the shop. I was so upset when this happened that I'm not sure if I looked at it right but I think the service stitch count was a little over 15 million and I've done about a million but it showed that I had done 15 million.
MJDG

i have some designs that takes a couple of hours to stitch..not even thinking of the stitch count..maybe they should list the suggested max stitch count like an expire date, or all used up date. thanks for the info..i won't be looking at a brother, i sew almost every day.

Wow. Yeah, that would really make me run out and buy a Brother machine. Perhaps you should talk to the owner, not the salesperson. I understand what susieq below is saying about running machines for long periods and heating up, "commercial" machines are made to be used all day every day, of course they need to be designed differently. Most home sewists do not do that volume. But to say that because you make things to sell might void the warrenty, what hooey! "Commercial" means like if you have an actual business in a storefront, use the machine nonstop 8 hours a day producing product, like embroidering golf shirts, hats, etc. Yes, that might void the warranty, because you probably would have been told by a competent salesperson that the machine wouldn't do the job in the first place, you would need a commercial machine for that. Sort of like using a $10 hand mixer in a restaurant kitchen and complaining it breaks after a month or so: it was never meant to be used like that in the first place. But just because you sew a lot, and sell some of your projects, that doesn't make you "commercial" in that sense. I think your salesperson was not good at finding the right machine for you in the first place, and obviously didn't tell you it would quit after a certain number of stitches. Thanks be to God (yes, that is a prayer) that I have a wonderful dealer who got me into the right machine, and keeps it running like a top with no hassles. Some of the things I read here just make my hair stand on end, I wonder if these people ever get any repeat business. Seems like they're after that initial sale, then you're on your own. Talk to the owner, see what he can advise. If he's interested in any repeat business at all, he should offer help of some kind. Best of luck! Hugs, Marji

3 comments

by mjdg 13 Aug 2011

I will talk to the owner when he calls to give me an estimate on the repair/service.

She tried to get me to buy the $3000 machine and when I kept telling her I could not afford it .... she reluctantly sold me the 780D.

I really don't like her but this is the only Brother dealer except for one a 100 miles away.

MJDG

by wishfulthinking 13 Aug 2011

Hi
I have not read all the responses and I do not know where you are. If you are outside of the UK, then this may not apply. If you get no joy, just tell her you bought this machine in good faith, no one mention to you at the time of sale there was a limit on the stitches, this is ridiculous. Just tell them it is NOT fit for purpose and you will be seeking legsal advice. A machine is a machine, it has to do it's job and if it only does it's job for so long, then you should have been told this at the point of sale!

Like Shirlene stated, if you buy a car and it stops once you have reached a certain amount of milage there would be uproar, what would the point of buying it be.

I have never ever heard of such a thing, limited stitches. How do you tell anyway how many stitches you have stitched. I have a Brother innovis 900 and I do not have a clue. I know what I would say, if they told me that, not polite, so I will not tell you.

Good luck.

by mjdg 14 Aug 2011

Every design has a stitch number. I took pictures of all my designs so I know what I've done..... and I just added up all the numbers. It was about a million and a half.... no where near 15 million.

The service number is just to let you know it is time to service it.... but my dispute is that the machine quit and said I had reached that number and I have not.

I am in the USA and will get it fixed, a new one, or go directly to Brother.
MJDg

I have a Brother 270D and within 6 months of having it my machine froze big time. I couldn't do anything, the hand wheel would not budge. I took it in, luckily under warranty yet, and they told me that (like you) home machines were not made to be used so often. As I was talking to the one girl there she told me that this machine is not made to do continuous embroidering... only set up for 2 or 3 times a week.... Why don't they put that in the description when you are thinking of buying one?? I know, they would probably sell less but then again, we might be looking at more expensive machines so we can do what all we want to do.

Now my new problem is .... I hate being limited to the 4x4. I just can't afford to get a machine that will do bigger. So so sad, and Santa is very poor this year so I can't even put one on my "wish list". Oh well.

4 comments

by mjdg 13 Aug 2011

I would never get anything done using it 2 or 3 times a week!
MJDG

by marjialexa 13 Aug 2011

Just a thought, LawMedAssistant, how about a used Janome 300E or 350E? They have the 5x7 hoop, are embroidery-only machines, and seems like some people who get these as "starter" machines trade them in for pricier models that do more, like sewing as well as embroidery. I have the 300E, it embroiders like a dream, and not so many bells & whistles to need repair. As I said, just a thought. Hugs, Marji

by sewfrenzie 13 Aug 2011

lawmedassisitant,
I had mine freeze up and I had never used mine more than 2 or 3 time every 2 weeks at the time and then only for one design, when it happened. I managed to unjam it myself, and oil it, and I now use it ten-twenty times more often as I did when it froze up with no problems. I was working a dense design when it happened though. If I had taken it in and gotten that answer I would have laughed in their face, since I had hardly used my machine when it froze up. It was barely a year old, and I just didn't have time to use it that first year.

by joann13100 14 Aug 2011

I bought a trade in Bernina 340 for $499 earlier this year. If you have any you can spend, do what I did and go by the dealer and tell them "I have x dollars to spend on a used machine", and see what they have. They can even take your name and call you when they get something in that meets your request and pocketbook.

Don't have all your answers but I surmise that since the 780D isn't sold as a commercial machine it is only intended for home use which wouldn't constitute heavy usage to the average person. I have a 4500D and was told by my sales person that she has MANY customers who operate a home based business with that machine. The problem is home machines are not fan cooled like the commercials and so need to be used in short amounts to let the machine parts cool. Otherwise they warp/wear. Still to tell you that the life expectancy of a machine is only 3-4 year would totally turn me off to that brand. These things aren't cheap. Good luck with your situation.

2 comments

by mjdg 13 Aug 2011

I explained to her that I never use it longer than 30 -40 min. at a time and let it sit for a while. She told me it had nothing to do with it getting too hot.... it was the amount of stitches I had done.
I'm just wondering if the "stitch count until service" can be reset!?
MJDG

by pcteddyb 13 Aug 2011

There is no such thing as stitch count until service - there is a stiches since service (if the technician reset it with the service) but nothing that says service the machine at x stitches.