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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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

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

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.