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Babylock Coverstitch
OBX Advanced Beginner NC USA Member since 4/23/10 Posts: 148	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/13/11 1:19 PM I'm considering buying the Babylock Coverstitch machine next month. Is there any way to check out pricing before visiting a dealer? Most of the reviews on this website are older, so I'm not sure the pricing is accurate. I'm planning on trading in a lightly used machine I just don't like all that much. I'd appreciate any estimates so I know what to expect.
MNBarb   Intermediate MN USA Member since 4/3/10 Posts: 1521	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/13/11 3:25 PM Here's my experience (and advice from others) with buying the BLCS last summer. Haggling for a coverstitch I wasn't able to get prices anywhere and my dealer wasn't dealing. I do love the machine. ------ Barb "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison "I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." Woodrow Wilson
OBX Advanced Beginner NC USA Member since 4/23/10 Posts: 148	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/14/11 9:00 AM Thanks for the link. I don't have any truly local dealers, but there are some in the next state. Unfortunately, the same group owns all the Babylock stores in the area, so there is no competition. The machine I'm trading was purchased there just this year so I'm hoping for a good price. However, it is difficult to find what machines usually go for as no prices are posted on websites. Knowing I want this particular machine puts me in a vulnerable position but I love my Babylock Imagine and am pretty sure I'll be happy with their Coverstitch for ease of use.
sewsally   Intermediate WA USA Member since 8/18/02 Posts: 1200	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/14/11 11:24 AM You might look into the Janome Coverstitch. It has a larger harp space than the Babylock and after all one looper is not that hard to thread. Its a lot cheaper too. That being said, I have the Babylock, because the Janome dealer didn't seem to know how to thread the machine.
OBX Advanced Beginner NC USA Member since 4/23/10 Posts: 148	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/14/11 11:37 AM I'm sold on the Babylock sergers. Also, my dealer doesn't carry Janomes and I really want to trade in another machine purchased from this shop. It is difficult to know what is a good price when the prices aren't listed anywhere. I already know this dealer is on the high end, but I don't want to pay straight retail (whatever that may be). I wish the manufacturers would post the retail prices as a starting point.
Sibilance7   Intermediate IL Member since 8/10/11 Posts: 533	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/23/11 2:42 AM My dealer quoted me $1300 this past weekend, which I think is a bit excessive compared to what other dealers are selling them for (according to what I've seen on PR). I don't think they sell a lot of them because they didn't even have a demo model in the store and they seemed to have the philosophy that buying a separate coverstitch and serger was silly when you could just get the Evolution. ------ Olivia, my Pfurple Pfaff Creative Performance Bernina Aurora 430 BabyLock Enlighten
Chris Bryant   Intermediate VA USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 211	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/23/11 5:35 AM I think this is a machine that doesn't sell as much as the others so the dealers don't allow much in the way of discounting. If the best price you can get is $1,300, then go for it because it is a great machine. The one piece of advice that I can give you is to make sure they take it out of the box and show you how it does all of the stitches. When I went to buy mine, I did this and the one they had was a dud and the dealer had to reorder another one because she couldn't get it operational. She knows her stuff so it wasn't her. Once you have paid for it, then the process becomes more complicated. I never buy any machine that I didn't personally put through its paces before I take it home. If the dealer balks at that, then run, don't walk out of there. I have the Babylock coverstitch and the 4 thread Imagine and I just love them both. I also have a Bernina four thread that lives in the closet because it is such a pain to thread. I used to spend so much time rethreading that thing because once any thread broke, then you had to rethread the entire thing again in its proper sequence. Not only is the Babylock easy to thread, but I have yet to have a thread break on it and I have had it for about five years now and I use it a lot. Plus it is self adjusting and I never have to spend times trying to get it into adjustment. Good luck and I know you will be happy when you get this machine. Be sure to check Debbie Cook's blog because she has an extensive list of tutorials on how to do various techniques and they are better than anything you will find, as she is an expert with the Babylock coverstitch machine. Chris
JDpenelope   Intermediate KS USA Member since 9/9/03 Posts: 1315	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/23/11 6:36 AM You are getting good info here. My Babylock dealer is the only game in town (for a Babylock) and the prices are high. But if you are determined to get a Babylock, although the discounts may be small, the machine is virtually trouble-free. When I need to coverstitch, it's so easy to re-thread the machine and go. No sitting and futzing forever with threading or tensions. I can't quote you a price, because my situation was complicated: I traded in a BL Evolve (which I HATED) for separate BL serger and coverstitch machines plus some cash -- It was painful and I have wiped the details from my memory. Sorry. But the ease of operation of both machines has been well worth it. ------ Yahoo group: Sewing with Industrial Machines http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sewing-with-Industrial-Machines/
OBX Advanced Beginner NC USA Member since 4/23/10 Posts: 148	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/23/11 11:44 AM Thanks for the price estimate. I hope my dealer offers a lower price, but he is usually high end on everything. I have the Imagine Wave and appreciate the ease of use. I never hesitate pulling out the serger to do a 5 minute task as it only takes a minute to thread and get going. Having to spend time setting up a coverstitch would probably discourage me from using it as much.
creative1 Intermediate AUSTRALIA Member since 1/25/06 Posts: 517	Login to reply to this post In reply to Chris Bryant Like this post Date: 11/23/11 11:52 PM Quote: The one piece of advice that I can give you is to make sure they take it out of the box and show you how it does all of the stitches. When I went to buy mine, I did this and the one they had was a dud and the dealer had to reorder another one because she couldn't get it operational. It's interesting you mentioned this Chris. When I was shopping for a new machine, I asked the couple who ran a local store to open the box and check the machine I had chosen prior me paying. They refused saying that was a 'normal practice' to sell in a box. Once a box is opened it's considered 'used'.

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