| Singer:Quantum Stylist 9960 (Sewing Machine) |
| Viewed 1108 time(s) |
7 more reviews for this machine |
Review rated Helpful by 3 people Very Helpful by 4 people |
| Reviewed by: | alliswell | 
| About alliswell | | SOUTH AFRICA | | Member since: 8/25/12 | | Reviews written: 1 | | Sewing skills:Intermediate | | Favored by: 1 people | | sewing machines reviewed: 1 | | Bio: more... |
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| Posted on: | 3/4/13 10:43 AM |
| Approx price paid: | $1200 |
| Had this machine for: | 6 months |
| Recommended? | Maybe |
| Online Merchants: | Amazon.com |
Features
- Computerized
- Needle Threader
- Needle Up/Down Setting
- Embroidery Stitches
- One step buttonhole
- Drop-In bobbin
- Free Arm
- Adjustable Stitch Length and Width
- Adjustable Presser Foot Pressure
- Adjustable Needle Position
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What alliswell likes about this machine
Simple to operate.
Automatic Thread cutter - when it works. Certain positions of the needle where it does not work.
Needle threader
bobbin winding - quick and even
stop / start foot free function
Straight stitch and zig-zag - fine
Fairly quiet and fast What alliswell does not like about this machine
Manual - very basic
Feet - the machine comes with a lot of feet, but I think their quality is poor. Particularly the walking foot, which does not work well.
Buttonholes and many of the numerous patterns are imprecise and inconsistent.
Cannot set the needle to stop up - always stops down into the fabric.
This machine was bought at a shop in Cape Town (approx. R9 000.)- no lessons are provided and the after sales care is minimal.
It is fine to ok as an ordinary straight stitch machine, but I am particularly unhappy with the quality of the buttonholes and many of the patterns. Keep trying them in different ways (thread, needles, fabric) and settings over and over, hoping they will improve and look more professional - still disappointed.
I was taken with how many features this machine has, but should have spent more time investigating other machines - admittedly, most likely more expensive machines. Perhaps even buying one with fewer features, but doing what it does impeccably. I had a Swiss made Elna for thirty years and my mum had a Singer from the time when they were market leaders - feel they are far from that now. |
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Yes, it's so sad that a brand that was so trusted and successfully made in the US (and Scotland) has sunk to a kind of entry level sm only status. But there are a few positive reviews here of late. Sorry to hear of your disappointment with the machine.
3/4/13 2:04 PM
Thank you :) it is sad. Happy for the folk who are satisfied - would have been good to be one of them.
3/4/13 2:55 PM
I also own this machine and really like it as many others have reported. I can't help but wonder if there's something wrong with your machine? Is it possible to return it? That's a considerable amount of money to spend and be dissappointed. I hope it works out for you.
3/4/13 4:59 PM
I also like my machine. I took it to a free motion class and it out performed the other pfaff machines. The pfaff machines kept breaking the thread.
3/4/13 8:00 PM
I agree with sewingsilly that there may be something wrong with your machine. I have had three of these in total: The first had a broken base but the machinery worked the best of the three. The second the decorative stitches would not work as a whole. The machine made thread nests every time it went in reverse. The third machine (which I kept because I just got tired of dealing with it) has a defective bobbin winder and the motor has gotten less and less smooth running as time has went on. The quality control in these machines is just not up to snuff, IMO.
3/5/13 9:58 AM
Interesting comments - thank you all. In the first month of owning this machine, I took it back to the shop twice. I should have returned it then (too late now), but kept hoping it would improve somehow. Their technician made a minor adjustment and said the machine was fine. Which meant to me that I had to resign myself to owning a machine with buttonholes and patterns of mediocre quality. I also get thread nests every so often, but there doesn't seem to be a consistent cause. Just re-thread yet again and it recovers. I think you may have hit the nail on the head KLK7 - quality control - and therefore lucky if you get a good one.
3/5/13 3:46 PM
Hi, I went and tested the decorative stitches.. several of them on my machine and they all seem to work ok. What version of this machine do you have? The first version does not have a decal on the bottom of the front of the machine. The second version has a decal.. that is the one I have. Here is the link to it on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/SINGER-9960-Quantum-600-Stitch-Computerized/dp/B004RDH7Y8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362612217&sr=8-1&keywords=singer+9960. Can you get your money back? Can you order off of amazon? Is there a difference in the voltage? Amazon has a great return policy.
3/6/13 6:26 PM
Good point rebe! I read there were issues with the first batch too.
3/7/13 7:44 PM
Hello - I do have the machine with the decal, so must be the second one. Too late to get a refund, perhaps in the first 2 weeks but they weren't keen. I kept thinking it was all in my head and the machine would improve, or I'd become more satisfied with it. We cannot buy electrical goods on Amazon (USA or UK) from here - import restriction, unfortunately. Also why we pay relatively high prices. There is an allied local company called "Want It All", but their returns policy states that goods must be returned, unopened!, within 2 days of receipt. I will keep sewing straightforward items for now and probably try and sell it in the future. Which could be tricky, as I will show the buyer everything and let them decide from there.
3/11/13 7:21 AM
Hi alliswell.. I just have one more suggestion. Are you sewing with a surge protector? Power surges could affect machine performance. So I highly recommend buying one and placing it between your machine and the outlet.
3/11/13 8:41 AM
Alliswell.. sorry to keep bothering you. But here is the warranty on this machine: Limited 25-year warranty including 5-year on electronic components and 1- year on adjustments. I would keep taking it back and insist on the dealer correcting the issue. If he doesn't tell him, you are going to write Singer. I found the South Africa Singer website. It is www.singersa.com. Here is the Singer Contact information from the website page. I would call them and email them and tell them the details of your machine problems. And ask them for a New machine to be mailed to you directly and you can mail the bad machine back to them. Physical Address: SZ Sewing Machines 111 Victoria Street Germiston 1400 Gauteng Postal Address: P.O. Box 161 Germiston 1400 Phone: 0860 SINGER (0860 746 437) 011 825 3407/ 8 Fax: (011) 873 8181 Email: ivan@szsewing.co.za
3/11/13 10:17 AM
Hi Rebe, Thank you for all your trouble and concern - would surely want you on my team. I think the surge protector is a great idea and worth getting - not something I'd thought of for my sewing machine and overlocker. (only computer....) For me, this machine does not warrant too much effort and I'd rather take the loss and find something of quality, that makes me smile. I bought an overlocker/serger (Elna 745 to replace a good but tired 25yr old Bernina Funlock) about a month after the sewing machine and it makes me happy every time I use it.
3/11/13 5:39 PM