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Member since 7/8/09
Posts: 14
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Posted on: 9/1/11 1:36 PM ET
A local Pfaff dealership is having a sale and sent me an email announcement. (I bought my last machine there) I called and asked for the sale price on an Ambition, but was told they never tell what the price is over the phone, you have to come in person. Is that normal?

I am wondering about that, as a Janome dealer did give me a price over the phone. Maybe this means the price is not competitive and they know it? They said if I knew the price, it would be too easy to shop around.

What do you think?
  
Member since 8/17/10
Posts: 764
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Posted on: 9/1/11 2:05 PM ET
I think they are hoping (rather... forcing) you to come into their store so they can sell you their business. I know that I have called my Bernina dealer and they will tell me the price over the phone. Another dealer I called would NOT give me any information. That really burns me up! Especially if you have to drive a long distance to get to the store. Sucks to get there only to find out that the machine you are looking at is out of your price range.
If they are a reputable dealer then I think they will offer the information over the phone and not feel so "insecure" about what they are charging. Good luck.
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 5885
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Posted on: 9/2/11 0:18 AM ET
Most dealers will at least give you the MSRP.
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My grandmother taught me to sew when I was 10, and I've been sewing ever since.
  
Member since 12/28/07
Posts: 20238
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Posted on: 9/2/11 6:17 AM ET

With so many prices on the net sites.. you can usually get a good starting point.. it seems the ones they don't want to quote are the newer models.. I often can't get more than a ballpark guess out of them on the new models.. even from places I have purchased machines from before.
  
Member since 4/5/06
Posts: 415
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Posted on: 9/2/11 8:02 AM ET
Just like car dealerships. Some will deal over the phone, others will not. Not a coporate policy but a store owner business decision.
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Don't confuse accessibility with ease; just because anybody can pick up a needle and thread doesn't mean sewing quality garments is easy.
  
Member since 12/3/07
Posts: 33
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Posted on: 9/2/11 9:20 AM ET
I had the same thing happen to me, some would tell over the phone, some would not. I did find that if I approached it by asking what machines are within/under my budget of $XXX that they would tell me that - not price but at least narrowed down my list.
I also would ask what models they had on display/in stock (again within my price range) so that I could do my research on those machines 1st.

The one dealer that I went to wouldn't even let me hold the MSRP $ sheet they had. I was trying to write down the prices so that I could make a better comparison, I felt like they kept going in circles on what their prices were, jumping all over the place- felt as if they were trying to confuse me, that said, I marked that brand off my list entirely because I did not feel as if I would want to work with that dealer in the long run.
  
Member since 1/25/09
Posts: 5195
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Posted on: 9/2/11 10:27 AM ET
In reply to DreinPA
Not entirely. It is quite typical that the sm manufacturer only allows the dealer to give msrp over the phone. Whether a dealer decides to violate that part of their contract is a store owner business decision.
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