Brother CS6000i Advance Sew Affordable 60-Stitch Computerized Free-Arm Sewing Machine with Hard Case & More $134.99 free super saver shipping

How is this compare to the $80 Singer? I know Brother has a carrying case and additional accessories.

http://slickdeals.net/f/5676848-S...FS-Walmart

Walmart has matched the price online, with free store pickup, or 97cents shipping to home.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Brother...0I/4764726

I have an insider's opinion on this one. It comes down to this: it's a great sewing machine with great features but cheap parts. Our parts haven't broken, but lint and debris did get clog up some of the workings to the point that it wouldn't go. I took it apart and found the problem eventually, but I messed up the timing while doing so. So ours is sitting in a closet, inoperative at the moment.

Sewing machine shops will charge almost as much as it costs to get a new one just to take a look at it. So, if you take the offer, be sure to read up about any maintenance you can do for prevention or expect to buy another or pay out the wazoo to get it fixed when it does stop working.

My wife really enjoys the immense variety of stitches included on this machine. She also grew to love the ability to work it pedal-less. She misses it enough that I've considered buying the service manual (which I've found for $20) to try and fix it correctly. Jury's still out on that decision, though.

I know nothing about sewing, but had set up a price alert for this after looking at price histories and ratings on Amazon. Durability and the power to deal with heavy materials is more important to me than lots of bells and whistles, so if anyone else thinks the parts are cheap and has another suggestion in the same price range, please chime in.

Quote from GrandPaPa : I know nothing about sewing, but had set up a price alert for this after looking at price histories and ratings on Amazon. Durability and the power to deal with heavy materials is more important to me than lots of bells and whistles, so if anyone else thinks the parts are cheap and has another suggestion in the same price range, please chime in.

Check out some of these Janome models. I think this is what you are looking for:

http://content.janome.com/index.c...tired/TB12

http://www.amazon.com/Janome-HD10...B001I1IZ2K

btw...I DID just purchase this (the CS6000i) yesterday. Saw the price drop and I had the $5 off $25 deal, plus the 10% coupon (chatted with CS to get them to do both), so I got it for $116.49 w/ two-day Prime shipping, it will be here tomorrow! I did a bit of research, and I don't mind that it is light plastic body and maybe has lighter-duty parts. For a learning machine and the price, I think this is a steal! I also like the idea of a computer-driven machine, but that is me. If I was looking for a mechanical (and if I take to this sewing thng, I just might), I really like the look of those Janome machines!

Quote from BostonTodd : btw...I DID just purchase this (the CS6000i) . . . I really like the look of those Janome machines!

Thanks for the last two posts, and congratulations on your deal!

I considered Janome, but was hoping to stay under $150, considering it may get little use. Since Amazon charges taxes in my state, I went through ShopDiscover to purchase it from Walmart.

my wife requested the "Brother CS5055PRW" (Limited Edition Project Runway Sewing Machine with 50 Built-in Stitches, 7 Presser Feet, Foot Controller and More) which is around the same price but OOS.

Is it too basic to think that the 6000 > 5055 ?

Or in other words, will she be disappointed with the 6000 if she asked for the 5055?

Quote from vivahate : my wife requested the "Brother CS5055PRW" (Limited Edition Project Runway Sewing Machine with 50 Built-in Stitches, 7 Presser Feet, Foot Controller and More) which is around the same price but OOS. Is it too basic to think that the 6000 > 5055 ? Or in other words, will she be disappointed with the 6000 if she asked for the 5055?

Did anybody figure out the answer? TIA

Quote from alwaysgreen : Did anybody figure out the answer? TIA

Nope... sorry.

Considering the 5055 would not be a surprise, I just asked my wife whether she would want the 6000 instead - and she said 'alright then'

Done deal :-)