Tips for buying a used sewing machine

Many people cannot afford to buy a new sewing machine. Here are my tips for buying a used machine successfully. 

Always buy local, you will want to see the machine in person. Avoid thrift stores. Secondhand stores won't know the history of the machine. It is a good idea to call your local dealer of the brand you are looking at and ask them if the price for the used machine is a good deal. You can also look on eBay to see what others are selling the machine for. Ask for maintenance receipts and to know what it was used for. If it was used for a business, there is a good chance it was run hard and could start to have problems. When going to look at a machine, bring some scrap cotton and thread to test it out. Make sure it turns on before paying for anything. If the machine doesn't turn on at all, do not buy it. Don't believe the seller if they say, "Well, I'm sure it can be fixed." They likely have no idea what is wrong with it if they haven't taken it to a professional to be looked over. Some problems can't be fixed. At a minimum, make sure the machine comes with a power cord, foot control, and a bobbin. The manual is a very nice bonus, but most of them can be found online. 

Even a $5 sewing machine can turn into a financial burden without some precautions. Most stores start at $75 and can go up to $200 for household machines for the labor of cleaning, oiling, and overall tune-up. Any parts that it needs are an additional cost. New gears can run over $100 to purchase and install, electrical boards are about the same if they can be acquired. Some machine parts are out of production and are very rare to find.

There are some wonderful used machines out there and if you are looking for one, I hope you will keep these things in mind and find what you are looking for! Good luck!