Looking for Machine/Advice

By tbmg on May. 17, 2006

I need to purchase (soon) a single-head machine, new or used, capable of relatively light use. I will need to put monograms or appliques on about 15-20 items per week for the first few months, and this amount could double, but will never increase more than that.

Can anyone recommend a particular machine? This will be in a home office, so a smaller machine would be ideal. Any and all advice on model, leasing vs. purchasing, new vs. used, etc. will be appreciated.

Thanks!

Submitted by Eric on Thu, 06/17/2010 - 16:15

howesew wrote:
Please buy American... Amaya/Melco is made in Texas

They are ASSEMBLED in texas.

Submitted by Marc on Thu, 05/18/2006 - 18:16

Welcome to the forums tbmg, EmbroideryDigitizing, and homesew :)

Quote:
Any and all advice on model, leasing vs. purchasing, new vs. used, etc.

Machine Models:
These commercial machines are portable. They take very little space and can be operated on top of tables. They're great for the home as well as flea markets, fairs, etc.
  • Barudan Elite XL - 9 needles
  • Barudan Elite Pro - 15 needles
  • Tajima NEO TEJT-C1501 - 15 needles
  • TOYOTA ESP9000 - 15 needles
  • ZSK Sprint 2 - 11 needles
Portable home and commercial machine mix. Not as industrial as the machines listed above.
  • Brother PR600/PR600C/PP600II - 6-needles, weighs about 80 lbs
Leasing vs. Purchasing:
I don't feel comfortable giving advice on this because not everybody's situation is the same and I don't know the details of your business/company. The best person to ask would be your tax advisor/CPA.

New vs. Used:
Firstly, it's always best to deal with a company or an individual locally for obvious reasons. It's best to get a brand of machine that is reputable and can be serviced by qualified embroidery technicians around your area.

Training, technical support, warranty, no wear and tear on the machine, very flexible payment plans, and peace of mind are the advantages of buying new. However, buying new also means more money out of your pocket. Paying more for something is not necessarily a disadvantage; it's all about value for the money.

People who are already in the commercial embroidery industry may prefer to buy used machines from private sales to save a significant amount. Their know-how and experience in the industry enables them to make sound decisions and spot great deals right away. They are comfortable around machines so training is trivial and they are well aware of the importance of technical support and where to get it so it's not an issue (same with warranty). It's not uncommon to find people selling their machines that are slightly used (some in like-new condition) because things didn't work out business-wise, for health reasons, in emergencies when money is tight, or simply to move on to do other things. Buying a used machine all comes down to saving money.

Buying reconditioned machines also comes with training, technical support, and warranty. Prices are not as high as new machines and not as low as private sales.

In a private sale, another option would be to get a technician to inspect the used machine for you at a nominal fee. If not already offered, negotiate with the seller to include training as part of the deal.

Whoever you buy a machine from, always get everything in writing. Do not ever rely on verbal agreements. When buying used from a private sale, make sure the condition of the machine, major repairs, etc. are all written down, dated, and signed. Essentially, use common sense.

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