Most times, I don't mind being a grown up. I like to make decisions and I like to think I'm pretty good at making them. However, there are those times in life when you finally have had enough and you need to stand up for yourself.
Remember several weeks back when I was BEGGING Santa to bring me a Bernina 830...well, I got it. And I've had problem after problem with it since. Obviously, I understand, it's a machine and machines can have problems. But day 1 the embroidery module didn't work. Without boring you to death with the details, I will tell you that I've had numerous thread problems, stitching problems, "fatal error" screen on Day 10, grinding noises at various points, but worst of all on day 32. It took me an hour to fix. And day 32 was the day I had had it.
During this time, I did not stay silent. I called the store 3 if not 4 times, and was there twice. The second time was December 27. I just wanted to buy fabric and try to be nice and voice a few of my concerns. The more questions they asked the worse it made me feel. I could feel my blood pressure rising and I just wanted to cry.
As many of you know, I sew nearly every day. I used to have a quilt shop but I got a full time job in town and just do things for people as time allows, but I still sew pretty much every day. So I NEED a working machine. And the place where I got my machine knows this- they have my tax ID number etc. I've been working with them for the last five years, but mostly in the last 4. I purchased my machine that I had traded in on this one from them.
I talked to the owner of the shop on Tuesday (since that's the first day after Day 32 that they were open due to the holiday) and was trying my darndest not to cry. She said she'd order a new machine (FINALLY) but I still needed to take the class. It might be the machine, or it might be me.........I'm 25. I've been sewing for the last 17 years of my life! I know I don't know everything about this new machine, but I know enough to be able to straight stitch, for heaven's sake.
I've also contacted Bernina directly, because I didn't like the way the store was handling things. -When I talked to the owner I tried explaining only two of the problems, and there was immediate justification- This is one of the things they told me "may require an adjustment in a consumer's sewing technique".
I finally decided after speaking with the manager of the store yesterday, who again, told me I was threading too fast, not threading properly, using the wrong thread and really just not completely listening to me, that I needed to talk to someone else who had an 830 or 820. I also Googled "Lemon Bernina's". I did a poll on Facebook to see what others thought I should do.
Turns out, I'm not the only one who's had problems with the machine, like they lead me to believe.
Turns out, the store published a whole page of problems in their last newsletter about this machine.
Turns out, I'm not the only one who has experienced bad customer service from this store.
And, it turns out, pretty much everyone thought I needed to get a lawyer and speak to the Better Business Bureau.
Since I had built, what I thought, was a good relationship with this store over the last 5 years it tore me up to make a decision on what to do. I feel sick even thinking about it now. I never wanted it to go this far. But, when they sold me this machine they only talked about how much I would love it. They've talked about how many they've sold. But they did NOT talk about the issues it has. And they aren't all user error.
If I was a beginning sewer or if I only had one consistent problem I would agree, it's the machine, maybe a class would help a little bit. However, it isn't just one problem. Nor, am I new to sewing.
So until the investigation is done and I have closure I will be an emotional wreck I'm afraid. (I have one of the worst headaches today) But hopefully, now they'll listen.
