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Saturday, June 9, 2012

Do I look stupid?

I must look stupid. Here's why. On April 24th, I took my Bernina 43D serger in to have a tune-up. There was absolutely nothing wrong with. I've had it for a number of years and figured I'd better have it tuned-up before I "needed" to. I called a local sewing machine dealer, not Bernina, and asked if he services Bernina machines. He told me he services "all" machines. The tune-up is $79.95.

On April 27th, I picked up my machines. I took my backup machine to have it tuned-up as well. This past Monday, June 4th, I finally sewed with the serger and it sewed beautifully. I was making the McCalls maxi dress and decided to assemble it entirely with the serger. That meant I had to add the left needle. For the most part I use the Bernina as a 3-thread machine and when I took it in for the tune-up it was threaded as such. As I normally would, I inserted the left needle and thread and assumed it would be business as usual. Boy was I wrong! When I pressed the foot pedal the machine sewed a few stitches and then started making the most horrible noises. Not only was the machine binding up it was obvious something was terribly wrong. After a few more attempts, I gave up. I removed the left needle and thread and this time when I tried to sew it still made the horrible noises. I took the machine back and was relieved to find out work was guaranteed for 3 months.

Wednesday, June 6th, I received a phone message saying the repairman had tried for three hours to repair the machine but was unable to repair it and would refund my money. WTF? The machine was fine until I took it in for the "tune-up." Do I look stupid? He tore up my machine and I'm supposed to be happy that he was willing to refund me $79.95? GTFOH!

Today when I went in to talk to the repairman,with my husband in tow of course, he wasn't in but I took the liberty of trying my machine. Just like he said...it didn't work at all. The clerk asked me what I expected him to do. Without hesitation I told her I think they should send the machine to an authorized Bernina dealer to be repaired at their expense.

When we returned later to talk to the repairman, the husband is still in tow,  he did indeed write a refund check. I refused it but he insisted. He said the machine wasn't really 100% when I took it in. The hell it wasn't! I quickly corrected him. He said he'd send it out for repair at his expense. You bet your sweet ass you will. What's even more comical is that in the memo on the check he wrote refund for serger repair. Repair? I won't be cashing that check until after I get my machine back and repaired! Nope, I'm not stupid at all. Luckily I have another serger.

9 comments:

  1. Thank God for back up sergers or for machines for that matter. I took my serger in just this morning because I was having a horrible time with the lower looper thread tension. Thought it would only need a minor adjustment. Turns out something more is wrong so the minor adjustment did not help. Had to leave it there (boo hoo). As I said, thank God for back up sergers.

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  2. I had that happen with my embroidery machine. The bobbin thread was sewing too loosely. When I went back to the shop to pick it up, they told me 'no charge, it was just threaded wrong.' I should have known something was wrong right there. I DO know how to thread my machine. When I got home with it & tried to use it, it was hopeless. I sent it to the dealer to be repaired. At least they didn't try to charge me anything. ;-)

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  3. BACKUPS have your back! I SALUATE ALL backups! I need to take my machines in for tune-up and servicing. Have been putting it off for the longest. Thank God you wanted to use the 4th needle or you may have found out much later that it isn't working.

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  4. When the shop I bought my Bernina from closed, I feared something like this at the thought of taking my machine to someone new for service. Thank God, the repairman from the shop opened his own place at the request of Bernina. I hate the idea of taking such an investment to the wrong person for repair.

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  5. Crumbs! What a cautionary tale!!!

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  6. How horrible! An honest sewing machine repair person is as good as an honest car mechanic. I hope everything works out.

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  7. I will no longer take my machines to a certain very well known fabric store in Royal Oak. The last time I took my serger in for a problem, the repairman told me to use smaller needles to keep the needle from striking the lower looper. Um...what? No, fool. You are supposed to fix the problem, not give me a crappy band-aid.

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  8. What!!! My heart just sunk for you. Our machine's are our "babies". It's sad you can't trust many people with them---especially for such a simple routine. What a terrible situation. I hope they fix it like new.

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  9. That is crazy, I would have demanded the same thing also. I hope you get it back soon and it will be in great condition.

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