| Congratulations on deciding to buy a new sewing | | | | want to buy. |
| machine, it is a decision that should give you many | | | | Knowing what you do not want, this might sound a |
| hours of sewing pleasure and should be a decision | | | | little strange, but if you are not happy with |
| you are comfortable and happy that you have made. | | | | something on your current sewing machine, if the |
| Unfortunately quite often the shopping experience is | | | | same thing keeps going wrong for example or if one |
| not one that people have enjoyed, they sometimes | | | | part breaks more often than you feel it should, then |
| feel that they have been pressured by sales people | | | | tell the sales person this, you obviously do not want |
| in to making decisions before they are ready to do | | | | to have the same problems with your new machine |
| so, they feel they have been persuaded into | | | | that you had with your old one. |
| spending more than they planned to, they end up | | | | Test drive the sewing machine, when you have |
| with a sewing machine that is not suitable for their | | | | found a sewing machine that you are interested in |
| requirements. If any of this sounds familiar then | | | | ask the sales rep for a demonstration, please ask |
| please read on as we aim to help you with some | | | | questions if you do not understand something they |
| easy to follow tips that will put you back in charge of | | | | do or say as often the sales reps have a set demo |
| the buying process. | | | | and patter to go with it and this can seem a lot |
| Knowing what you want, if you do not need a | | | | sleeker than it really is. |
| sewing machine that has 50 different features then | | | | You must also ask to test the sewing machine for |
| do not buy one with all the bells and whistles. Quite | | | | yourself, take a swatch of your own fabric with you |
| often when you go in to a shop the sales person will | | | | as an old trick amongst sales reps is to use stiff |
| be keen to sell you a particular machine, this might be | | | | material that is much easier for some aspects of |
| the most expensive one they have or just the one | | | | sewing and will therefore give you a false sense of |
| with the best commission for the store, if you do | | | | confidence. Using your own swatches also means |
| not want that model or brand tell them. | | | | that you can carry it from machine to machine as |
| Before you go to the store I would create a list of | | | | well as shop to shop and get a true comparison |
| the features I need my sewing machine to have, | | | | between the different sewing machines on offer. |
| armed with this list I am able to tell the sales person | | | | Please look out for part two of this series as we |
| what I want and I can check what he is showing me | | | | continue to put you in the driving seat when you go |
| with my list of requirements and if they do not | | | | to purchase your new sewing machine. |
| match then tell him he is not showing you what you | | | | |