Pros and cons of buying a used embroidery machine
When people run out of budget or see good deals on their favorite machine brands via Facebook marketplace or another e-commerce platform, they become willing to buy even a second-hand embroidery machine. However, we notice that users are still confused about buying a used embroidery machine to start and want to know if this equipment is worth their time and money. We will discuss the benefits and limitations of selecting a used embroidery machine based on these questions. And which factors to consider when purchasing used machines to avoid pitfalls that come with this process. If you can learn more about embroidery machines. Then you can visit: How To Use Embroidery Machine
Table of Contents
What to look for when buying a used embroidery machine?
Things you need to consider before buying a machine are mentioned below.
Here is a complete guide on What you need to know before buying an embroidery machine
Type of machine:
Which machine do you want, either a sewing or just an embroidery machine, single needle or multi needle, etc? The choice of the machine also depends on what you want to produce and the type of business you are running such as home-based or commercial. If you want learn more about multi nedle machine. then you can visit the best multi-needle embroidery machine
Trusted Brand:
Which brand do you want to go with, Baby Lock, Brother, Janome, etc? After that, compare the brand and check the sellers given all the basic details about the machine and its parts. if you want to get knowledge about janome machine. you can visit: Janome Memory Craft 500E Machine
For more about Baby lock. you can visit: Baby Lock Embroidery & Sewing Machines
Budget:
How much budget do you have to invest in a machine? Research different machine models and brands and check which model fits your budget.
Features you want:
Check all the details that dealers and websites mentioned about a machine model. Make sure it has all the features you need for your embroidery projects.
Why do people purchase secondhand embroidery machines?
The used embroidery machine has its benefits and pitfalls. One of the leading reasons for buying a used embroidery machine is lower cost. Some users don’t have upfront capital and they start relying on a used machine depending on the age and condition of the machine. But remember, when someone sells you an embroidery machine at a low price, it means they don’t include all the attachments and accessories in the bundle that the machine is supposed to come with. In some cases, sellers add things like extra thread and a few other supplies to bundle it in a sale with a machine but it is their part of the business.
If you want to get knowledge about Multi-Needle Embroidery Machines, then you can visit: Multi-Needle Embroidery Machines
Common mistakes people make about used embroidery machine
If you don’t want to invest in a high-end machine if you are given a secondary option, there are certain factors you shouldn’t ignore. Here are some common mistakes that beginners make that make their investment go to waste.
1- Rely on description only
People don’t consider in what condition the machine will be. Even if you trust the seller or whatever you see in pictures and descriptions, you should check the machine by visiting the shop. You can’t tell how long something will survive until you know its specifications and history. It’s because 15 to 20 minutes is not sufficient to determine whether it’s the correct machine and what potential issues you may encounter later. And if you don’t know anything about embroidery machines or have any experience with them, purchasing used equipment is quite risky.
2- Buy without knowledge
As said before, if you never work on machines and embroidery, you can’t make the right decision for you. You are unable to detect whether this issue presents at purchasing time or occurs after it.
3- Doesn’t consider spare parts
Although brand matters for acquiring a secondhand embroidery machine, you have to make sure that they provide you with all the parts needed. For example, if you are buying a 5 to 10-year-old machine from your favorite brand, invest in equipment that is equipped with all necessary parts of the machine that you can replace later. It occurs sometimes, any part of the machine breaks or you didn’t spot this issue while purchasing but you cannot get the support and parts because the manufacturers are no longer in business. In that case, your investment is worth nothing.
Pros of used machines
Here are some of the benefits you get even with a used embroidery machine.
Worth purchasing for experts:
If you are an experienced machine embroiderer, acquiring a used embroidery machine works for you.
Monthly payment option:
Some companies offer monthly payments on secondary embroidery machines. It is because they want people to get started without having to worry about large upfront costs.
Cons of used machines
We can’t deny the reality that the secondary machine never beat the new one. Look at some of the major pitfalls below.
Risk for beginners:
You are just seeing the demo of the machine without actual knowledge, you can’t spot the potential red flags such as thread break and damaged parts.
If you want to learn about the thread. you can visit: 5 Best Embroidery Thread Brands
Lack of warranty:
You never get the same warranty that you can get when buying a new embroidery machine. So, it would be difficult for you to choose the machine without any guarantee.
Fee for technical support and training:
Another drawback of buying a used embroidery machine is that you won’t get the official training and technical help that comes with a new one. In most cases buying a used machine from the secondary market charges for technician and training. And without that, you cannot operate and troubleshoot your equipment to keep it running for a long time.
Conclusion
We don’t recommend choosing a used machine if you are new to business because you are limited in time and can’t afford the wrong investment. Because using a secondhand embroidery machine requires you to balance time between sewing and troubleshooting, which is a difficult process. If you have been doing machine embroidery for years and have knowledge of errors that come your way and can fix them or tune machine parts by yourself, you can use a secondhand machine to save your investment.
FAQs
If you have experience procuring a machine before, its parts, and features, you can buy a used one after all the investigation.
First of all, learn about embroidery machines, search for a trusted dealer, and then check which model fits your budget. Never rely on description, check the machine by action and ask for additional machine parts that you will replace later.
You won’t get a warranty, official support, training, and extra parts. You have to charge money for getting all those things and for a beginner, it is a huge risk.
First of all, you can join Facebook groups of trusted brands like Brother, ZSK, Janome, Husquvarna, Baby Lock, Tajima, Bernina Pfaff, etc. They offer sales and discounted prices for their machine models. You can buy via Facebook marketplace or eBay, Amazon, Alibaba, and other trusted dealer’s websites. Never make any investment in a machine from a local market.