Sewing Machines For Sale

[venator]

When it comes to the service in the beginning he was great, worked with me to get me the machine despite me not being the easiest customer (I'll admit that one). The item was shipped quickly, packaged well etc and that was great. It was simply the fact that I was sold a "refurbished machine" that was a rolling piece of shit.

I've bought several machine from nick-0 and had really good luck. One of which was an Adler 467 and the other was a 20" artisan splitter. Both had been used, both came in working order. Nick moves a lot of machines, and is a fairly large company personally I wouldn't hesitate to order from him again. He crates, packages and sets them up pretty well from my experience. I do believe that he has been an advertiser on here in the past. -Andrew

[awharnessshop]

When it comes to the service in the beginning he was great, worked with me to get me the machine despite me not being the easiest customer (I'll admit that one). The item was shipped quickly, packaged well etc and that was great. It was simply the fact that I was sold a "refurbished machine" that was a rolling piece of shit.

I wouldn't have been happy either! I read the thread about the undertaking to get it up and sewing again, sounds like it was a mess! Did nick not want to make good on it? I would have requested that he swap out the head! I know I've dropped the ball before, and then bent over backwards to make good on my word for different things I've made for clients that didn't end up working out for them for one reason or another.

[gottaknow]

My thought is that this 467 just fell through a crack. They are a big dealer, I have a few machines in the factory with their label on them. They aren't in use any more, but we've used them. One thing I do know, is that guys like me are getting rare. Most mechanics back when I started in 1980 are retired or simply gone. The guy that trained me is almost 80. I was 21 when I started. It takes 5 years in a factory environment where you have to babysit hundreds of machines and keep them running at high speed in a very stressful setting. I was a head mechanic at age 26 with 300 operators.

So a guy working where this machine came from missed its condition, I get that. Most hobbyists machines wouldn't last a week in a factory unless I or someone like me was in charge. The trend today in factories is to simply replace the machines within 5 years after they've been deprecated. The new Jukis I purchase today won't be around in 30 years, they just aren't built well enough in China. That's not to say the ones built primarily for smaller operations won't last, but they are more disposable. Would I buy a new one for my personal use, absolutely. The difference is dealer support. The two machines I've rebuilt for folks on this forum should have been parted out. I just hate the stories of failure, no matter the reason. If you are a head mechanic in a factory you have to have a passion. Not just a job. I still get my butt kicked even after 35 years.

Regards, Eric

Edited January 16, 2016 by gottaknow

[Trox]

Venator, I have a question. Has Nick O Sewing been made aware of this machines condition? has he not offered to take back an repair the machine? or perhaps swap it out. When it comes to these types of Adler machines Like the 467, 767 and the Duerkopp 290, 291 (if made after 1990 all called Duerkopp Adler) These are all high speed machines (tripple feeds) that commonly been used in factories. Therefore I would check them extra carefully before I buy them. I understand that Nick O Sewing is a company that often buy up factory lots. If it came from a closed down production the machine could be overhauled and still in use . Or its a old swapped out machine that came on the lot.

This machine will at least be 36 years old or more, that's why I do not understand how somebody can assume it's alright. What's left on a factory high speed machine after 36 year in a factory? It is a Adler, but still. You cannot just assume 36 years old factory machine is okay! It's a machine with a design that looks very modern for its age,(it's very modern too) it's easy to mistake it for a much newer machine. Perhaps, that makes them easier to sell. Nevertheless, it's old. Anyway, a big company like Nick O Sewing must have some routines on machine buy and sell, they would have to log it's history.

A normal thing to do is to take it back and repair it. You cannot expect the company to do anything else or can you?

[Trox]

If that was my company I would offer you my sincerely apologies and give you an other machine. Bad publicity can be very expensive, this forum have many reader that's in their targeting group. Anything less would be shortsighted.

Tor

[Hawkeronetwo]

Thanks for all the comments and info. Nick-O is about 2 hours from me. I just might , after Hawking season is over, go see for myself their operation. I will be purchasing a machine in the near future. Just not sure what at this time. Again thanks .

[coryleif]

I've bought two machines from Nick-O. Both needed/need some work. I can forgive the rounded out set screws and worn out bobbin springs, but when they didn't cut the table properly (or, more likely, just used whatever old table was lying around) and the machine is resting on the drip tray and they've tried to shim the slop with extra rubber pads, that's just lame. Must've been a Monday or Friday when they set that one up. Didn't catch that when I tried out the machine. My bad (I guess). I have to say, though, Nick has been very responsive when I've had issues (and the Missouri guys are great to talk to). Just wish they'd been taken care of in the first place.

[venator]

I didn't, while it would have seemed a logical choice if you check the sequence of events it never really was.

First I got a machine that seemed to work okay.

Then it stopped working.

I sought the advice of the folks here and tried to fix it myself and failed (did not, however cause any of the damage the machine had as my attempts were very limited).

Took it to a well respected shop in Edmonton (where I lived) and had them try, they poked a bit and basically said it was beyond them.

At this point Eric offered to fix it free of charge if I shipped it to him, by any standard that was a great deal so I did. Keep in mind at this point in the story we were all under the impression that it was something simple like the timing was out etc so there was hardly any reason to go to Nick-o-sew about it. Particularly when it would have cost me more to ship it back to them than to Eric. Remember, I lived in Edmonton Alberta.

Then Eric got it and the truth came out. I still haven't bothered to contact Nick-o-sew. Really at this point I see no reason to, what could they do? Trade it for another machine? I'd rather keep what I have, at least I know where I stand with it. If they sent me something else it could be just as bad as this one was so why risk it.

So while I haven't contacted them I don't really see a point, they can't do anything for me and I hardly think it's unfair of me to post the truth about the machine they sold me.

Had I known the truth prior to Eric I would definitely have contacted them, however I didn't so it never came up.

Stuart

Venator, I have a question. Has Nick O Sewing been made aware of this machines condition? has he not offered to take back an repair the machine? or perhaps swap it out. When it comes to these types of Adler machines Like the 467, 767 and the Duerkopp 290, 291 (if made after 1990 all called Duerkopp Adler) These are all high speed machines (tripple feeds) that commonly been used in factories. Therefore I would check them extra carefully before I buy them. I understand that Nick O Sewing is a company that often buy up factory lots. If it came from a closed down production the machine could be overhauled and still in use . Or its a old swapped out machine that came on the lot.

This machine will at least be 36 years old or more, that's why I do not understand how somebody can assume it's alright. What's left on a factory high speed machine after 36 year in a factory? It is a Adler, but still. You cannot just assume 36 years old factory machine is okay! It's a machine with a design that looks very modern for its age,(it's very modern too) it's easy to mistake it for a much newer machine. Perhaps, that makes them easier to sell. Nevertheless, it's old. Anyway, a big company like Nick O Sewing must have some routines on machine buy and sell, they would have to log it's history.


A normal thing to do is to take it back and repair it. You cannot expect the company to do anything else or can you?

[venator]

With regard to the age of the machine I have mentioned repeatedly that I didn't expect to receive a new machine. I expected to receive a "refurbished" one as that is what they advertised it as. Had it worked beautifully then had a random part break due to age I wouldn't have been upset but that's not the case. They sent a machine that had wrong parts that Eric needed to physically modify, heaps of corrosion, broken parts (that I were clearly broken for some time) etc. That's not refurbished, that's "meh, seems okay but don't open it in case we're wrong".

When I purchase refurbished I expect no broken parts (when it arrives) the correct parts (such as the hook), that it's functioning properly (the oiling system wasn't working), that it has been cleaned rather than full of corrosion.

I don' think my expectations are unreasonable.

[gottaknow]

Just so there's no confusion, this machine was not refurbished by any stretch of the imagination. The damage, corrosion was caused years before Venator got it. The fact it sewed a little while was a miracle. I don't have a dog in this fight so to speak. I don't sell machines and I never charge for something like this. This was done for educational purposes for the forum. Let the chips fall where they may. The condition of this machine was well documented and I have lots of pics I didn't post. In this day and age with the net, it's a double edged sword. We seem to have good sponsors here and there's plenty of feedback. The company that sold this machine dropped the ball. If I had looked at it to buy, I'd have offered $200, and been happy. It is what it is.

Regards, Eric