Having a tough time finding a good used machine

[mixmkr]

I really like the JUKI LU 562, but a larger bobbin would be nice.  After scouring Ebay, Craig's List etc now for many, many months, the cheapest "deal" seemed to pop up... a LU563 for $500 shipped on Craig's List.  Too far to go look, as it's 6+ hrs away.  My gut tells me this isn't the best solution and paying $500 just for a larger bobbin on an unseen machine seems risky.  But, it's by far the best machine for the price I've seen in a 1/2+ year or more.  Where are people finding good purchases in the <$750 range?  I'd love to land a 1508 and I'd up my offer.  But, they don't seem to show up used.

Guess I'll just keep sitting back and waiting and looking.  Nick-0-sew is basically the only place within driving distance for me, and they weren't interested in my 562. 

[brmax]

Ya i found a good many moons ago most business selling sew machines have more than enough machines. Really all do respect to do as you would wish is silly. 

Will keep an eye out for ya but prolly have to up the $ and mileage and really put the hunt coat on to weather some lookin. 

Fwiw i was interested in that long arm but seriously another machine i dont need. And besides i would have to stop in your place to get your help to accompany and loading it another state away! 

Good luck

Floyd

[MADMAX22]

Hate to say it but most walking foot 563 style machines go for about 800-1000 around my parts. Occasionally one will be less but usually small bobbin and they are gone quicker then you can call the person. Every once in a while something will stay on long enough and it happens on a weekend and the moon is just right which allows me to beat the CL monitors to a good deal. 

Most look at the highest price on ebay and price them just under that then point to the fact they sell on the bay for a certain price even though most of those have been on the bay for over a year. 

Saw a 29K17? for $200 pop up, called the lady and she just wanted it gone (been in storage for 10 years) but I was the 4th person on the list half an hour after it listed and the first guy that showed up took it home. It looked almost new. 

[Uwe]

The problem with some used machine pricing is that often you only hear from folks who got some wicked good deal. It's a little like people who only brag how much they won at the casino - they usually don't talk about how much they lost during the previous ten visits. This sets unrealistic expectations, I think.

Don't let stories of super-bargains keep you from buying a machine you need to run your business or enjoy your hobby.

The only real price guide on Ebay are SOLD listings, but quite often the sample size is too small to be meaningful, but it's better than nothing. The main problem with Ebay is the russian roulette of shipping by people who've never packaged a sewing machine for shipping before. Many perfectly nice sewing machines have died in transit.

In general, at least in my opinion, a vintage original in nice cosmetic shape and perfect working condition is worth as much as a new made-in-china clone. The nice original will be worth about the same five years from now if you take care of it (it doesn't make much difference whether a vintage machine is 20 or 25 years old.) That new clone on the other hand will be worth considerably less in five year's time.

Certain popular models also have a higher price on the used market simply because of supply and demand. A lot of people with small-bobbin machines have a hankering for a large-bobbin machine. Once they get one, they don't want to part with it.

If the CL lottery is not working out for you in your area, you can check with a reputable dealer of used machines. The main one I use for rough price guides is Advanced Sewing (http://advancedsewing.com/usedsewingmachines/juki.html) Their inventory spread sheet shows they have two dozen Juki LU-563 machines in stock as of March 2017. I'd ask them for a quote for a head only. They may be in your comfort zone. I've personally not bought a machine from them, but I came very close to making a day trip to Pittsburgh to look at their inventory when I was shopping for Juki LS-341. They were also one of the very few used machine dealers present at the TexProcess trade show in Atlanta last May. 

Best of luck in your search for a nice 563!

[brmax]

Craigs list is a great benefit for many items i found through years past. Though the compound machines close by were all a days ride.

The first machine I had acquired near was at auction and the first at 5 dollars/ball park hot dog trade (lunch). 

The same issues reside here with sales on the CL type sites and that being the confirmation of machine expected operations.

If we have to travel, "adjust" or just operator tune. Well this is at a cost or it is here, bankers dont take steaks n beer where im from. Anyway fuel and the time itself should be factored nomatter how enjoyable the drive. (Even i try that ) 

What is a pain is if one has to safely lodge during the trips. This is seriously costing as i btdt with dock loading schedules sometimes strictly held.  

Once Temps were below 0 and yes roads covered, thats nothing it took 6 hours from Marblehead to Columbus ( it sucked at 30 mph ) even then Some times good buddy nice guy still has to be in "line" no short cuts.  Schedules strictly held no early dock loads, that was a new one but also my only schedule playbook.

I have had one machine head shipped and it was great! Though used but never used the factory hd styrafom box was used. Subsequently typical messaging back and forth prior to sale, not just me but the seller learned important aspects. I let it ride another month maybe two no takers. 

I returned with another offer stipulating insurance with value of machine head. That ins. cost itself was like 150. or close to that. The prior set machine value was $50. The free insurance option when selling. This was not gonna be an interesting transaction. And reason for an updated prior to bid conference and change needed. This was honestly an education on both parties and changed after that cycle timed out. So with an all perfect machine and operations if the worst like being dropped in transport 50 bucks would not cover a new Juki much less a treasure found 1341.

So we should consider some of these items as i have as many others have found in our future purchases. Maybe just this refresher can help everyone a bit. Fwiw that shipped clear across the continent by ups perfectly in factory box with plywood added both sides.

A key point is ya just never know the equipment until your in front of it. And many times one needs to use another time frame to thuroughly inspect. So enjoy the hunt. And we should keep reminding ourselves this is a cost as it truly is just that a real value.

 

good day

Floyd

[MADMAX22]

wow  https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/atq/6029349134.html

[JimTimber]

1 hour ago, MADMAX22 said:

wow  https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/atq/6029349134.html

We'll "never see another one like it!"  Good thing we won't need to - that one'll be there waiting for us if we ever want to have another look.

[sandyt]

I guess I am rich after all. 

[NMcCool]

You are on the right track checking Craigs list. Do not neglect to inquire at any upholstery shops in your area for possible older machines they just upgraded from. Ask them also who does the repairs on their machines, often this outfit will have unclaimed repaired machines, or often folks will just drop off a machine they 'found' or was donated to them, and they take it to the repairman's shop. Similar to dropping a stray at the humane society.

 Don't neglect to check auction websites, estate sales, local sewing machine dealers. In my case(s), I got lucky on Craigslist for a Juki TL 2010, in the box, dirt cheap. The key is to have the money in hand, and drive like hell to the seller or a neutral spot. I would advise you consider this strongly, look into the various gov't or surplus auctions. The Army no longer does sewing to repair uniforms, ruck sacks, strapping of light weight, and the like. Soon a lot of these machines will be hitting the disposal auctions and such.

My second find, and do visit this site often, was on GSAauctiions.gov, I bought a walking-foot Adler from NASA, on a sewing table with clutch motor, works great, has sewn over 1/2 of leather without a hitch. Total was 500 bucks. Bada bing.

Hope this helps, be patient and don't give up.

 

 

[Yetibelle]

On ‎3‎/‎7‎/‎2017 at 6:13 PM, JimTimber said:

We'll "never see another one like it!"  Good thing we won't need to - that one'll be there waiting for us if we ever want to have another look.

Ok - I went to The Vault and found another one, so now we have 2 for the Museum .  I don't think many original owners of the these machines ever used them that much.  I bet it was a status symbol in the parlor.  I paid 18 gazillion dollars for it at a fancy auction.... ok $25 from a yard sale....  What else we got for the Museum?

 

 

[JimTimber]

I have my Grandma's machine at my parents house (currently occupied as their microwave stand  and my mom denied my request to re-acquire it) which is in need of a new cord (insulation is cracked off) and a lot of wood restoration (was used as a flower stand by the window for 50 years).  She used it when my dad was young, but then it too was slated for the donation center when we were cleaning out her house and I saved it in the mid 90's. 

Not sure what model Singer it is, but it's electric and that deep royal blue (not black) with gold scroll work. I thought it was pretty and didn't really think much about how good it worked at the time of diverting it's trajectory.  I want to say it's a 20's something vintage, maybe 30's but I seem to recall '23 for some reason.  I did look it up at one point, but that was 20 some years ago.  Collector's value back then was about $200.