Chinese Imported Sewing Machines

[willford]

I have been looking for a new cylinder bed sewing machine. I have been looking locally (New Zealand) and also on alibaba.com. I have found a lot of machines on alibaba and they are the same as any other 341 machine. Does anyone know what difference in quality there is or are they all the same just different name tag?

 

 

[chrisash]

Many clones will be made from the same factory to the same standard (good or bad) but just badged according to buyers requirements. i.e. buyer "A" buys 100 with "aaa" as name and buyer "B" buys 50 with his name "BBB" and so on

The guarantee and local agents if something goes wrong are the most important things to differentiate between them

Edited September 5, 2019 by chrisash

[Matt S]

I think @amuckart, one of your countrymen, documented his adventure importing a 441 clone directly from China and setting it up. Might be worth a read.

Buying a machine sight-unseen, from a semi-anonymous dealer who is essentially unreachable in the event of something being wrong with your machine, is a bit of a gamble. Proper, decent dealers do more than simply uncrate a machine and put a hefty price-tag on it. There's a lot of steps involved in checking the machines, making sure they're correctly timed, cleaned, setup for leather and such. This is also the stage when the real QC checks are made. Do you know how to check that the shuttlehook is burr-free, or how to swap out the lower-shaft bearings if those in your machine are bad?

If the intention is to save a few $, it is my opinion that importing a single machine directly is a false economy -- especially if you're intending to use it to make stuff for profit. If you can't find a certain machine in your country that's a different story.

[amuckart]

Hi Willford. Whereabouts in NZ are you?

I got a Cowboy/Hightex CB-4500 imported directly and it's not a process I would recommend unless you're already a skilled mechanic. I'm strictly an amateur and had time to learn how to get my machine up and running but it took quite a while and I had zero support.

I absolutely wouldn't buy a machine off of Alibaba/Aliexpress. Parts, yes, whole machines, no. Not unless you're willing to have an unsupported non-working machine land on your doorstep.

If I were you I'd talk to Auckland Sewing and see what they've got. They're the NZ distributor for Cowboy/Hightex now and I've always had good service from them. Their Internet presence is mostly TradeMe but you can email them. https://www.trademe.co.nz/stores/auckland-sewing-ltd

[jimi]

Even parts!! this is from Aliexpress!!!

 

wrong size completely, rusted and the rear foot has a smaller hole which the screw does not fit. so really the only thing that went good was the front foot, and the needle plate only fits this feed dog!!   They might have got it mixed up with an Adler 69

Edited September 16, 2019 by jimi

[Constabulary]

Jimi - thats just because of the  earth's curvature 

I fortunately mainly had luck with chinese parts, except that they once have sent left toe instead of right toe feet but it was so cheap I didn´t even complain. I agree - its a gamble but there are some "good parts dealers" on Ebay who sell sewing machine parts only (always check what else they sell) so they pretty much know what they do (and sell). But a complete machine - well I was thinking of that too but didn´t dare! And being honest, I have found all my machines used so there is no real demand but a 227R / 153w clone is what I wouldn´t mind to own - and a Singer 97 (but no clones available )

Joke aside - I agree with AMUCKART. If sewing machine and their mechanics are not what you are "used to" it could end up as a big loss. I would rather check with a dealer or try to find something used. Don´t get me wrong - I´m not saying it will a fail in general but chances are high!

[jimi]

4 minutes ago, Constabulary said:

Jimi - thats just because of the  earth's curvature 

Yes the Curvature   I must say up until now most parts that i have got from there have been usable, just the holes needed filed a little, this one was cheap so i got what i payed for... A whole machine could be someones nightmare if it all goes wrong....

[Northmount]

Moved this thread to leather sewing machines.

Tom

[dikman]

Unless you're getting it at an absolutely bargain price then I doubt if it will be worth the effort. Too much to go wrong.

[noobleather]

On 10/2/2019 at 1:41 PM, charlie2crows said:

Hi Wilford,

Despite what you hear from various sources the answer is YES they are the same. I have purchased three machines so far from Alibaba after Hightex/Cowboy amongst others tried some shady dealings.

Like everything you need to do your research, develop positive relationships with suppliers and once it arrives spend a little time in set-up. The information you need to do this is readily available and not at all complicated if you have the mechanical aptitude of any ten year old.

I personally have imported three machines including a 341 clone which is fantastic. My 341, shipped to Australia and delivered to my front door with a 750W servo motor, cost me US$615. It runs like a dream.

I would add that this is my own personal experience and that I have no vested commercial interests.

I have had dealings with a couple of sewing machine dealers in the US and would only recommend one.

Sewing machine dealers - NNAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Where did you buy them from? Any links?