Your article really gave me pause. The used Pfaff that I thought I wanted is probably in the category of parts no longer being available. I understood the “trade in” value, but did not consider parts not being available for the vintage machines. Thank you
Great explanation, Cale. I’m sure there are customers that don’t understand that your shop needs to make a profit when reselling their trade in. Certainly, some customers are disappointed in the trade-in value, but their other option(s) is to sell the machine themselves, give it away to a friend or family member, or keep it as a back-up machine. Trading in a sewing machine is no different than trading-in a car at a dealership. The car must be resold, and before that happens, it must undergo the same things you outlined in the article about sewing machines.
I love the Bernina my mother bought back in 1976. A few years ago, the local sewing machine mechanic told me he couldn't tune it any more because "the plastic cams had warped." I bought a new computerized Bernina, but kept my inherited machine: I couldn't let it go. Then another woman in my age group who repairs all makes of sewing machines told me that I had almost been conned, that there were no plastic cams in my beloved workhorse. Molly tuned up Miss 1976 for a fair price. Meanwhile, despite my 40 years' work with all kinds of computers, the new Bernina was proving impossible to operate. I donated the new machine to a non-profit and installed the ancient machine in my new sewing room. We sometimes disagree on minor matters, like how many layers of heavy fabric I truly need to sew together. I know, though, as long as I get her to her favorite mechanic in good time, Miss 1976 and I will be together for years to come.
Very insightful article. So many of us sewists focus only on what we paid for the machines and find it a bitter pill to swallow when the machines bring so little on trade-in. It makes perfect sense, but sentiment and sunk-cost fallacy tends to overwhelm.
Your article really gave me pause. The used Pfaff that I thought I wanted is probably in the category of parts no longer being available. I understood the “trade in” value, but did not consider parts not being available for the vintage machines. Thank you
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Great explanation, Cale. I’m sure there are customers that don’t understand that your shop needs to make a profit when reselling their trade in. Certainly, some customers are disappointed in the trade-in value, but their other option(s) is to sell the machine themselves, give it away to a friend or family member, or keep it as a back-up machine. Trading in a sewing machine is no different than trading-in a car at a dealership. The car must be resold, and before that happens, it must undergo the same things you outlined in the article about sewing machines.
I love the Bernina my mother bought back in 1976. A few years ago, the local sewing machine mechanic told me he couldn't tune it any more because "the plastic cams had warped." I bought a new computerized Bernina, but kept my inherited machine: I couldn't let it go. Then another woman in my age group who repairs all makes of sewing machines told me that I had almost been conned, that there were no plastic cams in my beloved workhorse. Molly tuned up Miss 1976 for a fair price. Meanwhile, despite my 40 years' work with all kinds of computers, the new Bernina was proving impossible to operate. I donated the new machine to a non-profit and installed the ancient machine in my new sewing room. We sometimes disagree on minor matters, like how many layers of heavy fabric I truly need to sew together. I know, though, as long as I get her to her favorite mechanic in good time, Miss 1976 and I will be together for years to come.
Very insightful article. So many of us sewists focus only on what we paid for the machines and find it a bitter pill to swallow when the machines bring so little on trade-in. It makes perfect sense, but sentiment and sunk-cost fallacy tends to overwhelm.