Well, I wish I had been thinking quickly enough on my feet to say, when in the dealer’s shop, that Janome getting free advertising might have more to do with their machines being on GBSB than it necessarily meaning they are the superior machine!
I really felt under such pressure to go with Janome that I would find it difficult to go back and ask him to source another make for me, whether Pfaff or something else.
Northern Ireland being a small place you have deduced correctly,
@wrenkins, that the shop concerned is the one in Ballymena. I would have thought more of him if he had said something like this:
Look, I know where you’re coming from. You’ve had a Pfaff for years and you think you need another Pfaff. I don’t think you do as in my opinion new Pfaffs aren’t as good as the older ones. I think Janome is great and can sell you a fantastic Janome machine but I can source a Pfaff for you if you really want one. After all, his shop is advertised as a Singer and Pfaff Sewing Centre, with not a mention of Janome in the name! But, instead he rubbished Pfaff and pushed his, undoubtedly lovely, Janome machine instead.
You’re right,
@Iminei. I didn’t notice that the machine was running slow, certainly not too slow for me and I didn’t notice anything wrong with the motor when I last sewed – so hopefully it will whizz along for a good while yet, even if it’s whizzing in the inside lane rather than in the overtaking lane!
It is good to hear from Pfaff owners who have bought much more recently than my 1980s purchase and are happy with their machines. It is such a big purchase and I suppose no matter what machine we buy there is always a risk that we’ll get a troublesome one – just like with buying a new car.
What people do seem to be saying is that if you do have trouble with your sewing machine and need a new part for it you’re going to have a much longer wait for it if your machine is a Pfaff.
I have a lot to think about before committing to a new machine. Thank you all for your replies.