****FIRST I would like to say, this guide has 409 views but only THREE people took ONE second of their time at the end to vote "YES" that this article was helpful to them. Perhaps I should delete it and let you innocent buyers take your chances, huh??

Well, if you read this guide & it is of  ANY help, please vote at the end. If you don't care to vote, please don't bother reading.... I'm SURE I can save many of you a small heartache as well as save you a few bucks. Thanks 4 all who do vote. With that being said:

I recently won a small bidding war on an expensive sewing machine that was listed as:

 "...It was recently totally serviced by the local Bernina dealer, & with it's history of regular maintenance, will give you many years of service."

So, OF COURSE, it's only right that I request documentation shipped along with the machine that I had won. Suddenly, the seller has NO RECORD of the services "claimed".  So, OF COURSE, I asked for him to obtain such documents. He came up with EVERY EXCUSE IN THE WORLD why he couldn't come up with such documents, such proof.  WHY place info in a listing TO GET OUR ATTENTION & MAKE US BID when it isn't true?!  First, he said he couldn't get the docs because he moved. Then, he said he didn't have "time" to call and wait for said documentation, and that it would most likely cost him to do so (eventho we have fax machines, emails, all kinds of high tech ways to transmit documents quickly & FREE). He knew I wasn't going to pay him a DIME more, that is why he told me it would cost. He also had NO PROOF of the "Regular Maintenance" he spoke so highly of in his listing. He mentioned in a buyer's posted question/answer that he didn't even know the previous owner, yet speaks of REGULAR MAINTENANCE HISTORY. How does HE KNOW THE MACHINEs HISTORY??

At any rate, to avoid our dispute going to a non payment strike, I put my trust in GOD and paid almost $700 to get the item.  When I received the machine it came with "test fabric", fabric that he had sewn on with the machine.  I knew immediately when I saw the test fabric that the machine had a tension problem. And sure enough IT DID!  I'm sure NO "Local Bernina Dealer" would've missed that problem during their "full inspection and services & maintenance" that the seller claimed. I turned the tension dial to check it, the roller rolled, but the dial did not move at all. (#&^*!!) After my negative experience with the last sewing machine I had bought & with PayPal not backing me, I didn't even bother following up with the seller. We had already exchanged words on the dispute as well as him giving me retaliatory negative feedback, (that I don't regret giving him at all). 

ALWAYS REQUEST/DEMAND BACKUP DOCS FOR ANY SERVICES CLAIMED in listings BEFORE BIDDING, PERIOD! For items in excess of $300 it's not worth the gamble at all. Don't assume since the seller BRAGS ON SERVICES PERFORMED that they can actually BACK UP the claims. Foreign sewing machines are SO expensive to service (IF you can find the parts), why buy a machine that's SUPPOSEDLY SERVICED then have to spend more getting it serviced on your own??

This seller proved to me (once again) that I shouldn't believe what I read here. Some sellers are out to GET THEIR MONEY, period! By any means....

****I write these reviews & guides for you, so if you found this of help in any way please vote below. Your votes are important. The more I know my guides are being helpful to you, the more I will share in the future.

♥ THANKS 4 READING♥

S.Diva