What should you look for in a listing? How can you make sure the machine is packed to arrive in one piece?

I am most certainly not a true expert, nor a sewing machine dealer. I do, however, have many years experience and have been the victim of some poor machines arriving to our household. I have also had some machines delivered that were above my expectations. Ask questions. Ask questions. Ask questions. Each time I was let down, I realize I maybe didn't ask the right questions, or enough questions. Not enough photos? Ask for more. If they can't be delivered, move on to the next machine. There are many, many listed for sale. Most sellers are very happy to give you as much information as you need before you begin bidding.

1. "It is a Singer featherweight 221."

Read the description very carefully! Sometimes we read "what we want to see" and overlook any other details. Have you searched for a Singer featherweight sewing machine, glanced over the description and photos, saw a very low bidding price, and then jumped right in? Happens to the best of us. Look at the photos very carefully. Is it really a Singer featherweight? Too often I see quite a few other sewing machine models listed as the featherweight and, in fact, they aren't! If you have a very specific machine in mind, know what it looks like. What are the characteristics that set it apart from other machines. Don't take the sellers word for it. You do know what you want, so a little homework ahead of time as to what it looks like is essential. The seller may truly think it is one machine, based on something someone told them.

2. "The light works."

Strangely enough this could be the selling point. Well, the light may work but the rest of the machine may not. A light working just means it is getting power. Tells you nothing about the motor, nor if all the pieces are intact. I have seen quite a few vintage sewing machines which have a working light and nothing else. Take heed. Ask a lot more questions before you make a bid. Rest assured that many are selling items from an estate but you just want them to honestly tell you they don't sew and don't have a clue as to what else might be working or if all the parts are there. Honestly is truly the best description.

3. "Minor wear."

This is a very subjective term. To one seller this might mean the machine is a 9 on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest. To other sellers, this may fall more as a 3 or 4. If the machine is not cracked, appears to have all its pieces, and "the light works", some could call it minor wear. Ask questions! If the photos are not revealing all aspects of the machine, ask for more photos! Ask for more description. Generate a list of questions you want to know about any machine before you buy it. Is the bed smooth so material doesn't get caught and snagged? Has there been any damage to the finish of the machine that can cause you trouble down the road? Remember, the seller can actually see the machine and you can only rely on their full description and any photos.

All vintage sewing machines are going to have some minor wear, unless they have been boxed since the day they were bought. No problem. However when you read "minor wear" and recieve a machine that has bubbles on the bed surface, or some kind of sticky, gooey mess that must be a bad science experiment - that is a huge difference.

4. "We aren't responsible....."

When it comes to shipping sewing machines packing is the ultimate essential part of the sale. These are very heavy items which bounce around in the case or in the box IF they are not tightly - and I mean tightly - secured and packed. Sellers are responsible for packing and for damages. Yes, the shipping companies can create damages from tossing the items around. That is what insurance is for - to cover those unforeseen problems. So, how will you know sellers will pack it carefully? Oftentimes, you can't know until the item arrives. Once again, ask questions about their damage policy, their refund policy. At least know what recourse you have in the event an item is damaged in shipping. Things happen. Will you receive a refund? Will it be everything you paid or just the purchase price?

A nightmare upon arrival........the box is about two inches shorter than the sewing machine and has been taped extensively to "create" a new lid....the sewing machine had a few pieces of bubble wrap tossed in the case - upon arrival case is splintered, machine is horribly scratched from the foot control flopping around ......the sewing machine and case were sent "as is", without any box at all.......your machine which came with attachments and thread is horribly tangled among those loose metal objects and thread (they do fly around as the box is pushed, shoved, tossed, and turned upside down)....the power cord described as "minimal damage" is an electrical hazard at best.....

How much you pay does not always equal good packing. I have paid very little and the machine was solidly packed and arrived just as it left the seller. I have paid more and the machine comes in a box that is extensively smaller than the machine. Just know the return policy in the event you need it.

I will admit, the shipping prices on any machines I sell are higher than most. I don't pack them! I leave it to professional packers to do the job they have been trained for and it takes quite a lot of packing materials and the correct weight of boxes. They know to pack both outside and inside of the case. They know how to ensure a Bentwood carrying case does not arrive in splinters. They know because this is their business. They pack to withstand a 5 foot drop (or toss). Think of all the handlers a package goes through before it arrives at your household - they aren't handling it with kid gloves. They don't know this is your pride and joy waiting to join your household. They see a box which should have been prepared to withstand all the handling and tossing. I know of many dealers who pack their own machines and with absolute perfect results. I regret I don't have the time to spend hours packing one machine, too busy getting back to your emails and answering questions. Yet, to do it correctly, the materials are still costly.

5. "Easy fix"

This is one to really watch, or at least I do. Ask questions. What needs fixed? What parts are missing? Can you even find the parts? When you find them, how expensive are they? Unless you have a burning desire to refurbish the machine, and have the capability to do so, ask a lot of questions.

This is not an exclusive list of things to watch for or questions to ask, but please be aware of what you are bidding on. If there isn't enough information or enough photos - always ask for more. I will take extensive photos of any machine I sell. However, there has been a time or two I forget an angle. I am grateful when a buyer asks for an additional photo, and am very glad to quickly provide it on the listing.

Upon arrival, check your machine carefully. If any damages appear to have happened let your seller know. Also, save the packing and take some photos. Oftentimes, the shipper will pick up the item and determine if it was packed properly. If so, they reimburse for the damages that happened. This may go to the seller and then the seller reimburses you. Knowing their policy beforehand will save you time and anxiety.

Ask questions.

Ask for more photos.

Ask about return and refund policy.

From one "non-expert" to another, information is key!

Happy Sewing!

Charlene