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Husqvarna Viking Platinum 775 sewing machine repair problems, the ongoing saga

Husqvarna Viking Platinum 775 sewing machine on my worktable
My Husqvarna Viking Platinum 775 sewing machine repair problems have continued.

Husqvarna Viking Platinum 775 sewing machine on my work tableAs I said in my last post about my Husqvarna Viking Platinum 775 sewing machine repair ridiculousness, I hoped to have my machine back after more than two months of waiting for parts. At first, I meant I hoped to get it back repaired. Then I lowered my expectations, and hoped to get it back as it was when I brought it to the repair shop. Well…

Before I even touch on how tired I am of this entire process, or how frustrated I am with the Husqvarna Viking sewing machine business as a whole, I think I’ll just voice my suggestions for Husqvarna Viking that might help avoid all the problems I’ve had:

1) Sell the sewing machines directly from the Husqvarna Viking company.

Post them on the Husqvarna Viking web site with set prices that everyone can see.

Allow customers to purchase them online, directly from the Husqvarna Viking web site, or allow them to purchase sewing machines through dealers who take their orders, send them to the company, and have the machines sent directly to the customers from the company. That way, dealers can still get a commission, but there is no intrigue as to whether or not a warranty is valid or a dealer is authorized.

There is no wondering if a machine has been tampered with or refurbished. There is no room for price gouging. It’s a cut-and-dried transaction. Staples does it. You can go in to Staples, look at a desk, have someone there order it for you, and it comes to your house. Easy.

2) Post the complete warranty conditions on the Viking web site.

Be clear about what customers need to do to address any issues, and how they go about doing that.

3) Allow customers to have the option to send machines in for repair, directly to the company, where they have people specifically trained to work on their machines.

Post set prices for cleaning, repair, and servicing directly on the Viking web site, with instructions on how to send your machine to them.

Again, there is no room for price gouging, and there is no burden on the customer to ascertain if their local repair person/Viking dealer is honest or qualified to repair their machine.

Allow customers to go to dealers for repair if they choose, but give them the option to mail their machines directly to the company, if they choose.

I think that would solve a lot of the problems with this company that I have been through so far.

At any rate, I got my Husqvarna Viking Platinum 775 sewing machine back, and it’s in worse shape since it took a trip to the local authorized Viking dealer’s repair shop.

I was afraid this would be the case, but I didn’t want to say that in my last post, because I was holding onto the hope that it wouldn’t be true.

I have no choice now, but to report this to the original seller who agreed to fix my machine. He is in CA and I am in NC, on the opposite coast. He has his own warranty on the machine, for defective parts. I think the parts would have been covered, but now the waters have been muddied, because the dealer in NC took my machine apart to look at it. I’m hoping the original seller will still replace the parts.

I had a choice of going to one of two local authorized dealers, who were within a reasonable driving distance from me. I had misgivings about one of them, when I tried to buy a sewing machine. At the time, she had a half-off sale on all her discontinued models, and I asked to try one. Then I noticed another sewing machine, the same model I have now, the Husqvarna Viking Platinum 775 sewing machine, that hadn’t been marked with a price.

She told me she had completely forgotten about that one, since no one ever looked at it. Everyone who came in wanted the newer models instead. It was an older, discontinued, used floor model, but once she saw I was interested in it, she refused to sell it to me for half off, even though all her discontinued models were half off. She decided to stick close to he price point of the other fancier model, that came new in the box, that I had looked at, assuming, I guess, that that was how much she could get me to spend. That really turned me off.

I liked that model though, and after calling the other local dealer to find out they didn’t have it, I found it online instead, brand new. I really liked the sewing machine. It had all the features I wanted and I loved the stitch quality. I ordered it from CA. I sewed with it for some time, with no problems. Then it started stitching backwards, and having irregular stitches.

So, I went to the only other local authorized dealer for repair. As I said before, the price for repair more than doubled, without anyone notifying me, over the course of the two plus months I waited to get it back. I left out of my last post that, in the time between the dealer/repairman telling me were were already “up to $700” and his agreeing not to charge me, there was a lot of negotiating. My dad stepped in to deal with that. I felt like I was being taken advantage of, and I was.

The NC dealer I went to also told me he thought the machine had been worked on before, that it had major damage, and that, “Whatever gremlins got in there must have had a party.” It’s all been very confusing and upsetting. I personally don’t believe in gremlins, and even if I did, I can’t imagine how they’d get inside the machine.

I used my eBay-bought copy of the service manual to get into service mode to check the clock on how much use the machine had had, in case it really was a well-disguised used machine. There have been only 33 hours and 12 minutes that it’s been on at all, and only 11 hours and 53 minutes that it’s actually sewed. I did most of my sewing on my other machine, and saved this one for detailing.

I also unplugged it between use, and kept it on a surge protector. There have been a lot of insinuations by the Viking company and their dealer, about my machine and the person who sold it to me, but I don’t know who to believe. Right now, I’m wishing I had just sent it to the original seller to fix in the first place. It hasn’t been repaired, and no one I’ve dealt with so far has behaved in a businesslike manner.

This has all been much more complicated than necessary and I still have no idea how this is going to go. Contrary to what Husqvarna Viking has been pushing at me, I don’t wish that I had bought my machine from one of the local dealers. I feel like I would have just paid more for the machine and received the same poor service I’ve gotten so far.

Husqvarna Viking used to be a good company, from what I’ve heard, and although I really liked my machine while it was still working, I’m very disgusted with the company.

I hope to be able to just get back to my sewing, on my older Sarah, my other Husqvarna Viking sewing machine, without having to think about this nonsense every day. It’s been very distracting and disheartening, not just for myself but for my family. Since we work together, there have been projects piling up that haven’t been gotten to because of this.

32 thoughts on “Husqvarna Viking Platinum 775 sewing machine repair problems, the ongoing saga

  1. I bought my sapphire 1 and 1/2 years ago and it has been in the repair shop twice with the same problem but now worse as a metal piece fell off and will not feed the fabric through while sewing. They may or may not be able to get a part and coming from China. They also no longer make this model anymore. I want the machine replaced but am told that it will not happen, he is going to do his best to fix the problem. I do not blame the retailer but when I bought the machine there was a lot that was left out re:warranty. Very Very unhappy with this product, would I buy anouther Husqvarna? NO!! Also the frame work of this particular model happens to collect a lot of lint inside, I vacuum it on an ongoing basis, the repair man said that it was full of dust and there is no way that you can get it clean as the way the machine is built.

  2. Dear Elizabeth! I'm so sorry about your machine – I could sense your frustration and upset about it all and can only sympathise. I'm writing this from London and my very first machine was a Husqvarna and was just thinking of getting another. I'm not so sure now!!! I do hope it gets resolved soon, regards, Felicity,

  3. […] guess who came home today? My Viking Platinum 775, which has been MIA for almost six months now, showed up with the UPS man. I couldn’t help […]

  4. […] still maintain that if Husqvarna Viking would just sell machines directly, in a way that is fair to consumers, as I was suggesting in one of my previous posts, none of this cloak and dagger secret nonsense would have happened. This is all because they have […]

  5. Viking has incompetent, inept, lazy people working for them. I had my Designer 1 bobbin winder replaced a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, I also own a 500 and #1+ so when it was returned to me I didn’t check it. Guess what? The bobbin winder doesn’t work, it’s not even installed correctly. How intelligent do you need to be to replace a bobbin winder? Their “factory authorized” repair people couldn’t find their butts with both hands, a flashlight, and a GPS system. They are at best, pathetic. And this crap about, “you are required to have a tuneup” everytime you need a repair is bull. It’s just another way for them to scam you with Viking’s blessing. No, don’t EVER purchase a Viking; they lost their edge and superiority a long, long time ago. Find an old, any brand machine at a yard sale and you’ll be better off.

  6. I read your post with interest because my Viking 6030 needs a little work. I have had it for 38 years! My local authorized Viking dealer, repair shop is a sleazey, creepy place. So I want to fix and do a tune up myself, but I could use a “Technical Briefing” publication or an oem service manual to help me.
    You mentioned in your post that you found an eBay-bought copy of the service manual. Did you find it helpful? I see a similar one on CD format for sale on Ebay for Models in the 6000 series. I think I can do this repair as I am fairly mechanical, but a manual would keep me from guessing on how all the moving parts fit together. (My decorator cam unseats).
    I agree with you on your ideas for improvement in the Viking business culture. They shlould learn that we are increasingly empowered by the Internet to help one another instead of depending on service that is unreliable and opaque as to cost and time.
    I hope you were able to finally get your machine up and running.
    Joanne

  7. Thank you for your comments, to each of you who have left them for me. I appreciate the commiseration and well wishes, and I’m so sorry you all had problems too. Unfortunately, no, my poor machine never did get fixed properly, after two trips across the country. It was not picked up the second time, by the former dealer, who sold it to me and had promised to have it fixed, and it was destroyed in transit back to me. It took over a year just to get to that point, with all the difficulties I had getting a response, or any help from anyone involved. I finally got some insurance money from the Post Office, but they decided to “depreciate” my machine, based on an arbitrary percentage they applied, in spite of my providing them with my receipt and current listings for the same machine, even used, that cost more. It was all a terrible, stressful ordeal. I also reported the seller to the Department of Consumer Affairs in his state. They were able to get him on the phone, and he agreed to pay the difference. Then he never sent the check.

    Joanne, I did find a repair manual on eBay, but could not get inside the machine myself. They had special tools which, I imagine, only the dealers have, that you use to open up the machine. So, that went nowhere. In future, I am only buying a machine that I can at least open and clean myself, even if I can not repair it myself. Both Janome and Bernina have ways of at least opening the sides of their machines to clean the lint out. I hope you can get your machine up and running without any problems. All the best to each of you!

  8. There is a feature on the Viking sewing machines that makes the machine sew backwards. Perhaps that was accidently engaged and since the repairman is not a Viking repairman, he just didn’t catch that.

  9. Thanks, SewCrazy. The cause of the sewing-backwards problem was that there were two faulty step motors in the machine. Both repairman who worked on my machine were authorized Viking repairmen. I took the machine to an authorized repairman myself first, and then the seller took the machine to another. The first had no idea what the problem was, and the second had seen the same issue in multiple machines. According to the second repairman, there were faulty step motors put in many machines, during a certain time period, and he’d had them come through his shop for repair. There was no recall on the machines, apparently, and apparently no notice to authorized dealers and repairmen, since my local repairman hadn’t heard of it. By the way, the first, local repairman had the same model in his shop at the same time mine came in, with the same problem.

  10. Elizabeth – so sorry you are having such a time with your machine. To Joanne with the 6030 model – there is a pre-1980’s model Yahoo group for Viking sewing machines – http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vikingsewingmachinespre1980/. You may have some luck finding answers here. I own a 1978 model 5710 and have found this group very helpful. It does seem the modern machines are all pretty worthless once they break. Too bad. The tension went out on my 5710 just before the 20 yr warranty was expired, and I had to contact Husvarna corporate and threaten to get nasty on the internet to finally get some movement – they located a tension wheel (said “there are only 5 in the whole world”) and had it installed for me. So far, knock on wood, I have gotten another 16 yrs out of this machine! I just purchased a refurbished cheap-o Chinese Brother on Overstock.com as a back up (I was actually impressed – it sewed through 12 layers of light denim, no problem as a try out), and am trolling eBay for a refurbished circa 75-80 Viking. That is MY method. Good luck and happy sewing!

  11. Okay girls, I hear about the Platinum, but what about the Husqvarna Viking Designer 1 and Designer SE? I exchanged the Designer 1 because I was having problems with it, and thought that if I exchanged it for the Designer SE, everything would be all right!!!! But it will still cost me about 100.00 CND every six months for the same problems, over and over again, if I use my machine.

    The screen gets out of focus about every 15 minutes of use. So I’ve got to realign it, and if I forget, it gets very hard to go to the realignment commands.

    When I asked the technician, he answered me that they all do that! This was a 8000.00$CND investment!!! Anyone have any comments on that???

    I’m French Canadian, from Québec, and I was wondering if I was the only one having a bad deal…on the embrodery machines.

    Thanks and hope to hear from somebody!!!!

  12. I am a new FACS teacher and somehow the prior teacher was able to purchase a Viking Designer I embroidery machine. I tried it out and it worked fine and one minute later, the floopy reader is not working – trust me, its not working. I would like to replace the drive – I am pretty computer savvy and I know I can do this, but I can’t find the part. Better yet, I would like to upgrade it to a USB – can I do that? Any help on the part?

  13. Thank you for your comments. As Adrienne mentioned, you may have some luck in the Yahoo Groups, finding information about your specific models. You can search Yahoo Groups here: http://groups.yahoo.com/ There seem to be a couple dedicated to the Designer models. I wish I could help with advice on parts and repair, but maybe someone there would know.

  14. The touch screen just went out on my D1. It’s costing me $339.95 to have it replaced, the machine cleaned, and the bobbin hook polished. It’s the model with the floppy disk. If I have any more problems with this machine, I’m going to buy a Babylock or Brother machine. That’s what I traded in and I miss it.

  15. To Elaine Nadea

    I have a Designer SE LE and now it sits here as a paperweight. I have an on going issue with the belt falling off. Long story with the dealer I purchased it from (no longer a dealer) who tried to rip me off. Husqvarna stepped in and were very good. Picked up my machine, got home, did some embroidery for 2 days, and here I go again! The machine was already gone for 6 weeks and now it’s been a week sitting here while I wait for Husqvarna to get back to me. NOT buying another. LOVE the machine when it works. Does beautiful embroidery and sewing but it is totally unreliable.

  16. So sad about what’s happened to Viking! I have a Viking Lily 555 which has been a great machine! And I have have a Viking dealer in MN who is quite dependable. From what I understand, there are now only a few companies who own all the others. I believe for example that White, Viking and Janome are all owned by the same parent company and nearly all sewing machines are now made in China. Seems like our only hope is to do good research before we buy, and never assume that brand names mean anything. Any experienced sewer probably knows better than to buy a machine from a big box store. I used to work at a large sewing and craft store and the singers we sold were returned at an alarming rate. I taught sewing classes there so I had the opportunity to look inside some of those machines. Some of the metal parts were rough and unpolished, clearly put together with minimum effort! No wonder they were unreliable. It’s all rather discouraging.

  17. I totally agree. I had a Viking 6460 and loved it! Then I bought the D1 and have had nothing but problems and now they have told me it’s the computer screen. It seems to be defective but Viking won’t do a thing, the company says they are NOT defective. You don’t see postings about defective products if they aren’t and the girls at Viking’s store in JoAnns are telling me the same thing. Totally disappointed I am a widow and can’t keep replacing machines!!!

  18. Another very frustrating Sunday afternoon. I received my Husqvarna Designer Diamond a couple of years ago as a gift from my mom and stepdad. I know – fantastic, generous gift. Unfortunately, it’s been nothing but a great big pain. When I think about the amount of money they spent on the machine and I spent on software, hoops, and thread, I could cry. I’m constantly having trouble with thread coming unthreaded, and that leads to problems with stitch quality. I can’t get much help at the local dealer since the machine was purchased for me on a business trip out of state. I’ve sent it back to the purchase dealer who worked on the thread uptake thingy but it still happens. Oh, the disappointment.

  19. My Designer 1 is 7 years old. Have had pretty good luck with it, BUT the store closed where I bought it. Now the closest repair is 150 miles one way. If I have to leave it, that’s a 600 mile drive. I do not want to mail it. I will never buy another machine that is so difficult to find a repair person. I regret my purchase. I paid $4,500 for the Designer 1 and got a break on my serger. Do not buy unless you can get it worked on. I am getting my 25 year old Necchi tuned up and going.

  20. I’m so sorry so many of you are having problems. No, Jeannie, I would not mail my machine anywhere. Mine was destroyed in transit. There is no such thing as “fragile” treatment with shipping companies anymore, from what I have heard. Mine had to have been dropped from a significant height to fall apart in the box the way it did. Wishing the best for each of you.

  21. I too have a Husqvarna Viking Designer 1 and it goes to the repair shop every time I use it. Now every time I put the embroidery unit on, the pop-up message comes on to the remove the hoop, and no hoop is on it. I answer okay, but it stays stuck in that mode. So, the embroidery unit is useless until I get it to the repair shop again. I will never buy a Husqvarna Viking product again, as the authorized repairman sent it back and never fixed the problem. So I found a local man who has been a godsend. He is getting tired of working on Husqvarna Viking sewing products. As he put it, they are the most expensive and they always need repairing.

  22. I am absolutely amazed at the fact that Husqvarna Viking stays in business. I will never buy another machine, and you are all correct, the customer service is horrible at best! I would love to shout it from the rooftop that no one should buy a Husqvarna Viking sewing machine.

  23. Hello everyone,

    I stumbled your upon this site and have been moved by your comments of frustration with Husqvarna Viking machines.

    I am a service technician with certifications from Viking on all of the models mentioned in the posts. The first model of Viking I was trained on was a 6690, the first computer machine Viking made, and picked up training certificates over my career on most all models since. (Designer Diamond was my last.) I have also been certified on Janome, Babylock, Elna and Juki as well, and I have to say of the thousands of machines I have worked on over the years the Vikings are still my favorite. The fit and finish of the component parts are still the best.

    If anyone needs my advice or has questions, please email me. I will do my best to help. I am also one of the very few on the recommended repair list for the Viking pre-1980 yahoo group. I hope to help those of you who need it, and keep folks happy with they’re Vikings.

    Happy stitches! Glenn Bryant ([email protected])

  24. MY ON GOING SAGA…… LETTER

    Attn: Consumer Affairs Mgr.
    SVP Worldwide
    1224 Heil Quaker Blvd.
    La Vergne TN. 307086

    Please help!

    I’m not sure what to do! To start with, I own a Husqvarna Viking Designer 1 USB. When I purchased it, I thought I would never exceed its capabilities and that it would be the only machine I would have for the next 25 years! I realize that seems like a long time but my Mother has had her Viking since the 70’s.

    I have since had it regularly serviced and it has had only minor issues. I do use my machine for work (and I believe this machine to be a work horse). I am primarily a sewer although I did not want to be limited and like the option to do some embroidery.

    I sent my machine in on March of 2013 for service for a bobbin sensor that was not working and a few other issues. After waiting for over a month without a loaner, it finally came back damaged from UPS only to go back again! (During that time I purchased a Singer Heavy Duty 4423, that by the way, works better than my Viking and only cost a little more than what I pay for service on my Viking.) I have since called several times (5) and spoken with Diane, who by the way is very sweet. Although she does her best to forward my messages and tries to get anyone to contact me, NOBODY has!!

    My machine has no button guide or ruler decal as before on the bottom base, making my button sensor foot useless to me, and the bobbin sensor still does not work! The presser feet sometimes do not retract up to move fabric. I have taken it in and the ladies at the Viking at Joanns (Lora Lee and another employee) have also witnessed this. Apparently, it is an intermittent issue, because they sent it back saying nothing was wrong and it worked fine! Also, the same embroidery designs I use to do look nothing like before. I have damaged two of my husband’s work shirts, and choose to not even try to embroider again, not trusting my machine, thinking it will ruin anything else. I have also turned away work. My stitching also seems very close and not to scale like it use to be. A 3.0 stitch length looks more like a 2.0.

    I’m not sure what to do to get this issue resolved. I’m very upset. I love my machine and just want it to work like it use to. I have taken good care of it and have had it serviced regularly. It’s embarrassing to have to use the Singer to do jobs my expensive Viking can’t do anymore, as I have a lot of people coming through my sewing room. I know that sounds stupid and I really hate to say it like that.

    I’m afraid to send it out again. I’m hoping you can help me. Please…

    Sincerely,

    Janine

  25. I got my machine from an “authorized” viking dealer in California in 2002. There were problems with it AND with THE DEALER! I complained bitterly to Viking. I finally got to speak with a live person at Viking. Her response to my complaints about the dealer was, “He did more good than harm!” I was singularly APPALLED! I won’t go into the shop! I teach sewing to both kids and adults and I leave this shop’s name off ALL my resource handouts! The dealer, I learned, at one time, had actually lost his Bernina
    authorization, but then they gave it back to him. Used car dealer is what comes to mind when I think if his incredibly unethical behavior. It cost me over $150 (years ago) to repair the damage he had done to my machine when I had taken it in for a “well baby checkup!” Viking should really do business differently. I hope this is all behind you now!

  26. I had my first experience with a questionable repair just recently. My machine (Viking 5540) came back with things missing/broken (parts of the back cover — I could tell that the cover must have been forced off — I am gentle with my machines and don’t FORCE anything!), but nothing I could prove. I took it in for repair, expecting that it would be diagnosed, but only one thing appears to have been fixed — a broken part (thread take up lever) that was noticeable to us both when I first took it in. The repair person knows that I have done one minor repair myself (replaced the fixed cam), so he keeps saying “I” should put oil in a particular place, or that “I” should find a screw to secure the motor cover and that is why the motor is moving and causing the machine to make noise. No/No/No! I spent lots of time observing the working of the machine by simply removing the cover beneath the hand wheel and discovered that gears aren’t meshing properly. I can’t blame him for that but it is something that a “Sewing Machine Repair Person” should have been able to see and when I got my estimate that should have been included. Just putting oil on it isn’t the cure. Sheesh! I learned how to fix certain problems with my washing machine and certain problems with my car as a result of coming in contact with people that don’t know quite what they are doing and/or are too lazy to get it right. So I am on a quest to learn sewing machine repair — enough to get my machine working properly. I have learned to consider the money I have spent as my educational “Tuition”.

  27. I have a Viking 1+ machine which I took into our local Florida sewing machine repair shop. He told me he can no longer get Viking machine parts. He says ours needs a replacement computer board and he has been looking for one in Hawaii and Canada but has not found one. The machine will only straight stitch and not go back and forth; thus, it will not do any of the programmable stitches. I love the blind stitch but needless to say, it won’t do that! Frustrated with not being able to find replacement parts for repairs!!!

  28. I took my designer in for a cleaning. It comes back and I can not get my top tension to tighten up. Leaves big loops on the back.

  29. Fellow sewing sisters — I feel your pain!!!! I have a Designer Ruby. Yesterday ended the “11th” week it had been in the shop! Called the tech support in Laverne, Tn and “Margo” was very helpful. Not confirmed yet but the guy the Viking sales gal at JoAnn said he was their “authorized” service rep may not be!! Margo told me to “go get your machine” and I did — he’s a Bernina dealer in Chattanooga, that should tell you something. He didn’t have an issue with me picking it up — think he was glad to have it out of there. Ask how much I owed and he said “nothing – I ‘couldn’t fix it” The problem may be the board from what he was saying – at this point who knows! Margo told me to contact local Viking dealer at JoAnn and request that my machine be sent directly to Tech Support in LaVergne for repair. Said I may have to pay postage — no big deal to me — after 11 weeks that’s nothing. Just want it fixed so I can sell it and get a Baby Lock!! I also have a Lily 550 I purchased in 1999 – several months ago I took it to him to clean and adjust — don’t know what he cleaned and adjusted but it wasn’t my machine for sure! Have been trying to use it as a backup with my Ruby at his place for last 11 weeks — real struggle. The last ‘three’ times I’ve had to take it to him I don’t get everything back. Have had to make extra trips to pick up things he didn’t get in the bag – he actually brought my foot pedal to my house one night! I think Viking would do better to get out of the JoAnn shops and set up their own store fronts with their own “trained” techs and sales people to avoid all this hassle it seems all of us are having. The “powers that be” as they say really need to be reading our comments if they want to sell and maintain machines but seems they all have their heads stuck in the sand. Hope I have better luck with a Baby Lock!

  30. Hi Rebecca,

    Thanks for your comment on my blog. So sorry you and so many others are having sewing machine repair problems! I saw you mentioned you were asked to send your machine to the repair center, and I just wanted to give you a heads up to make sure you pack that machine very, very carefully and insure it. Or make sure the person who sends it does. Tape everything down and wrap everything with bubble wrap, and tape that too. You can start with plastic wrap and then tape and then bubble wrap and then tape. My machine was totaled in transit. Someone had to have just dropped the box from high up. The insides were all broken. I did have it insured, but the Post Office depreciated it even though it had been used about 8 hours! Seeing how hard it is to get repairs, maybe I was lucky to get the insurance money for it. What a nightmare that was. I hope you have better luck! Just be super careful shipping it and be aware you may not get all your money back in insurance. I know that sounds awful, and I guess no matter how I packed it, the drop would still have destroyed the machine’s insides. But I just wanted to let you know, to give you the best shot at getting it back safely. Apparently, none of the carriers really have “fragile” anymore. Everything goes on a conveyor belt.

    Wishing you the best! And again, sorry!

    Take care,

    Elizabeth
    elizabethruffing.com

  31. Thanks for everyone’s comments about Viking. I was impressed with the Viking when I went to Joann’s and was about to purchase one. However, when she told me it takes 3 to 4 weeks if you have to get it repaired it made me suspicious and I decided to go home to do more research. The amount of bad reviews far outweigh any good I can find and they all seem to be related to repair issues. Although I really liked the machine, I will not be purchasing a Viking based on all the negative comments I have come across. Again, thanks for saving me from purchasing a machine that could potentially cause so much stress.

  32. It’s good to know I am not alone. I purchased a Designer SE. I was on top of the world! Until I started having problems with it. Fast forward…………. three trips to the repair shop because it jams, tension will not adjust, the tread shreds inside. I have taken it in several times for the same problem. I’m pretty handy. I have serviced my other machines with no problems. But this machine has cost me more than I care to think about.

    I purchased it (paid cash mind you) just before I retired. Silly me thought I would really enjoy the machine. NOT! I get more use out of my Grandmother’s 1923 singer.

    Would anyone know where I can get a factory service and repair manual? I’ll fix the darn thing myself!

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