My friend would like to trade her embroidery machine in but I'd like to find the value of it before we head in to the sewing machine store. Is there a blue book for sewing machines?

You might want to try listing it on Craigslist too. No matter what be a little careful, there are some people out there that arent very nice these days.

When I was selling my Janome, it was 3 years old, Janome mc 9000, the dealer man offered me 200.00, so I sold it on Ebay for 600.00.

There is a great Yahoo group called SewItsForSale. She could do some searches in past messages to see what similar machines have sold for. It is a great place to buy or sell as you deal directly with the buyer or seller and there are no fees. It is only for sewing related items. I bought a used sewing/embroidery machine on there and was very happy with the deal, and so was the seller :-) You can advertise what you have for sale OR what you are looking for.

I'd look on ebay and see what they are running there. I'm looking for a used embroidery machine, and I'm checking there before I go to the dealer to see what people have traded in. Guess this is a lot like looking at used cars.

MAJOR thanks for your quick replies to my question. I really appreciate it and you have each given me lots to check into. Thanks!!! You're the BEST!!
Joyce in Brrrrrrr GA

I agree with Shirlene and Sally, check ebay for what they are selling for. Then check out which option is the best value. I do know that i would get a better trade deal from my dealer than if I went to anyone else, this is because I have already spent lots of money in his shop and he wants me to keep coming back.

You could always ring round a few dealers and ask outright. They dont have to be close to you. My dealer was prepared to offer £500 when the same machine is selling on ebay for over £1,000. Perhaps she can get a good deal buying a second hand machine from the dealer.

I don't know about a book , but i will tell you a funny story. By all means get a price up front of buying the machine without a trade in. I asked this question first which included the special they were selling the Embroidery machines for. Then I asked for the best deal they could make me by trading in an older model and low and behold the buying out right was lower. can you believe that!!!. The dealers all have their set prices for allowance on trade -in's which is not very much. As they will turnaround and mark it up and sell as a uses Embroidery machine. My dealer even went as far to admit that there is a shortage of one model back as people were trading in 10 to 15 yr old machines and keeping the later models. Keep that in mind when you go into the store. Look around for their pre owned machines and see what they have and how they are priced.

Many years ago someone did put one out and I have seen a copy of it but it is so out dated its really of no use. When you trade in your machine they take into consideration how long you've had it, normally if you've only had it for 6 months they will give you full purchase price toward an up grade machine, at least that is the way it goes at my sewing center. But unless it's practically brand new you're not likely to get that much from it and you would probably do better selling it to an individualand you may not get your asking price then, after all our EMs mean more to us than others.

Perhaps check out ebay for pricing!

After reading Shirlene's response, I have to agree with selling it herself. My dealer doesn't do many trade-ins and tells people they can do better on their own.

Oh Joyce, what a hoot - there really isn't and the value of the machine will be different from dealer to dealer as well. What sort of machine is it - what is the brand name? How old and where did she purchase it? What did she pay for it. If she trades with the dealer that she bought it from - she might get more back from it - than if she trades with another dealer, as well.

1 comment

by vickiannette 13 Jan 2011

I have to agree with everything you say Shirlene. Might be worth trying to sell it privately, then buying a new one without a trade-in.