Machine Embroidery

Thank you for being the first to respond to my first discussion here on MyLot. This is a pretty amazing place! I got my Innovis, which came bundled with PE-Design6 just before Christmas, in time to download some designs from AnntheGran.com and make poly-filled tree decorations for a few friends. I'm an artist, so I wanted the machine to embroider some of my own designs, but there was a little learning curve on that! Things got a lot easier when I discovered software called Pre-Design made by Artistitch that works with the more expensive design software. I'm sure sorry you have to wait to get your machine fixed! What went wrong with it and how far do you have to go to get it fixed?

I am near a dealer, in fact the one I bought the machine from--------I just really really dislike both the man and his wife. They were 'oh so helpful' until they had my money, then --------bam, no service, too busy, yada yada-----. I just hate putting a dime in their pockets. I have Embird, for designing in------I don't do a whole lot, mostly it is just for my own pleasure. I have done a few originals which I gave to a dear friend for her embroidery site. Did you do your avatar?

It is hard to find a good "authorized" dealer for these expensive but lovable machines! The people who sold mine seemed really nice but when I went back to buy some more thread, they had unexpectedly packed up and left without even leaving a note on the door, so now the nearest dealer is over 100 miles away. This guy said I should mail him the machine for preventative maintenance every year (ha ha ha ha ha~) and that failing to take it in would VOID the Warranty (which as far as I'm concerned isn't worth the paper it was wrapped in anyway) and he said the people who sold it to me were incorrect when they stated that the 2500D "never needs oiling" and to just take it in for maintenance if/when something goes wrong. So I called the manufacturer just to politely ask which response was closer to the truth. Not only was the Brother rep incredibly rude, but she was unwilling and/or unable to give me any useful information whatsoever. Of course, I am totally hooked on the machine, and although my first one is still purring like a kitten, when I saw a slightly used 2500D on sale cheap on eBay I bought it to use as a backup! Now I'm really glad I initially bought the 2500D (cf. ellagio) instead of the 5000D (equivalent to the Ellegante) Yes, my avatar is a 16 x 20" oil painting and I can hardly wait to clean up the photo with Pre-Design (a program worth its weight in e-gold!) and then Pe-Design 6 to autopunch this so I can embroidery it onto things!