Serger/ overlock machine. Image from wikipedia. |
I don't want to be the way I am, really, I don't. What I'd generally like to do is to go and buy machines that are made here in the USA, use my stuff practically forever, save the environment and so on. Sure, I'm willing to spend twice or even three times as much for a machine if I know it's going to support real working families etc etc. But more than that, I like buying well-made stuff.
But here's the problem. If I buy the American-made stuff, I can expect to spend about ten times as much as the cheap China stuff. At those prices? I think I'm pretty reasonable when I say I'd sure like to be able to repair my machine when it breaks somewhere locally, not be charged an arm and leg for repairs. I also shouldn't have to wait weeks for my machine to be returned. It just doesn't work that way in real life, though.
Here's an example: in the past I've bought Riccar vacuums. I bought locally so my "authorised repair center" was just up the street from me for a while. Which you'd think would be a great thing, but the quality of the workmanship was not so hot.
Since I'm looking at sergers, the nearest authorised repair center for the model I realllly want is in UTAH. That's an 18-hour drive one way if I (somehow) were committed to going to a brand-specific repair center and didn't need to stop on the drive. I could not imagine how severely upset I would be if I encountered shoddy workmanship after a trek like that!!
Past a certain point, I don't care how well-made your machine is, I'm not going to bother with it. I'll buy some cheap made in China thing and in a couple of years when it busts, I'll know the repair bill and the hassle is higher than the cost of a new machine and into the trash it goes.
I hate being like this. I hate it. I've been watching youtube videos on how to use the most nifty sergers and I love all the super-expensive/ handy features. But I just can't buy something that amazing, knowing that the slightest problem with the machine will mean an unending hassle.