Paramount Sewing & Vacuum

"When I sew, I want a super special shop with beautiful fabrics, creative ideas, affordable prices, and time to share with me the joy of making the most fun quilts, wall hangings, and even clothes. I've been in lots of sewing & vacuum stores, but I'm going to share my #1. Paramount Sewing & Vacuum wins the prize (-: I have nothing but fun and ideas when I go there."

"They're "nice" but they might mess with you on pricing. I would advise to make sure you know the current MSRP on the model you are buying, as well as the current trade-in value they are offering on the machine you are buying. I was told different things (with lots of excuses) in person, over the phone and then by email. If they had been clear from the beginning, everything would have been fine. After all the back and forth, dismissals and excuses, I won't be shopping there again."

"Not only is it the worst service but in the reply to my posting there were out and out lies by Barbara. I was never discourteous when we first came in or at any time when I came back and tried to get it working there or on the phone when I talked to the owner. As to the "operator" being the problem with free motion I can agree with that statement if I was newbie doing free motion. I have been doing that for 15 years and the machine has never done this. I have heavily thread painted, done numerous quilts all free motion, art quilts all with free motion stitching - all on this Bernina. Barbara stated also that if they can not replicate the problem, they can't fix it. The second time I was in the store, I sat there and worked on a piece and when it skipped a stitch, the owner came and sat with me. So the problem was replicated but no solution was made- I was only told it was an older machine and they wear out. I don't believe Bernina International would agree with that statement.The worst service for my Bernina sewing machine and I have had one for 15 years. Took it in for skipped stitches specifically. Got it back with a receipt saying sews great, skipped stitches resolved. Was not resolved. Went back and sewed there for an hour and showed the skipped stitches. Was told it was 1. operator error, 2. bad thread,3. old worn out machine. Operator had used this machine for 15 years, used all different thread and all worked before and machine is a Bernina -they don't wear out. Think Paramount technicians do not understand how to work on older machines. After returning and having same problem asked for an adjustment and the owner refused. Said bring it in AGAIN and this time he would work on it and if he could make it skip, he would fix it or refund my fee. Do not believe he can fix it when twice before it was not fixed. I will be taking it next week to a Bernina trained technician who already diagnosed the problem over the phone from what I explained was happening. He stated the problem was one of two things one of which we ruled out over the phone through his guidance to try to make the needle carriage move back and forth front to back which can cause skipped stitches. It was fine. This is a person who actually trains technicians for esBernina."

"I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to have my serger’s broken needle replaced and my machine rethreaded by the incomparable BANNER! I was only charged for the needles. Great customer service, a wonderful atmosphere and plenty of parking."

"My 25 year old Viking broke down for good and I had to replace it. I bought a Viking Sapphire because it came closest to meeting my sewing needs. I don’t plan on using decorative stitches, and didn’t use them beyond trying them out in my old Viking. The new Viking immediately have me problems: The auto thread cutter only works 1/4 of the time, the needle threader rarely works either, and isn’t helpful. The worst issue is that the bobbin jams or the upper thread breaks regularly. I called after owning the machine a week to say that I had tried it out and was having difficulty with its functioning. I was told they don’t accept returns and to sign up for a class, the first being there weeks off, during Covid. I don’t need a class, and I follow the directions exactly as in the manual. Many features are the save as my old machine. Of the ones that are new, sometimes they work, sometimes not. I would say this is another case of a manufacturer adding too many unnecessary features and not ensuring the basic features work well. It is extremely bad business in my opinion to not offer a return (especially within a week or so of purchase) on a machine that costs over $2000 and is something the buyer needs to be comfortable with. No matter how much you try it out in the shop, it will feel different on a different surface, and it’s impossible to ensure it will run well once it is used over time."