New Home 4000 vs Kenmore 150
Mary Jo Engleton
I've been investigating various sewing machines for a new purchase. I
had it narrowed down to Viking or New Home.
As I was walking through Sears last Sunday I just happened to meander
over to the sewing machines and there, much to my surprise, was a Kenmore
150 that is *exactly* <well, almost :-)> the same as the New Home 4000.
The New Home has 99 stitches vs Kenmore's 81. New Home has an
automatically adjusting tension vs Kenmore's manual. They're both
manufactured by the Janome Sewing Machine Company.
The New Home Price is $1120, the Kenmore price is $900...plus it's on
sale this weekend at 10% or 15% off (the sales person wasn't sure which).
That's a whopping $310 to $355 difference. I guess I'm having a problem
justifying the New Home over the Kenmore.
Does anyone out here in quilting land have any experience or knowledge of
the Kenmore 1505?
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Mary Jo Engleton, Dayton, OH
engl...@dmapub.dma.org
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John H Anderson
Jo Engleton <engl...@dmapub.dma.org> wrote:
> I've been investigating various sewing machines for a new purchase. I
> had it narrowed down to Viking or New Home.
>
> As I was walking through Sears last Sunday I just happened to meander
> over to the sewing machines and there, much to my surprise, was a Kenmore
> 150 that is *exactly* <well, almost :-)> the same as the New Home 4000.
> The New Home has 99 stitches vs Kenmore's 81. New Home has an
> automatically adjusting tension vs Kenmore's manual. They're both
> manufactured by the Janome Sewing Machine Company.
>
> The New Home Price is $1120, the Kenmore price is $900...plus it's on
> sale this weekend at 10% or 15% off (the sales person wasn't sure which).
> That's a whopping $310 to $355 difference. I guess I'm having a problem
> justifying the New Home over the Kenmore.
>
> Does anyone out here in quilting land have any experience or knowledge of
> the Kenmore 1505?
I have a Viking, and have no vested interest in what machine you buy, but
I can tell you this. I would buy the New Home 4000 and wouldn't even
consider the kenmore. Why? I had a Kenmore (before my Viking) and although
I'm quite sure it was not as nice as the model you saw, it gave me all
kinds of trouble. I was this close to buying the 4000, and even sometimes
I wish Ihad, it is such a beautiful machine!. I think you should be able
to find it closer to $1000 if you look some more. Less than 6 months ago,
I could have gotten it for $999.
my 2 pesos,
JOHN
--
John Anderson | "It is more blessed to give than to receive, |
j...@ni.net | except when it comes to free advice, I believe." |
| -B. Cockburn |
|__________________________________________________|
Sylvain Bergeron
wrote:
>
> I have a Viking, and have no vested interest in what machine you buy, but
> I can tell you this. I would buy the New Home 4000 and wouldn't even
> consider the kenmore. Why? I had a Kenmore (before my Viking) and although
> I'm quite sure it was not as nice as the model you saw, it gave me all
> kinds of trouble.
This could very well be off-base advice! Sears obviously does not make
their machines. An old Kenmore was not made by Janome since Sears started
farming to Janome a few years back. So the review of old Kenmores do not
apply to current models. Period. Unless Janome sacrifices quality control
on their Kenmore labeled machine, there's only to expect that
Janome/Kenmores are good machines, as any Janome owner would confirm.
It follows then that the choice of K150 vs NH400 is
price/dealersupport/classes/service. THAT should be guiding teh decision,
not outdated urban legends...
BTW, my neighbour has a 60's Kenmore, with cams for stitch patterns. The
machine has been plainly reliable, with no bugs, since it was purchased 30+
years ago. So there goes Kenmore... (they did have a bad period,
apparently 10-15 years ago, where the machines they were selling were
crappy)
Sorry for the severe tone. I just think that someone who's going to dish
out c.1000$ should not be misled... :)
Sylvain
Sylvain Bergeron (sn...@cornell.edu)
__________I_I_ \ My employer
| ___ ||) \ doesn't sew
|__/ \ O | \ my clothes,
|| | O | / so they shouldn't
__...____|_____|___ / own my opinions...
|_________________|/
MB Meyers
$700 at the last 'Sears Days' which was sometime in the fall. Not sure if
they have the same sale in late spring/summer. You might check - most sales
people are willing to find that out for you....
Dawn Draper
> Sorry for the severe tone. I just think that someone who's going to dish
> out c.1000$ should not be misled... :)
I'll second that! I have a five-year-old Kenmore (nothing fancy,
just a 10-stitch) that has been trouble free. I think they're
a great bargain (and I don't have to worry about my dealer
going out of business and cutting off my accessory supply!).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dawn Draper "And if large and enthusiastic
crowds were the measure of truth
ddr...@chat.carleton.ca then I wouldn't waste my time with
Velikovsky, I would go straight to
Billy Graham."
--Isaac Asimov
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Marina Salume
I would take that Kenmore price and go back to the New Home
dealer and ask him to match it, or at least get closer to it,
and throw in some free accessories or classes or a carrying case while
he's at it--these prices are negotiable! It's just like buying
a car.
--marina
DDuperault
>just a 10-stitch) that has been trouble free. I think they're
>a great bargain (and I don't have to worry about my dealer
>going out of business and cutting off my accessory supply!).
Do be aware that Kenmore only manufactures parts for it's machines for
five years after it is made. If you want any widgets for the machine, get
them NOW! You will not be able to get them years down the road. I have my
grandmother's Kenmore, and while Sears will do things like mechanical
repairs and replace the belt, I cannot get acessories for that model
anymore.
Dawn
Sylvain Bergeron
'twin' machine to the NH MC4000. My mother happens to have a 20 yr old
Singer Touchtronic 2010 that has finally graduated from obnoxious (100$
repair EVERY year) to crass uselessness, so I'm scouting the market for
her.
Well, the 150 Kenmore IS NOT quite the same as the MC4000. While both
machines share the same mechanical drive/ stitch forming mechanism, as well
as the (apparently) stitch selection, their construction and interface
differ. Here's how:
The MC4000 has a small touch panel for stitch selection, while stitch
width/length controls are located separately on the head, available through
a separate set of buttons. The LCD panel (which, btw, is on the skimpy
side) is also mounted on its own.
The 150 has all controls (except for needle up/down, lock stitch, reverse,
which BOTH machines have conveniently located near the needle bar) combined
into the touch panel. The LCD screen is also integrated into the touch
panel. I would expect that mounting ONE panel onto the machine (as opposed
to scattering the components) would make for cheaper construction/assembly.
That may explain in part the lower cost of the Kenmore. The other part is
that Kenmore is not selling 'brand name' recognition as much.
As for Sears manufacturing parts, that's not a question. SEARS DOES NOT
MANUFACTURE any sewing machine. New Home does for them at this time.
SEARS may stock parts only for 5 years after the model runs out, but then
in this case, one COULD go to a Nhome dealer later to get parts and I
expect some service. The machine (150) carries the same 25 yr warranty on
mechanical parts at Sears (2 yr electric/electronics) as the Nhome does.
The only unknown for me would be whether or not Nhome puts the same quality
control into machines made for Sears as they do for their own brand. Their
QC is rated very good for their own brand. Hopefully it rubs off on the
Kenmore line.
A NOTE ON NEW HOME MACHINES:
----------------------------
I observed recently lower end Nhomes don't have the same stitch formation
mechanism: smaller feed dog, front loading bobbin (vs drop-in). The
presser feet are also less sophisticated (they look more like my 1960's
machine's feet).
That could be a consideration in which model of Nhome to buy.
A NOTE ABOUT SEARS: (this applies strictly to Sears in Ithaca, NY. YMMV :)
--------------------
The salesman was (of course) smooth-talking a service contract while we
discussed the machine. 99$ for 3yrs if you bring the machine to the store
(149$ if they pick up). Considering that the machine is warranteed for
everything (parts only) for 2 years, 90 days parts/labor on everything, it
seems to me that it was not a good deal. I would rather put the machine
through its paces (intensively) for the first 3 months and check for any
defects then.
What was a bit disturbing to hear was that if a machine (under a service
contract) comes in, he gives the client another BRAND NEW machine. He
doesn't seem to trust the 'guys' at the Sears repair center (of his own
admission). When that service contract runs out, you don't get a new
machine, you get the guys at the repair center :) That's where a Nhome
dealer may be more desirable.
Of course, the salesman knows nothing about the machines. So he let me play
with it 'freehand' style. He couldn't even thread it... So there goes the
free instruction with the machine: the customer instructs the saleman...
BTW, the 10% discount offered this last Sunday returns monthly, from what
the salesman told me.
My overall impression was:
+ side:
1. I liked the 150 as well as I would like the MC4000
2. buying from Sears would enlarge the number of places where the machine
could be dropped for service
3. it's cheaper
- side:
1. no support (no classes; at time of purchase or later)
2. no parts (extra feet)
3. service means a wait (although a loaner may be possible)
It's a tossup from here :)
susan stewart
machine. But the Sears machine sounds like a slightly
older and cheaper Janome(New Home) model that sells here in Australia
for $A800-$A1100 (MC 4000 sells $A1200-$A1600). I can't remember the
model no, but the only differences were the lack of auto-tension,
the single panel rather than separate buttons for some of the
controls, the absence of a separate speed control on
the body of the machine and a couple of minor stitch differences -
a buttonhole and an eyelet are the two that come to mind. The older
model looks a little more dated in its styling - it's been around
for about five years or so in Oz. In the end I bought the 4000 only
because it was the special for that month, so the price difference
was negligible.
If my suspicions are correct then the price difference in the US may
not just reflect the chain store source, but also an older model!
(The price of the older one has fallen
by $A300 since December when I bought mine - curses!!)
Whatever, goodluck with your purchase - I've been very happy with
the two Janome machines that I've owned.
Susan S.
Dawn Draper
[edited for brevity]
> A NOTE ON NEW HOME MACHINES:
> ----------------------------
> I observed recently lower end Nhomes don't have the same stitch formation
> mechanism: smaller feed dog, front loading bobbin (vs drop-in). The
> presser feet are also less sophisticated (they look more like my 1960's
> machine's feet).
> A NOTE ABOUT SEARS: (this applies strictly to Sears in Ithaca, NY. YMMV :)
> --------------------
> What was a bit disturbing to hear was that if a machine (under a service
> contract) comes in, he gives the client another BRAND NEW machine. He
> doesn't seem to trust the 'guys' at the Sears repair center (of his own
> admission). When that service contract runs out, you don't get a new
> machine, you get the guys at the repair center :) That's where a Nhome
> dealer may be more desirable.
I am totally amazed. You get a new machine if you return yours
for repair under a service contract? So what do they do with the
used machine they received from the client?
Many thanks to Sylvain for sharing the results of what must have
been time-consuming research!
WMiller586
couldnt be more pleased. It hasn't given me any problems whatsoever.
Look for the sales when all machines are 20% off. The machines regular
price is $899.00, so you will get a substansial savings. The machine is
made by New Home, so since I am on a budget it was the one for me. Also
since it has a low shank, all the feet, walking foot, darning foot, little
foot, etc. that I already had for my 3 stitch Singer fit perfectly! What
an improvement! Once again, I couldn't be more pleased.
Don't forget to get that optional service contract!
WMiller586
GE,Amana,etc.........New Home................
Mary Jo Engleton
After a month of comparison I finally bought the Kenmore 150 last Sunday
at 20% off, which brought the price to $719. I have been "playing" with
it for a week and so far I really like it. The only thing that I don't
like is the light. It's not very bright; however, it is the same light
that is in the New Home dealer's MC 4000.
One big plus to this is that the New Home feet do fit the Kenmore. I
just purchased the 1/4" quilting foot and it fits just fine!
I don't believe in service contracts and I will probably take my machine
to the local New Home dealer when it does need servicing.
I just couldn't justify the extra money for the New Home.
lenor...@gmail.com
> I've been investigating various sewing machines for a new purchase. I
> had it narrowed down to Viking or New Home.
>
> As I was walking through Sears last Sunday I just happened to meander
> over to the sewing machines and there, much to my surprise, was a Kenmore
> 150 that is *exactly* <well, almost :-)> the same as the New Home 4000.
> The New Home has 99 stitches vs Kenmore's 81. New Home has an
> automatically adjusting tension vs Kenmore's manual. They're both
> manufactured by the Janome Sewing Machine Company.
>
> The New Home Price is $1120, the Kenmore price is $900...plus it's on
> sale this weekend at 10% or 15% off (the sales person wasn't sure which).
> That's a whopping $310 to $355 difference. I guess I'm having a problem
> justifying the New Home over the Kenmore.
>
> Does anyone out here in quilting land have any experience or knowledge of
> the Kenmore 1505?
>
>
>
> Mary Jo Engleton, Dayton, OH
> engl...@dmapub.dma.org
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
I would not trade my 'tank' for any of the newer machines.