Embroidery machines are fun but they ain’t cheap! Fortunately, there are a few ways to save if you’re patient.

1.) Buy a Refurbished Machine

This is the number one best way to save on an embroidery machine! Dealers are constantly taking trade-ins and if you’re patient (and you know where to look) it’s possible to save hundreds (or even thousands!) on the new to you embroidery machine of your dreams.

A dealer refurbished machine comes at an excellent discount, is factory serviced and inspected, and often comes with a warranty! This makes a refurbished machine not only a great deal, but also a safer bet than buying a machine from an individual who may not have taken the best care of it during its lifetime.

Sometimes these are trade-ins, but in a lot of cases they are display models or class models that are barely used. They may not come with the original box, but they’ll be good as new and the dealer instantly knocks 25% or more off!

But, where the heck do you find these machines??

While you can try to find a local dealer, not everyone has great options in their area. This is especially true if you don’t live in or near a major city! However, there are some great places to look online for refurbished machines too!!

Sewing Machines Plus

Sewing Machines Plus not only has a huge online inventory of new machines, but they also frequently have refurbished ones available at a discount! They also offer free shipping, factory servicing on all used machines, a 6 month warranty on the work, AND a 90 day money-back guarantee.

Amazon

Yes, even Amazon has refurbished machines! But, they make it a pain to find them. There’s no filter and it can be difficult to see which ones are actually used or new. Try searching for “re-certified”, “renewed”, or “refurbished”.

You also won’t get the same kind of warranty guarantee or service here that you’d get with a traditional online dealer. Though Amazon does take returns for any reason, which gives you a little bit of insurance if you get a lemon.

Community Sale Sites

It’s also possible to find used machines through places like Facebook Marketplace, Buy/Sell Facebook Groups, eBay, or Craigslist – but, you have to be very patient. This means checking these sites everyday, hoping a machine you want pops up in your area, AND being ready to jump on it! Used machines are in high-demand and they go quick!

However, it is a great way to get a deal. People frequently let go of machines because they’ve either outgrown them and have upgraded to a new one, are closing a business, or even just found out embroidery was not for them.

This is the riskiest option though! If something goes wrong you’re not getting your money back or any help fixing it like you would with a dealer purchase. That means you need to do your own due diligence and make sure the machine is in good condition before you leave.

• Ask to test the machine and leave if they say no
• Ask when/if they’ve had it serviced or repaired
• Verify the specs and age of the machine and that it is what they say it is
• Research pricing beforehand to know the machine’s true value
• Make sure you can get the machine serviced locally to you (not every shop works on every brand!)

I would not recommend thrift stores unless you are mechanically inclined and know your stuff! Most people only donate machines if they are broken or so ancient that nobody wants it. Really old machines could require a floppy drive or have obsolete cables that are now unusable with modern computers, so buyer beware.

2.) Look For Coupon Codes

If you can’t get the machine you want used, look for coupon codes. Many sites have these but they may be hidden. This can easily knock an additional 10-15% off the price of a new machine. (That’s $100+ off on a $1,000 machine!)

Sewing Machines Plus, for example, has a hidden page of rotating coupon codes!

3.) Join Dealer Mailers

Many dealers will also send coupons to your email! Sewing Machines Plus will send you one immediately on sign-up.

However, other stores may also send them if you add an item to the cart and then don’t check out! This is a frequently used retention tactic and it’s a quick and easy way to get a bit of a deal on your new machine.

Keep in mind though that sometimes these coupons have restrictions! They may only work on certain brands or models, and they may or may not work for refurbished machines.

To get the Sewing Machines Plus coupon, scroll all the way down to the bottom of this page and enter your email in the sign-up box as shown in the image above. You should get the discount code immediately in your inbox.