Lew is wonderful. I'm so happy he fixed your 820

Just brought my 820 home from the service center at G Street Fabrics. Lew is a treasure. He explained the many parts that needed to be replaced. Apparently, despite annual service (plus periodic repair visits), my other technician did not install all the improved parts Bernina offered in past years. Lew did!

Lew also explained how he adjusted the tension and found that my bobbin tension spring had been damaged. I suspect this damage has been there quite awhile because of the tension problems I've had.The tension problems are resolved; I can get a nice looking stitch now!

So - many thanks Betty Jo and Renata for the encouragement to try someone new. Lew has my loyalty due to the quality of his service! However, I feel compelled to add that my previous bills were regularly $100 higher than his and I had to wait 2 months for that pleasure. If I do purchase a new machine in the future - quality of service will be a major factor!

Happy Quilting!
Wendy

SewDreamy - Thank you for posting about your happy experience with G Street Fabrics service tech. My 820 experience has been rocky and now it needs repair (again). This usually means a 2 month wait for another LQS/Bernina dealer to get to it. It's definitely time to try someone else and G Street sounds promising! Online reviews are great. If Lew can get my baby working properly - I'll keep trying. If not - Bernina may be "Machina non grata" in my house soon....

(Yes, some of this was venting. Thanks for listening.)

Wendy

Wendy, So sorry you've had as bad time with your 820. I think if you talk to Lew and tell him something of the history of the machine and how frustrated you are, it may turn out well for you. Since writing the initial post about this, I have gotten my Bernina Q20 sitown longarm. I have seldom found a machine so wonderful, even among the Berninas. I know Bernina had a bad batch of 820s and 830s, but I was fortunate not to get one of those machines. I think it may be related to the bobbin area, and some people have finally gotten theirs fixed after a bad start. I hope this works out for you. Lew is an exceptional tech guy and he will talk with you like you have a mind. LOL...best wishes.

SewDreamy - Thank you for posting about your happy experience with G Street Fabrics service tech. My 820 experience has been rocky and now it needs repair (again). This usually means a 2 month wait for another LQS/Bernina dealer to get to it. It's definitely time to try someone else and G Street sounds promising! Online reviews are great. If Lew can get my baby working properly - I'll keep trying. If not - Bernina may be "Machina non grata" in my house soon....

(Yes, some of this was venting. Thanks for listening.)

Wendy

Thanks everyone! You are such a supportive group of quilter friends. I am excited.

You go girl!! So glad everything has worked out for you, nothing so devastating as a beloved machine on the Fritz, okmaybe not, but each time one on my beloved Pfaffs died, I felt like I lost a dear friend, enjoy your machines!

You go girl!! So glad everything has worked out for you, nothing so devastating as a beloved machine on the Fritz, (ok, maybe not, but each time one on my beloved Pfaffs died, I felt like I lost a dear friend), enjoy your machines!

Betty Jo, I am glad Gibbs is behaving himself. WOW! A Bernina Q20! I think you will be having Christmas in June. I will be waiting to see what wonderful things you create now. Have lots of fun!

The end of the story: I brought Gibbs home and set him up in his table, and finished the top for my Hoffman Challenge quilt. He sews like a dream. Then yesterday morning I ordered a sit down longarm...the Bernina Q20. I am currently engaged in preparing a space for the new machine, which is supposed to come sometime in mid June. They bring it to my home, set it up, and then come here for a day of teaching me to use it and to service it. I'm so excited. It is my hope that it will not only move my quilting a higher level, but will help me to complete quilts faster. I also am planning on using it for free motion embroidery. It has one of the best, if not the best, stitch regulators around.

Yay!!!!

geneva

I am so happy to hear the good news about your beloved Bernina!!!

Really great news, BJ, thanks for the update!

Glad it turned out so well!