Finally connected to the only Pfaff dealer in this part of Virginia, I drove to Woodbridge to receive an estimate.
LOOKING FOR A REPAIRMAN
The saleslady at the Woodbridge location told me that the repairman works in their sister store closer to Washington DC, inside the beltway.
She immediately saw that the machine was lopsided, though to the untrained eye it might not seem so.
Calling the repairman, she reported that for $25 he’ll estimate the cost for repair.
Since screws from the bottom are missing, he’s predicting the entire base will need to be replaced, costing hundreds of dollars.
REPLACEMENT OPTIONS
When I asked which current Pfaff models were comparable to my lopsided one, she asked how I use the machines.
When I told her I sewed clothing (she adored my daughter’s outfit), quilts, window treatments and costumes, she showed me two models.
The one closest to my Tiptronic 2020, which was closed out when I purchased it in 2000, is the Expression 2.0.
Both are entry level computerized sewing machines.
The Expression 2.0 is $400 more than what I paid in 2000.
After I played with the Expression 2.0 for a while, she moved me over to a fancy upgrade, the Quilt Expression 4.0
She explained that since Pfaffs are German made, it’s more difficult to figure them out since the American mind set is different from the German one.
As she taught me lots of tips, I furiously wrote them down.
She told me to come anytime, and she would help me with anything.
After putting my kids and myself to playing with these two machines, she waited on other customers.
She also sells Vikings, which she says have better instructions, but Pfaff makes the better machine.
TALKING TO THE REPAIRMAN
So that is what I did on Wednesday, driving into Alexandria and leaving the machine for an official estimate.
The lady there said it looked like my machine had been dropped and whacked out of alignment.
The repairman said that the alignment is off in my machine, requiring the base to be replaced, costing more than the current value of the machine (the saleslady even checked the sewing machine bluebook), which has depreciated over time.
A comparable machine today has far more bells and whistles due to improved technology.
After replacing the base, the repairman could find more damages that will need a layering effect of repair to restore the machine to its original condition.
It’s economically more practical to purchase a new machine.
With that I left my machine with him for a week, so he could prepare an official estimate for the claim.
I felt like I left a part of myself there.
THE ESTIMATE
Returning a week later to pick up machine, I learned nothing new.
I paid the repairman $25 to keep my machine for a week, to tell me the same thing he told me last week.
He gave me his contact information to put into the claim, so anyone with questions can talk directly to him.
ODE TO MY POOR PFAFF SEWING MACHINE
The header photo shows my cat preparing to curl up in my sewing chair, at our former Texas house.
A year later my kitty passed away, I moved to Virginia, and my sewing machine busted en route.
I miss my kitty, my house, and my machine.
I sew everything on my machine: clothes, quilts, tote bags, window treatments.
The people who bought our Texas house specifically asked that the window treatments (that I sewed) remain in the house.
Stay tuned for the saga of convincing the moving company that this machine costs more than $100.
EPILOGUE: THE SAGA CONTINUES
When I learned I’d have to wait up to 60 days for the moving company to decide if they’d pay for a new machine, I felt in despair with all the sewing piling up while I plunker away with a disabled Pfaff propped up by a paperback book.
While I plod away sewing window treatments for a new house, costumes for my kids to wear in Colonial Williamsburg, and costumes for our homeschool Becoming History presentations, the moving company teeters on the brink of sending a check.
Calling the other day, (it’s now October as I update this post) the moving company asked more questions about the sewing machine, even though they have the write up from the sewing machine repairman.
They asked permission to call the repairman themselves.
Sure! He’s on my side!
He’ll be more than happy to tell them that the machine was dropped and impossible to repair.
