Brother Sewing Machines
Or why you should run screaming in the opposite direction!
OK, first of all, let me explain that I have gone through all of the 'proper' procedures for resolution of problems with a product. I have been through the tech support 'contact us' form on the Brother web-site (don't bother. I don't think they even read them, much less respond to them.) on numerous occasions and have NEVER had a response. Not one.
Then, I tried the telephone route. I have had several (in excess of 7) conversations with 'technicians' who wanted nothing more than to help me resolve my problem. Supposedly.
In actuality, what I got was people reading from a script, and they couldn't (or wouldn't) deviate from that script. The gist of their end of the conversation was this: What brand of bobbin thread are you using? Is it Brother brand? What brand of bobbins are you using? Are they Brother? What brand of embroidery thread are you using? Is it Brother? Now, granted, this is Brother, and they DO have a vested interest in whether or not you are buying their products, but when I was told that they do not "support" the product being used with anything OTHER than Brother brand thread, bobbins, bobbin thread, etc. my patience wore a touch thin. I already know the machine will not work with 'generic' memory cards - even those formatted for Brother machines. You can carry brand loyalty too far.
Here is my problem in a nutshell: my machine is a lemon. It hasn't worked right since the day I purchased it. When I called Brother (after waiting WEEKS for emails to be answered), I was subjected to stupid questions about the branding of my supplies. As it turned out, I WAS using Brother brand supplies, but that is beside the point. Next, I was asked what KIND and how many LAYERS of stabilizer I was using on my designs - 'excuse me, but I can't get the machine to thread!' 'Yes, I understand, but I really need to know about the stabilizer you are using and how many layers! It will affect how your design turns out, and that can be a cause for discontent with some people.' 'Look, I haven't even gotten to that point. I can't even get the damn thing to thread!' 'Well! If you are going to use that type of language, I'm going to hang up!' Which he did. OK. Maybe I shouldn't have said damn. I had been fighting the stupid machine for over 4 hours. Then I fought the automated telephone system at Brother (which hung up on me twice), then had this idiot ask me about brand names and layers of stabilizer! Perhaps I can be forgiven.
I bought the SE270D made by Brother. It was designed as an 'entry level' (my emphasis) home embroidery machine. I purchased it to see if I would like it, before moving on to a more expensive machine. By the time I had made up my mind to buy this thing, I ALREADY had my 'big' machine picked out. Yep. Made by Brother. It also costs in the neighborhood of 12,000 dollars. Here is what it looks like:
I figured if I liked what the little machine did, and the items I embroidered sold well, I could justify buying the 'big' machine.
Well, I spent my couple hundred dollars on the SE270D, along with a couple hundred dollars in 'accessories' that you need to use it (thread, additional bobbins, stabilizer - expensive!), not to mention the hundreds of dollars in software (no, I'm not kidding) and the reader/writer you need to transfer the designs to your machine. By now, I've spent 3 times as much on 'goodies' for a machine, that I cannot get to WORK!
I belong to several forums, and online associations of seamstresses, and I pled for help. What was I doing wrong???? I received a lot of helpful advice, along with a bunch of people stating that if I ever found out, to PLEASE PASS IT ALONG! They couldn't get their damned machines to work, either!! And also, no joy from Brother.
The biggest culprit we (all of 'us' sufferers) seem to have located on the machine is the threading cartridge. Whoever thought up this abortion should be stood up against a wall and shot - first in the knees, then up a bit higher.... This is what IT looks like:
And yes, just as it looks, you can NOT use the machine at all without using this contraption. This is how you thread the machine - whether for straight sewing, or for embroidery.
The biggest complaint I've had (and heard from others) is that the blasted thing simply will not "thread" the machine. You go through the motions, and it's 'chunk', "damn" - pull it out, re-thread and re-seat it. And again, 'chunk', "damn" - pull it out, re-thread and re-seat it. Ad nauseum. This can go on until you have quite a pile of 5-12" bits of thread laying next to your machine (each time you re-thread the cassette, you get a short piece of thread snipped off - about 6" or more). I have actually dropped the level on a LARGE cone of embroidery thread a noticeable amount just trying to THREAD the machine!
I found a "Brother Authorized Service Center" that was only 2 hours drive from my house (that was the closest), and took the machine to him. He told me that in over 6 years of doing warranty work for Brother, they have NEVER ONCE paid him for a warranty repair!! You see, there is always SOMETHING wrong with his paperwork... In 6 years, you'd think the poor man would either figure out what he was doing wrong, or GIVE UP! He said he can't bear to turn those poor women away! He did fix the upper thread tension problem I was having, but charged me for it - said that Brother didn't consider it a warranty problem. Even though it was that way when I bought the machine! Ah well. As for the threading problem - nope. When I got it home and decided to give it a try, I was back to the old: 'chunk', "damn" - pull it out, re-thread and re-seat it.
So, I decided then and there that I would NOT buy the PR620C from Brother for $12,000 or whatever they want for it this week (the special prices do NOT include the software, I found out). I will buy a commercial embroidery machine. It just will not be from Brother. And if I can keep any of you from buying Brother, maybe, just maybe - they will wonder "why"? And hopefully, some kind, helpful soul will point them towards this web-page. I'm a small fish - that would have become a medium sized fish. But hopefully, all of you small fish will take this tale to heart! And run screaming AWAY from Brother products!!
Update!!
I have discovered it IS possible to manually (sort of) thread the SE-270D! You need only be possessed of a lot of patience and 3 or 4 hands. [grin] What I do is use an external thread stand and put my thread cone on that; I use the additional, external thread holder that snaps onto the threading cassette; I run the thread from the thread stand through the normal threading pattern and carefully drop it into the machine. Here comes the 'fun' part: using an angled dental mirror and a long, bent-tip tweezers (from a serger), I gently press down on the threading cassette and HOPE the part inside catches the thread. All the while, I'm watching from underneath with the dental mirror to see the thread coming down inside. As the thread comes down, IF IT COMES LOOSE from the part that is supposed to pull it down, I reach up with the tweezers and catch the thread and pull it the rest of the way down. Continue the downward push on the cassette, because it HAS to seat for the machine to run. Next, I pull the thread through the guides on the needle bar, and thread through the needle. Presto! You have 'manually' threaded the SE-270D! This does not always work! And you will have to re-do the entire process. However, it is still better than: 'chunk', "damn" - pull it out, re-thread and re-seat it repeatedly ad nauseum.
You still take about 5 minutes to thread this machine, when any NORMAL machine takes less than one. Plus, you have to jump through hoops to do it. PPD (piss poor design)
I've added this search bar - you can search my site, or the web. It opens up in a new window, so you don't 'lose' me [grin]. Wouldn't want you to forget where you were! Just choose whether you want to search the web, or this site and click on the big button. Have fun!!
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