Servicing Costs

[Stitchup]

Hi
I am based in the UK, so I guess it will be difficult for most of you to help but here goes.

I want to buy an embroidery machine for my business and was looking at an Amaya XT, all looks pretty good with speed, auto tensioning etc but through someone who owns one I have discovered that the servicing costs by the main agent in the UK are horrendous.

The service agent is based in the north of England and as we are in Devon it will mean a 400 mile round trip if anything goes wrong. They charge £45 ($70) an hour to fix the machines which is fair enough, but they also charge that rate for travelling time to and from their base and on top of that there is a mileage charge!!! So even if they don’t get stuck in traffic, I would be looking at a travelling charge of £450+ ($700+) for each call out.

So unless I can find someone else who services the machines I think anyone thinking about buying an Amaya in the UK must be mad! Which is a shame as it is a good machine but the agent appears just plain greedy.

Before I go and buy another make, does anyone know of a good independent service agent based in the south of England?

Thanks for reading

[TinaK]

Stitchup~

I am not in the UK but I can tell you this in that I have had a refurbished Amaya for not quite 4yrs now and had to have it serviced just recently this past fall. If you maintain your machine properly and don't abuse it I personally think your calls would be a minimal expense. Yes, I hated to call my tech out but it was something I didn't fill comfortable tackeling myself. Most of the time if something comes up this board is full of information and there is always the phone techs to help you out as well.

I live in a very remote area as well and have to pay additional time for a tech as it takes him a couple of hours to get to me but that would not stop me from buying a great machine like the Amaya's.

I am sure you will get some more feedback on this but this is just my two cents worth...

[Stitchup]

Thanks for the reply.

I know deep down that the Amaya is a good machine otherwise I wouldn't be posting and trying to find a solution. I just hate being at the mercy of one set of people who clearly think it is ok to charge like a wounded boar!!

I am just hoping someone knows a good independent in the south of England

[Gabi Kat]

Would it be possible for you, should you have a problem that you can't fix over the phone. For you to load your machine/computer into a car/van/truck at take it closer to the tech to fix? I can lift mine with one other person. I'm 5'5'' with a bad shoulder? The machine is well worth it. Also you may want to concider Teck training, sounds like there may be a opening in you part of the world.
Just a thought.
Gabi

[oldkush]

When buying any brand of embroidery machine, dealer reputation for after sales service and tech travel distance are factors which should be considered and factored into the final decision. Some will put more importance on it than others.

In many cases, those travel time / distance charges apply even to warranty work ... but check with your dealer in the UK.

Perhaps there are dealers/techs of other good brands of embroidery machines who are located much closer to you ?

Good luck

Bob