than how the seller of the machine supports it once it is in your shop. New machines may run well, but can still become a costly burden over time if you don’t have the resources or support you need to keep your machine operating and in good repair. Without adequate documentation, your machine can be hard to maintain and operate. If there are no skilled technicians for the brand in your region, or you can’t find other shops with the equipment to split tech travel costs, you will be stuck paying them solo. And if your machine doesn’t have a stock of readily available parts, there may not even be a possibility for repair even if you have a readily available tech. Even the size of the user base can influence the total cost of operation to a degree, as a lack of a vocal user community can mean that you can’t count on timetested answers from decorators who have had to expand beyond the manuals. Don’t be tempted to only ask reps for a price quote – ask the harder questions. Ask how the machines are serviced, by whom, and the costs of having a technician work on the machine. Start with features, but never finish without knowing what later life with the machine will look like. Moreover, don’t rely entirely on vendors to explain the experience of working with their equipment or with their staff; seek out other embroiderers and ask them about their user support experiences with your intended vendor as well as how they feel their machine has held up mechanically. That experience is incredibly valuable. Used machines These guidelines are doubly important when purchasing used machines. Although you should ask about the service record of the machine and potentially have a technician look at it or at least ask the servicing technician for the machine about its condition, confirming a machine’s current operability is not enough. Make sure to ask the manufacturer about necessary manuals, support, and availability of parts, particularly electronic parts, for replacement or repair. Check in on the community to see if the machines are still in circulation and being used. Evaluate the support system with even more scrutiny than you would for a newly minted machine. Particularly if the machine in question is an addition to your existing line-up and you are an embroiderer who can maintain, tune, and run machines without issue, there’s less reason not to buy used, provided a machine has been consistently maintained and still offers ready availability of support for repairs and operation. Though you have to be careful to put too much stock in every customer gripe, patterns of equipment failure or poor customer experience with vendors shouldn’t be ignored. The Merlin Pro RS10-1502 Twin Head from GS UK has a large embroidery area Taking delivery Determining the value of any equipment purchase is more important than simply considering costs. Know why and how it can be of use, who will be there to support it, and how it will integrate into your shop. Think about potential expansion, solving existing problems with your production, and how the features in your next acquisition might increase efficiency or allow for a new market you’ve never been able to address. Know what you expect from the machine to justify its purchase. When more than one machine suits your needs, evaluate the ‘intangible’ qualities that come from the manufacturer’s desire to get you running or the community that keeps the machine in operation in their own shops. The real-world stories of decorators can temper or amplify the claims of the manufacturers, but no matter which way they swing your opinion, they are almost always educational. Some questions simply can’t be solved by leafing through a brochure on the latest offerings; enter into the search knowing what you want for your business, ask pointed questions, and make certain that the support you need is on offer. Look at best and worst case scenarios, and make sure you’ve got answers for any pressing question. You’ll be glad that the glitz of a new machine didn’t blind you to the real costs and the work you’ll need to get out of the door to justify the price. It’s essential to have a deep understanding of your business before purchasing any size machine. Pictured: The ZSK Racer 6S multi-head machine from Stocks Embroidery & Sewing Solutions KB BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT www.images-magazine.com 84 images APRIL 2022 Erich Campbell is an award-winning digitiser, embroidery columnist and educator, with more than 20 years’ experience both in production and the management of ecommerce properties. He is the programme manager for the commercial division of BriTon Leap. www.erichcampbell.com
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