Kenmore Limited Edition 16765

by Ally
(Stratford ON)

My Brother sewing machine finally died last November after 25 years and I needed to find a new machine. I was trying to get a decent machine at an inexpensive price. I looked at a Janome 450? and liked what I was seeing but still wanted to look - saw the Kenmore Limited Edition 16765 and thought - it's the same. So we bought it.

I used it for 2 months and then it started grinding and the bobbin was jumping and hitting the slide cover. I broke a needle while straight stitching on jogging fleece. Then I found that the lower tension was bunching and pulling. I cleaned the bobbin area and tried again - then broke more needles.

When I talked with Sears they told me that I was using the wrong size needles - size 14. Then they told me the fabric was too thick for the machine- again jogging fleece. Finally I was told to take it back to the store that there was a defect in the machine and I could get a replacement or my money back.

When I returned the Kenmore Limited Edition 16765 machine to our local Sears I was informed that I couldn't get my money back I could only have a store credit or a replacement. I wish I'd bought the Janome or found a Brother dealer. Know a good machine to consider??