So, I'm shopping for a new sewing machine.  I've been window shopping, asking other sewers, reading online consumer reports, watching videos.....I decided on the features I wanted, and decided for sure what I want is:

So....I went to a somewhat nearby sewing machine store, and "test drove" the Janome 6260, sopped up the drool from my chin, and asked the price.  Mr. Slick advised me that the price was a reasonable $1499, but just a minute, he'd call  Girl With Nose Ring And Two Weeks Experience to see if it would be okay to use an expired coupon for $200 off that they had in (please read the following two words in a mysterious voice) "The Flyer".  Spare me.  So, I went home with a glossy brochure, and the price quote of $1299 with his signature and phone number.

This morning, I looked online for contact numbers of other nearby authorized dealers, and called a couple of places across the border in Michigan too.  The best deal I found was $899 at Slightly Farther Away Sewing Machine Store, quoted to me by a young man who in my mind looks a lot like Patrick Dempsey, and now has my phone number. 

So, I called back Mr. Slick to ask him a question about the Pfaff GrandQuilter I have my eye on, to which he replied "Oh, hello Dianne, so you've decided to go with the Pfaff GrandQuilter, have you Dianne?  That's great Dianne.  Dianne, can you tell me what price Dianne I Dianne quoted Dianne you Dianne again. Dianne?"

Um....first of all, the name is Nancy.  And no, I was thinking I would like BOTH the GrandQuilter and the Janome 6260. He did the verbal dance around, pulling weird numbers out of the air, and shouting questions to Non-Existant Co-Worker and Girl With Nose Ring And Two Weeks Experience about how they could wrangle the Best Deal Possible for me.

So he asked me to refresh his memory about the price he quoted me on the Janome. "Well Mr Slick, I'll be honest with you.  You quoted me $1299, but I've called around and I believe I'll be going to another dealer has quoted me $899 which is the show special at the CreativFestival in Toronto next week".

Mr. Slick assures me that he knows Slightly Farther Away Sewing Machine Store, has dealt with the family for many, many years and that they are wonderful people, those Slightly Farther Away People.  But he wants my business, so he matches the price, and throws in an annual inspection and tune-up for the next three years.

I think I may just let him sweat it out for the weekend......