Paid hundreds of dollars to refurb my machine and they wanted another $100 to show my wife the proper way to thread it. Extremely petty. Would have taken them five minutes to talk her through it. Instead of gaining a customer they have insulted me and my family. They are rude curt people and don't deserve your business. A simple gesture is all we asked. They deserve less than 1 star. read more

I had a Juki TL 2200 mini (just like the TL 2010). It was 5 years since it had been serviced. After removing my foot from the pedal, it kept stitching, and the thread cutter was not working. So I was concerned it was a control board failure. They called and said it was all set and fixed! I was thinking I would need to get a new machine if the repair was over $300.00 to $500.00 Less than $300. I was delighted. Brought it home and ran it through all my tests, and it works as good as new!!! They don't sell Juki's but they are a certified Juki repair. read more

Russ was able to remove my trapped needle and fabric in seconds without any cost to me and also carried the machine in the store for me. what a nice pleasant atmosphere. I never knew they were there, but they got another lifetime customer for sure. I may inquire on classes as well read more

Unfortunately like other reviewers here I also experienced a flat refusal to give any estimates on cost without physically bringing in a sewing machine and getting the work done. Easier said than done on a bike! I of course wasn't looking for an exact quote (and said as much) but getting a range for a typical service vs repair costs would've been very helpful in deciding to actually go with this store when none of this info was available online. Needless to say I did not return. read more

This place is horrible. Russ and his mom Ronnie are the worst. They take ZERO responsibility for their products. Quite possibly the worst customer service I've experienced in 46 years of being a consumer. I bought a machine from them and brought it back a couple days later with an issue and they refused to even look at the machine. The next day I brought it to a different place and they diagnose it and fix the issue within the first minute of walking through the door. Russ and ronnie are RUDE, dismissive and very odd people. don't purchase from them because the second they make the sale, they are DONE with you. It's a shame there are people like this in the world. read more

I'm a bit of an "adjustor". I'm always tailoring my own stuff, though I'd never fasion myself a tailor. A girl's gotta get her well-fitting clothes on, yo...even if she can't afford it! I've come here a million times, always to get small things (machine needles, bias tape, etc.) and am always happy to find what I need. The people are super nice and helpful. Even asked the guy about my sewing machine once because it was tripping up and he gave some friendly advice, as well as informed me about their repair and exchange services. Though it didn't need a repair then, I wouldn't hesitate to bring it to this shop if it ever does. Oh, and my favorite. I often buy iron-on bias tape here because I'm always adjusting the length of my slacks, and there's a lady behind the counter who always, without fail, will ask if I know this is the iron-on kind and let me know she just wants to be sure I'm getting the right one. I love that woman. Only takes credit cards over $10. Also notice they teach sewing classes--go learn how to sew! It's a rocking good time! And a rocking handy thing to know too! read more

One star for: convenient location and oddities. Zero stars for: everything else. There's really nothing to review here. The staff is immensely rude and unhelpful, and one has to wonder how the heck they're still in business. I did not have the opportunity to talk to the "grouchy old lady" that reviewers have mentioned here, but fear not: I was helped by a younger woman who was kind enough to act just as annoyed that I had come into the shop! Originally I'd wanted to look into getting my sewing machine serviced, and after standing around for several minutes, waiting to finally be acknowledged, I asked if they had a price estimate regarding how much a general tune-up would cost. Cue a completely put-upon attitude. "We can't tell you how much it will cost until we service the machine." Really. You have no idea how much your services cost at all?? I tried to explain that no, it isn't broken - I just wanted an estimate as to how much a tune up would be. A very general estimate. As in $50 or $500." "I can't tell you until we do the work.". Hokay then! I'll take my machine somewhere that would be happy about, well, receiving business. One who can actually tell someone how much their products cost. read more

Full disclosure: I don't know how to sew. I'm crafty, but not with textiles. I've stepped in here twice, and both times I was assisted immediately and they had exactly what I was looking for. I decided to write this review after stopping in yesterday -- I came in, desperate for some stitch witchery stuff ('cause I was embarking on the brave new world of hemming curtains). The credit card minimum is now $15 - and my cost was about $2 and change. The guy in the shop patiently waited as I literally counted out pennies. I came up a couple cents short, so I was super grateful when he let me have the purchase anyway. This is the kind of thing that makes me love local businesses. read more

Thank you, Yelpers, for leading me to this gem! I came here in hopes of getting my sewing machine fixed, and I left with a brand new piece of equipment with the knowledgeable service I received. Located right in the heart of Somerville, it's a convenient shop with a staff and a wide array of products for customers. I was able to test out all of the machines before making a final decision, and the woman helping me gave me some great tips on what machines would be the most useful for my design purposes. With the purchase of my machine, I also received a year of free service from them if something were to happen. This place is awesome, and I can't wait to continue working with them in the future! read more

Originally, about 3 months ago, I brought my Japan made, 30 year old, babylock surger in because it had a "feed dog" problem. The very nice young woman showed me how to fix it in a minute- free of charge. I was thrilled; so thrilled that I bought an instruction manual to my sewing machine for $12 that I totally did not need. She totally helped me out and I love supporting me a local business. So, when I finished my project I brought the machine in to be serviced. The blades needed replacing (after 30 years) and it needed a tune-up. The replacement blade is $30 and yes, the machine itself needed adjustment. I figured it would be under or about $100. The problem is that they charged me $238! The machine needed work, absolutely. It may have needed a great deal of work- but a new machine cost just a little more than that. Wouldn't it make sense to CALL THE CUSTOMER FIRST? If you go there, be sure to tell them to CALL you with an estimate first. I totally think I was overcharged, I cannot believe they didn't think to call me and I should have just bought a new machine. I just looked at the other reviews and this seems to be a recurring problem (no estimates). You know, I can deal with the crankiness, but it seems like they get you in there and then overcharge for repairs. The machine works well. The repairs were good, but it's like bringing in your car and then paying more than it is worth to rotate the tires and change the oil without having an option to say yes or no to the repair. I thought I had found my local sewing machine shop- so disappointed that they did this. :-( read more

I am good with a sewing machine but my serger has always been quirky. I decided to bring it here and the guy working the store said 'OH! that model had an issue with tension discs, that is your problem' when I explained what happened. I paid for the tune up which he indicated would include a repair of the tension discs. When I went to pick it up, the young girl working the store had NO idea what she was talking about. She could not help me with what had/had not been done with the machine. She also had no idea about the machines in the store. Initially (for about an hour worth of serging) my machine worked well... then same exact problems. I looked again at the receipt and it was clear that the tension discs had not been replaced as they should have been. $150 to NOT have a working serger. I tried to call them and got a complete runaround. Oh, the THIRD person I spoke with - a cranky older woman - was horrific to deal with as well. I asked her about a older singer machine (I have wanted a singer featherweight for some time). She gave me a once over and said - 'well, you clearly wear a lot of knits, and that machine will NOT do those for you'. Um, I know? So not cool to assume no one knows why they might want a certain machine. I will NEVER go there again and am completely disappointed. I ended up purchasing a different serger -- the very knowlegable repair folks offered to get it in working condition as part of my purchase. When I mentioned where I had gotten the repair, they cautiously said that they have had a lot of folks who have had their machines messed with by Singer sewing and vac who have needed a second repair. Maybe buy a few supplies here, but DO NOT let them touch a machine. Also, some of the most appallingly rude people I have ever encountered in any service industry. read more

Extremely unusual stand alone vaccum spot. Situated directly in the center of Davis Square, it couldn't be more convenient. Helpful service. a full line of vacs, sewing machines and parts. Miele vaccums are available by the dozen. advice on which model will be most useful is available. read more

I called to see what the estimate on a vacuum chord replacement cost would be. When I asked if they could give me one I was met with a solid, "No." I stated I had my model name and was looking for a ballpark range. I even suggested, "between $10 and $50." Her answer was maybe. It could be more, but I'd have to lug my giant, broken vacuum all the way into Davis for her to tell me how much. No thanks. read more

Wow, I don't even know what to say... First, I've been sewing for years and have multiple sewing machines. When I recently called up to get an estimate for a repair, the woman on the phone was so rude. She first asked to keep me on "hold" but I could hear her complaining in the background that she had to deal with "some stupid woman on the phone." Oh... Ok, then. I made the terrible mistake of asking if I could wait there while the machine was being fixed (because it's literally something that takes most professionals no more than 15 minutes- how do I know this? I called a relative who repairs sewing machines in another state to ask). This apparently set off this woman off because she started yelling that "you people don't know how long things take!" She was hostile, impatient and her employer should be embarrassed. Her rudeness and total lack of understanding on how to treat a customer is why I'm going to go elsewhere. read more

I don't know the first thing about sewing or sewing machines but I know how much my wife cherishes her old Bernina 830 so imagine my horror when I accidentally smashed it while practicing my golf swing. An online check revealed that replacement Bernina's were going for, like, $700. That wasn't going to happen so I lugged the wounded Bernina to this place, reluctantly, after reading the reviews. I braced myself, waiting for the grouchy old lady to attack me. Instead, a pleasant gentleman greeted me. I set the Bernina in front of him and explained what happened. He examined it for a few minutes, went to the back room, and returned with some gizmo and explained how this gizmo could be placed next to the machine and, effectively, do the work of whatever it was that I'd smashed. The gizmo cost about $13. I don't know how my experience could have been better. This man really knows sewing machines and he used his expertise to come up with a creative, inexpensive solution. This constitutes first-rate service. The machine is working fine with this gizmo though its smashed exterior serves as a constant reminder of my irresponsible behavior and my wife's moral superiority. read more

A great local business that, yet again, I can't believe no one has reviewed yet. The folks here really know sewing machines -- you might think, yea yea, who cares, but sewing machines are pretty complicated, and especially with heavy use, those fast-moving parts are prone to going wonky. It's unbelievably helpful that there's a repair shop right around the corner with a knowledgeable and friendly staff ready to help. In addition to sewing machine repairs, they also do sewing classes and have lots of resources on specialized sewing projects, from hand tools to books and magazines. They don't just have basic sewing machines, they also had embroidery machines and big quilters if I remember correctly. They also do Miele vacuum repairs -- for those that don't know, Miele vacuums are these uber-powerful (and uber-expensive) German machines that will clean every spec on the floor. Not everybody knows how to repair these... mammoth things. And ordering the filters online is kind of a pain, so these guys are very handy. This store is on a great corner location but I don't think many people realize what a fabulous resource it is. A lot of area crafters would be lost without a service shop like this one, so I hope it's around for a long time to come. read more

My vacuum cleaner's power cord lost its prongs. They got stuck in the outlet when I tried to unplug it. Oh well, it happens. I called this place in an effort to get it fixed. I was told it would be 50 bucks for labor and 5 bucks for the part, and that the vacuum would have to be left at the shop for several days. This sounded fine to me, at first. Then I called Tags in Porter. They said I could swing by with the vacuum and they could fix it on the spot. To top it off, they only charged me for the part ($4.50). I was fully prepared to pay for labor, but since it took the Tags hardware guy all of 10 minutes to replace, they said labor would be free of charge. Again, I have no issue whatsoever paying for someone's time, but Sewing & Vacuum Center quoted me $50 for a 10 minute job -- that's $300 an hour -- and to top that off, since they needed 3 business days for this 10 minute job, it would cost me two separate trips and a lot more inconvenience. Pretty lame. read more

I've had two encounters here that were condescending and ultimately unhelpful. Don't even go if you didn't buy your machine there. The experience was akin to taking your car to a mechanic where you are treated as the idiot, it can't possibly the machine that's faulty. I ordered a spare part that I'm still waiting for several weeks later, I suspect it is because I declined to pay over a $100 for a service on a machine that's only worth $100 and opted to service it myself. read more

I wish I could give this place 0 stars. I was there to get some help with my machine, which was having some tension issues. I am a first-time sewer, and haven't really used the machine much. The woman who helped me basically made fun of me! She was incredibly rude and condescending. She actually laughed at me! She kept asking me these stupid questions, almost like she wanted to point out how I didn't know what I was doing. Which I don't! That's why I came to her! No need to rub it in my face. So they seemed knowledgable and the "problem" was just that I had set up the bobbin incorrectly and it was an easy, free fix. But no way would I go back! Even though I live less than a mile away so I'm bummed because I'm all about supporting local independent shops. But I wouldn't give them my business if they couldn't even treat me with some decency my very first time there. BOOO. read more

If I could give NO star I would. I went in that store because my bobbin did not let the thread move when inside the machine. The older woman who seems to be the owner was quick to have me leave the machine there to be taken apart (for a hefty price) and then told me pretty much that my machine is crappy (a Singer I bought for a decent price at Target). She made a big stink about me adjusting the little screw on the bobbin case (something Singer suggests to play around with) telling me that I likely ruined the machine from every working properly. I had read reviews here and was apprehensive to trust her. I took my machine home, cleaned the bobbin area with a high pressure air bottle, and then used some of the Singer oil that came with the machine to lubricate the compartment. It took a few more attempts to sew with it to finally run PERFECTLY. If I will ever set foot into that place again it would only be to tell that women to her face what a rip off she is. read more

I've been in here a few times and I have been assisted immediately. Very knowledgable staff too. I only wish they also carried fabric. Also, their patters are super cheap... I got one for $0.99 today! read more

I had a great experience. After my old Kenmore started acting up again, I decided to look into buying a new machine. My salesperson Jessica was helpful, didn't try to sell me a more expensive machine than I needed, and very patiently taught me how to use some of the new features. Self-threading needle, yeah!! She said I could schedule a time to come back if I needed to learn more. I love that it has a full one year warranty, which even covers cleaning. They took an old broken machine as a trade in. Since I tend to break sewing machines, I was very happy to buy from a place that will be able to fix it. read more

I considered buying my sewing machine here, but they had such funny hours (and were closed when I walked by) that I didn't. I almost wish that I had been more patient, because it would have been nice to have supported a local shop like this. I went in to buy bobbins for my machine yesterday, and the woman was so helpful. She helped me figure out what I needed, even though I couldn't remember which machine I had. She was so nice that she even said I could exchange the bobbins if they didn't fit right. They also have a medium-sized selection of threads and a few racks of patterns. I'll definitely be back. read more

I recently bought a new sewing machine here, trading in my old one. I couldn't believe they accepted my old, broken machine (the motor had died), no questions asked! They were extremely helpful and thorough both times that I stopped in. The staff is clearly very knowledgeable. Plus, when you get a new sewing machine with them, they offer infinite free lessons! what more could you ask for? read more

My wet dry shop vac was broken. Making a strange noise and emitting a burning smell. Took it in after they said estimates are free. The guy took a look and said it could be something simple and gave me a tip to fix it myself. He also said if it was something more serious like a bad motor, it'd be X to Y dollars. It turned out to be a simple fix and I was happy about the honest advice. read more

Condescending, nasty, and blatantly RUDE to customers, esp. male customers. I went in wanting to BUY a machine ($1500 budget) and they acted as if they couldn't be BOTHERED to waste their time answering any questions. Other friends have had similar experiences. There are lots of other dealers out there who value their clientele - patronize them instead and give this place a VERY wide berth. read more

I first came here 2 years ago to have my upright Dyson fixed and had a great experience. Last week I brought it back in to either get fixed, or perhaps purchase a new vacuum. The gentleman was patient, kind and professional. He took the time to explain all of my options. I traded in my Dyson upright and purchased a Miele canister vacuum, but when I brought it home, was disappointed with how it performed on my shag rug. I brought it back in to the shop today to make sure it was functioning properly. He tested it and it worked fine, but offered for me to borrow a higher grade model to see if I liked that one better. Again, he was was flexible, patient, and helpful. After testing the higher grade model I decided it was much better. He took the one I purchased last week without any issue and I only had to pay the difference. My entire experience was very easy and informative. The kind of service provided here is what makes shopping at "mom and pop" stores so much better than chain stores. I highly recommend coming here for any vacuum needs! read more

I was devastated when my 1970s-era Singer quit running on me and chose to bring it here out of geographic convenience. When I brought it in, the man who helped me was very nice and knowledgeable, opening up the machine to show me how the gears had broken. Repairs took a week and a half and set me back $180 (he initially suggested I trade it in since that's probably more than it's worth, but I'm too attached to it!) which also included a desperately needed tune-up/recalibration and now the machine runs like new. I think the price was pretty fair. The best part was that he replaced my long-broken thread spindle without charging me for it. I didn't think anyone did things like this anymore! I hope this place stays alive since they've made a lifetime customer out of me. (I did have an unfortunate encounter with the grouchy old lady that other people have mentioned, but don't let her scare you away. Excluding her, this place is a gem!) read more

Overpriced on a lot of items. Went in there for a small part for a sewing machine. Store wanted 30 dollars. Walked out of there and bought it online for 4 dollars for exact same part. Only difference was the one I bought was new the one the store was trying to sell me was used. read more

The worst possible place where you can take anything for repair!! I had to wait a MONTH AND A HALF for them to replace one part of a vacuum cleaner under warranty. In the meantime I had to keep calling the manufacturer and these people wouldn't give any status updates. Not to mention the rudeness of the staff!!! They'd also claim to have called me to give me updates when I haven't received a single phone call. Last but not least, their address is wrong on Google maps cause apparently they moved but you've got no way of knowing that unless you read the sign on their door after you've already looked for parking for half hour and paid!! read more

I have an old-school Sears-Kenmore machine that doesn't do tricks but has a lot of sentimental value. When it jammed up recently I brought it here. They had it back to me in a week and it runs smoother than it has since the day my aunt gave it to me! read more

I bought my sewing machine here, and I was very happy with the whole experience. First of all, the price was great - the same price as all the online sources I found. The "grouchy old lady" was not grouchy, and not really that old, and she spent a long time with me helping me decide what model to get and showing me how to use it. As part of the purchase price she said I could come back for another lesson, but I found I didn't need to. It's true that prices are high here for sewing accessories. But at least they know what they are talking about - if they tell you that an attachment will fit your machine, it really will. read more

I found the sales help here (a gentleman) to be extremely unprofessional, condescending, and rude. As a new "sewer," I purchased a more affordable machine (still a Singer) to learn and practice on. After watching several You Tube videos, I determined that I had a tension problem. I brought it in to see if they could help. The salesman proceeded to berate me for buying the more affordable machine and told me to return it or throw it out. He then tried to sell me a more expensive machine. When I told him that I wasn't ready to upgrade until I become more proficient, he completely wrote me off and said, "your machine doesn't have a problem. It's just cheap and that's what you get...." Now if he said something along the lines of...."great that you're learning. Let's check this out. Since the machine is on the low end, you may not always have the results you want. Keep practicing and let us know when you're ready to upgrade. We'd love to help you." Same exact message -- different tone. I may have bought a new machine. As it stands, I will not go back and will not be buying my next machine from this establishment. You get more bees with honey..... read more

I'm reviewing only the vacuum repair section of the store, not the sewing part, which other reviewers have focused on. My husband took our 20-year old Eureka vacuum in to be repaired. The repairman said it couldn't be fixed, which was fine, but then he talked my husband into buying a vacuum cleaner at the store with a "credit" for bringing in ours for repair. My husband called me with the make and price ($200 with the credit), and I checked reviews on amazon, which were all positive, so I said it looked fine. We like to support local businesses, so it seemed better to pay a bit extra than go to Sears. But when my husband got it home, the model was actually the same as the $120 one on amazon, not the one around $200 (and the store was selling it for $269 at full price!), and is really flimsy. I wanted to return it, but the store says all sales are final because it's "unsanitary" to exchange a used vacuum cleaner. (This isn't true at other stores that sell vacuums.) I checked with the BBB, which says a store can have any return policy it wants as long as there's a sign in the store. So I would strongly recommend against buying any vacuum cleaners at that store. Maybe the repairs are OK; I don't know, since ours didn't get fixed. But now my trust level for this repair guy is zilch, so this is one local business we won't deal with again. read more

The people were really great! I foolishly got something clogged in my vacuum hose and could not dislodge it. This was not a vacuum I had bought from this store. I went in and the people there tried several things and came up with some very good ideas to solve the problem. Eventually they succeeded! I offered payment but was told they do not accept payment for this kind of work. I appreciate their kindness and inventiveness very much! read more

My only experience with them was a telephone conversation of a few minutes ago. I had a simple question. I wanted to know if the specialty feet of the newer Pfaff Coverlock 4.0 would fit my Pfaff 4874. I'm still not sure. The first person I spoke to was unhelpful, seemed unaware of what I was asking, left the conversation by dropping the phone on the counter only to come back and ask if I wanted to buy a machine. What? She put someone else on who took a while to answer this basic question and had a few questions of her own that were unnecessary given the info I was looking for. I had one simple question that needed one simple answer. Finally, she had an answer, and the answer was that they could be special-ordered. Great! So, I wanted to know which feet were available so I could order them and she couldn't have sounded more disinterested if she tried. Flat, unenthusiastic and seemed uninterested in continuing the conversation. And, she never answered this second question so I'm not even sure she gave me the correct answer to my original question. I knew at that point I was smart to be ending the conversation and moving on to a better store. I decided to look this company up once I had this negative experience. There were plenty of dissatisfied people. To be fair, there were also some four/five star reviews. Not sure why, perhaps change of ownership? If not, then certainly change of attitude. When I saw one particular Yelp review of this store on 02/25/18 by Jennifer S. who is just learning how to sew on her Singer and seeing how poorly she was treated I decided to add this review because this is an expensive hobby and it is so important to have a great dealer you can rely on to support you and your purchases. This place is not that. The vibe on that one phone call matches up with the negative reviews here and I would say Buyer Beware to anyone considering doing business at this store. There are so many good dealers around, do yourself a favor and choose wisely. There are many here telling you they won't be returning and I know I won't use them. Thank goodness it was just a phone call for me. Please be careful of who you part money with, you may want to think twice about spending it with these people. read more

This place is authorized to service Miele vacuums. The on/off switch on our vacuum became stuck, so, we needed someone to replace it. They tried to charge us $190 to fix just this tiny piece of plastic. We subsequently found out from a Miele representative that the repair was in fact covered under the warranty. When we shared this information, S&V refused to assist us. It finally took the involvement of a very helpful Miele representative to get our vacuum back. Despite the involvement from Miele, S&V tried to charge us an additional $80 for service. When we refused to pay this, they undid the repairs and gave us back the vacuum (and the parts from Miele). It literally took us all of 15 seconds to make the repair ourselves. The moral of this story hopefully for the store is they would be much better off if they cared about their customers as opposed to trying to milk them for as much money as possible. Needless to say, we will not be giving them our business in the future. read more

This place is awesome. That "grouchy old lady" everyone is mentioning is actually a very knowledgeable and experienced sewer, not to mention a master saleswoman. I brought my sewing machine in for repair and while she did seem crotchety at first, she easily spent 45 minutes showing me every machine they sell and demonstrating all of the features of each one. In the end I opted to trade in my machine for a $20 discount on a nicer model than pay the $95 repair fee, but I left satisfied and excited about my purchase. She even showed me how to thread the machine before I left. Also, when you buy a machine there, you can get a discount on a case, AND free private lessons, that is worth the extra cost in my opinion. I would recommend this place to anyone. read more

I was passing by and needed a pair of fabric scissors, so I bought one there. Price was $7. When I got home, I checked on-line. List price was under $3, and on-line price was around $2. And I found out they weren't designed specifically for fabric (all-purpose scissors), and didn't cut fabric especially well. Typical (and fair) retail markup is 30% or 50% (which is factored into the $3 list price, relative to the $2 on-line price). 250% markup seems a bit extreme. read more

Knowledgeable people, local business, good brands. Took in a 15-year-old Miele vacuum that needed a new cord rail ($220), but instead got a new comparable Miele for $300. Satisfied, will go back. read more