Serger Sales, Deals & Discounts
Buying a serger comes with a price tag slightly heftier than a sewing machine; even basic entry-level models cost a couple of hundred dollars more than a sewing machine because of the added features. Saving some money and getting deals or discounts on a serger either saves you a little money or allows you to buy up into a more advanced machine.
The following are some ways to score a sale, deal, or discount on your serger!
Inquire about group-specific discounts at a local store that sells sergers.
Brick and mortar stores often offer discounts for students, members (or family members) of the military, first responders, teachers, senior citizens, etc. Sometimes these discounts are available on specific days of the month, so check into details. JoAnn offers 15% off of any online or in-store purchase to teachers, professors, homeschoolers, and childcare providers; seniors 55 and older receive 20% in-store purchases on designated “Senior Discount Day”. If you are a member of AAA, you can purchase gift cards for JoAnn at a discount and then use them to purchase a serger. Home Depot offers a 10% discount to active duty, retired military, and reservists at participating locations.
Scope out exclusive holiday sales, especially Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.
All three of these holidays fall in November and are typically well advertised by merchants beforehand to drum up business. Black Friday deals are available online and in stores; Small Business Saturday is usually limited to in-store discounts; Cyber Monday is online retailers only. Last year, Walmart offered up to $145 off popular serger brands like Singer and Brother; Amazon offered an incredible $400 and $450 off of a Singer and Janome machine, respectively.
Watch for coupons or promo codes sent out by the business/website.
If you are purchasing from an online merchant, this is as simple as doing a quick internet search to see if any discount codes are available. Check sites such as RetailMeNot, CouponCabin, SlickDeals, and Offers.com for curated online discount codes for brand pages and websites. Retail stores may require you to sign up in-store or on their website to get on their direct mailer list and receive paper coupons in the mail.
Sign up with cash-back sites to increase your money-saving potential.
Sites like Rakuten (formerly EBates) offer additional cash back on your purchase at participating retailers. It’s free to create an account and they often offer bonuses for signing up. When you activate your shopping trip, Rakuten will automatically search for the best coupons to apply to your shopping cart. Cash back savings are paid quarterly, either in the form of a check or a deposit to a PayPal account.
Check the brand’s website periodically for promotions.
Buying factory direct doesn’t mean you have to pay the full manufacturer’s suggested retail price. While not as often as other retailers, they do occasionally pass along discounts to customers. Manufacturers will sometimes offer anniversary sales or discounts for National Sewing Month, which is in September. Here is a list of popular serger brands.
Subscribe to a company’s newsletter through their website.
A discount code is often offered on your first order, and then you will receive weekly or monthly email newsletters from the company. This can give you a head’s up for future sales, access to coupons only available in the newsletter, and often many sewing tips and tricks.
Buy a used serger.
Used equipment is available for sale on websites like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook marketplace. It’s not uncommon for someone to buy a machine, or be gifted one, only to use it a couple of times and decide it isn’t for them. These machines are typically sold at a fraction of their new price. You can also find used machines at garage sales. Beware! Buying used from personal parties may result in a machine with damage or issues. Local sewing shops that have trade-in programs may offer refurbished machines at discounted prices that come with a warranty. They may be a little pricier, but knowing they have been serviced means you’re likely to get a machine that is reliable.
Shop “scratch and dent” sales.
Overstock or machines deemed as “seconds” are often put up for sale at a warehouse, or event center to clear out inventory. A serger may have a cosmetic flaw, maybe a scratch in the paint, that does not affect the machine’s performance but will drop the price significantly.
Expand your online search beyond Amazon.
Many online retailers will price match Amazon or offer you extra discounts or accessories with your purchase to drum up business. There are many places to buy sergers online: Jo-Ann, Sears, Walmart, and SewingMachinesPlus, Overstock.com, and Wayfair.com are a few alternatives to Amazon.
Set up Amazon price drop alerts.
Add a serger to your Amazon Watchlist and determine a price threshold. When the price drops below this point, you are notified of the updated price.
Use Amazon price history tools.
See price trends over the last few months or year, looking for any patterns on when sergers typically go on sale. This gives you an idea of when to watch for upcoming price drops. Some popular websites or browser add-ons are Honey and CamelCamelCamel.
Follow social media pages for discounts or promo codes.
“Like” Facebook pages or “Follow” Instagram accounts of popular online retailers or local sewing shops. Social media platforms are becoming a key component to brand marketing, and they periodically offer promos or sales that are only available if you’re a follower.
Head to your local state fair.
In many areas, state fairs often have exhibitor barns where vendors can set up booths displaying their goods. Local sewing shops regularly have displays and offer you the chance to try out machines and purchase at a discounted price.
About Amanda S.: Growing up, I was fascinated by watching my mom and grandma turn fabric into beautiful handcrafted items. In my early 20’s, I finally got brave, buying a sewing machine and teaching myself to sew. As I fell in love with sewing, my machine collection expanded, and I ran an Etsy shop sewing children’s clothing for a few years. As a single mom of 3 great kids, my sewing time has lessened, but I still try to find time to work on quilts, bags, and projects with my kids, teaching them what I love.