I suggest Overstock.com and I stand behind it 100%. "Discount store" or not. I paid under $200 for my sewing machine and it is pure heaven. I've used it so much already that I'm surprised it hasn't died on me yet. I've sewn through denim, high quality cotton fabrics, low quality cotton fabrics, fleece and flannel and it's never let me down once.
I guess it's just like anything else you go to buy that's an "investment", you just have to look around, compare reveiws on the different brands and go from there.
I don't understand why you think buying used is "better" than buying a "discount store" machine? It wasn't just "any" machine.
I still recommend checking with Overstock.
