Several users reported experiencing a number of issues with the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960, which eventually resulted in its discontinuation. The sewing machine branded itself as offering users with a diverse stitch pattern selection, fast-sewing speeds, and an automatic tension control system and a thread cutting system in comparison to its competitors.
The sewing machine was recommended for both beginners and professionals. Unfortunately, issues with the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 kept on mounting. Since it was one of the most popular sewing machines, selling like hotcakes, knowing what led to its downfall makes for an interesting read.
Let us look at the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 problems.
The Issues Users Faced with the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960
We uncovered various negative reviews on the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960. Here is a review by one user who addresses all the problems she experienced with the sewing machine:
“Saved Up Money to Buy It and Then Immediately Regretted It”
This user saved money to buy the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960, paying $400. When the sewing machine arrived, she was very excited. So excited that she nicknamed the sewing machine, calling it “Soa-Soh.” It was a big waste of her hard-earned money.
She bought the sewing machine so she could learn how to free motion quilt because she already knows how to sew. In terms of quilting, she labeled the sewing machine as worthless. She even said that her old sewing machine, which cost her $60, did a better job than the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960.
Broken Extension Table on Delivery and Poor Customer Service Support
She called the customer service representative several times but was unsuccessful in reaching them. The times she did reach out to them, they failed to address the problem directly. In fact, when she received the sewing machine, she discovered a broken extension table.
She called them and they told her that they would replace it. However, they never did, and she had to contact them again after six weeks to remind them to replace the extension table. They replied to her email, saying that it was on the backorder.
Received Extension Table after 3 Months, but the Wrong One
After three months, she received the extension table, and it turned out to be the wrong part when she opened the package. However, by that time, she had become used to using the broken extension table. It was at the time that she noticed an issue with the threading process.
This killed her dream of learning how to quilt and she only used it to sew straight lines. Even sewing straight lines on the fabric was a hassle because the needle was not in the center. A problem she faced each time she turned on the sewing machine.
Dangerous Situation and Unable to Adjust the Tension
She also had to be extra careful in using the sewing machine because if she used more than two types of fabrics, the needle could strike her foot. She fixed it manually using the pushbuttons, but each time she turned off the sewing machine, it used to reset itself.
She also experienced a problem adjusting the tension. She believes the manufacturer did not design the internal components of the sewing machine properly. However, she gives credit to the customer service representatives for replacing the B foot.
As for the extension table, she was really disappointed with them because not only did they take a long time to replace it, but they sent her the wrong part as well. She had to send them a picture of the wrong part and only then, they sent the right part.
When her walking foot broke, they sent her a darning foot. They also never addressed her claims about the fault in the threading process even after she sent them several pictures. Soon, her one-year warranty expired.
Said It Was the Customer’s Fault
She further said that one customer service representative even blamed her, saying that she was not sewing correctly because she was using a 15J bobbin. The customer service representative told her that the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 uses the 15 bobbin, not the 15J bobbin, even though the sewing machine came with the 15J bobbin.
She said that she saw the manufacturer’s website, it said that the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 uses the 15J bobbin. She replied to the customer service representative’s email with the information but never received a response.
She also had ordered a few generic needles, which were not sold by the manufacturer of the sewing machine. Since it was on her receipt, the customer service representative thought that she was using them with the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 when she had bought those needled to use with her old, cheap sewing machine.
She said that she has picture proof that she was using the brand’s needles with the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960. She also bought new needles by the brand to see if it would solve her problem, but it did not.
Words of Caution
She advised everyone against buying the sewing machine, saying that it is better to pay a little more for a premium quality brand.
She bought the sewing machine from a reputable and certified Singer distributor on Amazon. She says the sewing machine was not put together properly during the manufacturing process and even suspects that it may have been used, not new as claimed, and also that it could have been dropped before it reached her.
Whatever the case was, she finished her review saying that the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 is a low-quality sewing machine, makes false promises, and is defective, and the customer service representative is of no help.
Summarizing the User’s Issues
Here is a summary of all the issues she experienced with the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960:
- Came with a broken extension plate and took forever for them to replace it
- Several other parts broke as well
- Faced difficulty sewing straight lines on the fabric
- Took up more than 5 minutes to thread it
- She broke 27 needles and damaged the faceplate due to the needle hitting it because it pulled the thread too tightly
- The tension was repeatedly off
- The automatic thread system, B foot, and the darning or free motion quilting foot easily broke off
- Warranty ran out in August, but her problem remained unresolved
- Customer service representatives failed to resolve her issues and instead blamed her
- Concluded that the sewing machine was not manufactured properly in the first place, was dropped during packaging, or/and was used, not new as claimed
Our Final Thoughts
Even though Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 has been discontinued, you will still find it available on Amazon, which is probably the last few remaining unsold sewing machines. If you read the reviews on Amazon from users who have bought the sewing machine and had a bad experience with it, you may steer clear of buying it. With that being said, it’s still a small percentage of purchasers that have a negative experience. The overall ratings of the machine are very good!
If you had bought the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 and encountered several issues with it from the beginning with the customer service representatives not doing anything to resolve the problems, you should share your experience with others to prevent them from making the same mistake as you.
If you are thinking of purchasing the sewing machine from a seller on Amazon, you should think twice about doing so, as chances of you running into an issue are high. If you do want to buy a Singer sewing machine, we recommend you buy it from their website and after doing your own research on whether it is worth spending money on or not.
Since it is a costly purchase, the last thing you want to do is regret spending a lot of money on something that is faulty, only to be stuck with it due to their poor customer service support. You should always check out more than one company before purchasing anything and make a side-by-side comparison from the reviews you find online to decide which one is worth investing in.
For those facing issues with the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960, you can probably find some troubleshooting tips on how to fix the problems on their official website, but there is no guarantee that it will fix your issue.
However, you can give it a shot, but your best bet would be to return the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 to the seller you bought it from, especially if you are experiencing almost the same issue as this user.
On the flip side, if you’re not worried about having issues, or can fix them when they occur, you can get a great deal on this machine as it’s often discounted.
