Sewing machine dealers charge 2x online prices due to territory monopolies

Premium sewing machine brands like Bernina, Baby Lock, and Husqvarna Viking sell exclusively through authorized dealers with geographic territory protections. A quilter shopping for a Bernina 790 Plus may have only one dealer within 100 miles, and that dealer has no price competition for that brand in their area. Forum users report dealers quoting $2,500 for machines available online (gray market or out-of-territory) for $1,200-1,500. Quilters who buy online save money but lose access to the dealer's repair services, classes, and warranty support -- creating a forced choice between paying a 40-100% markup or losing the service ecosystem. This matters because high-end sewing machines are $2,000-12,000 purchases that require professional servicing, and the territory system means the quilter's only local service option is also the entity charging them the highest price. The problem persists because manufacturers benefit from high dealer margins that fund showrooms and demos, and direct-to-consumer sales would collapse the dealer network that provides essential hands-on support.