oh, and there are no code words. Bring a wad of denim to the shop, if that's where you're buying from, and make them demonstrate.

And I don't know what the exchange rate, but when I was looking at newer machines in the US, the ones that seemed of reasonableish quality were all at least $300, unless you could get a good deal somewhere. Some sewing shops do trade ins and sell the used machines for less than the cost of a new one.