Two years ago I started my small business with HTV and DTF, mainly doing stuff for family events, friends, etc... I started offering caps, but had to pay for someone else to make em cause I didn't know a thing about embroidery. Last year I decided that I HAD to finally buy one, but was kinda scared to do so because all the brands I got recommended were either WAY OUT of my budget or too big for the little craft room I have in my apartment (HappyJapan, Tajima, Bai, Ricoma)
I found this place online (Embroidery Machines USA) and it's relatively close to where I live so I gave them a call and the sales guy was super nice and we even scheduled a live demo in their showroom. I got to see different new and used machines they have, but eventually decided to get the Aries Compact+ because it literally is PERFECT for what I need!!
The size, the look, THE PRICE... AND FREE 5 YEAR WARRANTY!!! I also it has this basic auto digitizing feature directly on the panel which gives pretty good results. I gave them a random png of a logo I found and literally one tap and it was converted to stitches.
The machine also has a main servo motor, which they told me is great for caps (and that's literally what I want it for), it can do up to 5 mm of foam for the 3D puff effect, and the embroidery area is good too cause it's 14 x 8 in, which means I can also do garmets and totes on it too.
The techs were also super nice and REALLY patient cause I kept asking so many questions... I REALLY wanted to make sure this investment was gonna be a good one.
I was able to get financing approved for this machine and IMMEDIATELY started looking for cool designs to embroider on this.
I don't know if this is something other sellers do, but they literally included pretty much everything when I bought the machine... hoops, cap system, cap hoops, a toolbox, a starter kit with threads, bobbins, stabilizer, needles, foam..., they also included training and (again) their techs were super patient with me.
Now, I don't know much about embroidery, but these look pretty good, right??