Please tell me you didn't buy your machine from these clowns:
http://shop.ebay.com/websbestdeals/...l1313&_sop=10&_dmd=1&_odkw=&_osacat=0&bkBtn=1
If so, you will have about a 50% chance of the machine not working properly. These are
Walmart returns and they don't test them. Many of them have electronic and/or blade drag issues.
I know this very well, because between 2007 and early 2009, I was one of their best "customers". I bought over 100 Cricut machines from them, parted them out from the exclusive cartridges, and re-sold them on Ebay. I put every machine through extensive testing before re-selling it. I finally quit doing business with them when 50% or more of the machines that they claimed were new/like new/tested/working perfectly/etc started being duds, and they refused to return any of my emails.
And if it doesn't work, you will most likely have a very hard time getting any customer service replies from them. They just don't reply. At all. Their 100 negatives in a month says it all.
I will be crossing my fingers and hoping for the best for you!!