Someone else already mentioned the hazards of buying a machine for someone else, but this is what I did when I got my mother a new sewing machine. She was frustrated with her old one, but didn't want to buy a new one, so siblings unite... Anyway:

I called up the local shop that sells them after cursory investigation into what they sold, they carried my preferred maker. I found out what models they had, asked if they'd sell it to me and let her pick it up, and they offered an opportunity for the shopkeeper to give her the basic rundown of the machine and learn to use it. At this point the machine was still in the shop, and if she didn't like it, we could have undone the sale and got her something else. It was 450€ and she's been happy with it, and also is now familiar with the shop she got it from.

My preferred brand is Husqvarna, though older Singer models (the new ones are either perfectly fine and nice or suffer from manufacturing bonk-ups) are absolute workhorses, and if the shop sells used and refurbished something NOT digital should work like a dream. The price you'd want for a completely new machine I'd recommend 300€ and up... The "starter" models might be okay, but also not. Some of them are absolute garbage half the time, the quality has gone way way down.

A used machine will have thousands of hours of user experience and fixes reported online, and the repair shop people will know what comes in the most. 😄 There's also a couple of very cute workhorse or heavy duty Singer machines that have had the extra faff pared down, and are designed to chew through denim, bulky jersey and thick layers and such! Anything advertised to be simple and heavy duty will be more expensive and might last longer.

I'm sewing with a Husqvarna Classica 95, I think it's a little bit older than I am. It's basic as all heck, but has served me well. Used machines might not be as shiny as gifts, but they can be really good.