5 Treadmill Buying Mistakes

My name is John Bravo and I’ve been in the fitness industry for nearly a decade. I no longer represent a retailer or manufacturer, just myself. This places me in a unique position to offer my honest opinions, something I have not been able to do for years! Read my guide and save money!

1: No Buying Plan
If you call a salesman and you don’t know what you’re going to buy, he will more than likely decide what you’re going to buy for you. Chances are, you’ll be buying an expensive treadmill with more features than you’ll ever need and accessories you’ll never use. Here are some general guidelines for creating your buying plan:

Will you be walking or jogging?
You should know the answer to this question before you even start your research. If you plan on buying a treadmill for walking or jogging less than 4 MPH don’t spend more than $1000. My top walking treadmill pick is the Horizon T91 Treadmill for about $599 delivered. You could go cheaper and get a Merit 725T Treadmill for $399, but it will only be good for the lightest of routines.

If you plan on jogging or running you should definitely spend at least $1000. Spending a $1000 will get you a decent sized running area in the neighborhood of 18” x 55”, an 11 MPH top speed, and heart rate control. The most I could justify a home user spending on a treadmill is a $2000. Once you pay more than 2 grand you’re paying for gym quality equipment and unless you plan on using your treadmill 20 hours a day, you won’t need gym quality equipment.

2: Buying a Treadmill with a Short Warranty
I would never buy, let alone trust a treadmill that sells for $500 or more that is not backed by a 1 year parts and labor warranty. There are a couple treadmill manufacturers out there like Proform that tend to offer their treadmills for a 90 day parts and labor warranty. I’ve heard too many horror stories from customers who bought a treadmill with short warranty only to be stuck with an expensive repair bill 6 months after purchase date. Don’t make the mistake of buying a treadmill with a short warranty!

3: Being Fooled by the Hype
Treadmill manufacturers use a lot of tricks to get you to buy their product. A good rule of thumb is the more hype, the worse the treadmill. Manufacturers manipulate numbers to create the illusion of a good deal. I’ve seen treadmills with a “suggested” retail price of $1000 go for $500. Truth is, the manufacturer never expected to sell that treadmill for a $1000. Manufacturers “suggest” a $1000 price tag so retailers can tell the consumer “we’ll let it go for 50% off”.

Manufacturers will also hype up things like fans, built in MP3 players or radios, and magazine racks to entice you to buy their treadmill. More often than not, it costs a lot less to add a book rack or cup holder than it does to install better motors or a larger running area. If you don’t want to be suckered in by the hype look for the important things first; horsepower, 1 year parts and labor warranty, and running area. Narrow your choices down to 4 or 5 good treadmills then start looking at all the little things.

4: Shopping in a Bad Neighborhood
There are certain neighborhoods nobody likes to be in at night. In the treadmill world, there are about 3 or 4 companies I would strongly advise staying away from for various reasons. I won’t mention these companies by name because I don’t want a legal battle on my hands. However, I can provide you with a list of “good neighborhoods”, companies whose products generally meet or exceed my expectations. Those companies are Sole Fitness, Horizon Fitness, Smoooth Fitness, Spirit Fitness, and Star Trac Fitness. Stick with one of those companies and you’re sure to find a great treadmill at a great price!

5: Not Asking for a Discount
I remember my first sales call. The owner of the company I worked for at the time happened to be walking by and heard me ask “Can we knock off a couple bucks if they ask for it?” My supervisor was about to answer when the owner chimed in with a grunt, “Offer them a free heart rate monitor, if they don’t go for that you can knock off as much as $30, but start with $10.” I was flabbergasted. My first over the phone sale ended up with a free heart rate monitor and $15 off the price of her treadmill. Every salesman might not be willing to offer you a discount, but someone out there will, if you ask really nice.

Well, that ends my 5 Mistakes You Will make Buying a Treadmill guide. I hope you feel like you have the tools you need to go out and buy the treadmill you need. Just remember, don’t buy without a plan, get a good warranty, don’t believe the hype, buy from a reputable treadmill manufacturer, and ask for a discount!