Does Purchasing Used or Reconditioned Fitness Equipment Make Since?

When many people think about New Years Resolutions the first thought that pops up after the holidays is I need to join the gym and get some equipment or start exercising more. December and January are big months for fitness equipment dealers and health clubs. We will probably all agree in the hustle and bustle of daily life getting to the gym can be difficult.

Some will opt for a new elliptical trainer or a treadmill instead and run off to the local Sports Retailer and buy a piece of equipment to get started. Some of what you may find in the retail stores may in fact be decent but most of it is just flimsy, what many consumers may not know is that you can purchase quality used commercial fitness equipment just like corporate health facilities have for a fraction of the original cost. These are brand names you typically will be familiar with such as Life Fitness, Precor, True Fitness, Body Masters, Cybex, Hammer Strength, and more. Many large gyms lease equipment and after 2-5 years replace everything. This is where you can obtain a bargain as some of the elliptical and treadmills and circuit are cleaned repaired, painted and fully reconditioned to be in like new shape.

For example consider a Life fitness Elliptical trainer when a state of the art design change comes along the manufacturers will follow suite and then the older design is phased out the Life Fitness 95Ex elliptical brand new MSRP price is $6995.00 you may pick one of these up for say $2799.00 and it will last the rest of your life. The Precor design has changed several times so you can pick up a reconditioned Precor EFX 546 that still works great for about $1700 that sold new for $5895.00 When buying refurbished equipment take it for a test drive make sure it smooth and all electronic parts are functioning.

Most of the used equipment will be out of warranty for the manufacturer but remember this equipment was designed for heavy abusive use and if it was properly refurbished with damaged or worn parts repaired or replaced then you should have many more years of enjoyment from equipment. Some of the dealers may offer you a short term temporary warranty like 30-60 days or some may even offer it as a n additional option for a fee like 3-6 months or even 1 year. Keep in mind warranties usually specify if it covers parts and or labor. The labor portion is always the shortest portion of any warranty, simply because if the time required of a certified technician should you need repairs. Bottom line is locate a company that has been in the industry a few years and seems reputable and is willing to allow you to view the equipment and try it out.

Do your homework and compare prices on used equipment but also consider the model and how old it is. If your on a budget you might opt for a cardio piece that is a little older but still in great shape. The best analogy is its like finding that old car with low miles that looks like it was garaged for most its life. Many times equipment is extracted from a facility that was not used much or was located in the corner and no one used that machine much. Use good judgment and a keen eye and you can experience a true health club workout from home with as little as 30 minutes 3 times per week buy shopping smart and finding the right deal that fits your needs, space and wallet.