Purchasing a piece of home fitness equipment is a major investment. While it can be great for your health, it can also be pretty tough on your wallet.
We definitely understand the appeal of buying cheap fitness equipment, but it’s important to research discount fitness equipment before you buy to avoid a home gym catastrophe.
If you’re in the market for used fitness equipment, there are a few factors you should consider first.
Who Are You Buying From?
In today’s world, there is no shortage of places to find used personal fitness equipment online — Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and apps like OfferUp. You can even find gym equipment at some thrift shops or your neighbor’s garage sale. Just because used equipment is cheap and easy to buy, however, doesn't mean you should buy it.
We know these options may seem tempting, but you should avoid the quick fix of buying from an online garage sale, thrift store, or your neighborhood yard sale whenever possible. These sellers don’t check their equipment, making it impossible to know what shape it’s in or how well it works.
Because none of the equipment has been checked or certified, buying from second-hand online stores and apps can be high-risk. The seller is likely getting rid of their equipment because:
- It failed to meet their fitness needs.
- It was low quality and likely to be already damaged or run down.
- It was boring to use or ineffective.
The bottom line is that you don’t really know what you’re getting when you purchase used equipment. Many things could be wrong with second-hand pieces — from outright damage to being a dud of a product.
Is that $500 Treadmill REALLY a Deal?
If you’re looking at used fitness equipment or discount stores, you need to know what you're looking at. That new, shiny (looks to be in perfect condition) treadmill or elliptical is likely to be a low-end, discount model that likely only cost $500 when it was new. There's a reason people sell these things. They are general poorly constructed, uncomfortable to use, and can't be serviced.
Insider Tip: How to know if it's a good brand. Here's a quick check to tell you if you're really getting a good deal. Check out the Brands We Service page. G&G has been selling and servicing equipment for decades. As a general rule, we only service well-made fitness equipment. If we don't service it, chances are high that it's not a reputable piece of equipment. And, if G&G can't service it, ask yourself, "Who will?"
Does It Use Outdated Technology?
If you’re purchasing a used piece of equipment, it’s likely that it is an outdated model. Every year, newer models offer more and more digital features to track your fitness and mechanical upgrades to reduce the impact on your body.
While you may be saving a bit of money when you buy an older used model, you may be sacrificing comfort and functionality. We think it’s worth it to look into newer models and all of the benefits they offer.
How Will You Handle Set-Up and Installation?
Another factor to consider is the set-up of your used fitness equipment. Consider this: how will you transport the equipment, which is often large and clunky to move?
Home delivery is usually not an option when purchasing used equipment. You’ll likely need to disassemble your pre-owned treadmill or elliptical, transport it in your vehicle, and rebuild it on your own.
With all of that disassembling and reassembling, the likelihood of missing or broken parts is very high. As anyone who has moved before knows, making sure everything gets from point A to point B safely can be tricky and stressful!
Imagine getting home with your “new” piece of fitness equipment only to find out that you need to purchase another part — or even hire a professional repair expert — before it becomes functional. Setting up a used piece of equipment is often a frustrating and avoidable experience.
Our service department gets calls all the time about equipment people bought used and can't even put it back together. Or, worse, can't get their new bargain treadmill or used elliptical to even turn on.
How Will You Perform Maintenance?
Even if your pre-owned equipment makes it to its new home whole and in working order, it is likely that your equipment will be at least a little worn down. Most sellers won’t part with their equipment until the equipment has either been well-used or has collected its fair share of dust.
Treadmills, ellipticals, and other pieces of home gym equipment rely on many moving parts to keep them working. These many parts experience wear and tear over the years, and it is only a matter of time before you will need to replace some of them — or your entire machine.
For older equipment, it may be difficult or costly to track down the right pieces needed for repair and maintenance. Replacement parts, new or old, can cost hundreds of dollars.
Ultimately, it’s important to keep in mind that at-home equipment will cost you more than the original price tag. As you can imagine, with used equipment, that cost is likely to crop up sooner rather than later.
Can You Live Without a Warranty?
With a warranty, you may be able to diffuse some of the costs of maintenance and repairs. However, in many cases, the warranty on a used piece of equipment is expired. In others, it is void when the equipment changes hands or is non-transferable from the original owner.
This can leave you with a major piece of equipment in need of maintenance and no financial safety net. Without a warranty, you’ll be on the hook for any repairs your equipment may need, and the costs can really add up!
Ultimately, buying a new piece of equipment with a quality warranty can end up saving you a headache and a significant amount of money.
How to Buy Used Fitness Gear — The Right Way
If you’re searching for a cheaper alternative to new fitness equipment, we can help! Contact G&G Fitness to talk to one of our knowledgeable representatives about purchasing floor models, discontinued equipment, and demos at a discounted price.
The experts at G&G Fitness always fit you with the right equipment for your needs, so you know you’ll use the equipment for years to come. When you purchase the right equipment that has been biomechanically designed to fit your body and your fitness needs, we know you’ll actually enjoy using your home gym!
Beyond purchasing the perfect piece of equipment for your unique fitness needs, the experienced service team at G&G can help you keep your equipment in great shape. Our team can help you with everything from routine maintenance to repairs so you know your home gym will keep running smoothly.
The Bottom Line
Before you go shopping for fitness equipment, it’s important to consider who’s selling it, how you will transport it and set it up, and how you will maintain it. Buying from a trusted specialty home and commercial fitness equipment provider like G&G Fitness takes the guesswork out of completing your home gym.
If you think that used equipment is the best fit for your home gym, let the experts at G&G Fitness connect you with on-sale fitness equipment today!
Know what you're looking for? We'll do our best to find it for you. Click here for access to our unlisted inventory.
Whether you shop at a G&G Showroom or on your own, we recommend these buyers guides:
4 comments
I have a 2 year old Schwann 270 recumbent exercise bike I’d like to sell. Would you be interested?
The best way to look for something in our inventory that might not be listed online is to fill out this form: https://livefit.com/pages/equipment-request. a G&G rep will get back to you asap.
I am looking for a dumbbell set & rack. Ideally 20lb to 40 lb, at 5 lb increments. So 5 sets + rack. Used is preferred if avail to stay on budget.