A guide to buying used treadmills

Most treadmills in the market are quite expensive and so consumers often take to buying used or refurbished treadmills at a cheaper rate. You may be able to save money on used treadmills but you have to be very careful and look into many aspects before buying the machine secondhand.

First to examine is why treadmills are sold second hand. If you are buying from an individual it maybe because they don’t want it any more, they are no longer using it or they need the money, or they are going to buy a new one. If you are buying from a club or a gym, maybe they are slightly defective due to wear and tear, maybe they are updating their models or they want to get rid of old models.

Once you decided on buying a used treadmill you need to do a careful survey. Don’t rush into buying any machine. Examine various models at the retailer. Then go home and check on the Internet the prices of these models and brands. This will give you an idea on the amount of discount that you are actually going to get on the model.

If you want to check out alternatives, check local newspapers, online classified websites. Ask your neighbors, colleagues and friends. Patience pays and the longer and more diligently you search, the better deal you will get.

You could also search for Refurbished treadmills sold by retailers. They maybe available locally or online. Refurbished machines may have originated from hotels, gyms and individuals. Even with this you must consider many aspects of the machine before you actually buy it.

Remanufactured or refurbished machines is an option that allows gyms and individuals to gain high end, high quality commercial equipment at very low prices- maybe 20 to 60 percent off the cost of a new model. Gyms especially send used machines to the remanufacture route.

A quality remanufacturer will strip the unit down to the frame, treated down to remove rust, and repaint with high quality paint. Then all weared-off items are replaced-bearings, rollers etc. Refurbished machines end up having less servicing problems in the future than brand new machines because of all the servicing that has already gone into it. A warranty usually covers them. Best aspect of refurbished machines that they cost 50% less than new machines.

Companies that sell refurbished treadmills may obtain them through different sources. Some are warranty returns, but most are from clubs and fitness centers that are updating their equipment. A few come from agents due to financial distress faced by owners.

Before buying a used/refurbished treadmill, it is bet to check out whether it has undergone these essential processes-

1) Complete disassembly of parts
2) Full frame finishing rather than touch up
3) Testing and rebuilding of mechanical systems using new parts
4) Testing and rebuilding of electrical systems using new parts
5) Reassembly and thorough testing of all functions and operations.

The advantages of buying refurbished machines are many. The price is almost half. The quality is better due to new parts. Quality is excellent as most refurbished machines are club class. Most come with a substantial warranty.

You may also buy used machines that have not gone through the process of refurbishment. In this case you must keep money ready for some repairs. While making a purchase of a used treadmill, you must keep the following points in mind-

1) A sturdy treadmill should have at least 1.5 continuous horsepower.
You must conduct a trial workout to check the motor’s functioning and particularly its continuous duty horsepower. Also check its belt, speed and cushioning.

2) Must make sure that the machine serves your exercise need. If not, do not go for it even if it has a beguiling cheap price. For example, a machine meant only for walking may not be suitable for runners.

3) Do an assessment of depreciation or refurbishment cost to find out the actual discount on the used machine that you are getting.

4) Buying an already refurbished treadmill is better than that which has not been refurbished, as it would save time, money and energy.

5) While buying a used treadmill it is best you go in for an established, famous brand. A good brand will give you good quality as well as good warranty. If you buy within the warranty period, you can save precious dollars.

6) A good option to purchase used treadmill is a local gym. You can get used high duty machines because they are upgrading their equipment. You benefit by getting high-end machines at bargain prices for home use.

-The motor is not quiet and smooth while running at your top speed
-The motor is not quiet and smooth while walking slowly
-The belt does not move smoothly at all speeds but skips, slips at the center of the treadmill
-The belt and deck does not accommodate your size or stride
-It dose not feel comfortable or stable while adjusted for incline
-The controls are not easy to use

8) Make sure that the control console has the standard features. It must display time, speed, distance, and pace.

9) The deck must accommodate your full stride. It is also best to buy a machine with a high alloy steel frame. Rollers must be 2 inches or larger in diameter. The machine must have buttons for adjustable inclines. Ideally it must have safety features, heart rate monitors and a decent warranty on motor and parts.

While buying a mill you have a choice between department stores (cheap) and specialty fitness stores (expensive). Point to note is that the great warrantys on the specialty store models are not often transferable making the mills hard to resell. So while buying a high-end used mill from a specialty store, one has to be really careful because parts are likely to be expensive, so the lengthy parts warranty is important and buying a lightly used mill for 50% off may not be a good idea.

Buy a used treadmill only if you are convinced it has all the features you need and that it will not create problems in repair and replacements in the future. It is a slightly risky situation to invest in used treadmills. Going after a cheap price may result in you being saddled with poor quality equipment. But doing a thorough and careful search and analysis may help you get a good deal!