Description
A Quickie Guide to Purchasing Used Exercise Equipment
Let’s face it. Exercise equipment is expensive. Treadmills, elliptical trainers, weight-lifting
machines, and exercise bikes can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
Yet many people still feel that an exercise machine is the best way for them to get in shape,
even if they can’t quite afford the hefty price tags, so they think that perhaps a used machine is
the best way to go.
In fact, buying used equipment can be an affordable way to get a high-quality machine.
However, it can also be a chance for some unscrupulous seller to saddle you with a worn-out
piece of junk. However, the result doesn’t have to be left to chance. Armed with a little bit of
knowledge, and prepared to do some research, you can turn the search for used equipment
from a grab-bag game of chance to an opportunity to score a great deal.
There are two main sources of used exercise equipment. The first is from individual, noncommercial sellers. These are generally the people on eBay and in the newspaper classifieds
who have finally decided that they’re never really going to use that treadmill collecting dust in
the garage, after all.
These are also the people who used their exercise bike every day, and are only selling this one
to make room for the newer, shinier, latest version. In either case, some equipment will be like
new, and some will be about as far from new as you get. About the only way to know for sure
is to see the machine for yourself.
If you’re looking in the newspaper, the solution is relatively simple. When you call the number
in the ad, tell the person selling it that you want to see it and try it out before you buy it. If he
or she refuses, then don’t buy from that person. (If you or the person selling the machine is
worried about being alone with a stranger, remember that you would have to meet to deliver
the equipment, anyway, and you can both have someone else with you.
This may be obvious to both parties, but I’ll go ahead and spell it out, just in case.) When and if
you go to check out the equipment, make sure that it isn’t missing any parts, that it isn’t rusty
or worn-out in key areas, and that it actually works. Turn it on and try it for a few minutes to
make sure it runs smoothly.
Keep in mind that used machines don’t come with warranties, and that it may be harder to find
replacement parts for older brands and models. If you decide to buy it, make sure you have
each other’s name and number, in case something else comes up in the future.
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