Showing posts with label Fitness Equipment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fitness Equipment. Show all posts

18 January, 2012

Buying a Discount Treadmill - Is it Really a Bargain?

Have you ever noticed how many treadmills are being sold at a discount prices? Of course, that is part of commercialism. For example, when was the last time you paid list price for a car or jewelry? 

What motivated me to write this article is the fact that "Discount Treadmill" is a very popular search term. People are looking to get the best deal possible when they purchase a treadmill. That makes sense, since even a moderate priced treadmill can run from $1,000 - $2,000. 

So how do you tell when a treadmill is being sold at a discount?

First, by comparative shopping. You find a particular model that satisfies your needs and you shop around. Depending on the quality of the treadmill, you compare prices at the various mass retailers, large sporting goods stores, specialty fitness stores and online. 

In addition, you look for special offers like free shipping, added accessories and extended warranties. Regarding shipping, some businesses may drop off a treadmill on your curve, while others will bring it into your house, set it up and remove the packaging. Considering the weight of some models, that can add considerable value. 

Discounts from Buying Online

More and more people are going online to purchase a treadmill. Are they really saving money? Yes and no. Yes, you can save money from not having to pay sales tax if you purchase from a business that is not located in your state. You can also find discounts online that are better deals than you would find in retail stores. Also, several manufacturers sell direct on the Internet, thus cutting out the middleman. 

In contrast the large sporting goods stores generally sell for the same price online as they do in their store. Furthermore, many treadmill manufacturers set a minimum price that any and all dealers cannot go under, regardless whether they sell online and off.

Discount Prices vs MSRP

Regarding the manufacturers suggested retail price, that is a number that has nothing to do with reality. It is deliberately inflated in an attempt to make the real selling price less intimidating. Both manufacturers and retailers play serious games with their prices.

For example, one online retailer that sells private labeled treadmills lists the MSRP at double the real selling price. They attempt to suggest you are saving as much as 50%. But in realty their private label treadmill is sold for the same price as the manufacturer's models. Another popular treadmill sold online promotes discounts at 15%-40% off. 

With all this slight of hand with prices how do you determine the real value? 

First, you decide how you are going to use the treadmill, and determine what features would satisfy your fitness goals. For example, if you plan to use the treadmill for walking and want the machine to last for more than 90 days, you want certain minimal features. If you plan to use it for running, than you need upgraded features. Here are some of the features you want to compare:

Motor size

Deck size

Roller size

Electronics

Console

Programs


In addition, you want to compare the warranties. The warranty says a lot about the overall quality of the machine and the components. You also want to research the reputation of the manufacturer. You want to buy from a company that is synonymous with quality. You also want to do business with a company that stands behind their treadmills. 

When buying a treadmill do not get caught up in marketing hype of discount prices. Instead look for the best value in your price range. 
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15 January, 2012

I Want A Proform Treadmill. Are They Any Good?

The Proform treadmill is possibly one of the best-known names in exercise equipment. Produced by that behemoth of fitness equipment manufacturing, Icon Fitness, the Proform treadmill is often seen as synonymous with sturdy construction and reliability. While many treadmill experts do indeed rate the Proform range highly, for every positive Pro Form treadmill rating you will find, it seems there is a corresponding review that reports consumer dissatisfaction with the Proform treadmill line. 

Some quick research will reveal many a positive treadmill rating for the Proform range. The construction of the Pro Form treadmill range is considered by those in the know to be excellent, and these treadmills are also deemed to offer a good motor. The electronic readouts that they provide are consistently clear and easy to use. As a company with a relatively long history in treadmill construction, Proform treadmills have developed many innovations, such as the adjustable deck cushioning that is available with some treadmills, and the likes of the scissor type arms included in Pro Form's CrossWalk treadmill, which provides the user with the same upper body workout that is afforded by an elliptical machine. These innovations have helped distinguish Proform treadmills from their treadmill competition. But are these factors enough to secure a top-notch treadmill rating?

It would seem that this is not necessarily the case. Despite the many exercising advantages offered by the Proform treadmill, it is not difficult to find many a consumer treadmill rating that reports great disappointment with a Pro Form treadmill purchase. There exists an apparent consumer treadmill rating consensus that Proform treadmills lack the punch that was expected of them, and long term users report myriad reliability problems and poor customer service. Some users have even reported safety concerns with using a Proform treadmill, and even though certain issues have been resolved by the company by adding extra safety features to their newer treadmills, the older models remain as they were, so caution is recommended when purchasing a used Proform treadmill. 

Overall, the Pro Form treadmill offers a good package of features, including a range of innovative designs not available with other treadmill brands. Proform are not, however, deemed the most reliable make of treadmill available in today's fitness equipment market place, and with relatively short warranty periods and questionable customer service, the treadmill ratings tell us that a Proform treadmill might not be the wisest investment for the serious exerciser.
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