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Buying a Treadmill Online – What You Need to Consider!

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:25:24 +0000

Not too many years ago the idea of buying a treadmill onlinewould have been absurd. Now a significant portion of sales areconducted through the Internet. And with those Internet sales,many are through a shopping cart. More and more people are buying treadmills costing as much asseveral thousand dollars, without ever having any human contact.Who would have thought? What are the benefits of buying online?The Convenience of Shopping From Your HomeWhen you purchase online you avoid the hassle of traveling allover town checking out various models. For city dwellers youknow how time consuming and frustrating that can be. You also are not subjected to pushy salespeople, particularlythe ones who work on commission. They are more likely to try andupsell you on features and functions that are not necessary forachieving your fitness goals. But even worse are the salespeoplein the mass merchant stores. They don’t have a clue on what theyare selling, and what would best accommodate your needs. Without ever having to walk out your door you can comparisonshop numerous brands and treadmill retailers. There are no fasttalking salespeople, only the facts in black and white. TheInternet is a treasure trove of information. And if you arethorough in your research, you will probably know more then manyof “Fitness Equipment Experts.”Saving Money Buying OnlineAnother important benefit from buying online is the potentialsavings. Of course, you can save a considerable amount from notpaying taxes. Depending on where you live that can be as much as10%. And with a quality treadmill that can add up to more thenjust pocket change. Although it is not always the case, you will often find theretail prices lower online. When a business sells online, incomparison to selling through a retail store, their overheadcosts are substantially less. If a salesperson is involved, thanyou have to factor in commissions. All those costs can factor anadditional 10%-15% to the price tag. But don’t just assume that when you buy online you are savingmoney. There are a several Internet fitness equipment retailerswho inflate the MSRP, and than suggest they are offering drasticdiscounts. If you do your homework, you’ll figure out where thereal bargains are.Drawbacks of Buying OnlineOf course, the biggest drawback is you don’t get to take thetreadmill for a spin. And that is a consideration if you are notfamiliar with treadmills and their features. You may need to goout and face the crowds in order to get a feel for differentbrands and their features. Fortunately the Internet can give youa virtual experience through reviews, ratings and customertestimonials. And in many cases this information is morereliable then a few minutes walking or running on a treadmill. Considerations when buying online:1) Check to makes sure the treadmill is a name brand, backed byindependent ratings and reviews. There are a number of sourcesthat provide reviews, including my site Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com. 2) Make sure the treadmill is built with quality components.Like computers, treadmill manufacturers use similar parts. Becertain the parts are reputable and that the overallconstruction meets or exceeds the standards required for yourneeds.3) A warranty says a lot about the quality of a treadmill.Companies are not going to offer an exceptional warranty ifthe machine tends to breakdown in a short period of time.Warranties are an indicator of the overall quality. I recommendthat you buy a treadmill that offers at least a one-year servicewarranty. There is one company selling treadmills under $2,000,with a two-year service warranty. If you plan to buy a budgettreadmill consider an extended warranty. 4) Make sure your treadmill is backed by exceptional customerservice. Treadmills are complicated pieces of machinery. Thereis a good chance during the life of the machine it will requireservice. Whether you buy online or at a retail store, make surethe company has an excellent customer service record. Onlinecompany reviews can be found at Shopping.com and BizRate.com. As with any high-ticket item do your homework before you make apurchasing decision. Shop and compare using the indicatorslisted above. Buy smart and you’ll end up with a treadmilldesigned to reach your fitness goals.

Fitness Equipment – Buying A Treadmill

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:51:10 +0000

Have you been considering purchasing a treadmill for use at home? Are you looking to find the best price on the one you’re wanting? Here are some good tips that may give you the needed help you’re looking for. Treadmills are sold everywhere at discount prices. It only makes since. After all, when does anyone actually pay the list price for furniture or a new automobile?By doing a simple search on the Internet under the term “discount treadmill” you will find that many people are looking for just that, a fitness treadmill at a discount price. This makes sense to most people, given the fact that even a basic model treadmill can cost from $1,000 – $2,000.How do you know you’re getting a discounted price on the treadmill you’re looking at?I would advise starting out by doing some comparison shopping first. Find the treadmill that fits your style and your needs and then begin shopping around. Depending on the treadmill quality, you can easily compare prices at all the various sporting goods stores, fitness stores and retailers like Wal-Mart. The Internet is also a great place to shop.Be sure to look around for any special offers such as free shipping or delivery, extended warranties, or additional accessories. If you have your treadmill shipped, ask if they will set it up for you inside your home and haul away the packaging materials. Fitness machines and especially treadmills, can be quite heavy and hard to move. Keep that in mind when shopping.Buying on the InternetBuying a treadmill through the Internet can make shopping even easier. One of the biggest benefits is that you won’t have to pay any sales tax if you purchase your treadmill from a business outside of the state you live in. This can add up to hundreds of dollars in savings. You are also likely to find some great discounts online that you may not find at a local retail store. Many of the major treadmill manufacturers sell direct to the customer online now.On the other hand, many of the bigger retail stores or sporting goods stores will sell the same exact treadmill for the price you can get online. Some of the manufacturers have a bottom line price that dealers can’t go under, regardless of whether they sell the treadmill online or in the store. Another important point to look out for is the cost of shipping. If you order your treadmill online, does the price include shipping? If not then this cost could easily make purchasing one in the retail store a much better option.List Price vs Discount PriceDon’t let yourself be fooled by the manufacturers suggested price and the actual discounted price. Many times the manufacturer and the retailer will use these prices to make you think you’re going to save a lot of money. A good example is a retailer who shows you a generic brand treadmill that has an MSRP at double the discounted selling price. They let you believe you’re getting a 50% discount. That sounds like a great deal! The reality though is that this generic model is sold for the same price as a name brand manufacturers model.How do you determine if you’re getting the best value?Think about how the treadmill will be used and what features you need. Are you planning on using it for walking only, or will you be using it for running? This is important because it will determine what size motor you need, or program features you will need.Be sure to examine the warranties on the various treadmills. Does the manufacturer stand behind their machine with a good warranty?The bottom line is don’t get yourself caught up in all the hype in regards to prices. What may seem like a great deal may not be. The most important tip is to look the best value that is in your particular price range.Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Fitness

Buying a Treadmill

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:06:15 +0000

If you are considering buying a treadmill you need to take into consideration a number of factors that will determine the quality of the machine. You want to avoid buying a cheap treadmill, because they are not built for endurance and will probably breakdown after minimum use. Treadmills under $800 dollars are not built for endurance and performance and you will get an inferior workout and your machine will not last. So what do you look for when buying a treadmill, and should you buy your treadmill from a dealer or on the Internet? Buying a Treadmill from a Retail StoreThe obvious advantage when buying a treadmill from either a large retail store or fitness equipment specialty shop is that you to try it out. You can try out all of the features, compare the belts and their impact, and get a feel for what works for you. But this comes with a cost. You are paying for two costly expenses. First, you have to pay for the retail overhead costs. Most retail fitness equipment stores are in prime locations. This cost of the building adds significantly to the price of the treadmill.Second, when buying a treadmill you are paying for the commission to the salesperson. And since he is on commission you can’t always be certain he is going to provide you with objective information. Together the retail costs and the salesperson’s commissions can add up to 10% – 15% to the cost of your treadmill. If you feel a need to try it out then you just need to factor in that cost. Buying a Treadmill OnlineWhen buying a treadmill online you can save considerable money, but you have to be an educated buyer. But the reality is treadmills are like computers. They are composed of many of the same features and components. If you know what you are looking for in a treadmill, and you are familiar with the features you want, then you can easily shop and compare online. In the process you avoid having to travel all over town comparing prices and features. The whole process can be done at your desk.These are considerations when buying a treadmill online:Check to make sure the treadmill is a name brand, backed buy independent ratings and reviews. Also, check for customer testimonials, if available. Make sure when buying a treadmill, it is built with quality components. Like computers, treadmill manufacturers built using similar parts. Make sure that the parts are reputable and that the overall construction meets or exceeds the standards required for your needs.A warranty says a lot about the quality of a treadmill. Companies are not going to offer an exceptional warranty if the machine tends to breakdown in a short period of time. Warranties are a consistent factor in the quality of a treadmill. If the warranty is exceptional then it makes sense that the treadmill is built to last. Make sure you buy treadmill that comes with a reasonable in-home repair warranty. A one year repair warranty is a good indication. If you plan to buy a budget treadmill consider an extended warranty. Make sure your treadmill is backed by exceptional customer service. Treadmills are complicated pieces of machinery. They do break. Whether if you buy online or at a retail store, make sure the company has an excellent customer service record. Online company reviews can be found at Shopping.com and BizRate.com. When buying a treadmill do not get caught up by the salesperson. Do your research. Compare prices, features, reviews, ratings and warranties. That will give you a good indication on what to buy whether online or off.