Used Treadmills

If you’ve decided that a treadmill is right for you but you’re not able to purchase a new treadmill with all the features you want, maybe a used treadmill is right for you. Used treadmills, or better yet, refurbished treadmills, allow you to buy the machine you want without breaking the bank.

So what’s the difference between used and refurbished? It could be light years in terms of value. Used treadmills may have come from an owner who used it twice and then hung clothes on it for 12 months or it may have come from a linebacker-type who ran 20 miles a day every day for those same twelve months. Used may mean the seller cleaned it up, dusted it off, lubed it and placed it on the sales floor. Or, it may mean the seller took it completely apart and replaced every worn part (unlikely) before putting it out for sale.

Refurbished

Refurbished or remanufactured treadmills on the other hand have been stripped down and rebuilt from the ground up using new parts. Ask the dealer the process they went through when it was refurbished. Ask for records regarding new parts added and see if there are records for this refurbished treadmill’s preventative maintenance. This is especially important if it is a commercial treadmill that has come from a fitness facility where it received heavy use.

Usable life

Remember, all treadmills have a life expectancy and come with some kind of warranty. Do your homework on the used treadmill you are considering and find out how far it is into the warranty. Armed with this information, maintenance records and replaced parts records you should be able to evaluate if this used treadmill will save you money or turn into a money pit.

Dealers

Finally, deal only with licensed, reputable dealers. A licensed dealer in used treadmills will have the knowledge to give you good consultation, pricing, service and quality equipment, delivered on time. Ask for a previous customer list from the dealer, and if they’ll provide it, the name of the person or facility they got the used treadmill from.

Remember almost all models have a serial or other number specific to that treadmill. If the used treadmill is out of its warranty and has been reconditioned the dealer should offer a warranty. If they don’t offer one, don’t purchase the used treadmill from them.

Information sources

Talk to people who maintain treadmills. Your local fitness facility may be a good place to start for objective information. A used treadmill can save you thousands of dollars and give you the opportunity to purchase a higher-end machine.

More information on treadmills