Buying A Treadmill - 3 Essential Tips

Buying A Treadmill – 3 Essential Tips

If you're buying a treadmill, chances are you've done lots of
research already. You probably know exactly what makes up a high
quality treadmill and have an idea of which features you want in
your unit.

But even with this knowledge many people still fall prey to
slick treadmill deals that end up costing them in the long run. 

In order to keep that from happening to you, here are 3
essential buying tips to make sure you choose the very best
treadmill for you. 

#1) Not All Treadmill Brands Are Created Equal

I recently had a gentleman e-mail me asking for advice on which
treadmill he should buy. He had narrowed it down to 3 choices:

Choice #1: Brand A: 2.5 HP motor $999

Choice #2: Brand A: 1.75 HP motor $899

Choice #3: Brand B: 2.0 HP motor $1099

He asked me which treadmill I would buy. He was clearly leaning
towards Choice #1. 

This was the natural choice for most people and it makes sense:
get the most for the least. Or get the most motor power for the
least amount of money.

However, my answer surprised him. I told him if it were my
choice, I would go with Choice #3: Brand B for $1099. Here's why:

Although the motor power is lower than Choice #1 and the price
is higher, Brand B makes an overall better treadmill. Why?

Brand B has a reputation for making high quality treadmills and
backing them up with extensive warranties, including 10 years on
the motor. It can afford to give such lengthy warranties because
it knows that it makes a quality product that probably WON'T
break down - even in 10 years.

Brand A on the other hand offers a 90-day motor warranty. What
does that tell you about the quality of parts?

Although motor power is a good feature to consider when buying a
treadmill - you have to be careful. Look at it in the context of
the whole treadmill - including the brand.

Not all treadmill brands are created equal. Some treadmill
brands use extremely high quality materials. Others well, don't.

Make sure to look beyond just the bare numbers when choosing a
treadmill. Look at the whole picture to find the best treadmill
for you.

#2) Don't Always Believe What The Salesperson Tells You

Get it in writing. This isn't to put down any salesperson - but
they are human. They do make mistakes, and sometimes this can
end up costing you.

I had another lady e-mail me asking for advice on choosing a
treadmill. She'd narrowed it down to several and was leaning
towards one in particular (let's call it Treadmill X).

She had been told by a salesperson in the store that this
Treadmill X (for $899) came with a lifetime warranty on the
motor.

This lady was smart. She was looking at the whole treadmill
picture. The price was excellent. The motor power was average
(1.75 HP). And who can pass up a lifetime motor warranty?

But wait a minute.

I was fairly familiar with this treadmill brand and knew
something was off.

This particular treadmill brand never gives lifetime motor
warranties - ever. Not even on their commercial treadmills. So
why would they offer a lifetime motor warranty on one of their
economy treadmills?

I voiced my concerns to her and wasn't surprised to hear back a
couple of days later that the salesperson had actually been
mistaken about the lifetime warranty.

If she had bought this treadmill simply based on what the
salesperson said, she might have gotten a nasty surprise -
especially since this particular treadmill brand is known for
being extremely costly to repair.

Don't always trust what the salesperson says. Make sure to get
it in writing before you buy!

#3 Forget the Price Tag - Look at the REAL Price Of The Treadmill

Price is probably one of the most important factors when buying
a treadmill. But sometimes the price of the treadmill can be
misleading.

For example, let's say you're looking at Brand A in a store with
a price of $799. Pretty good price right? 

A much better deal than Brand B - sold online - at $999.

But look closer at Brand A. Brand A only comes with a 90 day
parts and labor warranty so you need to buy added coverage. You
pay $50 for a 2 year extended motor warranty.

So Brand A's total cost is now $849 (with a 2 year motor
warranty)

Brand B is still $999 (with a 10 year motor warranty already
included)

Overall, you figure that Brand A is still the better deal since
it's cheaper.

But look closer. You need to pay shipping costs for Brand A.
Shipping costs from most stores usually run you about $150.

Brand B, since it is sold online offers free shipping (most
online treadmill sellers do).

So Brand A's total cost is now $998 (with a 2 year motor
warranty)

Brand B is still $999 (with a 10 year motor warranty)

With Brand A, $799 has gone to buy the treadmill, $50 has gone
to buy the warranty and $150 has gone into shipping.

With Brand B, $999 has gone to buy the treadmill (warranty
included). 

So which treadmill do you think actually gives you the most
value for your money? 

And don't forget that many online treadmill stores don't charge
sales tax. The store that sells Brand A does. That technically
makes Brand A MORE expensive than Brand B.

So when comparing treadmills, make sure to consider the TOTAL
COST of each treadmill before you buy.

By keeping these 3 tips in mind when purchasing a treadmill:

- Not all treadmill brands are created equal 

- Don't believe what the salesperson tells you - get it in
writing

and

- Look at the REAL price of the treadmill

you'll be well on your way to choosing the best treadmill
investment for you. Good luck and have fun!