How to Purchase Commercial Fitness Equipment for the Home

When you decide to purchase any type of fitness equipment for your home, consider commercial fitness equipment. Commercial fitness equipment lasts longer, can handle heavy usage, and has to be serviced less than equipment made for the home.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Your Budget
• Time to research

Commercial Equipment for your home

1. Determine your budget. Owning a piece of commercial equipment is wise investment, as it designed for hours of continuous use, multiple stops and starts, and is made of more durable parts and electronics. Commercial equipment can cost more than lower end home equipment that you find at discount stores. However, for all the money you might spend on parts, labor, and the cost of your time, that you might have been able to purchase a piece of commercial equipment. Also, you might be surprised to find that new commercial equipment can be comparable in price or even less expensive than higher end home equipment. Even refurbished or used can be within many budgets.
2. Research the brands you may want. There are resources on the internet that rate durability of commercial treadmills and elliptical equipment. Also, it might help to talk to gym owners or purchasing managers and ask about the equipment in their facility.
3. One option is to buy new. The benefit to a new piece of commercial equipment is that all the parts on it are new, and it has not seen any abuse from other users. To buy a new piece of commercial equipment, first contact the manufacturer directly and see if they sell directly to consumers. If they don't sell directly to consumers, or do not want to sell one piece at a time, do not stop there! There are other sources. Check with a locally owned sporting goods retail store, they may be able to order your desired equipment. Your equipment also may be available online from a retailer that caters to fitness centers and gyms, but is willing to sell to one piece at a time to consumers for home use.
4. Another option is to buy used equipment. Used equipment may or may not need repairs; buy with caution. However, used commercial equipment is everywhere. Universities, fitness centers, gyms, and health clubs upgrade from time to time, and sell used equipment at rock bottom prices. Talk with the manager or director to find out when their next upgrade might be, the bidding process, and the condition of the equipment. Used equipment that has been examined or repaired, but not completely refurbished, is also available online.
5. The last option is to buy refurbished equipment. Refurbishing means that the company purchases large lots of used equipment, and completely examines them. Refurbishing companies replace belts, motors, control panels, or other parts that are worn, and often can repaint the metal parts of equipment in a color of your choosing. The best refurbishing companies will often completely disassemble the equipment, reassemble it, and offer a great warranty. Refurbished equipment is a good buy as companies only refurbish durable equipment. The best place to buy refurbished equipment is online.

Tips & Warnings

• Whenever you use search engines, make sure you use commercial fitness equipment in your query. This will get you the most and best hits.