Nearly-new Equipment
By Mike Hamill
Refurbished fitness equipment is a sensible alternative for many fitness facilities.
When considering options for new commercial strength equipment – treadmills, ellipticals, bikes or any other exercise machine – don’t overlook refurbished equipment. There are plenty of brand name refurbished machines available at a fraction of the cost of new equipment. If cost is an issue, purchasing refurbished pieces can cut your expenses by 20%-60%. With these kinds of savings, you may be able to purchase additional equipment that you wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford.
Sources of refurbished equipment
Large fitness club chains often lease their equipment instead of buying. This means that they’re trading in their equipment every two or three years.
Other sources of used equipment include demo-units, trade show models, floor models, factory returns and equipment that has been repossessed, shipping damaged or blemished.
The advantages
For smaller fitness facilities with limited budgets, the refurbished route allows them to compete with the larger chains. They are able to fully equip their gyms with high-quality, nearly-new equipment rather than provide members with a more limited selection of new units. For example, they may be able to afford four refurbished treadmills instead of just two new ones. And since it’s typically higher-end commercial-grade equipment that is refurbished, small clubs can stay current by making this buying decision.
Perhaps most importantly, many club owners find that the lower cost and relatively high reliability of refurbished equipment allows them to be profitable much sooner.
How it’s done
Companies who specialize in buying pre-owned equipment are able to remanufacture these pieces until they’re almost as good as new.
Reputable companies follow these procedures when refurbishing cardio machines:
1. Machine is stripped down.
2. Frame is re-painted.
3. Overlays are replaced.
4. Treadmill decks and belts are replaced.
5. Electronics and machine functions are tested.
6. Moving parts are tested.
7. Parts are replaced as required.
8. Bearings and bushings are replaced .
Strength equipment, on the other hand, tends to require less servicing and can often be resold “as is” or with only slight reconditioning – and at an even greater cost saving to the buyer.
Purchasing from the right reseller who can outfit your facility with “like new” machines can save you thousands of dollars. Before making any purchases, be sure to obtain a list of customer referrals from the equipment dealer with whom you’re dealing.
Mike Hamill is a well known, Vancouver-based gym owner and personal trainer. He is one of the gurus of the fitness world having established his first facility in the early 1980s. He travels throughout Canada and the U.S. focusing on women’s health and personal training. Mike’s experience includes many years in fitness equipment sales and marketing. Contact him at mike@lifestyleequipment.com.
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