William Staub, you may not recognize his name, but he is the person responsible for allowing us all to use a treadmill in our home or gym.

Mr. Staub knew the benefits of exercise after reading Dr. Kenneth Coopers’ 1968 book ‘Aerobics’.

Dr. Kenneth Cooper; himself a fitness pioneer, had been using treadmills for many years to perform stress tests and coined the word “aerobics”.  Dr. Cooper knew the significance of the treadmill and cardiovascular health early on.  The treadmill was being used primarily by health professionals in their offices and hospitals in the 1950’s and 1960’s and was not affordable nor available to the general public for purchase or use.  After reading Dr. Cooper’s remark about the benefits of running an 8 minute mile a couple of times a week and how that would create good health in anyone, Staub decided to market a treadmill that would allow everyone the benefit of this 8 minute mile philosophy, without excuse!

Mr. Stuab began creating a scaled down version of the treadmills he had seen in doctors’ offices.  His goal was to market these treadmills commercially to any normal person on the street.  He never thought that a home treadmill would inspire such curiosity.  Many had never seen or heard of a treadmill.  Staub wanted to make something that would allow all users to exercise when the weather was not cooperating; in addition to being affordable to the masses.

He created the PaceMaster in the late 1960’s and began marketing it through a company he called Aerobics Inc.

Dr. Kenneth Cooper described Staub as an “a pioneer in exercise — not for the athlete, but for the masses.”

He was responsible for changing the way people exercise and taking every excuse out of the equation.  Thank you William Staub for your foresight into health and fitness!

For more on William Staub and his amazing life please click the link below:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/william-staub-who-took-the-treadmill-out-of-doctors-offices-and-into-homes-dies-at-96/2012/07/24/gJQACFrX7W_story.html

As mentioned previously, there are many reasons to purchase fitness equipment online.

  The following will outline factors that are rarely considered when purchasing equipment from a “.com” source.   This oversight can cost consumers money, time and huge headaches.

Delivery:

Many companies offer free shipping…..to your curb.  Curbside delivery has become a standard for most fitness equipment companies.  Curbside is just that!  The equipment is left on the curb for the customer to figure out how it will be taken inside.  Many times treadmills and home gyms will be delivered on a pallet.  Not only will the purchaser need to take the equipment off the pallet and move it into the room of use, but then have the hassle of disposing of the pallet.

For Instance, Lifespan Fitness offers free shipping, but only curbside.  As long as you have 2 strong friends, ready to drop what they may be doing and help get the item inside, in addition to the weather being wonderful 24/7……you should have no issues.  If you don’t not have those 2 unemployed body builder friends and live on Earth….you may have a bit of stress added to the day of delivery.

Free Delivery is great!  Most consider delivery (at the very least) as an item being left inside a garage or to a porch.  Be advised that the term delivery is not always what you would expect.

Returns and Restocking Fees: 

Numerous companies will charge a restocking fee, even if a 30 day trial period is offered.   Restocking fees can range from 10% to 15% of the purchase price!   The majority of consumers believe a trial period is just that, a trial use period to exam the product and ensure that it serves your specific needs.  The trial period with many manufacturers is anything but free!

For instance, Sole offers an “unprecedented 30 day trial period” on all of their equipment.   BUT…..even if you return the item within 30 days, get an RMA number issued, package the item flawlessly and take the item to the curb as they request……you will still be charged an 8% restocking fee!

Many times the only time the restocking fee is waived is when a faulty piece of equipment is received.

READ the fine print prior to ordering and verify the “30 day trial” is risk free to your wallet.

Shipping Charges:

So you’re feeling lucky that you received free shipping……not so fast if you change your mind!   NordicTrack charges all consumers for the freight back to their warehouse, even if you did not pay shipping originally.  This is for any reason including “Trial Periods”.  The only exclusion is if the product is damaged.

If a consumer does not return their equipment in the original packaging from a company or obtain an RMA number, the purchaser will be hit with an additional 10 to 15% restocking fee AND additional freight charges.  Those charges do not include any damage that may occur during shipping back to the manufacturer!  Guess who pays for damages?   The customer!

Order Defect:

If a buyer receives a piece of equipment that is defective out of the box, it is the buyer’s responsibility to repackage the equipment, place it on the curb and have the item picked up.  Now that does not seem too difficult an issue.   If you are living in an apartment building, have no way of carrying 300 lbs. or cannot trust neighbors to leave the item alone on the curb, this can equal huge problems!  The delivery drivers will not come inside a home or apartment and will only pick up curbside.  This means you have the possibility of not being present and available at the driver’s whim, hoping and praying that it does not rain, have a not so honest neighbor and/or  able to take a day of vacation from your job.

Company Discretion:

Nearly all fitness equipment manufactures require equipment to be returned in brand new condition.  This requires that the equipment must be in the original box and have every bolt, instruction manual, sticker or piece of literature to be considered 100% returned.  If every piece is not returned entirely, or the manufacturer deems there is a scratch that was made while in your home, they will charge you an additional fee….isn’t that a bargain!

We hope this overview of the pros and cons has opened your eyes regarding the purchase of fitness equipment online.   We at Treadmill Doctor would love to have rose colored glasses about the huge selection of great equipment choices online, but we also get the angry emails from the customers wanting to expose the policies of many of the companies in the market.

Our goal is to make our customers as happy and as informed as possible.

We look forward to your positive experiences, and would also like to hear about any horror stories you may have experienced!

People choose to purchase items online for a variety of reasons, but the most evident is the convenience and the wide range of product comparisons.  Many people are able to find products and brands that were largely unknown prior to online research and query.

Purchasing smaller, inexpensive items online is really effortless and many don’t think twice about these purchases.   When individuals are considering the purchase of new fitness equipment, many will begin to make a budget and most will hit the Internet.   With so many comparative pricing sites, seller marketplaces and factory direct sites, buying online seems to be the way to go.  There are many reasons that support the choice to purchase fitness equipment online:

The Pros:

1.        More Options:  The enormous selection offered online is the single most important reason most buyers choose to purchase via the web.  Regardless of the population or city you live in, the Internet will continue to be the largest marketplace.  Comparison shopping is also effortless online.  Many will feel as though they have done their due diligence in comparison shopping, and feel great about spending money on a large purchase.
2.        Price:  With so many manufacturers possessing direct websites,   many people are able to find closeout pricing, customized equipment and refurbished equipment.  Manufacturers are also able to offer many discounts due to low overhead and being able to ship directly to the customer’s door, leaving the middle man out.   In addition to those advantages, many online consumers will save the cost of sales tax, which is collected if equipment is purchased in your local fitness store.

In addition to the excellent pricing, you may be able to hit a sale and receive additional products or services that you would not find in a retail outlet.  The additional products can range from a free equipment mat to a couple of years being added to you extended warranty.

The NordicTrack 9500 Pro Elite Treadmill is a perfect example.  It seems to be hard to find on the bigger Internet Retailers and also more expensive!  Going to the NordicTrack direct site consumers can find the 2012 model AND get this great treadmill for $1799.99 with free shipping!

3.        Ease of Use for the Consumer:  Click and ship!  The simplicity of purchasing online is a huge draw for most fitness equipment consumers!  No pushy sales people, no upselling of items that are considered “must haves”.

4.        Certified and Tech Inspected Used Equipment:  If you are in the market for used equipment, users can still purchase discounted, used and refurbished equipment online and sometime from the manufacturer.  Many times the refurbished equipment has a warranty and is “certified” by the manufacturer or seller to be in good working order.  This is a huge advantage of you have ever heard the horror stories from anyone who has purchased a piece of equipment on Craigslist or directly from an individual.

Please stay tuned for the many hidden (and pricey) disadvantages to purchasing fitness equipment on the Internet.