Four reasons to let your keyboard do the shopping but your feet do the testing.
Are
you in the market for a new treadmill, stationary bike or multistation?
Such items can be a big part of a home gym, with price tags to match.
The explosion of Internet commerce makes the possibility of saving
money on such equipment tempting, but here are four reasons to shop on
the Web but not necessarily buy there.
Your first machine?
If you're looking for your first machine, having a real live person
explain the ins and outs of different features can make it easier for
you to decide-and get-what you want. You can also point at things,
describe what you're looking for and get better feedback than you would
from a search engine. A good salesperson can also suggest items you may
not be familiar with, but that may be just right for your exercise
needs.
Comparison shopping
Once you have an idea of what you want, it's time to compare models.
But that can be difficult to do without actually trying them out. The
way a treadmill's suspension feels under your feet, for example, has a
lot to do with your stride, foot strike and weight. What feels right
for one user may not for another. Quality is another issue. Things like
construction, materials, stability, the way a cable runs through a
pulley, the feel of the hand grips or the ease with which a seat
adjusts vary from machine to machine, even when made by the same
manufacturer. There's no substitute for putting a machine through its
paces-before it's bought, delivered and set up in your home.
Delivery and set-up
When you finally decide on a model, don't forget to figure set-up and
delivery into the total price. Rarely does the phrase "Some assembly
required" ring truer than when you buy home exercise equipment. It can
take experienced technicians hours to put some machines together. How
long would it take you, assuming you have the time, tools, know-how and
even the desire to do it yourself? In addition, machines are usually
heavy, so make sure delivery includes placement in your home. The UPS
folks may bring it to your door, but don't count on them carrying it up
a flight of stairs to your bedroom.
Service
If your new machine breaks or you're just unhappy with it, a return
involves a whole lot more than throwing it in the trunk of your car and
driving to the post office. Make sure you know what the warranty and
return policies are, and have them in writing, before you sign on the
dotted line regardless of where you buy. Does it include disassembly
and pickup or at-home service? What about regular maintenance? Also,
some manufacturers void their warranties when their products are
purchased via the Internet or mail order. Making sure yours doesn't. It
could save you a lot of money down the road.
The Internet can
be a valuable resource when you're looking for exercise equipment, but
it shouldn't be the only one. Doing your homework-at your computer and
on the showroom floor-will help ensure you get your money's worth.
Christine "CC" Cunningham, MS, ATC/L, CSCS is the owner of performENHANCE sports performance training in Chicago (http://www.performenhance.net).
She is a frequent writer and lecturer on personal training, functional
exercise and human performance enhancement. CC can be reached at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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