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I can't tell you how many times we got to the end of a demonstration and had a customer love a piece, then at the last moment they say "I have to measure!". Don't be that person, figure out your space before you embark on your cario or strength hunt, that way you won't waste time or money.
Below are specific space (or related) considerations, or shall I say, constraints we come across almost daily.
Those are the top ones to consider, I'm sure there are
Sometimes we see people so fixated on a budget they "pile in" to a product that fits a dollar requirement and they completely abandon all logic when it comes to the users of the machine. We wrote a great blog article, at least we think it's great, about "the best fitness equipment" you can buy. We get the question almost daily, "what's the best piece of equipment out there?" Our Answer Every Time: The one you use the most. It all comes back to who is using the macine, then trying some out or at least talking to our staff about what's recommended after a short conversations.
Examples of things to consider.
Just a handful of considerations to make, everyone's situation is a bit different but this will send your brain down the right path when selecting.
This is one of the most popular reasons people use to "get out of" buying a machine when they get really close to purchasing. Sometimes though people really need to educate themselves on equipment, frankly it's best to talk someone who can suss out all the bs out there such as "paid for" reviews and fictitious "product pumping". Frankly, use reviews as a guideline as the "review business" is a multi billion dollar industry, if you love the one that scored a 75 on consumer reports and it's the same price as the one you didn't like that scored an 85.... don't buy it because it's 85, that's a bad decision. We wrote a great blog article on "the best fitness equipment", suffice it to say it's personal taste. I know that sounds like common sense, but think about it, how often have you purchased exercise equipment before? I venture to guess, 0. or 1 at best. So you have nothing to go on except the $9000 pieces you use in the gym, yes that's how much some of those units cost.
Below are a list of a few free review services that don't take money, that we know of, that are not consumer reports.
This consideration is more about selecting features that line you up with the benefits as it pertains to your fitness goals. Straight to the point, here's a list of common fitness goals and some features/guidlines to consider.
Everyone has a different aim, take this one seriously, as most people laugh it off as "I don't have a goal, hehe?" Just pause. You do have one.
Every so often we come across someone who wants to buy a $3000 treadmill for $2000. Here are two scenarios with the same prices:
Person X:
Negotiates hard, loves the $3000 Precor treadmill to the point of tears, and tries to get it for $2000. But this is impossible from a business standpoint. Person X values the durability, features, and aesthetics, but alas, they have a budget of only $2000. Therefore, he or she must consider the best treadmill at $2000, NOT be going around town trying to achieve this $2000 purchase for a treadmill valued at $3000. The bottom line is Person X loves and values the Precor treadmill, but has to consider his or her budget.
Person Y:
Has all the money in the world and comes in to look at the same Precor treadmill as Person X. While doing so, Person Y realizes they need fitness more than anything (Per the doctor’s instruction). But for some reason, Person Y thinks it's a foregone conclusion that they’re "never going to use it" and it is a “waste of money.” For this person, if it were possible to discount the same product from $3000 to $2000, which it’s not, they still wouldn't buy it because "it's a waste of money." Really, this person shouldn't buy anything at all. Instead, Person Y should recalibrate his or her attitude, then come back once the value to life extension has been realized. Usually what happens is Person Y is "scared" into the decision and ends up looking at $600 units because of the "dust collector" mentality; Person Y goes cheaper (both on quality and price) because of a wrong perspective.
So you see, this is what we mean by value vs budget. Sometimes budget limitations can be overcome by 0% financing options. For people like Person X, we can get them into the Precor treadmill option by simply financing the difference.
Where discounting comes in is when a person just needs a little nudge since they are oh so close to the price. Not cratering prices to the point where it's no longer mutually beneficial.