Would you pay $1100 cash for a gym-quality treadmill?

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  • godblessourhome
    godblessourhome Posts: 3,892 Member
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    Sounds to me like you have your mind made up! :) If you have done your research and its a fair price, go for it. You wont be happy with another/different machine, and if you prefer to run/walk indoors, it sounds optimal to me. Have fun!

    I honestly don't have my mind made up about this treadmill. Only that I want a commercial grade treadmill. I had mentally set a cap of spending $1000 and that extra $100 makes a difference. Also having to borrow money from my husband does not thrill me. I do have another treadmill for $950 that I am looking at, but I do not have any experience with that brand. This brand appeals to me only because I have been running on it at my gym.
  • godblessourhome
    godblessourhome Posts: 3,892 Member
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    I wouldn't spend that much on something that doesn't come with a warranty

    That is a concern of mine as well.
  • neacail
    neacail Posts: 228 Member
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    Yes. Providing it was in good shape.
  • godblessourhome
    godblessourhome Posts: 3,892 Member
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    I would urge anyone thinking about buying a treadmill to try running outside, if the weather and location permits. However with allergy season I might have to start running at the gym

    I run outside and love it, but I also have times that I want to run on a treadmill. Bad weather, long runs and when I am cramped for time or not feeling great come to mind. Also late night runs when the gym is closed.
  • godblessourhome
    godblessourhome Posts: 3,892 Member
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    Having been on both cheap and quality exercise equipment, a treadmill is the LAST thing I would go cheap on. Trust me, you WILL notice a difference!

    I know. I bought a very cheap one for $100 that I sold after a few months and a mid-quality one for $550 that I had for a year but just wasn't cutting it anymore. :)
  • kimosabe1
    kimosabe1 Posts: 2,467 Member
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    negotiate girl. Tell them all u have is $900
  • rushfive
    rushfive Posts: 603 Member
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    Sounds to me like you have your mind made up! :) If you have done your research and its a fair price, go for it. You wont be happy with another/different machine, and if you prefer to run/walk indoors, it sounds optimal to me. Have fun!

    I honestly don't have my mind made up about this treadmill. Only that I want a commercial grade treadmill. I had mentally set a cap of spending $1000 and that extra $100 makes a difference. Also having to borrow money from my husband does not thrill me. I do have another treadmill for $950 that I am looking at, but I do not have any experience with that brand. This brand appeals to me only because I have been running on it at my gym.
    if you do not feel comfortable borrowing from husband. Look for a cheaper one. should be good ones out there under 1000.00. not worth the husband loan on your mind. research the 950 one, may be just as good once you get used to the brand.
  • AmyMgetsfit
    AmyMgetsfit Posts: 636 Member
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    I paid $2500 for mine at a fitness store. So yes I would snap that up in a heartbeat. I will take quality over cheap any day of the week for most things and a good quality treadmill is very important to me. Mine is now 10 years old and is still in mint condition. Between my husband and I it is used all the time.
  • dondimitri
    dondimitri Posts: 245 Member
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    Given your requirements and background and assuming you've done the research and the price is reasonable compared to brand new retail I think it would be a decent gamble. Obviously the cheaper you can get it the more the gamble is in your favor.

    I'd think really hard about paying more than about 1/3 the retail price for used equipment unless it is very obviously a late model, essentially brand new, essentially unused machine.

    I'd take a good long look at it; run on it for more than just a minute or two; long enough for any subtle issues to have a chance to surface such as something that only occurs after the machine has been warmed up for awhile. If they won't let you run on it for at least 15 minutes I'd say walk away. Make sure it goes faster than you would ever run and the incline goes higher than you would ever be interested in.

    I hate buying exercise equipment at retail prices; you get the warranty but you pay through the nose for it. I've done it but... ouch, it hurts.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
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    Look at the age of the treadmill--The "9500" designation is an older one.

    If the shroud covering is black and it has the curved "Star Trek Deck" console, then it is a treadmill that was made between 1999 and 2004. You can also ask for the serial number and call Life Fitness at 1-800-351-3737, give them the serial number and they can tell you when it was sold.

    If you have an opportunity to see the treadmill in person, you can also check the mileage on the belt. With the treadmill on, press the "clear" button twice--the screen will go blank for a couple of seconds. While the screen is still blank, press the "pause" button and continue to press it down. The console will beep and the screen should say "service menu". Press the "up" button under "speed" and scroll until you see "information menu". Press "enter". Then scroll again until you see something that says "system statistics" or "belt/deck info" or something like that. Press "enter" and it will scroll through the number of hours and miles on the belt. If the belt has been replaced by a Life Fitness tech, you will see overall miles and then "belt miles" showing the wear on the current belt. If the belt was replaced with an orginal Life Fitness part, it will have "Life Fitness" inscribed on one side of the belt.

    If it is the TR9500 model I have mentioned above, the motor and the shock absorbers had a lifetime warranty. That won't apply to you, but it means they are pretty rugged. The belts were rated to last about 25K miles with proper service. If it is a pre-2004 model, the treadmill uses a spraying system to spray wax on the underside of the belt. Periodically, you have to take off a cover, remove the wax nozzle and soak it in hot water to clear it. Otherwise the belt will wear prematurely. Eventually, there is a bag of wax that has to be replaced.

    Now, using the machine in a residential setting, you might not have to ever deal with any of these things, since your usage will be so low. I have a Stairmaster 4600 in my basement that was made in 1997. I bought it from the company where I worked when they took it in trade from a park district in 2001. In 2001, the park district thought it was a piece of junk. I have been using it regularly since then (12 years) with zero problems and zero maintenance (except to replace a lock washer on one of the pedals 3 times). So there is a HUGE difference between commercial and private use on these things--I don't want to alarm you, just let you know what to look out for.

    The biggest issue with buying a commercial treadmill is power. These things use a ton. An older treadmill is going to use 10-12 amps at least--most home circuits are 15 or 20 amps. If there is anything else plugged into that circuit, you may find you blow it when you crank up the load --running--on the treadmill. You will also need a NEMA 5-20 receptacle. When these units are sold commercially, they require a dedicated circuit for each machine.

    The other potential issue is moving it. I don't think it can be moved through a standard doorway without disassembly.

    If everything checks out, it will be a much better treadmill than anything you could buy at that price--new or used.
  • godblessourhome
    godblessourhome Posts: 3,892 Member
    Options
    Look at the age of the treadmill--The "9500" designation is an older one.

    If the shroud covering is black and it has the curved "Star Trek Deck" console, then it is a treadmill that was made between 1999 and 2004. You can also ask for the serial number and call Life Fitness at 1-800-351-3737, give them the serial number and they can tell you when it was sold.

    If you have an opportunity to see the treadmill in person, you can also check the mileage on the belt. With the treadmill on, press the "clear" button twice--the screen will go blank for a couple of seconds. While the screen is still blank, press the "pause" button and continue to press it down. The console will beep and the screen should say "service menu". Press the "up" button under "speed" and scroll until you see "information menu". Press "enter". Then scroll again until you see something that says "system statistics" or "belt/deck info" or something like that. Press "enter" and it will scroll through the number of hours and miles on the belt. If the belt has been replaced by a Life Fitness tech, you will see overall miles and then "belt miles" showing the wear on the current belt. If the belt was replaced with an orginal Life Fitness part, it will have "Life Fitness" inscribed on one side of the belt.

    If it is the TR9500 model I have mentioned above, the motor and the shock absorbers had a lifetime warranty. That won't apply to you, but it means they are pretty rugged. The belts were rated to last about 25K miles with proper service. If it is a pre-2004 model, the treadmill uses a spraying system to spray wax on the underside of the belt. Periodically, you have to take off a cover, remove the wax nozzle and soak it in hot water to clear it. Otherwise the belt will wear prematurely. Eventually, there is a bag of wax that has to be replaced.

    Now, using the machine in a residential setting, you might not have to ever deal with any of these things, since your usage will be so low. I have a Stairmaster 4600 in my basement that was made in 1997. I bought it from the company where I worked when they took it in trade from a park district in 2001. In 2001, the park district thought it was a piece of junk. I have been using it regularly since then (12 years) with zero problems and zero maintenance (except to replace a lock washer on one of the pedals 3 times). So there is a HUGE difference between commercial and private use on these things--I don't want to alarm you, just let you know what to look out for.

    The biggest issue with buying a commercial treadmill is power. These things use a ton. An older treadmill is going to use 10-12 amps at least--most home circuits are 15 or 20 amps. If there is anything else plugged into that circuit, you may find you blow it when you crank up the load --running--on the treadmill. You will also need a NEMA 5-20 receptacle. When these units are sold commercially, they require a dedicated circuit for each machine.

    The other potential issue is moving it. I don't think it can be moved through a standard doorway without disassembly.

    If everything checks out, it will be a much better treadmill than anything you could buy at that price--new or used.

    Thank you! This was very helpful!
  • RunnerElizabeth
    RunnerElizabeth Posts: 1,091 Member
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    1100 is a lot of money for something without a warranty. Personally for something of that expense, I would keep saving, maybe have a tag sale to raise additional funds and then I would look into buying a refurb directly from the company with a waranty. That'show I got my Vitamix.

    But I can't imagine ever wanting to run 17 miles on a treadmill, I'm an outdoor runner.
  • 2stepscloser
    2stepscloser Posts: 2,900 Member
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    If you are going to spend that kind of money on a treadmill, why wouldn't you just get a gym membership where you have the benefit of a variety of equipment and someone else maintaining it?
  • godblessourhome
    godblessourhome Posts: 3,892 Member
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    If you are going to spend that kind of money on a treadmill, why wouldn't you just get a gym membership where you have the benefit of a variety of equipment and someone else maintaining it?

    I have a gym membership. The only time I ever go is to use the treadmill (I do other fitness things [boxing, yoga, cycling, swimming, hockey] at other places) and there are times that it doesn't work for me to make it there during business hours so I would like my own treadmill at home.
  • YoungDoc2B
    YoungDoc2B Posts: 1,593 Member
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    Pros: None. Run outside

    Cons: Expensive
    Takes up too much space
    Boring

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