Price gauge

MaltedTea wrote: »

I'll never understand the way people use the Disagree button. It would seem so much simpler to state your point of contention in order to allow for dialogue and learning on all sides.

In the interim, I entertain myself with assumptions that the disagreements are on the most tangential aspects of a person's comment. Like, they disagree with @Whydahdad71's use of YouTube and/or @yirara's Middle Eastern villa.

Someone can write a 10,000 word post full of fantastic, worthwhile into but somewhere include the word “toning” and BAM! Disagrees! Ok. So that’s not a thing, but the other 9,999 words are quality info.

People disagree with OP’s who ask a question (and referencing keto/toning/building muscle/not eating enough to lose\etc). Ok...I get it; but how does that help anyone?

At the same time; years ago (before there were any buttons to like/disagree), comments about disagreements derailed more threads than they helped. Someone asking about eating after 8PM and all of a sudden we’re 17 pages deep on whether or not insulin is the devil and how IF is the way to heaven. With a side of carbs before bedtime turn to fat (plus 16 side conversations about that). Then all kinds of “well OP must not want an answer since they never came back”.

So...pros and cons to both I guess. At least it’s better that “woo”.

On the positive side, assuming the pandemic ever comes under control, there will be a plethora of lightly used high end equipment available for purchase at discount prices.

So, about the "disagrees".

positiveyou146 wrote: »

People always want to buy equipment to help with fitness goals - but then the equipment tends to turn into a coat rack or a trip hazard — when people are outside the gym, the best alternative is body weight fitness - and it’s free

I'll own my "disagree" on this one. I'm sincerely glad that bodyweight exercises make you happy, and are helping you reach your goals. Yay, you!

Outside of the gym, I'd rather row a boat (one of those skinny rowing shells), paddle a boat (canoe, kayak), ride a bike, play with kettlebells/weights/bands, take a brisk walk, . . . among other things. Bodyweight exercises can provide excellent results, but they bore the living bejeepers out of me. I don't even know why. That's just me.

And my rowing machine only sits idle during on-water season, when I'm rowing one of those skinny boats instead - usually the double, but occasionally the single. In Winter, the machine accumulates hundreds of thousands of meters, every year since 2003. In summer, the boats get the meters.

Your "best alternative" is not my "best alternative". I agree that most folks would be better off not jumping right into expensive home equipment, unless they know they'll use it. Even so, different people like and will use different things.

I think your personal enthusiasm for bodyweight exercise is leading you to hyperbole. Yup, a lot of people buy equipment and don't use it. Also, a lot of people start bodyweight exercise and give up. I agree that the latter is cheaper: That's a plus.

yirara wrote: »

I once lived in a 400m^2 villa (Middle East, it's considered small). Before moving I was dreaming of my home gym and all the cool stuff I could buy for the inevitable empty bedroom. I brought along a really fab, thick and big workout mat and two kettlebells. I bought a big ball, and a big bag including stand for boxing. The ball remained mainly unused, the big bag was cool, but I didn't use it that much. The mat and kettlebells though... I just replaced the mat for the same and still have and use the kettlebells. There's really no need to spend $$$ on workout stuff. Just a good floormat and some creativity for bodyweight exercises.

Didn't click disagree on this, but I do disagree. Need or want is case-specific.

Boats. I want boats, I need boats . . . happily, I have some nice boats. If I can't use the boats, I can use the rowing machine. (For a while, the boathouse where I store the rowing shells was closed. The canoes and kayak are at my house, but none of them work well when the water is frozen, I admit.)

I use my mat (not very often, I admit - rug works). I use my kettlebells (more often). And other home equipment more than those. Boats, though.

But I don't have the delusion that what's right for me is right for everyone. Some people on the thread seem pretty convinced that what they like will be a good thing for others. Maybe.

Back on topic: I've noticed a lot of "out of stock" on items I had wish-listed (heavy bag stand, weight racks). Haven't paid attention to the price changes on those.

Concept 2 rowing machines are selling for the same price they have been (but they've been backlogged for a while, because they had to shut down temporarily). Boat prices haven't changed much, either, though production shutdowns have affected supply. It's a specialty thing.

I suspect the mass-market equipment is in an interesting period, for price elasticity. I would hope that if people are buying equipment for home because the gyms are closed, that they're buying equipment they used and liked at the gym.

MaltedTea wrote: »

lynn_glenmont wrote: »

*snip*
Pointing out that typing even one sentence to explain one's disagreement is not "simpler" than clicking disagree turns out, unsurprisingly, not to be simpler than clicking disagree.

I disagree 😉 I mentioned "...in order to allow for dialogue and learning on all sides."

The presupposition being that clear dialogue is less likely by pressing a sour-faced, grey emoji.

Therefore, clicking it - as opposed to stating the point of disagreement - ends up being more complicated or complex than necessary for many conversations.

Thank you for taking part in this dialogue lol #refreshing

Also @Whydahdad71 it's great to hear that you have made the best of the market realities and found an alternative you seem to like!

Speaking as someone who was here on MFP before there was any negative click reaction: I can't overstate the awfulness of the lengthy, tedious, repetitive bickering . . . that sometimes got personal and nasty. "Disagree" is a big improvement, IMO. It vents emotion, doesn't cause much trouble. If someone has something concrete to say, they'll still say it. The posts that mostly no longer happen didn't IMO "allow for dialogue and learning on all sides". It was more typically just snippiness, sadly.

I share your sentiment about @Whydahdad71 finding something he likes: That's great, sincerely. It would be a good side effect if the "closed gyms" situation helped people find more things that they truly enjoy, maybe even enjoy more than the gym.