Keep Breaking Cross Trainers!

chrispardo
chrispardo Posts: 3
edited October 4 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all, first post here.

I've been on the MFP bandwagon since April and have been exercising by cycling to work, swimming once a week and using a cross trainer at home 3-4 times a week.

My problem is that I've now broken a cross trainer for the third time. The first and second breaks were on the same machine, which I then replaced a part in; the second time it broke I decided to not trust it any more and get another. This was just over 2 months ago. All in all I seem to be getting through a cross trainer every 2-3 months.

All 3 have broken in the same way; a central metal axle snapping clean in two, despite me always being under the maximum weight (comfortably so now). I have no idea if I'm just going at them 'too hard'? I like to keep my exercise time the same (30 mins) and gradually increase my speed/distance. I was up to about 11.5k in this time.

My dilema is this; I went down this route to try and save money compared to a gym membership, but I've spent over £100 on cross trainers/parts this year (both cross trainers have been bought second hand on eBay). So now do I:

A. Keep buying second hand ones on eBay, knowing that I'll probably get 2/3 months use of it before I break another
B. Buy a new, more expensive model (something like http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?searchTerms=3357619) that will carry at least a 12 month warrenty so that if it breaks I can get it fixed/replaced
C. Take out a gym membership at around £35pm

This is incredibly frustrating, and keeps disrupting my exercising. So basically, what would you do?

Replies

  • almille
    almille Posts: 89
    Huh. I don't know anything about them, but that does not sound normal at all. If you are buying the replacement parts new from the company which makes the xtrainers, you should definitely call them and complain about quality. Ask for reimbursement and free replacement parts, see if you get 'em. Maybe if you push hard enough and friendly enough with the right people (tricky) you can get them to fix your problem, or hell, give you a new machine. Some companies of high price items really want their customers satisfied. Even buying the machine used, if the same part is failing each time that's a design issue.

    It's worth a shot.
  • caramkoala
    caramkoala Posts: 303 Member
    I would get a cross trainer for home - so much more convenient than dragging yourself to a gym! Have you considered the hire to buy options? You can pay it off over a few years, and I believe you can get a contract which included warranties and servicing over this time.

    Although, If going to a gym fits in with your schedule, you'd have access to a wide variety of machines and weights, and maybe group fitness classes?
  • whiskey9890
    whiskey9890 Posts: 652 Member
    do the parts that you are buying not come with a waranty? maybe worth investigating this option and just get the replacement part replaced for free by the manufacturers
  • chrispardo
    chrispardo Posts: 3
    The cross trainer that I had the replacement parts for has now gone; the first time they replaced the part for free from an ex-display model, so I doubt it had any warranty.

    The CT that I currently have, that broke last night, is one I've never tried getting replacement parts for. I also don't have any instructions for it, which I did with the first one (with useful diagrams of how everything fit together).

    The problem is that it's a nightmare taking these things to pieces when you have to replace the central axle/disc wheel. It took me several hours the first time, and I had to get someone to come round to help me out. I live by myself in a single bedroom flat; I don't really have the space, tools or man-power to take these things to pieces by myself.

    Plus it's just REALLY annoying!
  • chrispardo
    chrispardo Posts: 3
    I'd also add that the 2 cross trainers have been totally different models, from 2 different manufacturers. So I'm not sure if there's simply a design flaw with them... unless I've been particularly unlucky.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories