If you are new to elliptical trainers, it may be hard for you to pick up the best equipment for yourself. Elliptical trainers are available under so many different brands and price tags that it can be literally confusing and bewildering for a novice to select the best of them. At the end of the day, you would want to get the best bang for your buck – a machine that is decency built and priced. So how do you find such an elliptical trainer in this over-crowded market? In the following article I will tell you about two things you MUST consider when buying an elliptical trainer.
1) The price tag: Price is probably one of the major things that influence a buyer’s decision. If you are on a tight budget, you would naturally go for the cheapest model available. However, if you take a long and hard look on your health, you would actually realize that spending a bit extra would cause you much less headache than otherwise.
Let me tell you about my story. I was a cheapo as far as fitness equipments are concerned. Naturally, when a $400 elliptical hit the market, I fell for it fairly and squarely. I promptly got it installed in my room and started working out.
Unfortunately, the machine hardly lasted for more than 3 months. By the fourth month, it had developed a loud, shrill noise that was impossible for me to bear. I called on a few experts for repairing the machine but to no avail. In the end, it was a huge waste of time and money, not to mention the huge frustration it caused me. Had I invested a bit more in the equipment, I would have probably still been using it. Don’t be a fool like me and expect to invest at least $800-$900 in a decent equipment.
If you are serious about fitness, you would want to buy an equipment that lasts your lifespan at the very least, if not your posterity. If you consider the lifetime value of an elliptical trainer, you would actually be saving money in the long run by investing in a quality equipment.
2) The manufacturing company: You don’t necessarily need to get carried away by the name and popularity of a brand, but at the same time, you won’t want to buy from a sub-standard equipment manufacturer because that would simply leave a bitter taste in your mouth. While buying an elliptical trainer, you would want to check the following:
a) Whether your purchase comes with a warranty and if yes, the length of the warranty period offered as well as the parts of the equipment covered/not covered by the warranty.
b) Whether your purchase comes with a strong return policy or not. No matter how far and wide you research a product, the possibility of getting a raw deal is something you simply cannot rule out. Even though most decent companies offer you a “hassle-free, 30 day money back guarantee”, it is still important to check out the return policy of the manufacturer before making a purchase.
c) The reputation of the company, the length of time it has been in business, the experiences of other customers with this company’s products, whether the company prominently displays its contact information on its storefront (this is something you should check when making an online purchase)
