Please note that I'm not saying: 'buy a cheap treadmill'. With treadmills, you definitely don't want to skimp on quality.
A cheap, unstable treadmill with improper cushioning and low quality parts will not only cost you in repairs but in health. You can ruin your joints and cause long term damage.
However there ARE several ways to get a high quality treadmill for a discount price. Here are several ways to get a significant discount on your treadmill:
#1) Buy Direct From The Manufacturer
Some treadmill manufacturers will sell their treadmills directly to the consumer. By skipping the middleman (the store) you also save on the mark-up price that the store has to add in order to make a profit.
This can save you hundreds of dollars (I've seen discounts of up to $1400 off retail). When you buy directly online from the treadmill manufacturer, you also can usually get free shipping and even save on sales tax.
Another advantage to buying direct through the manufacturer is that if you have questions or have any problems with your treadmill, they can often do much more for you than if you buy the same brand through the store.
(In many cases manufacturers' hands are tied on what they can do for you when you buy through a store because of contracts, legalities, agreements, etc.)
#2) Buy From An Online Store
There are several online treadmill stores that sell a large variety of high quality, brand name treadmills directly to you. Because they are not paying the overhead costs of a store, these savings get passed on to you and you can often save hundreds of dollars on a brand name treadmill.
Plus, most of these stores will also give you free shipping (which can save you up to $150). And you can even save on sales tax in some areas.
Another advantage to buying from an online store is that you can often find a much greater variety of options than your local store may carry. This means you may be able to find a treadmill that better suits your needs and goals.
#3) Buy A Used Treadmill
Some people choose to buy a used treadmill - through eBay or their newspaper classifieds. You can sometimes get great discount treadmills this way. However be aware that there are several drawbacks:
#1 You don't know what's been done to the treadmill:
- Is the buyer selling because they've beaten the stuffing out of treadmill for 5 years and now the cushioning's garbage?
- Do certain functions not work anymore?
- Do they know something you don't? (like the fact that they accidentally spilled coffee all over the console last week?)
#2 You don't have the protection of the warranty:
This is something I get emailed about all the time and most buyers do not know this fact: Virtually every treadmill manufacturer will not honor a warranty on the 2nd owner of a treadmill - no matter if it's 6 months old or 6 years old. If the treadmill breaks down the 2nd time you use it - you're out the money to fix it.
So if the seller tells you "Don't worry, it's still under warrranty", realize that the manufacturer will not honor the warranty for you - the second buyer. So it's not a selling feature, it doesn't give you any protection.
#3 It may be a problem getting parts:
If the treadmill you're buying is older (4+ years) chances are that model is no longer being sold. As such, it may be a problem finding parts for your machine. And if you can find parts, they may cost extra since they're so hard to find.
Basically, if you buy used you can save money - but be very careful. Ask a lot of questions, and try to see a receipt of when the treadmill was purchased. Also, expect that you may be putting some money out if the model if older than 5 years.
So those are several ways to get a great discount on your treadmill. For a list of discount treadmill sellers that sell treadmills at up to 50% off, see our Where To Buy At A Discount Section.
