Buying a new fitness equipment  isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time. Often, life events prompt these purchases.

Buy the Floor Model and Consider Returns and Discontinued Models

Floor models have been handled by shoppers, but otherwise, they’re like new. Most fitness equipment retailers turn their floor models quickly to ensure that they look new and they are unlikely to be on the sales floor for over a month.

Retailers will often discount a floor model, and some will sell returns for a discount. It always pays to ask.

Be sure about warranty coverage when you buy a floor model or a return, so there are no surprises later. Most of the time it carries a full manufacturer warranty but its always best to ask.

Buy units from your local dealer. Often you will be surprised to find out that your unit won’t carry a manufacturer’s warranty if you don’t purchase local. Manufactures do this to ensure that their customers have a local dealer to do repairs for you if needed.

If you are looking at a discontinued models ask how long the manufacture will have parts for the said unit. Most good manufactures guarantee to have parts in stock for a period of time.

Scope out Service Options Before You Buy

What happens if you need service for your new piece of fitness equipment? Ask, and don’t buy unless you’re satisfied with the answer.

It’s possible to buy trendy fitness equipment  and not be able to find service technicians nearby who can provide service.

This is particularly true of trendy European or other foreign-designed that you often find in the box stores for  fitness equipment.

Its always best if you pick a company that services the equipment they sell with their own in house service team. They are often more likely to want to help you faster if you have an issues to make sure their customers remain happy. You will also find that you will spend less time on the phone with someone that can barely speak english describing the issue you have.

Don’t Be Afraid to Negotiate

There’s no rule against asking if you can have a discount for paying cash, or because you have looked at it  for months and it hasn’t moved.

A Consumer Reports article from 2009 reported survey results saying only 33% of people who bought major piece of equipment or appliance  tried to negotiate.

But of those who did try negotiating, around 75% were successful, saving a median of $100.