Used Exercise Equipment - The Good, Bad and the Ugly

With the high price of new fitness equipment today, many people are turning to the newspaper, Internet and second-hand retailers to find used exercise equipment at a discount.

Buying used equipment sounds like a good idea on paper – and you can save money – but you need to do your homework first so you don't end up buying someone else's headache.

Used exercise equipment dont's:

Don't ever buy a used, cheap treadmill from a maker like Weslo, Healthrider, Proform or Nordictrack. These machines are notorious for costly repairs when they're new, and used treadmills are even worse. Get a quality machine that's built to last more than 90 days.

Don't ever spend more than half of the original price of new exercise equipment when getting used gear. The only exception to this rule is if you know for a fact that the equipment was rarely or never used and it's in mint condition.

Don't ever buy used equipment you've seen advertised on TV when it was new (ab lounge, Body by Jake, Weider, Soloflex, etc.) There's sure to be a new exercise gimmick on the market by the time I write these words, so the easy rule of thumb here is DON'T BUY ANY OF THEM!

Don't think you're getting a good deal on used equipment until you've done research online about pricing, ratings and reliability. The last thing you want to do is buy a problem machine that you'll have to repair or get rid of a few weeks down the road.

Don't buy used exercise equipment in season. The season for exercise equipment is October to March, and if you buy used equipment during that time you'll pay a premium for it. It's best to wait until May when you'll find the best deals.

Don't buy used gear that's outdated and impossible to repair. Some older treadmills and ellipticals will become throwaways if they breakdown because no one will service them and getting parts can be a nightmare.

Don't buy your used exercise equipment from a dealer. You can get the best pricing online by checking auction websites, local newspapers and garage sales.

Lastly, be patient when shopping for used exercise equipment. There's always another deal around the corner that's better than the one you may have missed out on. Finding the right equipment on the used market takes time and discipline to get the best deal.