| There are on-line distributors of fitness equipment | | | | It's definitely worth your while to ask a lot of |
| who offer both new and remanufactured or | | | | questions of dealers offering remanufactured |
| refurbished machines. The most common types | | | | elliptical trainers. You'll want to ask about exactly |
| of remanufactured equipment are treadmills and | | | | what steps they perform in the remanufacturing |
| elliptical trainers. This article will focus on | | | | process from inspection to tear down to rebuild. |
| remanufactured and refurbished elliptical trainers, | | | | Below is a list of what a thorough |
| but the basic concepts apply to any type of | | | | remanufacturing process should consist of: |
| remanufactured or refurbished fitness equipment. | | | | * Thoroughly test the machine looking for defects |
| It's typically higher-end commercial-grade elliptical | | | | * Fully disassemble the machine |
| trainers (MSRP over $3000), which are | | | | * Sandblast the frame to remove original powder |
| remanufactured or refurbished and offered for | | | | coat |
| resale. This is because they can be offered at a | | | | * Inspect the frame |
| substantially reduced price compared to new | | | | * Re-powder coat the frame |
| ellipticals and the distributor still makes a decent | | | | * Rebuild the motor |
| profit. | | | | * Thoroughly test the console electronics; repair |
| Health clubs that want to keep costs down are | | | | or replace defective components |
| typically the buyers of remanufactured or | | | | * Replace the drive belt |
| refurbished equipment. They often buy more than | | | | * Replace bearings and bushings in the mechanical |
| one. It's easy to see the cost savings at this level | | | | components |
| -- buy 5 remanufactured elliptical trainers that | | | | * Replace the grips |
| retail new for $5500 and get them for $3000 | | | | * Replace the keypad overlay |
| remanufactured | | | | * Test the reassembled unit |
| It's important to distinguish between used, | | | | Check the dealer's Website to see if this process |
| refurbished, and remanufactured equipment. The | | | | is described. If not, then ask either via email or |
| bottom line is that whether it's refurbished or | | | | over the phone. If the dealer is reluctant to |
| remanufactured it's still used equipment and just | | | | answer your questions then go look elsewhere. |
| like buying a used car, you need to protect | | | | Also be sure to ask about the warranty that is |
| yourself. | | | | offered on these machines. Warranties on |
| Keeping this important point in mind, can you get | | | | remanufactured ellipticals tend to short. |
| yourself a good deal? Absolutely! Just do your | | | | 3. Refurbished Ellipticals - Machines less than 2 |
| homework before deciding to purchase one of | | | | years old are typically refurbished. The |
| these ellipticals. | | | | refurbishing can be done either by the |
| 1. Used Ellipticals - Private individuals usually offer | | | | manufacturer or a fitness equipment dealer. The |
| these. You won't get any warranty so you're | | | | machine is cleaned up a bit and any broken |
| stuck if the elliptical trainer has problems as soon | | | | components are replaced. However, this is not the |
| as you get it home. This is the riskiest way to | | | | same rigorous tear down and rebuild that goes |
| buy a used elliptical trainer. In general, unless the | | | | into a remanufactured elliptical trainer. For |
| elliptical trainer is an expensive, high-end machine | | | | instance, the frame will not be sandblasted and |
| that is still it the box and offered for next to | | | | re-powder coated. As a result, the machine may |
| nothing, you should probably stay away from it. | | | | look a bit used depending on its original condition. |
| 2. Remanufactured Ellipticals - Remanufactured | | | | A manufacturer-refurbished elliptical trainer will |
| fitness equipment of any type is taken | | | | come with a longer warranty than a |
| completely apart, re-powder coated, rebuilt to the | | | | remanufactured elliptical or a refurbished one that |
| manufacturer's original specifications and then put | | | | was done by a dealer. It's also a good bet that a |
| back together again. The end result is typically a | | | | manufacturer-refurbished elliptical was checked |
| used machine that is as good as a new one, but | | | | out more thoroughly and accurately. |
| selling for much less. Ellipticals more than 2 years | | | | When making your decision weigh the final price, |
| old are the usual candidates for remanufacturing. | | | | quality of the work, and length of the warranty. |
| It's not cost-effective to go through the process | | | | All things being equal, the best choice sometimes |
| for newer machines. | | | | turns out to be a manufacturer-refurbished |
| Some elliptical trainer manufacturers rebuild their | | | | elliptical trainer. |
| own equipment and offer it for resale to their | | | | So there you have it. If you're willing to invest a |
| dealers, but it is much more common to find | | | | little time doing some research, you can land |
| equipment dealers who remanufacture elliptical | | | | yourself the equivalent of a late-model, used |
| trainers in their own shop and then offer them | | | | BMW, with essentially no mileage on it for the |
| for resale on-line. | | | | price of a new Chevy! |