In dealing with many gym owners, like yourself, I see that they all have the same common gripe about their fitness equipment: “It can be so expensive, especially to maintain.”
The truth of the matter is, maintenance costs are expensive, but there is no way to avoid them. However, there is one way that you can save some significant money on your fitness equipment: buy reconditioned products. As I stated in my last article, quality reconditioned fitness equipment can be just as good as, if not better than, new machines.
First, let’s look at a few of the most common fitness equipment problems and maintenance expenses experienced by commercial health clubs.
Treadmills: Treadmills are amongst the most common piece of fitness equipment. They can be extremely basic or elaborate with all sorts of bells and whistles. All serve the same basic purpose – people walk, run, and eventually abuse the heck out of them…and we all know who gets the bill. While some of these units may come with warranties, generally they aren’t great ones in a commercial setting. Typical maintenance costs for a treadmill, over a span of three years, range anywhere from $500 to $1000. Some of the most common maintenance issues experienced are:
• Replacing the belt and deck (which can sometimes cost $700 per unit)
• Occasional electronic problems
• Cosmetic parts, etc.
Elliptical Trainers: Elliptical trainers are one of the most popular pieces making their way into health clubs today. They are practically fought-over at the busiest times in your clubs, and when one of your key pieces of cardio is down, members are upset, and in turn, it can cost you business over the long run. I find that ellipticals are somewhat easier to fix than most treadmills. They are extremely basic and fundamental machines, and maintenance costs over a three-year span really aren’t as much as treadmills, but still present. Some of the most common fixes that I have seen on elliptical trainers over the years are: n New wheels and ramps (costing about $200, depending on where you purchase them)
• Drive belts on most units, which can be extremely labor intensive on some units. (the cost is $300 including labor)
• Occasional electronic problems
• Cosmetic parts, etc.
Exercise Bikes: Exercise bikes seem to require minimal repairs over a three-year period. Batteries, bearings, and belts are the most common fixes on these units. The cost is relatively inexpensive, and if done properly, repairs can give you virtually a brand new bike.
Strength Equipment: Strength equipment, by far, needs the least amount of money re-invested into it. The occasional cable, pulley, or even broken plate are the most common maintenance issues that I have seen, and even those are few and far between.
Now, How You Can Save Money on the Costs of Your Fitness Equipment… Maintenance costs are expensive, but you will incur the same costs whether you buy your fitness equipment new, or reconditioned. So, the way to save the money is on your initial investment. If you purchase a treadmill brand new from the factory, for let’s say $6000. You place that treadmill in your health club and after three years, it is time to replace the belt and deck at a cost of $600. That treadmill has now cost you $6,600 for three years of usage. Now, take a treadmill of the same exact model, but reconditioned, that would sell for somewhere around $2,500 and put that same $600 belt and deck on it after three years of usage in your club. Then, you have only invested $3,100 into that unit, and it is still of the same quality as the brand new unit. If my math serves me correctly, this would give you the potential to put more than twice as many treadmills in your health club, if you purchased reconditioned. Thus, making your members happy, as well as being able to accommodate more members – which means more profits for your club.
As I spoke about in last month’s edition of ClubSolutions Magazine, you can save a ton of money by purchasing used/ reconditioned products over new ones. The maintenance costs are all the same, it’s just that initial investment that’s drastically reduced. And please, don’t feel that you are getting a lesser product, you’re not. Many of these units are coming off of lease programs, just like cars. It doesn’t mean that they were abused, or that people didn’t want them. Some clubs are simply forced to upgrade on a timely schedule, affording you the opportunity to upgrade as well. Check in with me next month as I will discuss more about the advantages of purchasing reconditioned fitness equipment over new items. If you have any questions about this article or anything regarding fitness equipment in general, call me at the number below.
Joshua Martel is a Sales Associate with Fitness Deals 1. He can contacted at 860.741.3200, or by email atfitnessdeals1llc@hotmail.com, or visit www.fitnessdealsone.com.
