Why Purchasing a Used Elliptical Trainer is a Bad Idea

The purpose of this article is to inform you the reader of the dangers of purchasing a used elliptical trainer.  While it may seem like a good idea, and in some cases used elliptical trainers can be a great bargain, for the most part it is dangerous to purchase a used elliptical trainer.

Why is it a Bad Idea to Buy a Used Elliptical Trainer?

Most elliptical trainers have many moving parts and all of these parts have a certain life expectancy.  When you purchase a used elliptical trainer you are essentially getting a product with a limited life span. You have no way to really know how hard a person worked their trainer and for how long, but it is best to simply assume the worst. 

Most trainers can handle normal use, but if a person using the machine is in excess of two hundred and fifty pounds or uses it for extended periods, more than like 10 hours a week, this can cause significant and irreparable damage to the machine.  In addition, even if it does not cause permanent damage to the machine, this added stress will decrease the overall life expectancy of the machine, meaning that it is significantly more likely that your

used elliptical trainer, should you choose to ignore this advice and purchase one, will become unusable sooner and require costly repairs.  

The second thing to consider when purchasing used is that for most trainers the warranty is non transferable.  That means that when you purchase the unit, if it becomes damaged or breaks down then you will be responsible for the cost of all repairs.  In some cases these repairs can cost more than the unit itself, especially if the unit is no longer being built and parts can be difficult to come by.

Hopefully this article has shown you some of the dangers of purchasing a used elliptical trainer.  While it is not the attention of the author to convince to buy a new machine, it is however best if you are fully prepared and informed before making your decision. 

There are good used elliptical trainers out there, but it is very difficult to tell with certainty which are which before and in some cases even after you purchase them.  Hopefully you can make an educated decision and get a piece of exercise equipment that you are satisfied with and that will function for years to come.