Whether you want to open up a local business by running a gym or are looking to set up your very own home gym, buying used gym equipment is one of the best ways to get started.
Buying used gym equipment offers a wide variety of advantages in terms of the environment, overall cost, and business. Furthermore, there are several places where you can purchase used gym equipment at a much lower cost than if you were to buy it brand new.
Environmental Advantages
A lot of oil goes into making just about everything – including gym equipment. Buying used gym equipment helps Mother Nature out in a variety of ways including decreasing the use of oil for manufacturing and transportation. Furthermore, using the greener alternative is a good way to attract some business if you want to open up a gym.
Economic Advantages
Gym equipment can be very expensive even at warehouse prices. Ellipticals, bikes, and treadmills can easily run close to $1000 each. Meanwhile, more involved pieces of machinery like leverage pieces can easily cost thousands of dollars per machine. If you aren’t buying directly from a warehouse the price is sure to skyrocket. This of course is not including accessories like weights and ropes which come at a certain price per unit.
Meanwhile, buying used gym equipment can significantly lower the cost for you by at least 25 percent. Some places even offer the latest models of gym equipment at half off the retail price simply because it has been used.
Business Advantages of Used Gym Equipment
If you are looking into running a gym as a business there are some serious costs you need to take into consideration. This includes equipment, recurring utility bills, property taxes, random costs of equipment repair, promotional costs, the lease of space, the hiring of qualified personal trainers and other employees, and above all insurance. Needless to say, cutting the costs any way that you can is imperative for any business owner.
The cost of gym equipment is easily one of the biggest expenses you will have, and it is just as necessary as your office supplies or computers. Fortunately, it’s also one of the easiest costs to cut if you buy used.
To put it in perspective, according to the Used Gym Equipment Corporation website, you can easily save up to $5,000 when you buy a refurbished treadmill. Furthermore, within the next couple of years you would probably only spend about $300 a year in basic equipment repairs. Meaning you saved thousands of dollars by buying used gym equipment. Of course, the savings increase with the more used gym equipment you buy.
Advantages
There are several benefits to buying used gym equipment for the home besides the initial cost of the pieces. First and foremost is convenience. No more having to drive to the gym or waiting for the latest equipment to come in. All you would need to do is set time aside and work out at your earliest convenience.
Furthermore, Having used gym equipment in the home also makes it easier for you to stay committed. Simply outline your fitness goals, search for the pieces from companies that sell used gym equipment, set it up in your home gym, and you are good to go. Seeing the gym equipment each day is also a good way to remind yourself to work out.
Lastly, having used gym equipment in the home offers some other ways to save money, primarily by cutting the cost of transportation and gym memberships. Gas alone can cost you a pretty penny and when it’s combined with a gym membership you can easily spend thousands of dollars a year.
Where to Find Used Gym Equipment
There are several places where you can find used gym equipment locally as well as on the internet. Below you will find a list of some of the best places to find used gym equipment.
The Salvation Army – Believe it or not you can find just about anything at The Salvation Army – and this includes used gym equipment. Check out your local Salvation Army’s for used equipment. You may not find elliptical machines on your first try, but you can certainly find weights, dumb bells, and other accessories.
Goodwill Stores – If The Salvation Army doesn’t work out for you you can always check out your local Goodwill stores for smaller used gym equipment. After all, you never know what you may find at a great price. The best part is that you will be helping a credible charity in the process
Local Garage Sales – Sometimes people just practically give away their used gym equipment at garage sales. Some of the reasons behind this are that they just don’t use the equipment or it’s taking up too much space in the house. Browse through the garage sale ads and keep an eye out for people who may be selling used gym equipment.
Craig’s List – Craig’s List is also a great place to find used gym equipment locally. Simply search for the kind of equipment you are looking for, contact the seller, check out the equipment in person, and enjoy.
Used Gym Equipment Corporation – Used Gym Equipment Corporation offers over 15,000 pieces of gym equipment in stock. Furthermore, the guarantee the quality of the equipment that they sell. This may cost you a few hundred more dollars than buying it from someone local, but you run less of a risk of wasting your money. This is a particularly great option for those people who want to open up a gym as a business.
Things To Consider
Some gym equipment can be very dangerous if it is not constructed properly. If you are buying locally make sure to check out the equipment in person before actually purchasing anything. Also ask important questions like how long the machine has been in use and if there have been any majors repairs needed.
