When people buy something we expect it to work – and by 'we' I mean the retailer, the manufacturer, and the buyer. But things break or wear-out. So when should things naturally wear-out and "How-long will the manufacturer stand behind their product before they transfer the repair costs to the owner?" And, given we buy fitness equipment to use on a regular basis, "How long will it take to fix it?"
If you own a gym with multiple pieces of fitness equipment, the cost of 'ownership' or 'operation' of this equipment includes not only purchase price and maintenance costs, but also (1) repair costs, but more importantly (2) the critical cost of "irate gym members not being able to use the equipment they are paying to use and not being able to maintain their routines or achieve their goals."
The equipment being supported by quickly accessible service techs should vastly shorten the second "irate customers from down time" issue, but what about the first issue - who pays for the repairs?
Warranties are the key to all of this and play a critical role in the big question "what does it really cost?" Comparatively, when we buy a car we expect there will be purchase price, maintenance, fuel, and the like – the total cost of ownership.
Here are a few warranty examples from leading equipment manufacturers.
Treadmill Warranties (in years):
|
Model |
Frame |
Parts |
Labour |
|
Cybex 770 |
10 |
5 |
2 |
|
Life Fitness 97T |
7 |
2
|
1 |
|
Matrix T7X |
7 |
3 |
3 |
|
Precor 885 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
|
SportsArt T675 |
Lifetime |
5 |
3 |
|
True CS900 |
Lifetime |
3 |
3 |
|
Technogym 900 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Elliptical Warranties (in years):
Model | Frame | Parts | Labour |
Cybex 770/625 | 10 | 3 | 1 |
Life Fitness 95X | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Matrix E7/5/3 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
Precor 800s | 7 | 2 | 1 |
SportsArt E875 | Lifetime | 5 | 3 |
True CS900E | Lifetime | 3 | 3 |
Technogym 700 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Recumbent Cycle Warranties (in years):
Model | Frame | Parts | Labour |
Cybex 770/625 | 10 | 3 | 1 |
Life Fitness 95R | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Precor 800s | 7 | 2 | 1 |
SportsArt C575R | Lifetime | 3 | 3 |
Star Trac E-RB | 2 | 2 | 1 |
True CS900R | Lifetime | 3 | 3 |
Technogym 700 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Upright Cycle Warranties (in years):
Model | Frame | Parts | Labour |
Cybex 770/625 | 10 | 3 | 1 |
Life Fitness 95C | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Precor 800s | 7 | 2 | 1 |
SportsArt C575U | Lifetime | 3 | 3 |
Star Trac E-UB | 2 | 2 | 1 |
True CS900U | Lifetime | 3 | 3 |
Technogym 700 | 2 | 2 | 1 |