Shopping Online for an Elliptical Trainer

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Shopping Online for an Elliptical Trainer – Best Sites to Buy

Shopping online for an elliptical trainer is more popular today than ever. People today are so busy that they simply don’t have the time to do all of the foot work needed to compare dozens of models of elliptical machines, try them out and place the order in a store. The selection is also often very limited in a particular area, especially if you aren’t in a big city. If you want real selection when purchasing elliptical machines, online shopping gives you far more variety.

Save Time and Money by Shopping Online

Let’s face it, if you don’t have the time to go to the gym and work out every week, you’re probably looking for any way to save time and money that you can. Shopping online for an elliptical trainer saves you both. You can shop on the Internet when it is convenient for you without worrying about store hours. You can also save a considerable amount of money if you shop around – because online stores don’t have to pay the rent, sales staff and upkeep of a brick-and-mortar store, they can pass the savings on to you.

Do Your Homework

Of course, there is always room for caution when shopping online, and it’s especially important when you’re shopping for a big ticket item like an elliptical trainer. You need to be sure you do your homework to ensure you’re ordering from a company that’s honest, reliable and has good customer service. Doing a bit of research beforehand will help you find not only the right elliptical machine, but the right place to purchase it.

See our Buying Guide that explains what features to look for and what’s important when comparing ellipticals such as front and rear drive, stride length, etc.

Here are some tips for protecting yourself when shopping online for an elliptical trainer:

Company Integrity

Check the website, Better Business Bureau and online consumer review sites to find out how long the company has been in business. Also check for any complaints against them and what other purchasers have to say about the company’s performance.

Warranties

Always check the warranty when shopping online for an elliptical machine. The usual minimum these days is 90 days for a new machine and 30 days for a reconditioned machine, although there are longer warranties. Do not purchase an elliptical trainer online that doesn’t have a clearly outlined warranty.

Return Policy

Does the company have a return policy? Can you return the machine if it is faulty or if you simply aren’t satisfied with your online shopping experience? Who has to pay the return shipping if you decide to return the machine? (This can be very expensive, as elliptical trainers can weight up to 200 pounds.)

What about Repairs?

Be sure to read up on the repair service provided by the company. Do they have trained, qualified technicians? Are their service centers located near you? Will in-home repairs be available? What about customer assistance by phone for minor problems?

Shopping for Quality

Research various elliptical manufacturing companies to learn as much as you can about the quality of their machines. Many companies produce a wide range of models, but generally they provide the same quality of customer service, reliability and responsiveness across the board. To learn about some of the major manufacturers, check out our articles covering major brands.

Finding the Best Deals

Remember that there is a difference between online merchants that sell a variety of brands and buying an elliptical trainer directly from the manufacturer. Competition is fierce, and shoppers can often find the best deals by going through a volume online store that sells several major brands.

A few online stores have earned reputations for quality products, outstanding customer service and product knowledge. At stores like Sole, Smooth, Workout Warehouse and Big Fitness, you can shop for elliptical trainers at great prices, get detailed information on all the models they carry and receive outstanding customer service.

Smooth Fitness

Because over 90% of their business is Internet sales, Smooth Fitness has successfully developed an exceptional online shopping experience. They have one of the highest customer ratings in the industry and are known for exceptional customer service representatives. They only sell their own brand - Smooth elliptical trainers, so everyone knows the products well. This is backed by the 30 day return policy.

Delivery times from Smooth Fitness are impressive – their standard ground shipping takes only 5-10 days. They also outline all policies, from shipping to returns, in clear detail on the site so that there is little room for confusion. An extra perk that we like – you can go to the site and download the complete owners’ manuals of all Smooth Fitness equipment, past and present.

Sole Fitness

Since Sole Fitness made the decision to add an incline to every model they build, shopping online for an elliptical trainer just became easier. There’s a dizzying array of choices out there, but you can save time by limiting your search to affordable leading brands such as Sole. Sole elliptical trainers land on many Best Buy lists which you should interpret to mean that the machines are loved by users for their: 1) Reliability, 2) Performance, 3) Quality Components, 4) Customer Service, and 5) the Price-to-Value ratio.

It’s easy to shop with them and Sole Fitness stands behind their products with a 30-day Money Back Guarantee. We recommend you pass up the optional “Turn Key Delivery” (where you pay a 3rd party to unbox and assemble the machine for you) and take advantage of the Free Shipping. You’ll save money and discover that any elliptical model you choose will be fast and easy to set up yourself.

Workout Warehouse

HealthRider, Image, NordicTrack, ProForm, Reebok, Weslo ... WorkoutWarehouse.com offers many brands to choose from. All of the elliptical machines from the fitness giant ICON Fitness are offered here. We love the variety and clean, precise layout of this site. They also offer some great payment plans to make shopping online for an elliptical trainer easier on your budget.

Check out the FAQ section while you’re at Workout Warehouse. It offers shoppers some great tips and information that will come in handy once you purchase your elliptical trainer online. Troubleshooting advice for consoles is especially helpful and can eliminate unneeded customer service calls. Product registration is available so that WorkoutWarehouse can notify you of any upgrades to your equipment.

Big Fitness

In business since 1991, Big Fitness has the largest retail fitness store in the United States and is quickly becoming a leader on the Internet as well. The comprehensiveness of their inventory is impressive, and they back it all with a 31 day money-back guarantee. They also offer online shoppers a 110% lowest price guarantee and constantly update their prices to make sure they are offering the lowest prices possible. This site also offers remanufactured elliptical trainers at significant savings.

Big Fitness is so confident in the quality of equipment they offer; they give shoppers the opportunity to post their own online reviews of the products on the website. Shipping is included on all items and they offer package tracking. This company runs their online sales smoothly and efficiently, and we’re impressed.

There are many online fitness equipment retailers on the Internet today. Simply be sure you check them out when shopping online for an elliptical trainer. Talk to others who have had good online shopping experiences and then choose the site that best fits your needs.

Recommended Sites:

Elliptical Trainers UK - Fitness superstore supplies a wide range of elliptical cross trainers - compact, standard & commercial elliptical trainers

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