Buying second hand gym equipment is a great way to get high quality exercise equipment for a fraction of the price. Fully equipping a commercial gym can cost five-figure sums, but with careful shopping and preparation it’s possible to find premium pieces at a much more affordable rate.
The key to finding good value is to make sure you have a clear understanding of what the item you are looking at would be worth new. Then you can compare it with what other sellers are asking for to see if they are over or underpricing. Then when it comes to negotiating you have the knowledge to stand firm and not be swayed by any ‘hard sell’ tactics.
Generally speaking, private sellers are going to be cheaper than commercial resellers when it comes to used gym equipment. This is because people want to get rid of their items quickly, and are usually willing to negotiate prices. You can often find a lot of smaller fitness accessories on Facebook Marketplace, and some larger items, such as used treadmills or used ellipticals, too [1].
The downside of this is that you can have less information about the seller. This makes it harder to spot any potential issues with the item, and can potentially lead to lower quality products. This can be mitigated by using a platform with reviews and ratings of both the seller and the product, such as eBay or Gumtree [2].
With a global presence, eBay is one of the world’s biggest marketplaces and has a huge range of both new and used equipment for sale. It’s a good idea to use the search filters to filter out results by price, type of product and condition. This will help you narrow down your options and find what you are looking for more quickly.
Gumtree is another large global marketplace with a wide range of products available, including used gym equipment. Again, the search tools can be helpful to find what you’re after, and the site is super user-friendly, allowing you to easily connect with both buyers and sellers. However, it’s usually limited by geography, so you may be less likely to find what you are looking for.
There are also some specialist resellers that focus solely on selling second-hand equipment, such as Gymkit. They have an extensive assurance process that means they only sell the best gear, so you can be confident that any purchase will be a solid investment.
Alternatively, you could check out the offerings of a local retailer, such as Primo Fitness. They only buy from a certain range of suppliers, but their rigorous testing means they can offer a guaranteed warranty on any items they sell. This can be particularly attractive to new gym owners who are looking for a one-stop-shop. They can even provide installation and gym moving services, so you can get up and running in no time. With a little care and attention, your second hand gym equipment will last a long time. Just make sure to wipe down any surfaces after every workout and do a more thorough clean once a week.