Where to buy a treadmill depends on whether you're looking for a safe buy that may cost a little bit more or whether you're prepared to take a risk and spend less. Within seconds you can search the internet and find hundreds of websites selling treadmills.
However, before you buy from the company with the cheapest price you'll need to consider the bigger picture.
If the model for sale is only available from just one or two suppliers in the UK it may be an older refurbished one that's reached the end of its shelf life. It may still be a good machine and offer good value for money but please check the warranty!
If it's for just ONE YEAR call them and find exactly what is covered. If something goes wrong with your treadmill you may only get telephone assistance. An engineer will ask you questions and then send a part in the post and expect you to install it. This obviously isn't an acceptable solution. Find out if you get parts, labour and on-site help.
If you find a supplier offering a popular brand much cheaper than anyone else they may not be an authorised dealer for that brand in the UK. This isn't illegal and you'll still get exactly the same machine but they won't be able to offer the full warranty.
The majority of the machines we review here come with a minimum of a THREE YEAR warranty with on-site support, if you see one with just a ONE YEAR warranty you could be taking a risk. Yes, you may get an initial bargain but it could be costly if it develops a fault after a year.
Also check the delivery arrangements. Many manufacturer's will only honour the warranty if the treadmill is delivered by a two-man team or one man with specialist lifting equipment. Many retailers who have cheaper prices than the rest can do so because they save money using below standard delivery methods.
Treadmills are bulky and heavy, if it's damaged in transit you could find yourself in a difficult situation. The manufacturer will claim the warranty is invalid if the correct delivery procedures were not followed. The retailer's insurance could refuse to pay for the same reason and you're left arguing the finer points with the retailer. Meanwhile you have a damaged treadmill taking up space in your house!
All the retailers we mention on this site are authorised dealers for the models they sell and can therefore offer the full manufacturers warranty. From our experience the top retailers for customer satisfaction are :-
GymCompany - A very professional service with a wide choice of top end models including Life Fitness and Vision treadmills. Professional delivery and installation are included in the prices of all Life Fitness treadmills.
SweatBand.com - stock a good choice of machines from budget right up to top of the range treadmills. Over 520 visitors to this site have purchased treadmills from Sweatband and to date we've received only one minor complaint - although it wasn't Sweatband's fault they resolved it within a week.
Inspire Fitness - a great choice of machines right across the mid-range. Inspire are also a licenced refurbisher of Horizon machines and always have a number at big discounts. They have a great reputation for impartial customer advice and after-sales service. As a visitor to this site Inspire Fitness will throw in a free high impact mat to place under your treadmill for all orders over £500.
GymWorld - another good online retailer with a wide choice. Gymworld often have a top machine or two for very competitive prices - check our special offers alert on the price comparison page.
You can also buy a second hand treadmill or from auction sites such as ebay - please read our guide to buying a treadmill on eBay.
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