Is Refurbished Fitness Equipment as good as new?

People often shy away from Refurbished Fitness equipment, but generally this is only because they aren't familiar with the term refurbished. In today's world saving money is important. If you can cut costs without sacrificing value is the aim of the game. No matter if you're a seasoned deal hunter or just out trying find a bargain, a piece of refurbished fitness equipment may be just what you're looking for shape up your body and your bank account.
Most times when someone hears the word refurbished they think something is wrong with the item, or it's defective. How ever nothing could be further from the actual meaning of the word. Refurbished could mean that an item has been damaged but it also holds several other meanings as well. Refurbished fitness equipment could be customer a customer return. Most equipment stores do offer some sort of return/refund policy on most items in their store. Most cases when an item is returned the store will return the unit to the manufacturer for inspection, and repackaging, however the item can no longer be deemed as new. The manufacturer would then redistribute the equipment as refurbished fitness equipment. This same situation is what would occur if an item were damaged during shipping. There's a good chance that nothing is wrong with the unit, but the retailer or customer decides that they do not want anything damaged in shipment. Because the item is no longer brand new, it could never again be sold as such. But, if there were problems corrected by the manufacturer, the unit then becomes refurbished.
It's possible that an item labeled as refurbished fitness equipment could have some simple cosmetic damage, possibly a dent or scratch, or possibly a more serious cosmetic defect. However cosmetic damage doesn't mean that there is a serious problem with the functioning of the equipment, but it is no longer brand new. Hence if the manufacturer inspected it, it's now considered refurbished.
If a piece of fitness equipment is on demo or display at a store, often it's replaced by a new unit and the demo is removed from the sales floor. Generally these demo pieces are sent back to the manufacturer for inspection. The reason for an inspection to take place is to ensure there are no damages or defects, most often the item is repackaged and sent back to a retailer dealing in refurbished fitness equipment. In a situation like this the only thing separating a brand new item and the refurbished unit is the fact that one was on display.
Other refurbished classifications may involve a box that was simply opened by mistake, directions that are missing or overstock of a particular item. The bottom line is that, whenever a product is returned to the manufacturer for any reason, it is then inspected. If repairs are needed, the manufacturer takes care of those repairs before repackaging the item. If it's a simple case of missing directions, they are replaced. The product is then shipped and resold as refurbished fitness equipment.
Other reasons for product being deemed refurbished could be an open box model, or a unit missing directions. When a product is returned to the manufacturer and they are required to inspect it or make some repairs before it is re-saleable the unit becomes refurbished. It could be as simple as missing directions, or a repair to a part of the item. The fact is that the original manufacturer makes the repairs, and then ships them out to be resold.
When purchasing refurbished equipment it's important that you're familiar with the stores refund and warranty policy. If there isn't one it may not be the best idea to make your purchase there. When possibly ask your sales person if they know why the item is refurbished, and what the original problem may have been.
The contents of this refurbished fitness equipment article are intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered, or used as, medical advice or recommendations. Before starting any fitness routine, you should consult with your family doctor or a licensed physician to learn what risks, if any, exist.