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I love my Peloton Bike—which I got directly from the at-home fitness giant in 2021—and anyone who knows me will tell you that. As of today, I’m on an 150-day streak of consistent, daily use (though a portion of that streak is made up of other Peloton offerings, like walking, stretching, and meditation classes, plus guided strength training).
But just because I’m into it doesn’t mean everyone is. I am, after all, an actual spin teacher, so I’m always trying to take classes, learn new techniques, and stay on top of my game. My Peloton, honestly, is just one of many different bikes I use in a given week and have used over the past decade of being dedicated to spinning. Unlike me, many people are looking to get rid of their bikes, treadmills, row machines, and more—whether because they’re back in a gym, they’re upgrading to something better, or they just don’t have the time or desire to work out. If you want to get into at-home fitness but don’t want to spend a boatload of money, let their loss be your gain.
Why fitness equipment resale is a good idea
While we were discussing this post, Lifehacker’s senior health editor Beth Skwarecki made an excellent point: There are simply fewer people out there wanting to buy new Pelotons, given how many are out on the market now and the fact that the Peloton Bike itself hasn’t changed much since its debut. Many of the company’s newer innovations are software-focused, not hardware-focused; it’s not like there are constantly new kinds of Bikes or other machines hitting the market, the way there are with iPhones or video game consoles. Instead, you can simply upgrade your operating system, download Peloton’s apps, and continue to engage with the content, games, and classes it’s still continually rolling out—all with machines that already exist.
Granted, the company did make a new version of its Bike, the Bike+, which has a few notable differences when compared to the original, but the differences are specific enough that it didn’t make the Bike useless or necessitate an upgrade. You can still buy the plain Bike and be just fine—which is good news, since the Bike+ retails for about $1,000 more.
If you’re looking for non-Peloton equipment, the argument still stands. Some spin bikes and treadmills have better features than others, but they’re all basically doing the same thing at the end of the day. As long as the thing’s been maintained well, a 15-year-old bike still does exactly what a bike that was built yesterday does. Do I like working out on old bikes? No, sometimes they’re clunky and the adjustment knobs are hard to control. But they still fulfill the basic function of helping me move my legs in a circle and raise my heart rate.
You can save a lot of money, fight consumerism, and still access a great product by buying used, provided you use a safe, trusted platform to do it. And Peloton agrees: The company announced recently that it’s launching its own resale platform. That platform, Repowered, is available to consumers nationwide now, after a limited rollout saw it working in a select few metro areas, and it already has well over 1,000 listings.
Even prior to that, people were buying, selling, and trading not only Peloton equipment, but other at-home fitness machines as well. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and other platforms have been awash in these kinds of listings for years.
I’m a huge proponent of buying used stuff: I love saving money, renewing my wardrobe, and selling my own things to get money to get new—or new-to-me—things. My daily walk to the post office to drop off my Poshmark sales is as integral to my life and the essence of my being as my daily Peloton ride. Still, I know that some people have hangups about owning, wearing, or using items that once belonged to someone else. Break free of the limiting mindset of capitalism, my friend. Save your coins. You can absolutely obtain a quality piece of used equipment that looks and functions similarly a new one.
How to find good used at-home workout equipment
As mentioned, Peloton is getting into the resale game, but the company’s platform is in its nascent stages. Even though it’s expanded quite a bit in recent weeks, it’s still just getting off the ground.
I don’t recommend using Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist if you’re specifically buying Peloton equipment. There are too many horror stories out there of buyers not being able to log into the devices with their own accounts because the machines are registered to someone else. Some people even report that there are fake bikes and machines on the market.
For equipment that doesn’t require a complex software component, like a regular old spin bike, go ahead and use a person-to-person marketplace if you’re comfortable—provided the seller is communicative, is willing to answer your questions or provide more photos, and, ideally, lets you examine the equipment before you take it home. Use common sense. Bring someone with you, meet in a public place if possible, and be prepared to back out if anything feels off.
If you’re looking for a more formal, managed experience or seeking a Peloton instrument, use a trusted platform that can act as an intermediary and keep everything on the up-and-up. Try Trade My Stuff, an online marketplace at the forefront of at-home gym equipment resale. There, you can get a Peloton, a Bowflex, or even a sauna. The platform offers some security, providing delivery and working with you on the transaction.
With Trade My Stuff, the seller pays a fee—between 10% and 20%, depending on the category of item sold—and the delivery contractor inspects the product at pickup before bringing it to you. You can even ask the delivery team to video call you so you can participate in the inspection before telling them to go ahead and bring it.
Shayne Boyle, a Peloton Bike user who purchased a used Tread (which typically retails for $2,995 but which he got for much less), tells me that his experience was surprisingly robust: The delivery driver traveled hours with the treadmill, even toggling on his location so Boyle could track the machine’s progress to his house. Trade My Stuff offers an optional 12-month warranty to protect the equipment. If anything goes wrong, you’ll get a replacement machine within a week. Yes, you’re paying a delivery fee, but it beats being ghosted by a scammy Craigslist seller.
What to keep in mind when buying used fitness equipment
When you’re buying something used, you have to keep two things in mind: condition and price. Boyle was looking for a Tread, but he wanted it to be near-perfect. He only searched for ones that had been originally purchased in the last year or two, so he was prepared to spend a little more. “For us, price was a big factor, sure, and how old and how used the machine was,” he says.
When I’m using resale apps to shop for a specific accessory or clothing item, I play a bit of a waiting game. I know its retail value, what I’m willing to spend, and the condition the item will likely be in if it aligns with my personal budgeting goals, but I also know there are people out there who just want to get rid of something as fast as they can and may be willing to sell me a piece in great condition for a low price if I just exercise some patience. If something sells out from under me, hey, that’s just the name of the game. The same is true here: These pieces of exercise equipment are expensive and valuable, but for a lot of sellers, there is more value in freeing up a few feet of space in their house than in getting top dollar. Your main concern should be condition, not price.
If you want your item to be in top condition, it’ll likely cost you a little more. If you don’t mind a little wear and tear, you’ll probably spend less. That’s all fine for me when I buy clothes, but when you’re considering fitness equipment, exercise caution. A device that doesn’t run right can pose a safety issue. The continued function of your knees is worth the extra few hundred dollars you may have to spend to get a spin bike with pedals that don’t jam up. Reputable platforms allow for communication between buyer and seller, so you can and should ask detailed questions, request additional photos and videos, and try to negotiate. These quality platforms also have warranty options, like I mentioned, so you don’t have to stick it out with something faulty if it’s not in the best interest of your fitness plan and overall safety.
Don’t forget that Peloton charges $95 to activate used bikes and other equipment. That price is lowered to $45 if you buy on Repowered, but it’s still a factor you need to budget for. (On Trade My Stuff, you can use discount code ACTIVATE4FREE to trigger a $95 rebate that will cover the fee.)
No matter what, communicate extensively with your seller. In my experience, if someone is unwilling to send more photos or answer questions, they’re hiding something or otherwise just aren’t great at customer service. Even though you’re paying less than retail, you’re still paying, so you have the right to deal only with sellers who are willing to play ball. Ask for videos, details, and pictures. If you’re getting slow responses or a weird vibe, move on to the next. There are thousands of listings out there.
