Gym fitness equipment prices

The purchase price of a single commercial fitness equipment ranges from 800 to 150,000 yuan. The equipment purchase budget for a conventional mid-range community gym with an area of 200-300 square meters is usually in the range of 300,000-800,000 yuan. The final price difference is basically determined by three core factors: brand positioning, equipment category, and quality control standards.

Two years ago, I helped a friend buy a 240-square-meter community private training center in Yuhang, Hangzhou. I spent a week at the equipment exhibition to get a clear idea of the prices of each range. At first he thought he could save as much as he could, so he found a quotation from a small factory in Hebei. A treadmill cost RMB 2,700, and a fixed-track seated shoulder press was only RMB 750. Calculated, the entire store could be purchased for RMB 150,000. However, we went to the factory sample area to try it out. The treadmill started to wobble when it was adjusted to a speed of 12, and the handrails shook so hard that it was hard to hold. The welding joints of the strength equipment were all burred, and it wobbled when I sat on them. I passed the test on the spot.

To be honest, there are basically two ideas for gym owners to choose equipment. No one is right or wrong, it all depends on the business positioning. Community-based convenience gyms that offer 199-year-old membership cards have low per-customer prices. They follow the logic of making money by applying for a card and getting better traffic if you don’t get a card. They must choose the cheapest OEM products. The one downstairs in my house opened last year. The squat rack was so thin that it made a clanking sound when knocked, and the leather of the bench press broke after three months of use. However, the annual membership is only 199, and members don’t choose too many, as long as they can be used. The whole store’s equipment is only 120,000, and the cost has been recovered after three months of operation.

But if you are building a mid-to-high-end iron gym or private training school, if you use this kind of product, it will be a waste of money. The iron gym I often went to in the CBD was all Hansu's free weight equipment. The barbells alone cost NT$100,000. The treadmills were from Life Fitness, which cost more than NT$30,000 each. The whole store invested nearly NT$1.2 million in equipment. However, the private training classes sold for NT$680 each. The members were all high-income groups and knew the value by touching the quality of the equipment. The class renewal rate was more than 30% higher than that of nearby studios that use off-brand equipment. The boss has calculated it himself. Good equipment basically does not need to be repaired for five or six years. The saved maintenance fees and new replacement costs have long since earned back the price difference.

Oh, by the way, many people don’t know that the price difference between different types of equipment can be a fraction of a percent. Aerobic treadmills, elliptical machines, and rowing machines are generally more expensive than strength equipment because they have commercial motors and transmission systems. Entry-level commercial elliptical machines cost at least 8,000 yuan. Technogym’s imported models can cost 120,000 yuan. If they have touch screens and smart interconnection functions, they will cost more. For free weights in strength equipment, it depends on the material. Ordinary rubber-coated barbell plates cost 5 yuan per kilogram, have a pungent plastic smell, and will fall off after two months of use. Good CPU environmentally friendly barbell plates cost 25 yuan per kilogram. I used them at the CBD iron gym. After falling countless times, there were no scratches on the edges and no smell. Calculated, the difference in price for a complete set of 200 kilogram barbells is 4,000 yuan.

When it comes to this, I have to mention the water of second-hand equipment, which is really deep. Last year, a fan who runs a studio came to me to complain. He said that he received a batch of second-hand equipment from a closed chain gym. They claimed to be 90% new and the price was only 30% off the new ones. The whole store only cost 100,000. When they were shipped back and dismantled, they found that the inner walls of the steel pipes were rusted through, the pulleys were worn to pieces, and the treadmill motor became hot after 10 minutes of rotation. The repair cost more than 40,000, which is more expensive than buying a new domestic first-line machine. Really, unless you are knowledgeable and can take it apart one by one to see the internal wear and tear, don't touch the big second-hand equipment easily. The money you save won't be enough to repair it.

Recently, many friends who are preparing to enter the industry have asked me, what price range of equipment is most suitable? I never give a standard answer. If you want to be an affordable self-service gym for students or office workers, just choose a reliable domestic entry-level model. Don’t be too cheap, as you won’t be able to afford compensation if a safety accident occurs. If you want to be a mid-to-high-end personal trainer or professional gym, you must stick to the quality model. The physical experience of the members cannot be deceived. Every penny you spend on equipment will eventually turn into class renewal rates and word-of-mouth. Oh, by the way, if you happen to be choosing equipment, don’t forget to include the after-sales cost. Some small factories sell the equipment cheaply, but if it breaks, you can’t even find after-sales service. That’s a real loss.