Wanted: Treadmill (Theradyne TM980) - Best Price?

[Mark Welch]

I have been shopping for treadmills and had finally settled in on two
choices: the Theradyne TM980 and the Trimline 7600. Then I learned that
TrimLine is owned by Schwinn, which is insolvent and probably will not
honor the warranty (they are seeking a buyer, and could file for Chapter
11 at any time).
http://www.theradyne.com/index.cfm?page=tm980

So what I am now looking for is the BEST PRICE on the Theradyne TM980
treadmill (or a comparable or better treadmill, but I am picky).

List price is $1,995, and I have two dealers who are offering to throw
in a mat and delivery but they don't seem to want to go any lower, which
seems odd for an item with this list price. I would normally expect to
pay $1,750 or so for something like this, but this is my first treadmill
(and hopefully it will last me for 5+ years)..

I need the treadmill delivered and set up in my home in Pleasanton,
California (first floor, no stairs, no narrow passages, etc.)

Any suggestions, comments, advice are invited.

[Dick]

A new fitness store has just opened locally which is carrying
Theradyne treadmills. The 980 has a list price of $2199. but the owner
will sell to me at $1799. plus 6% Pa. sales tax. I live in
southeastern Pa. so I don't think it will pay you to drive out this
way <G>. The price includes delivery and setup.
I've been looking for the past couple of months at all the web sites
and local specialty fitness shops and have settled on the Theradyne
980 as giving me the best value for the money. I had 3 vertebrae fused
6 months ago so I need a machine that will protect my back as well as
my knees.
Good luck.

Dick

Mark Welch <Mark...@MarkWelch.com> wrote in message news:<3B545ABB...@MarkWelch.com>...

[Mark Welch]

Thanks for the reply. I broke down and bought one for $1,900 locally, plus sales tax (total
$2,042). They threw in delivery and setup, and also promised a free mat (though I'm still waiting
for the mat -- which I want just in case the "incline/elevation" feet might damage the carpet).

The guys who came to set it up had clearly never assembled this treadmill before, but it was pretty
easy. One observation is that there is nothing that actually HOLDS the top part to the bottom: you
just slide it in place and it works, but if you pull up on the arms, the whole top of the unit
lifts out (and as soon as the top unit lifts, the treadmill stops abruptly). I can't imagine any
reason you'd lift up on the arms during a workout, so I don't really see this as a safety issue,
but I would feel more comfortable if they'd provided a bolt to hold the unit together.

After a week of use, I generally like the Theradyne TM980 treadmill. My main complaint is that the
two arm supports are too close together, so when I am walking freely, my hands sometimes hit them
-- forcing me to walk farther back on the treadmill where I probably couldn't grab the arms if I
slipped. There are no adjustments at all for the arm position. I would feel safer with arm rails
that were further apart and which extended farther back. I may decide later to simply remove one
or both arms for my comfort. (There is also a grip bar at the front.)

When I walk while holding onto the arms (when I'm getting tired), their position seems fine. (I
suspect someone closer to the unit's 400-pound weight limit would find the arms far too close
together, but fortunately I'm starting from only 210 pounds.)

The heart rate monitor is worthless -- no matter what I do, it comes up with completely erratic
results, telling me my heart rate is 77, no 158, no 122, no 185, no 88, no 102.

I actually liked the "feel" of the TrimLine 7200/7600 better, but since their parent company is
insolvent and perhaps already in bankruptcy, I couldn't trust their warranty promises.