This is a very good question and one that we seem to be getting quite often these days. Is buying a treadmill from a store near you a better option that buying one online? Or is the opposite true?
There is no clear-cut definitive answer here, but we will give you the benefits and drawbacks of each to help you make a better decision. Buying online usually gives you a wider selection and makes it easier to compare models and prices, including the latest treadmill deals and sales. Buying locally, however, gives you the advantage of actually seeing and trying a treadmill before you commit, which can be especially helpful with more expensive machines.
When most people refer to “buying a treadmill near me,” they are usually talking about a local fitness equipment store, a sporting goods store like Dick’s Sporting Goods, or a big-box retailer such as Walmart or Costco. Specialty fitness stores tend to carry more mid-range and high-end equipment, while sporting goods and big-box stores typically offer a broader mix of affordable and mid-range treadmills.
So which option makes the most sense? It really depends on what type of treadmill you’re looking for and how much you’re planning to spend.
You can find treadmills locally at a number of different types of retailers. Specialty fitness stores such as Johnson Fitness & Wellness and independent fitness equipment dealers typically carry more mid-range and high-end machines. Sporting goods stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods offer a mix of popular home treadmill brands, while big-box retailers such as Walmart, Costco and Sam’s Club tend to focus more heavily on affordable and mid-range options.
The exact brands and models available will vary by retailer and location, and the selection you’ll find in a physical store is usually much smaller than what’s available online. Still, shopping locally gives you something you can’t get online: the opportunity to see a treadmill in person, step on the belt and get a feel for the cushioning, stability, controls and overall size before you buy.
Between local stores and online retailers, you can find everything from cheap treadmills under $500 to premium machines costing several thousand dollars. Which way you should buy really depends on what you’re looking for.
Buying a Treadmill Near You: When It Makes Sense and When It Doesn’t
Let’s look at a few different scenarios…
1. You’re looking for a cheap treadmill near you for very basic use…
If price is your main concern and you’re looking to spend less than $500, you’ll usually find a much larger selection online. There are plenty of inexpensive treadmills available at stores like Walmart and Target, but the number of models you’ll actually find on the floor at a local store may be fairly limited.
Shopping online gives you many more options in this price range, including traditional treadmills, compact models and walking pads. It also makes it much easier to compare prices, features and customer reviews before deciding which one makes the most sense for you.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy a cheap treadmill locally. If you find a model you like at a good price, being able to pick it up locally and having an easier place to return it can certainly be an advantage. But for sheer selection and comparison shopping under $500, online usually has the edge.
2. You’re looking for a mid-range treadmill, like a Sole, Horizon or a NordicTrack.
You’ll find popular mid-range brands like NordicTrack, Horizon and Sole at some sporting goods stores and fitness equipment retailers. However, the selection you’ll find in a local store is usually much smaller than what you’ll find online, and they may not have the exact model you’re interested in.
This is one price range where it makes sense to look both locally and online. If a store near you has the treadmill you’re considering, you can try it out and get a feel for the cushioning, stability, noise level and controls before you buy. You can then compare the price, delivery options and any current promotions with what’s available online.
For brands like NordicTrack, shopping online also makes it easier to compare the current lineup and see how the different models stack up against each other.
So for a mid-range treadmill, we wouldn’t automatically choose one way or the other. If you have the opportunity to try the machine locally, take advantage of it, but compare your options before making the final purchase.
3. You’re looking for a commercial grade treadmill, like Matrix or Life Fitness…
Now here is where you could make the best argument for buying a treadmill near you. If you’re spending several thousand dollars on a machine, having the opportunity to actually try it out before you buy can be a big advantage.
Specs only tell you so much. Trying a treadmill in person lets you get a feel for the cushioning, stability, noise level, controls and overall build quality. You can also see just how large the treadmill is, which can be difficult to judge from pictures online.
Buying from a local fitness equipment store can also give you some peace of mind if anything goes wrong, as you’ll have a local dealer you can contact for help with delivery, setup or service.
You can, however, buy many of these high-end treadmills online, and you may find competitive pricing and promotions there as well. So you don’t necessarily need to buy locally. But if you’re considering an expensive treadmill and there’s a dealer near you that carries it, it’s definitely worth trying the machine out before making your decision.
Buying a Treadmill Near Me vs. Online — The Bottom Line
When it comes to buying a new treadmill, shopping online will usually give you the widest selection, make it easier to compare models and prices, and give you access to sales and promotions that may not be available locally.
But buying a treadmill near you has some advantages as well. You can actually try the machine before you buy it, get a better feel for its size and build quality, and potentially have a local dealer to turn to if you need help with delivery, setup or service.
For higher-end brands like Life Fitness and Matrix, we’d definitely recommend seeing if there’s a local fitness equipment store where you can try the treadmill first. You can then compare the local price with what you find online and decide which option makes the most sense.
Buying a used treadmill is a different story entirely. You may find a good refurbished machine at a local fitness equipment store or a great deal through Facebook Marketplace or another local seller. We’ll cover that topic separately, but the information in this article refers primarily to buying a new treadmill.
