How to Get Rid of a Treadmill

Whether you’re looking for an upgrade or you just don’t use it anymore, getting rid of a treadmill can be a little tricky. These machines can weigh upwards of 400 pounds and typically require two people to assemble. So it stands to reason that getting rid of one can be equally tough. But having this plan in mind before you place and assemble your treadmill inside the home can help. If you chose to have it carried in pieces up a flight of stairs, that decision may come back to bite you when it’s time to unload.

Choosing a place for the unit and properly assembling it makes disassembly much easier. Most of your better treadmills come with warranties upwards of 10 years, but you might want to switch gears or move to another home along the way. Read below for five ideas on how you can get rid of a treadmill that’s no longer welcome in the home. Let’s face it, life happens. The good news is there are resources which can help.

Five Good Ways To Get Rid Of A Treadmill

Johnson Fitness stores don’t just carry Horizon and Matrix machines, but other top brands too. Their company also deals in used equipment. Photo by: Oleksandr Kosheliev / TreadmilReviews.net

• Partner With a Used Fitness Equipment Store

Yes, they’re out there willing to buy, sell, and trade equipment. These companies make for great opportunities and a few even offer assistance in pick-up and disassembly. If you’ve not purchased a treadmill yet, perhaps you’ve never had to dissemble one. The process isn’t rocket science but it is indeed a chore.

Johnson Fitness & Wellness has one of these programs through its corporate stores. The manufacturer of both the Horizon and Matrix lineup of machinery, Johnson Fitness & Wellness also has corporate stores and showrooms throughout the continental United States and offers to buy-sell-trade good used equipment with folks like yourself. According to the program guidelines, the company will consider machines from any brand, not just their own, and isn’t limited to just treadmills. In some cases, the company might be able to provide disassembly and removal as well, depending on the location. So if you’re considering getting rid of the treadmill in exchange for an elliptical, this might be an option.

Play It Again Sports is another potential buyer. A franchise, the company has used sporting goods stores located throughout the U.S. and Canada and does deal in treadmills. With both online services and brick-and-mortar locations, contacting this group might also be a consideration. With Play It Again Sports you’ll probably have to disassemble the unit and transport it yourself, but if it’s still in good condition there’s a decent chance of getting some return on your investment.

I’d rate partnering with a used fitness store as the best choice of the bunch. With a retailer that has sales reps onsite, you’ll be dealing with a knowledgeable person who understands the various streaming programming and apps which accompany the unit.

• Contact The Manufacturer

Depending on the reason for your return, contacting the manufacturer might be your first step. Most of your better treadmills come with a 90-day return policy. But if those 90 days have come and gone, you should still consider discussing the warranty if mechanical problems are a part of the reason for the return. The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 for instance comes with a 10-year frame warranty with two years for parts. If you’re unhappy with the machine or perhaps it’s quit working, contacting the manufacturer might be in order.

Manufacturers vary in terms of customer service, but if you can get a human on the line, then working out a buy-back deal could be a goal.

• Selling Online Yourself

Lots of online sites are available for selling old equipment. Amazon.com of course comes to mind, but Facebook also has local yard sale options. This is going to be a little trickier as disassembly and shipping will be completely on you. If this unit comes with a company app and programming, like iFit with the ProForm series of treadmills, you’ll want to market that when selling to folks. As you’ve come to learn, the better treadmills these days are Bluetooth-enabled and loaded with programming. This would have to be explained to the new customer. You’ll also want to be sure to disconnect yourself from the app and remove your profile from it before doing the exchange.

The biggest downside to this is the cost of shipping and handling. Marketing the machine online, via Twitter or even LinkedIn, might make sense so long as the potential customer is local. You never know, a neighbor just down the street might see your post and come over to check it out.

• Donate It To A Registered Charity

Charities incorporated as 501c3 entities in the U.S. can give receipts in exchange for tax write-offs. Check with your local non-profit hospital, YMCA, houses of worship, or perhaps even schools or senior centers, to see if they’d like a new-to-them-treadmill. The good news here is these groups typically have volunteers who could come to your house and help disassemble and haul off, and while they probably won’t give you cash, you can claim the donation on your state and federal income taxes. Talk to your tax preparer to discuss the best strategy for applying this to your own filings.

• Haul It Off

And of course last on the list is the worst case scenario. Just have it hauled off. If the machine is materially damaged and simply no good, you might have to simply send it to the recycling center. Keep in mind there are valuable components contained within it so a local scrapyard might buy the motor and some of the other metal. Given the size of most treadmills you’ll probably have to arrange for a pick-up.

Some companies specialize in this, such as Go Load Up. The biggest downside here is the loss of value and yes they’ll most likely charge you. But if all else fails and no one wants to buy it, this could be your only way out.

Advanced Planning Can Stave Off Problems

If you’re just now planning to buy a treadmill, be sure to check out our Buyer’s Guide here. A little planning in advance can be the difference between having a treadmill you love for 10 years, or one you want to get rid of after a few months. You’ll also want to take care of the unit once bought, as proper lubrication and maintenance can prevent breakdowns. If you know someone who’s looking to get rid of a treadmill, then clearly something went wrong. And if you’re in that situation right now, the first step would be to contact the manufacturer and then a used fitness supply store to see if you can sell or trade it there. You can always try to sell it yourself online, or perhaps at a garage sale, but of course be prepared for some extra work. Donating it to a local charity not only gives the gift of fitness to folks who will appreciate it, but you could score a tax write-off as well.

But in the end, if nothing else works, you might be faced with the dilemma of having it hauled off at your own expense or left to use it as an extra piece of furniture in the garage.