Q: How Important is warranty?. What about after warranty?

Warranty and what is does or does not cover is commonly misrepresented and abused by fitness suppliers around the country. This has accelerated in recent times with the emergence of small on-line resellers. From where I stand I see warranty promises being handed out more freely than Domino s Pizza Vouchers.

What you must ask and receive confident re-assurance is who is covering your promised warranty? Does your re-seller have their own service staff? Do they import and stock their own spare parts. 

The reality is not many places do. Most re-sellers will refer you to their supplier for warranty. I personally find this unacceptable, you have given your hard earned money to a re-seller and if something goes wrong they tell you to ring someone else. What about after warranty?. The majority of re-sellers could not supply you with a spare part  (new mat or roller etc) a couple of years after model run-out if their life depended on it. Each and every year factories and suppliers release new modern designs of their machines. Each time they do this, they re-tool their assembly line and spare parts of previous models become scarce. 

As an experienced (30 years) professional importer / supplier, Orbit Fitness dedicates a very large amount of recourses, money and effort in to stocking our spare parts warehouse. In fact, this warehouse is bigger than over half of our stores. This warehouse is open to the public and stores over 30,000 spare parts. Any Orbit client who has invested in their health and fitness with us can get maximum benefit and value from their machine by keeping it “alive” for many many years of service.

As with warranty, We have a dedicated “on the road” team who have strict KPI’s to answer warranty claims “in house” faster and for efficient than any other supplier in Australia. We believe our service is World Class for the fitness industry and even for retail in general. It has not been an easy achievement, its taken 30 years. Merely typing a warranty on the bottom of a brochure or a website does not make it happen. It takes good dedicated and highly trained staff. It takes infrastructure and investment in parts. It also takes dedicated office staff to attend to your phone call or email, look up your customer history, draw up a job card and set up an appointment. All these customer service structures are currently operating for any client who has purchased from an Orbit Store. You will not ever be handballed to a supplier or manufacturer.

We will take care you.

Q: Whats the difference between front drive and rear drive ellipticals. Which ones are best?

Its an interesting question. I can go many weeks on the sales floor without being asked this question. Then all of a sudden I get asked for “rear drive” ellipticals or “front drive” elliptical. Im experienced enough to know that if I am being asked this question the client has most likely been told by a shop elsewhere or by an “expert” friend that Front Drive is better or visa versa. 

THE TRUTH..

The truth is neither one is better than the other, as a general rule. You will find well made and well designed rear drive and you will find poorly made and poorly designed rear drive. Once again the same applies to front drive. The unique consideration when buying an elliptical is each and every model feels completely different to each other, especially on the lower end of the market. Many consumers have been “spoilt” in the local gym after using a model worth anywhere between $6000-$10,000. So my advice is do not pay any attention to whether a machine is front drive or rear drive. Simply try the machine at your local Specialist retailer, feel the motion, check the quality of the bearings and construction, listen out for annoying creaks and noises and choose the most Natural feeling action you can. Don’t forget that once you get this machine in your house you have to start using it. How good it is to use can greatly impact how long and how often you use it. 

Q: I have looked on-line and bikes range from $300 -$5000, why so much difference?. Which one should I buy?

No re-seller (including Orbit Fitness) is immune from advertising a bargain. A magnetic Exercise bike with a comfortable seat, adjustable resistance, adjustable seat and handle bars and a performance monitor all for $299. Not an uncommon sight if you surf the net. On the same websites you will see bikes with the same or similar features for $699, $999, $1499, $2499. Why?. Why so seemingly expensive? Are these people trying to rip us off? I will make this very very simple for you. These differences cannot be easily explained on a brochure or web site. The most important thing you can do is visit an experienced supplier who has a good range that you can see, sit on, try and experience for your self. In many cases the differences can be very compelling and remarkable. You are purchasing an exercise bike to improve your health, which is the MOST WORTHY of investments. Choosing a bike that is comfortable and perfectly suited to your or your families needs can ONLY be achieved by visiting a store and trying. We are all different, and there is a bike most suited to your needs waiting for you to experience. Exercise should not be too uncomfortable or too difficult. Start off on the right foot by choosing your equipment wisely.