| If you're buying a treadmill, chances are | | | | grain of salt.Expert Treadmill Ratings:There |
| you'll want to research before you buy. | | | | are also expert treadmill ratings. These are |
| Everyone wants to get the best deal for a | | | | the ratings written by the experts in the |
| discount price. They also want to find the | | | | fitness industry. People like Consumer |
| best treadmill to suit their workout needs.So | | | | Reports, Runner's World, Consumer Guide, |
| you'll probably be interested in looking at | | | | Men's Health, Prevention Magzine are just a |
| various treadmill ratings or reviews. But | | | | few out there. These people rate and review |
| why are there so many different ratings and | | | | various treadmills at various times in the |
| which one is the most accurate? Here's a few | | | | year.While these ratings are much less likely |
| things most buyers don't know about treadmill | | | | to be tainted by biased reviewers, here are a |
| ratings.There are really 2 types of treadmill | | | | few cautions to keep in mind while reading |
| ratings:1) Consumer Ratings2) Expert | | | | them:#1) Each rater has a different rating |
| RatingsUser Treadmill Ratings:Consumer | | | | system and may rate treadmills on such |
| treadmill ratings are done by the layperson | | | | factors as price, cushioning, stability, |
| who has bought and used the specific | | | | quietness, belt area, warranty, console, |
| treadmill. Many websites allow anyone to go | | | | electronics, programs, incline and quality of |
| online and post a review of their | | | | parts.So while one reviewer may put more |
| treadmill.Customer reviews and ratings can be | | | | emphasis on cushioning the other may put more |
| very valuable when searching for a treadmill | | | | emphasis on warranty. It's nothing to get |
| - however keep in mind several things:#1) No | | | | confused over - just understand that |
| treadmill has a 100% perfect track record. | | | | different experts value different features. |
| Even the BEST treadmill manufacturers | | | | They'll usually have an area where they list |
| sometimes make a dud.And it's usually the | | | | exactly how they rated the treadmills and |
| people that have had BAD experiences that | | | | which features they valued highly in their |
| leave negative reviews of their treadmills, | | | | review.#2) Expert ratings also usually don't |
| not the many that have had good experiences | | | | have time to look at EVERY treadmill brand on |
| with the same treadmill.They have every right | | | | the market. Nobody does. We've been |
| to do this and hopefully the treadmill | | | | reviewing treadmills for over 3 years and we |
| manufacturers read these reviews and do | | | | still haven't covered all the brands.So just |
| something about them. Just remember that one | | | | because a certain brand isn't in the ratings, |
| bad review doesn't prove it's a low quality | | | | doesn't make it a poor quality brand. Try to |
| brand.#2) The treadmill industry is growing | | | | find other reviews on a brand if you can't |
| more competitive each year. And marketing is | | | | find it in your favorite expert ratings |
| a huge portion of the treadmill industry | | | | list.One last thing: Many treadmill ratings |
| since treadmill manufacturers KNOW you're | | | | are also based on comparison to other |
| going to research treadmill ratings before | | | | similarly priced treadmills on the market.So |
| you buy.So while I'm not making any | | | | if you have a $1000 treadmill that gets 5 |
| accusations, I have read 'customer reviews' | | | | stars - that doesn't necessarily mean that |
| that are clearly NOT written by the average | | | | it's better than a $2000 treadmill that gets |
| buyer. They sound like they're written by | | | | 4 stars. It means that compared to other |
| somebody working for the competition - | | | | $1000 treadmills it is one of the best |
| someone well versed in the art of sales | | | | values.By remembering these things when |
| psychology and who knows more about | | | | sifting through treadmill ratings, you're |
| treadmills than the average person. Again, | | | | less likely to be confused. And it will be |
| not making any accusations here - just keep | | | | easier to choose the best quality treadmill |
| this in mind when reading user ratings | | | | for your needs.Kathryn O'Neill is chief |
| online.Rule of Thumb: Use common sense. If | | | | editor for Treadmill Review, a consumer |
| it sounds like it's written by a treadmill | | | | oriented website focusing on the home |
| salesperson, take the treadmill review with a | | | | treadmill market. |