Pricey Gym Equipment Part of Your New Year Plans? Be Sure to Buy a Service Contract

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With some reports of home gym equipment sales soaring by more than 170 percent since the start of the pandemic and fitness being a top, perennial New Year’s resolution, the Service Contract Industry Council encourages Americans to make a service contract part of their 2021 plans.

With gym and fitness centers having to close during the pandemic, many Americans purchased gym equipment, such as treadmills, rowers, stationary bikes, and elliptical machines, to stay fit at home. These fitness machines are not used gently and often come with advanced technology, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, touchscreen and more, making repairs especially costly.

“The use of at-home fitness equipment has skyrocketed since the pandemic and with Americans considering buying new equipment in the New Year, they should also consider a service contract, which can save hundreds of dollars and eliminate the hassle of repairs,” said Tim Meenan SCIC Executive Director and General Counsel.

Sometimes called an extended warranty, a service contract is a protection plan that covers consumer purchases beyond the manufacturer’s terms. In the case of exercise equipment, the contract can cover electrical and mechanical failures and include home service repairs from authorized technicians to fix product failures.

Consumers can learn more about service contracts and find a full list of SCIC providers by visiting go-scic.com.