Nautilus, Bowflex, Treadclimber, TC20 What they don't tell you... Portland Oregon

Here's what they forget to tell you when you order the Bowflex TC20 Treadclimber:

1. Total cost is just under $3500.

2. Offer of Professional assembly team for $249.

3. Quality of equipment is substandard considering the cost.

4. Cost to ship the unit back is just under $500 (UPS - $486.)

While they advertise that you have 6 weeks to try it out for free, here's what happened in our story.  We purchased the top of the line TC20 and paid the additional cost for professional assembly.  It took us several days to coordinate a date and time for the assembly team to arrive after receiving the 5 boxes of parts to build the unit.  The first assembly team did not appear to know what they were doing and were not successful in getting the unit built properly.  Be sure to watch how the unit is put together and do not let them take away the shipping boxes.  (I am very good at building things and would have done this myself except one of the pieces weighs well over 100 lbs and I could not have done it by myself.)  Two weeks later, the second assembly team came and re-built the necessary pieces to make the unit work.  When we disassembled it to ship back, one of the main bolts was loose where even the second assembly team had overlooked it and not tightened it up.

One big problem, for the money, this unit does not use high-end materials.  The treadle belts are very thin and require on-going maintenance and adjusting (with a tool).  The treads are very thin and I can see where the wear and tear will require future replacement.  At the initial build, one of the shock absorbers was faulty and we had to have a replacement sent out.  We had visitied a Nautilus store several years ago and seen a Treadclimber. However, please note: the unit is much larger than it appears in advertising, pictures and even the one we saw in the store.  (different model)  After using the unit for 2 weeks it was apparent we would not be pleased with it and decided to send it back.  That's when we found out about the return shipping cost of almost $500, however, I'd rather lose $500 than $3500.  Shopping around online, used/like new units already assembled, requiring personal pickup were running about $2500 so do the math. Expensive lesson.