Motivated by the home gym craze, I selected the 45 minute-away Peloton shop in Manhasset as my…read moreSunday drive destination.
According to the research I have done about the company on social media, Peloton is a cycling and treadmill community with live instructors that are streamed from an app; and that limited use of the app is available to non Peloton users.
Sales associate Bryant kindly provided me with a consultation even though I did not pre-schedule an appointment.
He stated that CLASSES ARE NOT HELD HERE; and that it is only a showroom, where bikes and treadmills are sold. However, prospective buyers are also permitted to try out the equipment on site by taking a "demo class". Studio locations, where live classes are held, are listed on the official Peloton website: onepeloton.com.
Bryant also emphasized that Peloton sells both bikes and treadmills and that in February 2021, the base Tread will be up for sale. The Tread Plus is already up for sale and costs over $4,000, but it is on a MULTI-WEEK BACKORDER like both bikes.
Bryant differentiated the Bike Plus from the base one. Plus has a monitor that swivels. The base Bike does not.
Neither the base Tread nor the Tread Plus' monitor has a swivel screen.
I was undecided about whether I want a bike or a treadmill, so Bryant wisely suggested that I peruse the company website.
After I left the showroom, I called the phone number on the website and within a few minutes got Cole, a sales associate. Cole favored The Tread Plus because users feel like they are "running on a grass football field". He also recommended the Bike Plus for its comfort and swivel screen.
I responded that my butt is too wide for the bike's narrow saddle. To prevent the popular "PELOTON SADDLE SORENESS" that consumers complain about in social media, I need a square bike seat with plenty of cushioning. Cole politely informed me that some buyers have switched the saddle for a more comfortable one from a third party, or they wear a pair of padded shorts while biking.
Then Cole professionally presented several purchase options including a family one. Each option includes delivery; on-site assembly and instructions; a one-year limited warranty; and a five-year motor and frame warranty. Financing is available for 0% APR.
Cycling shoes with cleats is a bike essential. Bluetooth or headphones are required for bike and treadmill classes. Weights are optional, but athletes need them for boot camp classes.
All buyers must pay for a $39/mo app that is connected to the equipment. Otherwise, they cannot access the Leaderboard that compares their efforts to other cyclists or treadmill users; the thousands of classes; or the saving of work out records.
Cole made it clear that there is NO PAUSE BUTTON DURING LIVE CLASSES on the treadmill or bike. So if anyone needs to get up and go to the toilet or get a glass of water, he or she will not be able to "pick up where they left off". Fortunately, the "on-demand" classes do feature a pause button, Cole exclaimed.
There are also Facebook and Instagram pages, where current and prospective Peloton subscribers can interact. Sadly, Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, YouTube, Twitter and other SOCIAL MEDIA APPS CANNOT BE DOWNLOADED onto the Peloton tablet.
CAVEAT EMPTOR: Be sure to visit the Consumer Affairs and Better Business Bureau websites. There are hundreds of complaints about Peloton for defective equipment, delayed deliveries and poor customer service from Customer Support.
My web research revealed that Consumer Reports, bicycling.com and runnersworld.com are excellent resources for indoor bike, treadmill and fitness community recommendations.
Based on the HiGH NUMBER OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, I have decided not to purchase anything from Peloton, not even a tumbler to drink water.
Until I do more research about fitness communities, for now I am sticking with my $25/mo fitness membership with Tivity Health Fitness Your Way. I subscribed to it after clicking on the "gym discounts" hyperlink on the website of my health insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield. I have access to 24 hours of live classes on the Tivity website that I do not need to spend thousands of dollars on a bike or treadmill for. I also am a member of five health clubs including Unique Fitness and the YMCA, which are all part of the Tivity network.
As someone who recovered a few years ago from plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis, I prefer using the lower impact recumbent seated elliptical bikes, which Peloton does not sell. I am surprised about that because that equipment is in all health clubs that I am a member of, and Peloton has been around for over ten years.
In conclusion, I am giving the Peloton showroom in Manhasset 5 stars for their outstanding customer service. However, based on my due diligence about the company itself, Peloton deserves a mere 2 stars. That is a average of 3.5 stars, which I am generously rounding off to 4.