Bowflex shatters under load

On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 15:35:13 +1000, "David" <forgotwhy.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com.au>
wrote:

>
>"Achim Nolcken Lohse" <lohsea.TakeThisOut@3web.nettax> wrote in message
>news:460444e6.10454114@news.telus.net...
>> On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 17:18:38 +1000, "David" <forgotwhy.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com.au>
>
>>>Maybe, but discontinuing a model straight directly after a recall of
>>>800,000
>>>units must tell you something.
>>>I know 1.2 million recalled units just rolls of the tongue but think about
>>>it - this company in the space of 12 months as recalled 1,200,000 units -
>>>can you imagine the expense, the embarassment, the loss of reputation?
>>
>> No need to imagine. Sony and Mercedes Benz have had similar recalls
>> recently. I don't see their brands going down in flames.
>
>The difference is that Sony and MB have delivered excellence over many
>years - so an occasional recall will not cause their rep to be damaged
>unduly. Bowflex delivers something less than excellence
>
So you say. But your only objective evidence is the recall. And since
Sony and Mercedes' recalls are not proof that they are "garbage"
manufacturers, neither can the Bowflex recall provide such proof.

....
>
>Freight alone must average $40-$50. Also what about the return freight - the
>recalls would have been fixed and returned presumeably

You don't know what you're talking about. There was no "return
freight". Bowflex simply sent out an upgrade kit. Furthermore, you
don't seem to understand that large corporations don't pay anywhere
near the surface freight charges ordinary individuals do.

>
>> Keep in mind that all the
>> hardware except for the rods are manufactured abroad. And when you do
>> a mass parts replacement, there are no marketing costs, and
>> production, warehousing, and shipping costs can be minimized because
>> you know how many pieces you need, and where they're going.
>>
>
>Huh?? Minimize all you like there is will be a hard cost involved - double
>freight, handling, labour cost of repairs, cost of parts - there is the
>'marketing' costs of advertising the recall - it is expensive advertising to
>do a recall - $100 a unit would be underestimated

I guess it's miracle then! They not only swallowed these huge costs,
but doubled the warranty of their own accord, and then went on to
produce even more models, larger than the discontinued one, presumably
so they could lose even more money on the next recall.
>
>> OTOH, these costs go a long way toward explaining the very high
>> purchase price of the Bowflex. Marketing, liability, and warranty
>> support are huyge costs.
>>
>> I've been through the same experience with Nordictrack. Thirteen years
>> ago, when I bought my Nordictrack ski exerciser, Nordictrack had the
>> largest exercise machine sales in North America. They also offered the
>> best available warranty - 10 years on all parts. A few years later,
>> they reduced their warranty to two years, and then they went bankrupt.
>>
>So?

So Bowflex has treated its customers better than NordicTrack did.
>
>>
>> Before my ten year warranty had expired, the company was out of
>> business and the warranty was worthless. But before that happened,
>> they replaced the front frame of my machine three times, the front
>> upright twice, and the front pulley system once, partly because of
>> poor design, and partly because of inept pre- and post-sales customer
>> service (it took me two years and six or seven calls to customer
>> service to learn that they had an extended length upright that should
>> have been shipped to me initially because of my height).
>
>What does Nordic Trac have to do with the price of rice in China?
>
>>
>> So, which is a better deal - a cheaper machine that becomes a
>> paperweight when it breaks and the warranty proves worthless, or one
>> that costs 20% or 30% more, but has warranty support and retains
>> market value?
>
>You are making comparisons that have no relevance to the debate - you are
>comparing a toaster with a blender.

Nonsense. Both machines were marketed and received popularly as a safe
and effective way to get fit and stay fit at home.


>Why do you say Bowflex retains market
>value?? I would be very surprised if the 2nd hand machines sold in ebay are
>even approaching half the new price.


The warranty is non-transferable, so there should be a significant
drop in market value on resale. Check out what a perfectly funtioning
NordicTrack will fetch. Or any number of other used exercise machines.
Why do you think people buy new car replacement insurance? The minute
you drive the vehicle off the lot, the market value nosedives, even
WITH a fully transferable warranty.
>
>>
>> I'd say that Bowflex is doing much better than Nordictrack by its
>> customers.
>>
>
>IMO both machines are garbage - Nordictrac hits your hip flexors not much
>different than the discredited air walkers

Well, I've never seen a published dispute of the NordicTrack's
functionality as a cross-country simulator. And it was touted as North
America's most popular exercise machine for many years.



--

Achim
_____/)
axethetax

On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 07:37:32 -0000, "Bully"
<bully62 RemoveThis @proteinbars.co.ok> wrote:

.....
>
>So if you fail at the bottom of the leg press, where does the weight go?

That depends on the design of the leg press. But even without any
device to hold the weights, your position on a leg press machine is
inherently more stable and less vulnerable.

.....
>
>How would one lose one's balance during the squat?

How does one EVER loser one's balance? One side is weaker, or there's
a distraction, you have a muscle spasm...

>Hang on,you're the guy
>who injured yourself with a dumbbell or barbell right?

dumbell, doing preacher curls.

>That put a hole through you floor?

No, that was a barbell. It upended off the rack when I pulled the
wrong weight off.

>Have you ever lost your balance whilst squatting?

No.
>
>> or twisting during the squat,

No.
>
>Twisting??? Why would you twist whilst you are squatting?

You get distracted by something, turn your head, who knows? Why would
you twist or lose your balance when you're walking?

I suppose you've never had a weight slip out of your hands either.



--

Achim
_____/)
axethetax