"Bodybuilding Sins" That Cause Back Pain And Missed Workouts: Part 4
Welcome to article number 4 in our series “Bodybuilding Sins That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts”. In this article we are going to talk about how bodybuilders tend to create massive muscle imbalances and what you can do to not be one of...
DETOX FOR BEAUTIFUL SKIN
DETOX FOR BEAUTIFUL SKIN Did you know every day an estimated 450 grams (1 pound) of toxins leave the body in sweat, carried out through the skin. This is possible, however, only if the pores through which sweat travels are open. Every day our skin...
How to Gain Weight and Build More Muscle Mass
In the health, fitness, and nutrition world, achieving optimal or desired body weight is dominated by a single theme: losing weight. The vast majority of products and services available on the market proclaim to achieve weight loss goals, and even...
MuscleTech Gakic: A new era in musclebuilding performance
GAKIC, chemically known as glycine-l-arginine-alpha-ketoisocaproic acid, may be new to Bodybuilders, athletes, and sports enthusiasts, though it has been in development for 8 years already and many studies have been done on this supplement. It's...
Supplements: Know more about Supplements
At times, due to your busy and fast life, we tend to miss out on the essential nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals which are responsible for our good health. Good nutrition is the most important factor in achieving optimal health. If...
Buying Fitness Equipment On eBay: Deals or Duds?
With tens of millions of registered members and more than 12,000 items listed, eBay is, without a doubt, the world's largest Internet marketplace. And you can buy just about anything there--from CDs, movies and vitamins to first edition books, new businesses and even someone's last breath of air. But--what you want to know--is it the place to shop for fitness equipment?
The answer is yes, but that’s if you don’t mind sifting and, in most cases, bidding.
On a given day in June 2003, there were 1,026,771 items listed under the “Sports” category; and there were 344,705 items in the "Sporting Goods" subcategory, which is broken down into more than three-dozen subcategories. Under "Exercise & Fitness," a “Sporting Goods” subcategory, there were 7,146 items. And that subcategory is divided up into six subcategories. Hope you’re not too confused.
On that given June day, I took a look at several fitness products sold on eBay. I wanted to find out how low prices on new (never been used) popular or quality products go on this mega auction site. The good news: They can go pretty low.
One product I examined was Total Trainer, and there are several models listed on eBay. I zeroed in on the 3000 model, which is supposed to be comparable to the Brinkley- and Norris- endorsed Total Gym 3000. On eBay, Total Trainer is offered in two pricing formats: Name your own or Buy It Now (skip the auction process) for $277. Off eBay, Total Gym retails for, on average, $500.
I also compared a few other infomercial-marketed products. One, a knock-off of the Fast Abs bodybuilding belt, an
electronic muscle stimulation device, runs for about $10 to $15 on eBay (with free shipping). Off eBay, the real product will cost you around $30, plus shipping/handling. Another, Smart ABS, is priced at $50 on eBay; off, it ranges between $70 and $80. A third product is a Fitness Quest glider similar to the Tony Little Gazelle Freestyle Elite. Buy it on eBay and you’ll pay roughly $220, almost half of what you would spend at Little’s official site.
The last product I checked out was Jolie Weights, one-pound attachable fitness shoe weights introduced this spring by Jolie World. At JolieWeights.com, these weights cost $19.99. An independent eBay seller was auctioning them for $14.99. That’s a 25 percent savings. Plus, shipping/handling charges are exactly the same.
The bottom line is: You will find some good deals on eBay. But there are a good number of duds there too. The best advice? Do your research before buying. Compare prices; read the fine print; ask the seller whether it’s a discontinued or irregular product; and be vigilant of bloated shipping/handling charges (a common practice among eBay sellers). A final tip: before buying anything, read the seller’s reviews, where buyers post their positive or negative shopping experiences. If the eBay seller has too many negatives, then you may want to pass on the deal. If the seller seems legitimate, and you’ve confirmed it’s a steal, jump on it. The price--the product-- may be gone tomorrow.
Jane Simms is a Florida-based health and fitness freelance writer. E-mail Jane at: fitsimms@aol.com