Buy new for cardio equipment (treadmills, bikes, ellipticals), cable machines, and pin-loaded strength machines — these have moving parts that wear and are expensive to repair without warranty. Used equipment can be a smart buy for free weights, dumbbells, weight plates, barbells, benches, and power racks — these are simple steel with no moving parts and hold up well secondhand.
I'm Niall Wogan, CEO of VERVE Fitness. We've equipped over 16,000 commercial gyms across Australia. I'll be transparent: we sell new equipment, so we have a commercial interest here. But I also talk to gym owners every day who've made expensive mistakes buying used — and others who've saved tens of thousands by being strategic about it. This guide gives you the honest framework we'd share with any owner sitting across the table from us.
Certain categories of gym equipment should always be purchased new. These are the pieces where the risk of failure, repair costs, and safety concerns make used equipment a false economy.
Treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers, and exercise bikes are the worst equipment to buy used. They contain motors, drive belts, bearings, and electronic control boards that degrade with use. A commercial treadmill in a busy gym logs 10–14 hours of use per day — that's 3,500–5,000 hours per year of continuous mechanical stress.
Cable-based equipment — functional trainers, cable crossovers, lat pulldowns, and any machine using a pulley system — should be bought new. Cables fray internally before you can see damage on the outside. A snapped cable under load is a serious safety and liability risk.
A new Tori Functional Trainer at $4,999 with warranty and fresh cables is significantly better value than a used unit at $2,500 that needs $1,500 in cable replacements within the first year.
Pin-loaded (selectorised) machines use internal cable-and-pulley systems, weight stacks, and guide rods that wear over time. The Makoto Commercial Series from VERVE is engineered for 50,000+ hours of commercial use — but a used machine with unknown hours and no maintenance history is a gamble.
Not all equipment carries the same risk. Items made of solid steel with no moving parts, no motors, and no cables are excellent candidates for secondhand purchase. These are inherently simple — there's very little that can go wrong.
Dumbbells, weight plates, and barbells are cast or machined steel. Short of physically cracking them (extremely rare), they last indefinitely. A 20 kg dumbbell from 2010 works exactly the same as one from 2026.
Adjustable and flat benches are simple steel frames with upholstered pads. The frame itself is virtually indestructible. The only wear item is the upholstery, which costs $150–$300 to re-cover professionally.
A power rack is a welded steel frame. There are no moving parts, no electronics, and nothing to wear out. A well-built rack from 10 years ago is functionally identical to a new one.
Plate-loaded machines (hack squats, T-bar rows, plate-loaded leg presses) have simpler mechanics than pin-loaded machines. They use pivot bearings and lever arms rather than cables and weight stacks.
Here's what you can expect to pay for new versus used equipment across the main categories. "Used" prices assume equipment in good-to-fair condition from a known commercial brand, purchased through marketplace or liquidation.
| Equipment Type | New Price (AUD) | Used Price (AUD) | Typical Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Treadmill | $6,999–$15,000 | $2,500–$7,000 | 40–55% |
| Pin-Loaded Strength Machine | $4,599–$12,000 | $1,800–$5,000 | 45–60% |
| Functional Trainer / Cable Machine | $4,999–$10,000 | $2,000–$5,000 | 40–55% |
| Dumbbell Set (5–50 kg) | $4,000–$7,000 | $2,000–$3,500 | 40–55% |
| Weight Plates (per station set) | $800–$2,000 | $400–$1,000 | 45–55% |
| Power Rack (commercial) | $1,099–$3,500 | $500–$1,500 | 40–55% |
| Adjustable Bench (commercial) | $800–$1,500 | $400–$700 | 35–50% |
| Olympic Barbell (20 kg) | $300–$800 | $150–$400 | 45–55% |
If you've decided to buy used for the right categories, here's where to look — and what to expect from each source.
When a gym closes or upgrades its entire floor, the equipment is often sold quickly at steep discounts. This is the best source of high-quality used equipment because you can often buy in bulk from a single facility and inspect everything on-site.
Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, and similar platforms are the most common source for used gym equipment in Australia. Prices vary wildly, and quality ranges from near-new to junk.
A small number of companies specialise in buying, refurbishing, and reselling commercial gym equipment. They typically clean, re-cable, re-upholster, and repaint equipment before resale.
Equipment suppliers — including VERVE Fitness — occasionally have ex-demo, showroom, or trade-in equipment available. These pieces are often barely used and come with some form of warranty or quality assurance.
Walk away from any used equipment deal if you encounter any of these warning signs:
The sticker price on used equipment looks attractive. But what does the total cost of ownership look like over a 5-year period when you factor in repairs, downtime, and replacement?
| Cost Item | Buy New (VERVE Kuro) | Buy Used (Unknown Hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | $6,999 | $3,500 |
| Motor replacement (Year 2) | $0 (under warranty) | $1,800 |
| Belt and deck (Year 3) | $0 (under warranty) | $1,200 |
| Control board (Year 4) | $600 | $1,500 |
| Downtime lost revenue (est.) | $0 | $500 |
| 5-Year Total Cost | $7,599 | $8,500 |
The used treadmill ends up costing $901 more over 5 years, with worse reliability, more downtime, and no warranty protection for the first three years of repairs.
| Cost Item | Buy New | Buy Used |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | $5,500 | $2,800 |
| Repairs over 5 years | $0 | $0 |
| Replacement pieces | $0 | $0 |
| 5-Year Total Cost | $5,500 | $2,800 |
The used dumbbell set saves $2,700 with zero additional risk. The dumbbells will still be in perfect working condition at year 10, 15, and beyond. This is where buying used makes overwhelming sense.
The smartest gym owners don't go all-new or all-used. They apply the golden rule and build a hybrid equipment strategy that maximises value while minimising risk.
Here's what that looks like in practice for a mid-size gym (200–500 sqm):
| Category | Buy New or Used? | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cardio (10 units) — VERVE Kuro Series | NEW | $50,000–$70,000 |
| Pin-loaded strength (10 machines) — VERVE Makoto Series | NEW | $45,000–$60,000 |
| Functional trainers (3 stations) — VERVE Tori Series | NEW | $10,000–$15,000 |
| Dumbbells (5–50 kg set) | USED | $2,000–$3,500 |
| Weight plates and barbells | USED | $1,500–$3,000 |
| Benches (4–6 units) | USED | $1,600–$3,000 |
| Power racks (3–4 units) | USED | $1,500–$3,000 |
| Kettlebells, slam balls, accessories | USED | $1,000–$2,000 |
| Total Hybrid Fitout | — | $112,600–$159,500 |
The key is buying new from a quality commercial supplier for the categories that matter. VERVE Fitness offers complete cardio, strength, and functional training packages with full warranty and delivery — and you can supplement with used free weights, benches, and racks sourced locally to bring your total fitout cost down significantly.
Used gym equipment is absolutely worth it — for the right categories. Dumbbells, weight plates, barbells, benches, and power racks are solid steel with no moving parts, so they hold up extremely well secondhand. You can save 40–60% off new prices with virtually no risk. However, used cardio equipment, cable machines, and pin-loaded strength machines are not worth it in most cases — the repair costs and lack of warranty typically wipe out any upfront savings within the first 1–2 years.
Never buy used treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers, or any cardio machine with a motor. These have the highest failure rates when purchased secondhand, and repairs can cost $2,000–$5,000 per unit. You should also avoid buying used cable machines and functional trainers, where frayed internal cables are a safety hazard that may not be visible from the outside. Finally, avoid any equipment with integrated touchscreens or electronics — replacement parts are expensive and often unavailable for older models.
Used commercial gym equipment typically sells for 40–60% below new retail prices. On a mid-size gym fitout budgeted at $150,000, a smart hybrid approach — buying new for cardio and strength machines while buying used for free weights, benches, and racks — can save $15,000–$30,000 without compromising reliability or safety. Going all-used can save more upfront, but repair costs of $500–$2,000 per piece erode those savings quickly.
The best sources in Australia are gym liquidation sales (when facilities close or upgrade their entire floor), online marketplaces like Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace, specialist gym equipment resellers who refurbish and resell, and supplier trade-in or ex-demo programs. Always inspect equipment in person before purchasing. For liquidation sales, sign up to industry newsletters and join gym owner Facebook groups where closures are often announced first.
Inspect weld points for cracks or stress marks, check all cables for fraying or kinking, test every adjustment mechanism and bearing for smooth operation, look for structural rust (not just surface rust), and test all electronic displays. Ask for maintenance records and original purchase receipts. For cardio equipment, ask for total hour count if the machine tracks it. For any equipment, if the seller refuses to let you test it under load before purchasing, walk away.
Some manufacturers and authorised dealers sell certified refurbished or ex-demo equipment with limited warranties. This can be a solid middle ground — you get professionally inspected and serviced equipment at 20–40% off new retail prices. Contact suppliers like VERVE Fitness directly to ask about ex-demo, trade-in, or showroom stock. These deals are typically not listed on websites and are available on a first-come basis.
VERVE Fitness supplies commercial cardio, strength, and functional training equipment with full warranty and Australia-wide delivery. VERVE Pulse manages everything after the doors open — members, billing, scheduling, and retention.
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