The beginning of a new year is often associated with increased interest in gym memberships, at-home workout equipment and programs designed around living a healthier lifestyle.
As we recover from holiday celebrations, including holiday dinners typically more robust than the standard fare, the new year offers plenty of opportunities to help shed any extra servings of stuffing.
However, it is important to remain mindful of those who take advantage of shopper trends for their own gain — all the while keeping realistic fitness goals that we can carry throughout the year.
Rather than signing up for fitness classes at a local gym, many people may decide to purchase at-home equipment to exercise. For the past five years, internet searches for “workout equipment” have peaked during January. As is typical in the new year, as these purchases peak, BBB is expecting an increase in reports of fraudulent businesses who are advertising the sale of workout equipment that’s never received or arrives in poor condition or quality.
Here’s an all too common example of a report where an individual lost $2,100 when purchasing an elliptical workout machine online. After paying for the equipment via Amazon pay, they reported they “received no confirmation or contact of any kind. I received no response when emailing the company.” Unfortunately, sites offering “too good to be true” prices can disappear as quickly as they appear.