Do you have fitness equipment collecting dust that you no longer need or use?
If so, this article may be useful. In it I’ll be discussing the pros & cons of several different ways you can sell any unwanted exercise equipment.
Table of Contents
ToggleWhere to sell used exercise equipment
Sell it using your local newspaper’s online & print classified ads.
Sell it on eBay using their Local Pickup Only option.
Sell it on Facebook Marketplace.
Sell it to a used exercise equipment retailer.
Sell it to a pawn shop that accepts fitness equipment.
Sell it at a neighborhood garage sale.
What’s next
Later in the article I’ll talk about these different selling options in detail, including how each of them work and what their respective benefits & drawbacks are.
But first let’s look at the used exercise equipment marketplace, since this is where prices are set.
Science resources included
As is my custom here on heydayDo, I will provide links to all of the relevant sports science & medical resources, clinical studies, and nutritional data used in this article.
Used exercise equipment reality check
You can certainly make back a bit of the money you originally spent, if you decide to try & sell a piece of used exercise equipment that is still in good working condition.
However, there are a few realities to come to grips with if you’re unfamiliar with the used fitness equipment market:
- Poor resale value of used exercise equipment
- Excess supply of used exercise equipment
- Many charities won’t accept certain exercise equipment
Poor resale value
The monetary value of most exercise equipment drops dramatically the minute it’s first purchased.
Meaning that the second it goes from being new to being pre-owned, its value is greatly reduced.
The reality of this poor resale value situation becomes apparent when you hear how little you’re offered for the piece of exercise equipment you’re trying to sell.
This is especially true of home cardio machines like:
- Exercise bikes / stationary bikes
- Elliptical machines
- Rowing machines
- Treadmills
- Stepper & climber machines
- Infomercial “home gyms”
Why?
Excess supply of used fitness equipment
Anyone who’s been around the fitness industry or fitness equipment for a decent length of time knows that there are thousands if not millions of exercise machines in American homes that are unused and just sitting around gathering dust.
So, there are a lot more people with unwanted used exercise equipment than there are people looking to buy used exercise equipment.
Used exercise equipment dealers know this, pawn shop owners know this, and anyone who’s ever bought & sold used fitness equipment a couple of times knows this.
It’s a little better selling used free weights
Note that free weights hold onto their value better than exercise machines.
With a barbell or the Olympic weight plates they hold, they’re all just one piece of metal so there’s nothing that can wear out or go wrong with them.
And while some dumbbells may have a few pieces to them, the design is so simple they rarely have problems either.
Plus there’s a lot more demand for used free weights than for used cardio machines too.
Some charities don’t take used exercise equipment
Another price indicator of sorts is the fact that many charities have various restrictions on what kind of used exercise equipment donations they’ll take on.
This includes charities that make a good portion of their money by re-selling used goods, but many of them are unwilling to accept pre-owned cardio machines like treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, etc.
It’s a case-by-case basis as to what fitness gear they do or don’t want and why that is the case.
But on some level it’s obviously not worth it to many charities to try & resell certain types of used home fitness equipment.
Bottom line: Have reasonable expectations for how much you think your used exercise equipment is worth.
Next, here are a few simple (& perhaps obvious) suggestions to help you get the best price possible when selling your used fitness equipment.
Tips for selling used exercise equipment
- Reach as wide a buying audience as you can
- Make sure the equipment is working smoothly
- Make sure it’s as clean as it was new
- Take good photos for your online listings
- Write an honest but positive description
Reach as wide a buying audience as you can
Consider using as many selling avenues as is practical for you to do so.
I list several in the next section: online classified ads of various kinds, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, used equipment retailers, etc.
The goal here is to put your product listing before as many potential buyers as possible, to increase the chances of getting the best price for it that you can.
Make sure the equipment is working smoothly
If your exercise equipment has moving parts like a treadmill, bike, or all-in-one home gym, confirm that it’s put together as it should be and operates smoothly.
A prospective buyer will likely want to “test drive” it, so be sure your exercise equipment is good to go.
Consult the owner’s manual to check that all the parts are installed where they should be.
If you’ve lost the owner’s manual, go online to the equipment manufacturer’s website and download & print a copy.
Have it handy for anyone who comes to look at what you’re selling.
Make sure it’s as clean as new
Spruce up your equipment as best you can.
Take the time to thoroughly clean it from top to bottom, and disinfect any parts that come in contact with human skin or sweat, like handlebars, seats, etc.
Depending on what type of equipment you’re selling, you may need to vacuum inside the undercarriage where dust can accumulate on moving parts (treadmills, recumbent bikes, elliptical machines, etc.).
Make a positive impression by having it look and smell as clean & new as possible.
Take good photos for your online listings
Once your equipment is looking its best, take a few pics from different angles and in good lighting. Sunlight is usually more flattering than brights & camera flashes.
Portray your equipment as attractively as you can, since in an online ad all a buyer has to go on is your description and the images you provide.
If there are any flaws, pointing them out up front via a photo is the honorable way to go.
Write an honest but positive description
Here are a few things to include in your ad’s description section besides the make, model, and asking price.
*The price you paid for it new…
…Or link to the manufacturer’s website (or Amazon) where the cost of a new model is displayed.
A prospective buyer will be able to see how much of a discount you’re offering compared to the brand new price.
*A link to the manufacturer’s product page…
…that provides the in-depth description & technical specifications for the equipment that you’re selling.
This gives the buyer a lot of useful (& positive) information about your item that you’re not going to know anyway.
Let the manufacturer help you sell it.
*A brief description…
of your (hopefully positive) experiences with the equipment.
Describe any cosmetic damage accurately.
Also list any broken or missing parts (hopefully there aren’t any).
You can (some say should) also provide the reason you’re selling it as long as that doesn’t make your fitness equipment look bad.
OK, with those suggestions in mind let’s look again at that list of the places where you can try & sell your unwanted fitness gear.
Where to sell used exercise equipment
Sell it in your local paper’s online & print classified ads.
Sell it on eBay using their Local Pickup Only option.
Sell it on Facebook Marketplace.
Sell it to a used exercise equipment retailer.
Sell it to a pawn shop that accepts fitness equipment.
Sell it at a neighborhood garage sale.
In the broadest sense, your two options for where to sell your fitness equipment are locally or non-locally.
Local includes attracting buyers in your area via classified ad listings and contacting retailers in your area that buy & sell used exercise equipment.
An example of non-local selling would be listing your equipment online on sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace, which allow your sale item to be found by people from all over the country, as well as by those who live in your area.
I’ll go through each one of these 6 selling avenues separately.
1. Sell it via local ads/online classified listings
Take out a classified ad in your local newspaper, whether in print or online.
Local online classifieds also includes local listing sites like Craigslist.
PROs:
*You can set the price you want for your equipment.
*Some sites like Craigslist allow you to post your ads for free.
*No transporting or shipping costs.
CONs:
*Time & energy required to manage all of the communications, appointment settings, etc.
*Most classified ad services charge you for your ad.
*Dealing with people coming to your home.
*Popular online ad sites like Craigslist are frequented by spammers & scammers, so you may have to sift through some garbage messages to get to the sincerely interested buyers.
2. Sell it on eBay
Another place you can sell your used exercise equipment is eBay.
eBay provides a safe & moderated online marketplace that handles the financial transaction, manages any issues, etc.
You can use it for local or non-local buyers, as I’ll explain below.
PROs:
*Your listing will be seen by buyers who are actively looking for your product.
They’ll be willing to pay more than retailers will.
*eBay manages the financial transaction side of things, any issues like dispute resolution, etc.
CONs:
*eBay takes a cut when your item sells (they call it a final value fee, which is 10% for most things).
*If selling it non-local: You have to handle shipping it, including packing it properly so that it can’t be damaged during transit.
It’s your responsibility if it is.
Also, shipping charges on heavy items can be costly.
*If you use eBay for Local Pickup Only, you’ll have people coming to your home, and need to manage that accordingly.
eBay for non-local buyers
To reach out to potential non-local buyers eBay’s a solid way to go, since your product’s now listed nationally with arguably the most well-known company in the used product marketplace.
This greatly expands your potential customer base of people who are actively looking for the type of equipment you’re selling.
However, remember that there’s the shipping cost to deal with that I mentioned earlier.
Even when using the ‘Ground’ versions of UPS or FedEx, anything remotely heavy won’t be cheap to ship.
Savvy buyers on eBay who are used to free or inexpensive shipping will likely pass on your offer if you tack on a hefty shipping charge, so you might need to eat the shipping cost to get the sale.
eBay for local buyers
eBay does have the option for you to limit your buyers to local only.
You do this by going into the Shipping Details section and changing the shipping option to Local Pickup Only.
This eliminates any of the hassle associated with shipping as well as its cost, since the buyer will be coming to you to pick it up.
Last update on 2025-02-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3. Sell it on Facebook Marketplace
Over the past few years Facebook has made a big dent in eBay’s “used stuff” market share, and their platform is called Facebook Marketplace.
Using your Facebook account to access it, FB Marketplace is very easy to use.
I’ve bought dumbbells using Facebook Marketplace, though I’ve never sold anything on it.
But it only took me all of 5 minutes to put through a test/sample “for sale” listing this morning; their instructions are clear & they take you through the process step-by-step.
Here’s a shot from this Facebook Marketplace Learn More page that has lots of tips in addition to this list of to-do’s for placing a listing there:
Below are a couple of screenshots from Facebook Marketplace, so you can get an idea of what it looks like.
The first one is of its main page where you would fill out your listing; you can see pictures of some of the fitness products listed in your area as well.
The second one shows you the additional info people see when they click on your listing; note how your exact location is withheld:
PROs:
*Like eBay, your fitness equipment listing on Facebook Marketplace will be seen by buyers who are shopping for your product.
*Unlike eBay, there are no fees for selling your items on FB Marketplace.
*You can check out the Facebook profile of anyone interested enough in your equipment to contact you ahead of you responding to them.
This raises the level of safety for your potential transaction, and you can read up on a few more of those benefits on this Facebook Marketplace Safe Tips page.
*Used fitness equipment is a popular category on FB Marketplace, with a lot of buying & selling activity in many towns & suburbs.
CONs:
*Unlike eBay who handle the financials & help guarantee a smooth transfer of goods & money, Facebook Marketplace is more akin to local want ads.
Thus it’s up to you to insure your safety & that you get paid properly without any hassle or shady stuff.
Who else buys used exercise equipment near me?
Two other options for selling your equipment locally are retailers who sell used sporting goods & fitness products, and the pawn shops who do as well.
PROs:
*Deal with professional buyers at their store, not strangers in your home.
*Cash paid on the spot.
*No transporting or shipping costs.
CONs:
*They don’t pay as well as a private buyer might.
*You have to get your equipment over to their place.
4. Sell it at used sports & fitness equipment stores
Depending on where you live, there may be a local store that buys & sells fitness equipment.
Or your area may even have a franchise of the large national chain Play It Again Sports, who mostly sells (and buys) used & new sporting goods.
But they will also buy certain types of used exercise equipment too, and that decision is up to each local store.
On their national website, Play It Again Sports lists the following used home exercise equipment they may purchase from you:
- Recumbent bikes
- Elliptical Trainers
- Heavy Bags
- Kettlebells
- Resistance Bands
- Treadmills
- Rowing Machines
- Upright Bikes
- Weights
- Yoga Mats
They go on to say on that listings page that these may or may not be what each local store is currently in the market for.
They’re located in 47 different states so this is understandable.
They suggest contacting your local Play It Again Sports store to find out what type of used exercise equipment they’re willing to buy.
How much will I get for my stuff?
Play It Again Sports lists the above question in their FAQs, and answers it as follows:
“It depends.
We base our buying prices on brand, condition and demand for the items.
Typically we will resell our used items for about 40-60% of what they would sell for new today.
You would receive 30-50% of that amount depending on demand, condition and current inventory levels of like products.”
I can do a little quick math example for us to put some numbers to that purchasing policy of theirs.
* Let’s say we’re talking about a treadmill that costs $1000 new.
*40-60% of that is a range of $400-$600, what they’d sell it for.
* 30-50% of that $400-$600 range is $120 – $300, which is what they’d pay you.
This means they pay between 12¢ – 30¢ on the dollar for used exercise equipment.
(Remember what I said earlier in the article about used exercise equipment having poor resale value?)
5. Sell it at a pawn shop
Pawn shops aren’t just for pawning an item in order to get a temporary loan: they also pay cash to buy certain things outright too.
Pawn shops have a mostly-unwarranted stigma attached to them, probably thanks to TV shows & movies.
But the truth of the matter is, they’re likely owned by someone who knows the accurate resale value of hundreds if not thousands of different used products.
Do pawn shops buy treadmills?
Some actually do, but it depends on their local market. Since not all pawn shops will want to buy your used exercise equipment, it’s a good idea to call first to see if it’s worth your while to stop by.
Or you can use the free service called PawnGuru.com, who operate like an information broker on your behalf when selling something to a pawn shop.
PawnGuru sends your listing to multiple local pawn shops
PawnGuru.com provides sellers like yourself a place to list your products for free, where they will be seen by all of the pawn shops in your area who’ve registered with PawnGuru.
Currently there are around 2,300 pawn shops nationwide who’ve signed up with them.
Pawn shops that are interested in buying your equipment will reply with their offer amount to the PawnGuru site, who forwards them to you via your phone or email.
You choose the offer you like most, then drive to that pawn shop with your exercise equipment to complete the transaction.
They’ll take your fitness gear and pay you cash.
Bottom line:
Both pawn shops and used sports & fitness equipment retailers are buying your used exercise equipment from you in order to re-sell it and make a profit.
As such, they will typically pay you less than you’d get from a private buyer who’s actively looking to buy a used ______ that you happen to be selling.
6. Garage Sale
You could try & sell it at a garage sale that you or a neighbor hold.
PROs:
* You can set the price you want.
* No advertising cost.
* No transporting or shipping cost.
CONs:
* It’s a tough place for sellers trying to get the highest price.
People have garage sales to get rid of stuff they don’t want, and all the people who stop by already know this.
FAQ
Here are answers to a couple of commonly asked questions about selling used exercise equipment.
How to sell a used Peloton bike?
Any of the usual want ads places might work, but your best option could be the Facebook Group with 198,000+ members that’s dedicated to buying & selling Peloton bikes: facebook.com/groups/pelotonbst
How much to sell used weights for?
Whether you're selling used dumbbells or barbell plates, you'll want to know what their current price per pound is. You can get a good idea of this from local classified ads & used equipment stores.
Wrapping Up
I hope that my article on the different ways to sell your unwanted & used exercise equipment is useful to you, and I wish you well on your fitness journey.
– greg