It is recommended by many to buy your treadmill from a local dealer because most people will need a service technician to help them if they have a problem. Some will even need local service for maintenance. That is why it is not always a good idea to buy on the net unless you were born with a wrench in your hand! There is a good chance that the local dealer has knowledge of the inner working of these machines and can provide you with the proper service that your machine may need. He also can provide you with great tips to keep your treadmill in working condition.
The truth of the matter is that your local dealer is horrified of the net. It scares most of them to death. You should see some of the letters in trade publications that are as defensive as they can be! Some even think selling exercise equipment over the net should be banned! Talk about fanaticism.
So, you have to face these two realities when buying a treadmill.