About a year ago now, I decided that I wanted to buy a fitness rowing machine.
So I looked around and read reviews about the best rowers and how much they would cost.
You see, I had been going to my local gym for years at this point and I'd started only ever going to use the rowing equipment, so I though that I may as well buy my own and cancel my gym membership.
So when I heard about the Concept 2 rower, I decided that it looked like the rowing machine for me.
So I quickly bought a brand new one and and was very happy with my purchase.
It ran perfectly and I had no troubles with it what so ever.
A friend of mine who came round of Tuesdays to use my new rower was so taken with it that he too decided that he would like to invest in his health with a rower.
But he didn't run off and buy a new one.
Instead, he looked on eBay and ended up buying the exact same Concept 2 rowing machine that I did for just a fraction of the price.
I mean it was exactly the same - same model, age and condition.
It's been about a year now and my rower is working absolutely great.
Just like it was when I first bought it - tip top.
I used in most days and I haven't had to buy parts or do repairs, I'm still very happy.
But my friend's one is also going just fine too! He's been using his almost everyday and he also hasn't had to do any kind of repairs or services - or anything! So it seems that just by shopping around a little, he managed to grab the best deal and get a real bargain.
Whilst I, who just bought it new, had to pay almost 5 times the price.
Now I not mad or anything because it's an excellent piece of exercise equipment, I just know that from now on I'll always be buying second hand and used fitness machines.