While commercial gyms remain popular, home gyms have also been on the rise since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. . 

An already growing trend, home gyms have boomed in popularity especially since the COVID-19 pandemic has kept us restricted to our homes. In fact between March 2020 to April 2020 alone, the increased demand for home fitness equipment was up 500% according to a study by Yelp.

Whether you are outfitting a commercial gym or a home gym, it is important to factor in shipping costs to your overall gym equipment budget. 

Akfit is a Canadian specialty fitness store located in Sudbury, Ontario. We have been serving our clients in northern Ontario, the rest of Canada, and beyond for over three decades and have been providing our expertise with any fitness related questions including home and commercial gym needs.

As experts in the field, we understand that shipping costs can vary and this can make it difficult for our clients to plan a budget for a commercial or home gym. 

There are plenty of reasons for fluctuating shipping costs  and in many cases, they can be reasons beyond our control.

In this article we explore the different factors that will affect the cost of shipping gym equipment so that you can take this into account when purchasing gym equipment of your own.

In this article:

1. Purchasing Your Gym Equipment Online
2. Shipping vs Handling
3. Factors That Affect The Cost of Shipping
4. Average Cost of Shipping Equipment
5. Reach Out to Akfit

Purchasing Gym Equipment Online

In case you aren’t familiar, online shopping has continued to grow year-by-year, especially since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, around 49% of consumers globally shop online more than they did before the pandemic. 

Whether you are new to online shopping or an old pro, there are always a few key questions you should ask yourself before purchasing equipment online.

• Am I purchasing equipment from a reputable supplier?
• Is the equipment I am purchasing used or new?
• Is the equipment I am investing in quality condition?
• Am I able to return my purchase?
• How much does it cost to ship a package?

At Akfit, we do offer online shopping with delivery services. You can submit a delivery form here, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible with all the information you need. 

Shipping vs Handling Gym Equipment

Shipping and handling can often be mistaken as the same thing. However, these terms are slightly different, and when you are purchasing a product online, there is a good chance handling costs are involved. 

When you receive a quotation for your purchase, the shipping company will account for the handling costs which often take place at a fulfillment centre. 

Shipping and handling costs can be defined as such:

Shipping: The cost is affected by the transportation and of the postage. These fees can include surcharges, fuel charges, distance traveled, and delivery timeline chosen. Express delivery for example, you will receive your package a lot quicker than most methods, however that service will likely cost you more.

Handling: These fees relate to any labor costs such as collecting inventory for an order, packing products, generating shipping labels, loading equipment onto the proper carrier, and any other potential warehouse movement.

Factors That Affect The Cost of Shipping Gym Equipment

When it comes to shipping gym equipment, there isn’t just one standard rate. There are multiple variables that can come into play. Here are a few of the different factors that impact the cost of shipping. 

1. Package Weight

The weight of your gym equipment  plays a part in the overall cost of shipping. If your package weighs more than the dimensional weight (also referred to as DIM weight), the price of shipping will increase.

2. Dimensional Weight

So now you may be wondering what dimensional weight is. DIM weight is a pricing technique that most shipping carriers use to determine the rate of shipping. 

Dimensional weight is calculated by multiplying the height, length, and width of the package that is set for delivery. 

Shipping carriers such as UPS and FedEx use DIM weight as a price technique and will charge you based on whichever variable is greater: The DIM weight or the package weight. 

3. Amount of Packages Shipped

The number of boxes the order comes in will affect the cost. Simply put, the more boxes or packages required, the more expensive the shipping cost will be. 

4. Shipping Distance/Destination

Shipping carriers also use shipping zones to determine the cost of shipping. These zones are divided into geographical areas that carriers ship to and are measured by zip or postal codes. Shipping carriers will use these zones to determine how far a shipment travels. 

For example, zone 1 would be considered the point of origin. The destination number will represent how far the delivery is. The larger the number, the increase of shipping costs. 

5. Insurance 

Depending on the value of the products being shipped, you may want to consider having your products insured. 

Many shipping companies offer protection or insurance on your online purchase that may require an extra fee. Product insurances usually include a reimbursement to receivers who had their parcels stolen, lost, or damaged while in transit. 

6. Shipping Time

In most cases, we can’t control how long an order will take to ship. Currently there are supply chain issues all over the world. However, in some cases, a lot of companies will offer other shipping options that will decrease the amount of time you will have to wait. 

Whether it is labeled express delivery, premium shipping, etc, these services are implemented by multiple online retailers and are designed to deliver your parcel significantly quicker. However, these services will greatly increase the cost of shipping your equipment. 

7. Shipping Carriers

The overall shipping cost can also be determined by which shipping carrier is in charge of delivering your parcels. While most carriers take into consideration all of the listed factors above, they still each have their own shipping calculators that they use. 

Many carriers do provide an estimated shipping calculator tool online that you can check out to gain an understanding of what an estimated shipping cost may be. 

For example, check out UPS’s shipping calculator. 

8. Installation

If you happen to purchase large and heavy equipment (gym equipment for example), you may have opted to have a professional install the equipment in your home. This often results in added fees.

At Akfit, we  offer installation and delivery services and also show you how to safely use your equipment. However, with most services, you should expect an increased cost if you choose to have our products installed. 

9. Unexpected Issues

While shipping is supposed to be reliable, unexpected problems can always pop up. As previously mentioned, many shipping companies offer insurance or protection plans regarding deliveries so it’s important to know who is shipping your product. 

However, in some cases and depending on the carrier, split shipments can take place, or sometimes your parcel can become lost in transit. It’s important to store aside some emergency cash in the event you need to recover your parcels. 

Average Cost of Shipping Equipment

In almost all cases, the price of shipping is product and delivery specific. However, on average the cost of shipping heavy equipment over 500 miles is around $1.75 per mile. Most parcels under 500 miles cost around $5 per mile. 

Reach Out to Akfit

Now that you have an understanding of  the variables that can come into play with  shipping, we hope that you will consider us when it comes to purchasing your gym equipment. 

Since 1989, Akfit has been serving our clients in northern Ontario, the rest of Canada, and beyond. We’re a Canadian specialty fitness store located in Sudbury, Ontario and we house a wide variety of fitness equipment. 

We don’t just stop there either, you can always book a virtual meeting with us or visit us in-store with any fitness related questions you may have. Our fitness professionals will work closely with you to share their knowledge and help you find the right equipment for your fitness needs and goals. 

Akfit also specializes in home and commercial gym planning if you are starting up a gym for the first time. If there is any fitness related question you have, our fitness professionals can answer it. 

If you have already decided to purchase equipment through Akfit, don’t forget to request a delivery here.