When you are thinking of investing in gym equipment, there are multiple fitness retailers that can offer a range of products and services. Options can include shopping online, visiting a fitness retailer in person, or purchasing from a product manufacturer directly.

With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to decide on a retailer to purchase fitness equipment. As you shop around, it is crucial to ask yourself some simple questions:

• Does this retailer offer equipment that fits within my budget?
• Does the equipment offer a good return on investment? Does this retailer offer equipment that is going to help me reach my fitness goals? Does this retailer carry fitness equipment from reputable brands?
• Does this retailer offer services, such as warranty, delivery, installment, & maintenance? 

Akfit and Costco are two reputable examples of fitness equipment retailers that you can look to. While both retailers sell similar product types, they each have something unique to offer in their product selection and services. So which retailer is right for you?

This blog post is an unbiased comparison between Akfit and Costco and the services they offer.

In this article…

1)Who Is Akfit?

2)Akfit Product Selection

3)Akfit’s Services

4)Who is Costco?

5) Costco Product Selection (Fitness Equipment)

6)Costco Fitness Services

7)Similarities and Differences

8) Purchasing Your Equipment at Akfit

Who Is Akfit

Akfit is a Canadian fitness specialty store located in Sudbury, Ontario. With this, we not only service local clients in northern Ontario, but we also service the rest of Canada, and beyond.

For the last three decades, Akfit has worked directly with clientele to help them reach their fitness goals. Our fitness experts pride themselves in being able to help our clients find the equipment they need by providing individualized advice and answers to their questions.

With this, Akfit provides an assortment of fitness equipment suited for both home gym environments and commercial gyms. In fact, at Akfit we have trained experts who can assist with the entire process of designing and outfitting a commercial gym.

Akfit Product Selection

Akfit offers a variety of fitness equipment catering to different forms of exercise and fitness goals.  We pride ourselves in carrying high-quality gym equipment that is built to last to ensure that clients get the most out of their investment. 

Further, since we are a company that specializes in fitness, it won’t come to any surprise that we don’t just offer fitness equipment, but we will help provide the tools you need to help narrow down your selection to suit your fitness needs. Our fitness professionals provide all the necessary information on products being purchased.

Now let’s take a dive into our inventory of fitness products.

Products

• Cardio equipment for consumer or commercial use such as treadmills, ellipticals, spin bikes, upright bikes, dual action bikes, recumbent bikes, rowers, climbmills, ascent trainers and steppers. 
• Strength training equipment for consumer or commercial use such as strength machines, racks & cages, weight plates, kettlebells, bars & collars, power blocks, benches, and accessories for strength training.
• Fitness Accessories specialized for your specific goals such as exercise balls, yoga equipment and pilates, MMA & boxing training equipment, instructional guides, bands & tubing, balance and stability products, recovery & wellness products, and sport goggles.
• Functional and conditioning equipment which includes clubs & maces, weight vests, chin up bars and rings, tanks & sleds, suspension training equipment, battle ropes, and personal massagers.
• And other gym supplies such as exercise mats, commercial gym flooring, cleaning & maintenance kits, and storage equipment.

Brands

Akfit Services

As a specialty fitness store that helps  clients meet their fitness goals, we also offer a variety of services throughout and post-purchase. 

Service Centre

Our online service centre is set up to help you! Reach out to us for professional advice. Our fitness experts will work closely with you to provide detailed information about equipment and help you choose equipment that aligns with your fitness goals.

Virtual Consultations

For any fitness related questions you may have, you can always book a virtual meeting with us.

Commercial Gym Services

We also specialize in commercial gym services and selling commercial gym equipment.

Delivery & Installation

At Akfit, we have a team of qualified fitness product technicians who will deliver and install your equipment. The delivery team will also show you how to safely use and maintain your equipment. The cost of delivery at Akfit starts at $50 within Sudbury (25km), and installation services start at $125. These costs can vary depending on the delivery method of your product, the address, and the difficulty of your delivery. 

Request a delivery from Akfit here. 

Refund Policy

Akfit also has a refund policy. This policy differs from which product you have purchased and if the products have been used or not. 

If your equipment has not been used and remains packaged with proof of purchase after 7 days it is eligible for return. However, it is best to read through the official refund policy before going through with a final purchase. In some cases, manufacturer warranties may apply that could impact the refund policy.

Warranty Plans

Fitness equipment is no cheap investment. In order to protect the value of your purchase, Akfit offers a variety of equipment that is covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. 

These manufacturer warranties usually include labour, parts, and the frame of your equipment. All coverage on your fitness equipment varies from product to product.

Financing

At Akfit, we do offer a financing alternative through Paybright and Fairstone where you can make monthly payments on your purchase rather than one up front payment. 

Learning Centre

Finally, at Akfit we are proud to offer our clientele a free online learning centre.

Akfit’s learning centre is your fitness database to help answer any questions regarding fitness related topics. From comparisons, to reviews, the learning centre features an array of knowledgeable blog posts to help educate you as transparently as possible to help you reach your fitness goals and feel confident about your investment in fitness equipment. 

Who is Costco?

Costco, also known as Costco Wholesale, is an American retailer run under the Costco Wholesale Corporation. This multinational corporation runs a chain of membership-only big box retail stores. Since originally coming into service in 1976, Costco operates 801 locations worldwide.

The products and services Costco offers are almost endless. They sell clothing, groceries, electronics, fitness equipment, appliances, office products, furniture, sports gear, kitchen appliances, and more. They also provide pharmaceutical, optical, travel, photo, and insurance services.

When it comes to “big box stores,” Costco is a company that certainly lives up to that name.

Costco Product Selection (Fitness Equipment)

While Costco offers a wide variety of products from just about every category you can think of, it should come as no surprise that they also offer fitness equipment.

Products

Costco houses a large inventory of entry to mid-level fitness and exercise equipment that include….

• Cardio equipment including treadmills, ellipticals, spin bikes, upright bikes, recumbent bikes, dual action bikes, vertical trainers, and rowers.
• Strength training equipment such as dumbbells, benches, racks and cages, bowflex home gym trainers, and functional trainers.
• Fitness Accessories such as yoga equipment, exercise balls, boxing & MMA training equipment, balance boards, knee pads, massage sticks, and wellness products.
• Functional and conditioning equipment such as weight vests, chin-up bars, and suspension training kits.
• And other gym supplies such as recreational sports equipment, mats, and inversion tables.

Brands

Considering that Costco has multiple outlets across Canada and beyond, it is best to double check their online inventory to make sure that product you are looking for is in stock. Some items may only be available in specific warehouses and shipping charges may vary depending on your location.

Costco’s Fitness Services

Similar to Akfit, Costco also offers a variety of services to assist with the sale of their fitness products. 

Delivery and Installation

Each item sold on Costco.ca has its own shipping methods and returns. Depending on your location, the availability and shipping costs may vary.

Most merchandise is delivered by Canada Post, Purolator, FedEx, and UPS. These carriers deliver the equipment directly to your door and no signature is required.

However, for items that are considered too large or heavy to ship via standard delivery carriers, freight carriers will contact you to set up a delivery appointment. These services do not include assembly or installation.

Costco does offer their “white glove delivery service” for merchandise that requires special handling or setup. They will unpack, set up, and install your merchandise in the room of your choice.

Shipping methods are product specific, when a customer selects their product online, the delivery details per product are attached. Price of shipping costs can only be seen online with a Costco membership. 

Refund Policy

Costco offers a refund policy, both in-person and online. 

For an in-person refund, you can return your purchase to any Costco warehouse location. They require an order confirmation to speed up the refund process.

For an online return through Costco.ca, you can fill out Costco’s online return form to process your request.

If you request a pickup and a refund, your product must be in the same condition as it was delivered. These requests take anywhere from 3 to 4 weeks to process.

Costco’s return policy also varies depending on the type of product you are returning. It is best to check out their official return policy to get a clear idea of what to expect.

Warranty Plans

Many products Costco sells have a product-specific warranty plan that is determined by the manufacturer. These warranties can cover parts, services, and labor but vary depending on the manufacturer of the product.

Key Similarities and Differences Between Akfit & Costco

Some key similarities between Akfit and Costco include:

• Both retailers sell fitness equipment in a variety of price ranges
• Both retailers sell equipment from Proform, Sole, Inspire, and Iron Body Fitness
• Both retailers offer reward programs.
• Akfit and Costco both offer delivery and installation services
• Fitness equipment at Akfit and Costco are sold with manufacturers warranty

Some major differences between Akfit and Costco include:

• Akfit specializes in fitness, offering only fitness related products while Costco sells a wide range of other products, including fitness equipment. 
• Costco requires a membership to purchase products while Akfit does not. 
• Akfit specializes in home gym design and commercial gym services; Costco does not.    
• Costco provides more entry-level and cost-friendly equipment while Akfit offers high-quality fitness equipment at a range of prices.
• Akfit offers virtual meetings and consultations to work directly with their clients to meet their fitness goals; Costco does not. 
• Delivery and inventory may vary depending on which Costco warehouse you are shopping at whereas Akfit only has one showroom located in Sudbury
• Costco offers more recreational sports equipment than Akfit
• Costco is seasonal, products are dumped to liquidate and may never return to sale
• Akfit features a “try before you buy,” service.

Purchasing Fitness Equipment at Akfit

We aimed to be as transparent as possible with our article, and we hope that we supplied you with the information to help you narrow down your fitness investment decisions.

If you have decided that Akfit is right for you, we would love to help!

Whether you are purchasing an individual piece of gym equipment, designing a home gym, or outfitting a commercial gym set up, our fitness experts pride themselves on helping clients the right equipment to reach their fitness goals. 

We encourage you to reach out to us today or visit us in-store at our Sudbury location with any of your fitness related questions. Or, if you prefer to distance yourself socially, you can book a virtual meeting with us.