Would I Buy a Used Reformer?
I get asked this quietly, like it is a guilty question. There is a second hand reformer on a marketplace for a tempting price, should I grab it? I understand the pull, I was on a budget when I bought mine too. So here is my honest answer, including the times a used machine makes sense and the checks I would never skip.
In this article
Why used looks tempting
The appeal is obvious, a lower price on a machine someone else barely used. And genuinely, there are good used reformers out there, often from people who bought with great intentions and never built the habit. If the machine is quality, barely used and nearby, a second hand buy can work out. The trouble is that you usually cannot tell any of that from photos, and a reformer is exactly the kind of machine where the wear hides in the parts you cannot see.
The checks I would never skip
If I were buying used, I would insist on trying the machine in person. Push the carriage slowly and listen for grinding or clicking, worn wheels announce themselves. Check every spring for kinks, rust or stretched coils, because springs are the soul of the machine and tired ones make every exercise feel wrong. Look at where the frame joins, check the upholstery, and ask how old it is and where it was stored. A reformer kept in a garage by the coast can age a decade in two years.
The hidden costs
Here is what the marketplace price does not show. Springs are a consumable, they should be replaced every few years on any reformer, so a used machine may need a full set soon. Add delivery, because moving a reformer across town is not a hatchback job. And the big one, there is usually no warranty. When something goes on a used machine, the repair, the parts and the downtime are all yours. On a new machine those are covered, ours for five years with spare parts held in Melbourne.
The maths that surprised me
When I priced it properly, the gap shrank fast. A used machine at a decent price, plus likely new springs, plus delivery, minus any warranty, often lands within a few hundred dollars of a brand new reformer that arrives assembled, unworn and fully backed. Once the numbers were side by side, the used option stopped looking like a bargain and started looking like a gamble for a small saving.
My verdict
If you can inspect it in person, the springs and wheels pass, and the price is genuinely low, a used reformer can be a fine start. But if you are choosing between a mystery machine sight unseen and a new one with a warranty for a similar all-in cost, I would buy new every time. This is equipment you will use for years, and peace of mind is part of what you are buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth buying a used reformer?
Sometimes. If you can inspect it in person, the springs and wheels are in good shape and the price is genuinely low, it can work. Factor in likely spring replacement, delivery and the lack of warranty before comparing it to a new machine.
What should I check on a second hand reformer?
Glide the carriage and listen for grinding, inspect every spring for kinks, rust or stretching, check the frame joins and upholstery, and ask about age and storage. Always try it in person.
Do reformer springs wear out?
Yes. Springs are a consumable on every reformer and should be replaced every few years, so a used machine may need a new set sooner than you think.
Does a warranty transfer on a used reformer?
Usually no. Most warranties apply to the original buyer only, which is a big part of the real cost difference between used and new.
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Arrives assembled with a five year warranty and spare parts held in Melbourne, with free Australia wide delivery.
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Written by Ayrah Yuso
I'm part of the FitBoutique team and have a solid passion (and love) for all things exercise related, including Reformer Pilates
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