1/5

posted Jun-01-2013

"I bought a Bonita elliptical in January 2012. I like the workout, but I have been very disappointed in the quality of the machine. Within months, the display on the console started to become unreadable around the edges. Yowza sent me a new one. A couple months later, the resistance motor broke. Yowza sent me a new one (which required a major disassembly and reassembly of the machine with limited instructions). Then the front post which holds up the console and front arms of the machine, cracked at the base. Yowza sent me a new one (this time with no instructions at all). While I appreciate Yowza's willingness to stand behind its product and replace defective parts, this has been too much. Overall, a real disappointment."

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5/5

posted May-30-2013

"I recently purchased the Yowza Pompano and could not be happier. It was ordered on line so I did not have any experience with customer service. It only took about 7 days after ordering for it to arrive. My husband had no problem following the directions and getting it assembled.
I love how I can program it for my husbands age, weight, height, etc. as well as mine. And I really enjoy the swivel arm, it is a nice change from the usual back and forth motion.
Recently had a friend over to try it out and her comment was "This is a great machine, they do not have anything like this at the YMCA where I work out". I enjoy how it is quiet and seems to be so much more sturdy than my last elliptical.

I would recommend this product to all. I am very pleased with it.

Becki B."

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5/5

posted May-29-2013

"I purchased the Osprey model treadmill online and the whole process was easy. Delivery was prompt and all communication was very thorough. Best part is the treadmill came 95% assembled and it has the best warranty I came across through my research.
So far I have used it for about 2 weeks and have really worked it hard at 10mph. No issues up to this point....is a quiet and smooth running treadmill.
I am a very satisfied customer and woud recommend this treadmill to anyone."

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5/5

posted May-29-2013

"I was hesitant to buy an elliptical without actually trying it out, but I must say I am very pleased with my Yowza Bonita! Everything from placing the order to delivery and set-up was seamless. I love that the Bonita is smaller than most ellipticals but still delivers a great work-out. It is so smooth and quiet. The web-site offers so much info and everytime I had a question I received a prompt response. I am so happy I chose the Yowza Bonita!"

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5/5

posted May-28-2013

"My wife and I are in our late fifties and we we use an elliptical machine to maintain fitness. Over the past 8 years we have had two different elliptical machines, and our previous elliptical machine purchased just under a year ago from a very well known brand of high end home use ellipticals turned out to be a lemon. After 6 service calls and many parts replaced under warranty, both the manufacturers and we decided that enough was enough, and we were refunded, It was then that we researched Yowza Fitness and after extensive review of literature and specifications, decided upon the Islamorada.

To start with, the information provided on the Yowza fitness website was very helpful, and high quality videos showed us how innovative the design was, and how easy it was to assemble. Reviews by other owners told us that this is a machine which is built robustly, with minimum but adequate instrumentation...in other words the emphasis is on its actual use as an exercise machine, rather than on those features which are nice to have. Pre-sales staff were knowledgeable about the products and helpful, and purchasing through the Yowza site was straightforward. Based on previous experience of purchasing an elliptical from a website we fully expected delivery in 10 days, and were pleasantly surprised when our Islamorada turned up in less than a week.

We opted for the basic delivery on the kerb, but the delivery staff was most obliging in helping me move the heavy box into my garage. Assembly was straightforward, by far the easiest assembly of an elliptical machine which I have experienced. The nut and bolt parts are well organised in a sturdy holder which makes it easy to carry out check to ensure that all parts are there. The instructions had clear diagrams and even though there are a couple of minor errors, it was reasonably easy to work out. In all it took me just over 4 hours working at a leisurely pace to un-box, take out the parts and assemble.

The usage instructions are very clear, easy to understand, and usage was made even simpler through the Intelligent Weight Management scale which was provided with the Islamorada. My wife and I have been using the Islamorada for nearly a month and we are really impressed with how comfortable it is to use compared to other ellipticals of the same price range. The biggest advantages of the Islamorada in our opinion are:
1. Pedals are only 9 inches above ground, which made it easier to get on and off
2. Very comfortable foot pedals which are not only free to move slightly to accommodate foot positions, but are also well [added for comfort
3. Rear drive, which make sit easier to maintain momentum and enabled longer workout
4. Truly innovative handle-bar design which supports more natural arm action, and which provided opportunity to exercise core.
I5. Intelligent Weight Management which helped us to tailor workout to our weight management needs.

We are truly delighted with our investment!"

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5/5

posted May-28-2013

"Great product and great customer service too!"

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5/5

posted May-14-2013

"I am very very happy with my purchase of Yowza Fitness's elliptical. I live out in the country and so going to a gym and working out is very difficult to do. On top of that, from years of working out, I have ruined my knees. Thus, my treadmill is out of the options for working out. So, going to a review site and doing some research, I found that the Yowza Fitness Ellipticals were the best and top of the line. I wanted to get good quality for I didn't want to come back in a couple years and buy a new one. It is very easy to advance in difficulty and I absolutely love it. My knees are not hurting as they were on the treadmill and so it was a good purchase! I would highly recommend the high end products to all people, especially if you have knee problems or concerns for your knees. "

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5/5

posted May-06-2013

"Great customer service, answered all my questions which helped me in making an educated purchase, hassle free installation, delivered as promised, a quality machine and enjoying the use of my eliptical."

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1/5

posted May-02-2013

"I purchased the Yowza Islamorada in December 2012. My wife and I have been using regularly since then. Given the unique upper body motion we anticipated it would take some getting use to. It does and honestly I don't find it to be an improvement or advantage when compared to the traditional upper body/arm movement.

While the machine itself is stable and solid, the computer on the equipment is USELESS!!! It is not user friendly and it honestly doesn't seem to work. After assembly and the first few uses I realized that the heart rate monitor simply didn't work. In contacting customer service (Josh) I agreed to receive a watch as an alternative to arranging servicing the machine...BIG mistake. I trying to convey my issues the tone of further communication with customer service was less than customer oriented.

I received and an email from Yowza regarding the Demo Program I kindly declined and pointed out that I would not be a favorable spokesperson for their product.

The use of this $2500+ piece of exercise equipment requires me to watch the clock on the wall to determine how long I've been exercising. I've given up on the attached computer or watch.

By-the-way I never received the mat to place under my machine. It was part of the promise when I purchased the equipment. It never shipped. BUYER BEWARE!!!"

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1/5

posted Apr-30-2013

"Has anyone been informed of an upgrade bolt package for early Captiva models for a breaking issue. I was informed by Yowza Fitness that these went out from the manufacturing plant. I am wondering if anyone else has received this or had their Captiva break?

I received the following from YOWZA:

"... I have two questions that perhaps you can think over between now and when we speak tomorrow morning.
1) Did you ever receive a bolt pack in the mail with replacement 505 bolts? This component was upgraded roughly 2 years ago and a pack was supposed to have been sent out to every customer directly from the factory at about that time. If you never received it, or did and did not replace the bolts, it is the reason that this happened. The newer bolt had a longer shaft and shorter threaded section to improve the strength of the bolt.
2) You mentioned that you are not sure if there is any significant shroud damage as you brushed against it when you fell. Is there any noticeable damage? Does it feel loose to the touch? If so advise as to which side feels loose or please email a picture the damage to the shroud so that I may include that in your order."

Was there a recall that I missed on the website somewhere? There was return mailing boxes so YOWZA was definitely recalling the old parts. Any similar situations? Should the upgrade package be communicated on the web site or mail. If I missed the "new bolts" did others? I received the new bolts and there was no way they could have fit. They sent new steps, pedal swing bars act, .... about 100 lbs in parts."

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1/5

posted Apr-12-2013

"well we bought the sanabel i35 about two weeks ago and it was not up to our expectations at all, so that's no big deal ill just return it right? Well not really, we had to take apart the machine and then we had to pay for it to be shipped back! This may not seem all that bad but this machine was not easy to put together at all.I recomend you don't purchase any yowza fitness products and if you do don't plan on returning them. the costomer service person I spoke to was good though. "

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2/5

posted Sep-18-2012

"This review is for Yowza Captiva elliptical and may be relevant for Sanibel as well since the motion of it is similar to Captiva.
My Opinion:
- The build of the product is good.
- The instructions on assembly are not very clear and some of it is wrong for some of the screws provided, but fortunately these are not for the main parts.
- Though it is smooth, at times you could get some low click sounds.
- The motion of the product is different, but I didn't find the benefits as the company describes in their videos.
- Though the company advertises it as a core body elliptical, its manual specifically states that it is for lower body. To be frank, for me, lower body is where the intensity of the workout was felt.
- Since the motion is different, my advice is to try out the elliptical for some time before you buy.
- Service is good. When you call them they are eager to hear your issues and try to resolve them. I ordered a few screws which were missing and they arrived quickly.

Though there is a return option there are lots of difficulties:
- You need to repack the product yourself. Since there is no repacking information, it would be difficult to impossible to do it alone.
- You can ask for repackaging service ($250), but the authorized technician also does not know how to repack
- So you are helpless irrespective of what you pay for repacking and you are solely responsible for any damage while shipping back
- Shipping back would be expensive and would cost much more, around ($400) than the $100 you might have paid for shipment when you bought the product.
- Also, even if the company offered you free shipping when you bought the elliptical, they would deduct the shipping cost from the refund if you decide to return the product.
- This means that you may end up losing around $750 plus any deduction the company might make on fees like restocking, if you didn't like the product and decide to return the product. For me the total loss came to $870.
- The company does not refund you fast. I received the refund after two months since I returned the product, that too after persistent calls and emails.

Conclusion:
This is a robust product. There are other brands that are as robust as this, but cost less. If the motion suits you and you are getting the benefits of upper body workout, go for it. Since this product is not widely used in fitness centers, you may have to buy it and try out for some time before you decide to keep it. For this, get into a deal with the company keeping in mind the product return issues that I faced. Before you buy, try to get a return shipping rate from Yowza. Plan to repack yourself. To aid in repacking take snaps of how the elliptical is packed before unpacking and during assembly. You can use the same box to return, but would require a lot of packing tape to hold it together as you would have cut open the box to take the elliptical parts out for assembly.
If you are planning to assemble/repack yourself, make sure there is at least another guy to aid you. Since the parts are heavy and assembly not easy, you can as well opt for assembly option for $150 or so from the company and somebody will come and assemble it at your house.
Stars reduced for:
- Doesn’t entirely meet the expectation as advertised
- Refund delay and related issues
- Return difficulties"

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5/5

posted Sep-18-2012

"If you are looking for quality equipment with excellent support I recommend Yowza Fitness. I spent a lot of time researching different companies and equipment and finally decided on the Captiva Elliptical Core Trainer. It arrived within about a week of ordering. Be sure to have some help because the delivery drivers are not allowed to go any farther than your front step and it is HEAVY! The hardest part was getting this 300 pound monster up to the second floor of my home. There was no instruction manual but you can find the manual and assembly video online. Assembly took about two hours and was not too difficult. I am really impressed with the weight and quality of the contruction materials. We have been using it regularly for two months now and it is solid as ever. No creaks or groans and with the lifetime frame warranty and extended 5 year in home repair service I feel very confident about my purchase. Customer service is also extremely nice and knowledgable and can answer any question with a smile. I can't say enough good things about this product and Yowza Fitness as a company. For the price I feel like I got a professional gym quality piece of equipment that would easily cost twice what I paid. You will not be disappointed."

This review was modified by mkraemer on September 18 2012 05:57:26 AM

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5/5

posted Sep-03-2012

"Our overall experience was great. Kevin Brady was extremely helpful answering all my questions before we decided to buy. We purchased the Largo in May and absolutely love it! Very sturdy piece of equipment, really quiet and it's small enough to use in our bedroom. We really like the rollerless rear drive. Assembly went smoother and quicker than expected, no problems at all. Very happy with our purchase and would highly recommend the company. "

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5/5

posted Aug-30-2012

"Purchased Daytona Treadmill in May 2012.

Delivery was a breeze. The delivery men put the treadmill in the basement exactly where I wanted it.

Assembling the upper section was no problem.

After using the tread mill for a few months I can say it is a solid treadmill. Pivot swing arm cushioning is great and after 40 minutes to an hour on the treadmill my ankles or legs are not sore. With my previous treadmill the hard platform used sometimes left me aching in the ankles or knees.

The display is easy to use and programming is convenient.

I will definitely consider Yowza my first choise when looking for another fitness item.

"

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