An online auction for a Vibration Machine reads: “DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY GOING TO VIBRATION CLINICS when you can now do it at in the comfort of your own home…you can trust you are about to get a GREAT MACHINE with service to match . ONE OF MOST SOLD VIBRATION TRAINERS IN THE WORLD SITREK Vibration trainer” (It’s a Crazyfit machine repackaged with a new label)
It goes on to say “Just 10 minutes on the SFT can equal up to 1 hour of exercise… Reduces unwanted fat on the hips, waist and abdomen… Improves muscle tone and flexibility” and more
Other sellers suggest that their machine is equal to the ones in Vibration Studios and they quote academic study results from larger, higher force machines, often ones that have a completely different mode of action; studies from lineal (upright vibration) machines are frequently attached to low cost, low energy pivotal (see-saw action) machines.
Specifications are very often incorrectly stated, copied from the manufacturer’s papers which are in poorly translated English and confusing, but that, in my opinion, is no excuse for stating obviously incorrect figures. Online retailers frequently state that a small, home model pivotal Vibration Therapy machine runs at 50Hz, that it vibrates 50 times a second or that it has 50 speed levels. This is blatently incorrect and if they thought about it for even a minute they would realise that the 50Hz relates to the power supply to the machine which in New Zealand is at 50Hz. Some even state alongside the 50 speed levels that it vibrates at 5-20Hz or similar. I’m left wondering how they can state two conflicting figures alongside each other.
Then there’s one online New Zealand retailer that adds a disclaimer to his TradeMe auctions: IMPORTANT – we do not accept returns if you have simply changed your mind on this item or the item does not meet your expectation of what you orginally thought.
Retail Stores, such as fitness equipment stores, often advertise using the same incorrect specs and wording. I’ve gone to stores and asked questions about machines and got responses telling me how amazing the (very low force and quality) machines are and how I will get fit, lose weight, gain muscle and become almost super-human in no time at all if I buy this machine.
I’ve written previously about T.V. advertorials – the same misinformation is presented, along with testimonials; sometimes from people we recognise and thought we could trust.
It’s very much a matter of: Buyer Beware!
