Why are weights so expensive?

[Soccerman06]

GFG a 50-100lb dumbbell set is like $500-$1000, they are just steel in block with a pole in the middle! 300lb Olympic style bar is $300. Steel is $350/ton... talk about markup.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

1. buy a ton of steel
2. apply chalk
3. deadlift
4. profit!

 

[RESmonkey]

Olympic barbells (the ones meant to actually be used for REAL olympic weightlifting) and power lifting bars and some other equipment costs are justifiable because they are rated to survive a certain amount of abuse (drops, weight, etc.)

Other shit like dumbbells, I think is overpriced.

 

[Epic Fail]

Buy used off craigslist.

 

[CKent]

500-1k for dumbbells? you must be talking about those bowflex ones... yeah they're absurdly overpriced, but they do look really nice if you have the cash burning a hole in your pocket. Changing weights manually on a screw-on set is a pain in the ass.

 

[oogabooga]

Buy used off craigslist.

This. You'll save a lot of money this way.

 

[Train]

I always wondered the same thing. Simple cast iron barbells, even the used ones from play it again sports were expensive.

I figured must have been cuz it was a pain to ship.

 

[DAGTA]

The craigslist in my city has more "want to buy" than for sale

 

[Soccerman06]

500-1k for dumbbells? you must be talking about those bowflex ones... yeah they're absurdly overpriced, but they do look really nice if you have the cash burning a hole in your pocket. Changing weights manually on a screw-on set is a pain in the ass.

No, just regular steel block sets, its something like $1 a pound for a 50-100 set with 5lb increments for everything, 2x100lb costs like $200 for some reason.

I would like to buy it from craigslist but there are no sets for sale that I could see.

 

[CKent]

No, just regular steel block sets, its something like $1 a pound for a 50-100 set with 5lb increments for everything, 2x100lb costs like $200 for some reason.

I would like to buy it from craigslist but there are no sets for sale that I could see.

*shrug* I haven't bought iron in years, but I remember paying ~$0.50 / lb. I bought a 7' barbell a year or two ago on the internet for $40 new. All standard, IMO if you're serious enough to be using olympic you should be at a gym anyway.

 

[dullard]

Shipping.

I started buying dumbbells just before gas prices went up a few years ago. I could get them for about 30 cents per pound. At the peak of the gas prices, the lowest I could find new was 79 cents per pound. I did have to call every sports store in town to get those prices though as they can double from store to store. I also bought the cheap grey hex dumbbells since I saw no reason to pay double to have them look better. Also, I bought one used at a retail store at the height of the fuel price.

I saved money by buying just one of each weight. I honestly can't tell the difference if I use a 70 lb weight in one hand and a 75 lb weight in the other. I just switch hands halfway through the set.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Buy a 1/2 inch cast iron pipe, fill it with cement, get two big buckets, fill with cement, add to each end. Win.

 

[lurk3r]

This. You'll save a lot of money this way.

Or get mugged cause they know yer a puny weakling

 

[LittleNemoNES]

shipping from China + fund lead poisoning defense?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

500-1k for dumbbells? you must be talking about those bowflex ones... yeah they're absurdly overpriced, but they do look really nice if you have the cash burning a hole in your pocket. Changing weights manually on a screw-on set is a pain in the ass.

I have screw ons. I figure that the 30 seconds spent screwing/unscrewing is insignificant if I spend 300+ seconds on an exerices.
I'm lucky though, I have 4 sets of screw ons. So, I plan my program to increase in weight over time on day one and the oppsite on day two.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I paid $150 for an Olympic 300lb weight set brand new. I don't know where you get those prices? Weights and bar included.
I never use them cause I just go to the gym.

 

[0roo0roo]

http://www.amazon.com/Cap-Barbell-So.../dp/B002OF32VS
70 bucks for a50lb hex weight
http://www.amazon.com/Champion-Hex-D...ef=pd_sim_sg_3
39bux for a 45lb
http://www.amazon.com/Rubber-Coated-...f=pd_sim_sg_15
130 50lb pair
121bux
http://www.amazon.com/Body-Solid-Iro...dp/B001TB4Q2M/
50lb pair

 

[alkemyst]

You should be able to find free weights locally for as low as $0.25/lb.

A dumbbell set from 50-100 is about 1650lbs of weight. The bowflex/reebox/et al are selling convenience though.

 

[HannibalX]

I don't care about brand or looks, they're all heavy and they can all be lifted.

I bought most of my weights at Walmart in I think 1999 or 2000. I bought two identical 25 piece sets for something like $70. I picked up a bench and bars from the local thrift store.

I weighed all the pieces when I bought them and every piece was within a few ounces of the advertised weight, that's good enough for me, two or three ounces more or less is irrelevant.

 

[purbeast0]

I saved money by buying just one of each weight. I honestly can't tell the difference if I use a 70 lb weight in one hand and a 75 lb weight in the other. I just switch hands halfway through the set.

lol, you're hurting yourself more than helping yourself.

 

[dullard]

lol, you're hurting yourself more than helping yourself.

Like most body builders, you are just fooling yourself purbeast0.