Customer Reviews

Epic View 550 Treadmill

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I have used this treadmill for about 2 months. I have had no major problems yet but I'm starting to hear belt and roller squeaks. But my real concern is there is no way to contact anyone at Epic for customer service or to even ask a simple question about the treadmill or the preset routines. Everytime I call for customer service I get to a message that says calls are heavy and then I'm disconnected. I've sent 2 emails but it took 2 to 3 weeks to get a response and the response did not answer my questions.

The TV screen will not display my workout output.

The has only 3 preset exercise routines and there is no way to set up custom routines over 3 minutes. None of the preset routines are documented. Documentation is one of the worst I've seen.

I'm sure that when I have a mechanical problem I might as well toss this treadmill into the trash. I would avoid this and all Epic treadmills.

Also be aware that EVERY TIME you contact customer service by phone or email you MUST have your model name, model number, serial number, where purchased, date of purchase, purchase price, complete address and phone number. They do not have experienced technical people that you can talk to.

Although the Epic web page states the View 550 treadmill has "ComfortStride(tm) Impact Reducing Cushioning", it has no cushioning or shock absorption. The customer service person did not know about the ComfortStride statement on the Epic web site.

Customer service just disconnected me again. Avoid Epic Treadmills and any exercise equipment manufactured by Icon Fitness.

**ATTENTION. --MUST READ!-- DO NOT BUY! DO NOT BUY! DO NOT BUY!**

In July '10, I purchased an EPIC View 550 Treadmill. Within 3 weeks the product demonstrated slipping and gripping problems with the tread. Followed instructions to fix found in manual- no success. I called EPIC and was holding for over an hour!! It took an additional two weeks, 3 repair visits, 2 new parts (one was back-ordered...hhmmm?) and what felt like hundreds of individual calls to EPIC's customer service department before I THOUGHT it was operational again. Within 20 minutes of my workout, the same problem of gripping and slipping began. VERY VERY UNSAFE when running at a good pace I might add. I called EPIC again, put in the service request and asked to have a supervisor call me. I'm thinking I have a lemon and I need reassurances. I was told the supervisor would call me the same day, as well as the repair company. IT TOOK A WEEK TO HEAR FROM A SUPERVISOR AND 4-5 DAYS TO HEAR FROM THE REPAIR COMPANY. The supervisor refused to give full name for my records, citing security reasons.

BUYER BEWARE "CUSTOMER CARE" IS OF ZERO CONCERN TO EPIC AND ICON FITNESS. I don't know if its laziness, unprofessionalism, or sear incompetency, but pray you don't have to deal with these people.
It is September '10, and I still have a $1,400, 500 pound paper weight in the basement, STILL UNDER THE MANUFACTURE'S WARRANTY!!
If you unfortunately have to call, this number gets you to a representative faster.
1-888-825-2588. EPIC FAILURE!!!!!!

I bought this treadmill 3 months ago. It was a problem out of the box. The electronics are shot and waited a month for the parts. Technician installed and it worked for an hour...the unit's speed controls, and on/off randomly work, which make the treadmill impossible to use. They get one more shot at repairing, then it gets returned. I will update this posting after the Tech comes back out, but I am not impressed so far.....

6-15-2011 update: It turns out, shortly after I wrote the above review, the tech discovered a broken wire. Also, around that time the TV stopped working and had to be replaced. I have used the treadmill for about a year at this point with no further problems...but the unit was practically rebuilt in my home. I run about 15 to 20 miles a week at 6 to 8 mph and it's comfortable and quiet now that it actually works.

I still would not recommend this unit because of all the trouble I had. If they improve the build quality, I would recommend.

Needed treadmill for small studio I was building and liked that it had a tv which was key for me. I am a fairly large, muscular man so I needed a treadmill that could take the pounding. So far, this treadmill is holding up. Some people say you need two people to put it together, but I did it by myself. Again, I am pretty big. It is heavy, though. I never fold it up but I think the holding mechanism is a little skittish as it doesn't click like it should. I wish the handrails were a little higher but other than that, I like it.

I purchased this treadmill a year ago but didn't get much use from it last year due to a torn medial meniscus. Two months ago (and all healed up) I decided to start my running program in earnest.
Judging from all the negative comments I'm seeing I don't know if the Epic 550 I got was a fluke or what but I have been HAMMERING some workouts & have had ZERO problems. I'm talking 2 30-minute programs back-to-back almost every day with some cranked up speeds & inclines thrown in & believe me it's working my tail off! The treadmill has had zero belt slippage or any adverse motor problems what so ever. Also I should add that my wife & son (he's as tall as I am & a tad heavier) have also done back-to-back workouts. The 3.25hp motor has not had a bit of problems. Living in the frozen north with 5 months of snow on the ground I am in need of a quality work-horse treadmill and have not been disappointed with this one.
It comes with 10 "weight loss" modes, 10 "aerobic workouts", 10 "performance" workouts & 10 customizable modes. Plus it has a 'manual' mode with a 1/4 mile graphic displayed to show your progress. I had been doing some high end weight loss & mid-range aerobic workouts so one day I decided to try the first level of 'performance.' The first thing I noticed is that instead of the usual 30 minute workout countdown it was a 50 minute one. Well I lasted about maybe 10 minutes & it whipped my tail! Not quite ready I guess for that one yet.
The fan that's equipped with the unit is so-so, it will give a small breeze, but that was easily remedied with a separate fan. Also the TV is nice. My wife tends to use it more than I do, but it's there for getting your mind off the work-out if you want that feature.
This was rated as a `commercial' grade unit with a wider and longer belt. I like that feature as I tend to like to sprint in and stretch out my pace for the final 4 minutes & ramp up the speed and having a nice big belt I don't feel confined but can really push out. Also the 3.25hp motor is a must. I've had smaller treadmills with 1.5hp motors that overheated after 45 minutes of walking. The Epic 550 can really give you a nice work out and is ready whenever you are.
I have no cons for this, only positives. I don't know what to say about the other users comments, maybe I just got really lucky with mine, but it arrived in good shape and didn't take my son and I all that long to set up. I have been using it almost every day for two months. One 30 minute weight loss (ramped up) and one 30 minute aerobic (also cranked up). Usually work off between 700-800 calories a night (based on the read-out), and really bust a sweat. The Epic View 550 for my money was an excellent choice and I'm a very happy with it.

Update (April 11, 2011): After a good solid 2 1/2 month daily regimen of treadmill running on the Epic 550, I still say it's got the power to please, with one peeve. The included heart rate grips that you can use to monitor your HR level just does not work. Sometimes after being on it for a good 45 minutes or more & really having a great workout I'll grip the hand holds. I see the "Calorie" input swith over to the "Heart rate" read out only to see either a '55' (!?) or something in the range of '195' & I KNOW I'm not there...or I'd be coding out. I usually hover around 120 as a target for good fat burn but I'm not getting it with the Treadmill's grips. I guess they want you to opt for the $100.00 module that you can place in the unit in a special hatch underneath the readout housing. I'll just buy a good HR monitor watch seperatly. Still, as a treadmill I'm still happy with it's strength to take a punishment day after day. Now that Springs here I guess it'll sit 'till next winter, but I am very happy w/ it (except for the HR issue).

I have had several treadmills and this by far has been the best! Ease of use, great built in Monitor, as well as pre-programmed work out routines are just some of it's great features. It also has awesome sound and handgrips that measure your pulse. The built in fan is good at what it is designed for. I have never had any mechanical problems with this treadmill and have owned it for over a year putting approx. 8 miles a week on it.

6 months and the thing worked 5 days. Belt slipped from the get go. Took a month to
get a tech out. then 5 days later the motor started changing speeds. After waiting
on hold for an hour (2 days in a row) we called the seller.
Fortunately the retailer took care of the situation by picking it up and refunding
our money.

Piece of junk, and customer service is unwilling to work with you. $800 for a new tv console!? The whole machine dosen't cost much more than that!

I really should have listened to the other bad reviews and kept my hard earned money.

Kellie in Portland~

We've had our Epic for a year and 9 months. It's been well cared for and mostly used for my daily walk. Then, one day, it just would not power on. Customer service wanted me to buy a $250 part, just in case that was the problem. Really? I wanted a technician who could find out what was wrong. That is an automatic, immediate $150 charge, and if I need a part of course that will be extra and have to be ordered separately. The technician will call me within a week to arrange something. That must give them adequate time to charge my credit card.

I'll write an update when I know what this is going to entail. It isn't promising.