If you plan to work out at home, you’ll need to invest in fitness equipment. One of the basic requirements you need to build muscle is dumbbells. When searching for dumbbells, you may find that they are expensive. These days, it’s easy to find resellers on sites like eBay or Facebook Market, which have multiple sellers offering dumbbells for $2 to $2.50 per pound. But have you ever wondered why dumbbells are so expensive?

Considering their basic design, you might be surprised to learn that dumbbells are so expensive.

Just like cooking equipment, electronics, or cars, the range of quality in dumbbells may not be obvious at first glance. Some dumbbells are worth the price. On the resale market, and on retail sites, dumbbells are selling for twice, and sometimes six or seven times, the amount they were before the coronavirus pandemic hit. At this point, there’s a “why didn’t I think of that?” pandemic-era business advice: resell dumbbells.

The markup and profits are a result of a shortage and rapid demand for dumbbells. Something else is going on: this new crop of enthusiastic consumers are largely unaware of the market, and resellers are happy to take advantage of this ideal storm.

Understanding the profitable dumbbell resale market means understanding shortages. The pandemic caused gyms across the country to close in March. People began buying dumbbells from merchants, who depleted their inventory and placed orders that more than likely experienced dumbbells China manufacturer.

At the same time, China’s winter and spring lockdowns have also brought supply chains to a standstill. Sellers’ supply remains unstable, and sometimes it takes months to deliver.

Why Are Dumbbells So Expensive?

Below are the 10 main reasons to analysis why are dumbbells so expensive :

1. Ocean freight rates are fueling the trend;

The main reason for the increased cost is shipping.

Shipping costs are tied to weight. The heavier the package, the more it costs to ship. Because heavier items require more gas. Heavier packages also put more wear and tear on the delivery trucks. To accommodate the depreciation of the trucks, they need to factor that into the shipping costs.

Besides, the further you are from the shipping warehouse, the higher the shipping costs. Because the delivery truck needs to use more fuel to get to your place. Even if the package is delivered to another vehicle, they will use the same amount of gas to get the package to you. The farther you are from the starting point of the dumbbell manufacturer, the more it will cost you to buy them.

Furthermore, shipping costs are constantly being pushed up by shipping liners due to various objective and subjective factors.

2. Rising raw material costs;

Dumbbells are made up of several different materials, with the cheapest being plastic.

Plastic dumbbells use sand as a base to provide their weight. While it is the cheapest type of dumbbell, it also performs poorly. The sand can shift inside the dumbbell, changing its weight structure. When lifting with them, one side of the dumbbell may be much heavier than the other, which can affect your performance. It can also increase your risk of injury since you are putting a lot of pressure on one side of your wrist.

The next type of dumbbell is the cast iron dumbbell. This is much more expensive than the plastic dumbbell, but still not the most expensive.

Cast iron dumbbells are a great budget dumbbell for those who want high-quality dumbbells without breaking the budget. The weight of the cast iron determines how heavy each dumbbell is. While they are still not the best dumbbells, they are great for beginners or those who are unsure whether to continue using dumbbells.

The last major type of dumbbell is pure iron or steel. These types of dumbbells use steel to determine their weight. The iron is processed and then formed into a specific dumbbell design that the company produces. This means that the dumbbell may be hexagonal or round. This type of dumbbell is the most expensive due to the large amount of iron required. Iron ore is one of the most abundant minerals in the world. Despite its abundance, it still takes a lot of money to mine and process it. These costs add up and are reflected in the price of the dumbbell. Although it will take a long time for iron ore to become scarce, eventually, when iron ore begins to run out, the lack of iron could push up the price of the dumbbell even further.

3. High quality products to ensure safety;

Dumbbells must be high-quality products. If they are of poor quality, they can be a safety hazard. Low-quality dumbbells can break while in use. When this happens, it can fall on you, rebound and injure you, or even damage your home.

To ensure that their products minimize injuries, manufacturers invest a lot of money in making dumbbells. They use the best materials at their disposal. They buy machines and other processes to ensure that the dumbbells are free of any defects on the production line. These investments and quality assurance procedures cost you money. This increases the price of the dumbbells.

4. High Foreign Tariffs and Taxes;

Many dumbbells come from China. So when they are imported into the country, they are subject to taxes and tolls. In some cases, tariffs can get expensive.

Tariffs are taxes imposed on goods from another country. They are set up for a number of reasons. The first is to help the country recoup the small amount of money it loses. Since the other country is responsible for producing and shipping the product, those businesses and workers are the ones who gain the money. The workers and businesses in the home country miss out, which means the government misses out on collecting taxes from purchases. They make up the difference through tariffs.

Another reason countries use tariffs is during economic warfare or political actions. In order to punish another country, a government agency may decide to increase the amount of the tariff. This makes it difficult for the foreign country to make much profit because the tax eats into their income. Trade with the country may no longer be rewarding for them. They may need to find a new trading partner or work to resolve political issues between the two countries to reduce their losses.

The last reason a government may raise tariffs is to discourage its own citizens from buying foreign products. If the tax rate is too high, citizens may look for goods produced in the country. This can boost the country’s economy and reduce their reliance on imported goods. Especially if there is a political conflict with China, then you can expect prices to increase.

Raising tariffs is one of the most common strong moves implemented by the United States. To ensure that they can still make a profit, companies selling dumbbells will have to increase their asking prices. Unfortunately, this means that if a professional fight occurs, your dumbbells may become more expensive.

5. High Demand, Short Supply;

Supply and demand play a vital role in the price of dumbbells. An old economic method that still proves itself today is that when supply is low and demand is high, prices go up. And vice versa. When supply is plentiful but demand is not high, prices go down. This also applies to dumbbells. When there is a shortage of dumbbells, prices go up.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic is an example of this. Since most employees have to work from home, they have to find alternative ways to exercise. With gyms closed across the country, everyone has to invest in their own fitness equipment to stay fit. The problem is that one of the best equipment, dumbbells, remains in short supply. One reason for this is that the people who make dumbbells are also at home. No one is able to work in factories or mines. Since supply is limited, prices go up.

This principle also applies outside of the pandemic. When there is a shortage of dumbbells, the cost is high.

6. Holidays lead to increased demand；

The holidays also affect the price of dumbbells.

New Year’s Day is a time when people make goals and resolutions to improve themselves and their lives. When they accomplish their goals, the goal is to complete those resolutions or stick with them until the next year. One of the most common resolutions is to lose weight. To this end, many people buy dumbbells to work out at home. They are usually uneasy about the idea of ​​working out at a gym, so they work out at home. The problem is that since many people want to lose weight after the holidays, they buy all the dumbbells available. There are fewer and fewer dumbbells on the market, and their prices go up.

Supply remains the same, but demand increases during the holidays. Even though holiday sales are going on, dumbbells are still some of the most expensive purchases.

7. Most customers only buy dumbbells once；

Dumbbells are a one-time purchase. They don’t wear out like other items. You won’t have to replace them unless you gain or lose weight. In this case, you only buy adjustable dumbbells once. Since most customers only buy dumbbells once, the company needs to price their products appropriately. They can’t be profitable if they count on repeat sales. To ensure they make enough revenue to stay afloat, they need to increase the price of their products. The price should cover its manufacturing and shipping costs and generate enough profit for the company to continue to fund other financial investments. The company wouldn’t continue to produce dumbbells if the revenue from the one-time sale wasn’t worth it.

8. Resellers raise prices to several times the original price；

One of the drivers of the increase in dumbbell prices is resellers.

Due to the global pandemic, the severe shortage of dumbbells has allowed resellers to thrive. Resellers buy dumbbells from manufacturers at the original price and raise the price to seven or even ten times the original price. Not only do they make huge profits, but it also enables them to buy more dumbbells from manufacturers before anyone else does. Since consumers can’t buy dumbbells anywhere else, this means they can continue to increase their inventory and charge very expensive prices.

By raising prices to several times the original price, they make a lot of money and continue to strangle the market. The problem for resellers is that since they keep buying the original product, consumers have nowhere else to buy it. Manufacturers are also not producing at full capacity, and they can only push out a limited number of dumbbells. Until they return to full capacity, they will be able to push out enough product to outsell resellers. It may take months or even years for the market to return to normal.

If you see dumbbells being sold on ebay.com, Facebook Market, or even Craigslist at a very high price, it is most likely a reseller.

9. Dumbbells are usually bought in pairs, which means paying double;

The trouble with buying dumbbells is that you usually need two. If you buy just one, you won’t be able to exercise both arms at the same time, so your workout will take longer. That’s why most consumers buy them in pairs.

The problem with buying two dumbbells is that it also means you double your costs. You have to pay twice as much iron, twice as much to make it, and twice as much to ship it. Since you’re not buying a single product, dumbbells are expensive.

10. Application of Smart Technology in Dumbbells.

In the technology space, more and more manufacturers are considering smart innovations on fitness equipment. And it makes sense. You want to know how many calories you’ve burned, how the equipment is affecting your body, and what you need to do to get the most out of the equipment.

Smart technology doesn’t just apply to treadmills and other big fitness equipment. Some dumbbells also use smart technology. An example is the SelectTech series from Bowflex. The dumbbells have technology built into them. It transmits information to your iPhone or Android. The technology can tell you how you’re doing and how you can improve your workouts with the dumbbell series. You can also record your workouts.

Smart technology is a luxury feature that not everyone needs. However, those who want to get the most out of their workouts might be interested in operating the equipment. It comes at a high price. This is because the dumbbells not only go through the same operations as other dumbbells, but also more. A computer chip needs to be installed, and the dumbbells need to go through multiple tests to ensure that the technology is functioning properly.

Since dumbbells are subject to a lot of wear and tear, they also need to ensure that the chip doesn’t get damaged while the dumbbells are in use. The smarter something is, the more expensive it is. Since the technology can replace a trainer, the expense might be worth it for some people. For others, a set of dumbbells is too expensive.

How To Save Money On Dumbbells ?

Dumbbells are very expensive on the market. Here are some ways you can save money on quality dumbbells.

1. Buy after the holidays；

The holidays are one of the worst times to buy dumbbells.

Even with any type of holiday sales, dumbbells will still cost more than they would if you waited. This is because vendors know that people want to lose weight after the holidays. They often buy dumbbells for themselves as gifts or have others buy them for them.

During the holidays, dumbbells tend to become scarce because so many people buy them. If you can wait a few months after the holidays, you can find cheap dumbbells almost anywhere. Vendors will definitely drop prices in a few months because they have more inventory than they can sell.

You will also often find people selling dumbbells after they give up their resolutions. If you can wait, you can get nearly new dumbbells for a fraction of the money.

2. Choose cast iron dumbbells over steel dumbbells；

With so many different types of dumbbells, you may not be sure which dumbbell you should buy. If you want to save money, then you will want to buy cast iron dumbbells instead of steel dumbbells.

Cast iron dumbbells do not use as much material as steel dumbbells. Since there is less material, the price is lower. Despite being hollow, cast iron dumbbells still provide a great workout. They are a big improvement over plastic dumbbells. Buying cast iron dumbbells over steel dumbbells can save you a lot of money, especially when it comes to shipping costs.

3. Finding Used Dumbbells；

Since dumbbells rarely break or deteriorate, any used dumbbells are almost as good as new. You’ll want to avoid buying plastic dumbbells, though. Plastic dumbbells will wear out over time. You’ll also want to thoroughly clean any used dumbbells you buy.

You can find used dumbbells at yard sales, estate sales, and even in local directories. Talking to other people at the gym can also help you find clues.

Used dumbbells are usually inexpensive because sellers are eager to sell them. Be careful after the holidays. This is when most used dumbbells are sold.

You can also find used dumbbells at second-hand stores. You can get them very cheap there.

Wander around local streets. Many people leave them outside for recycling because they don’t know what to do with them. You can pick them up for free.

4. Ask friends.

If you have friends who work out, then you can also ask them if they have any dumbbells that they don’t have. Some good friends may be able to give them to you for free. Others may resell them to you at a significant discount.

If you know your good friends work out, then there’s a good chance they have extra dumbbells to collect.