If you want an Epic elliptical buy the EL2980. You get a lot more quality for just $100 more. If you don't like it send it back. No problem since you are buying from Costco.com.
General Information
More Epics have been sold in the last few years than any specialty brand of which we are aware. The scary part for the higher-end retailers (and to us) is that we aren't selling many parts for these machines. The Epic test model we bought 5 years ago alerted us to the fact that the 800 lb. gorilla was waking up and it is now clear that the Epic brand gives the consumer a good quality machine for a bargain basement price.
Quality / Philosophy
Epic is produced by Icon, and this factory has over 200 engineers that help craft their products. Put simply, they are the best designed treadmills in the business. In the past, they have had to be the best because they used the cheapest parts in the business. They have finally discovered that you can find some of the key component parts overseas for less- the eventual cost is less if you put more quality into the machine; so the quality of drive motors, rollers, and other key components are much higher than in the past and they price their machines lower than anyone else- if you compare apples to apples.
Outlook
Icon is the largest fitness equipment producer in the world with over $1 billion in sales. If the fitness industry were a solar system, Icon is so powerful that they would be the Sun. In terms of stability they are the best, but overall their customer service isn't up to the standards of any of the lower volume producers. Although you get a value price for the product, you also get value service so keep this in mind when buying their machines. Due to the sheer number of units they produce, we pick up support in many cases where this factory leaves off.
