The warranty on the Lifespan TR800 isn't good. Parts and labor are covered for 1 year, while the frame and motor are covered for life. Unfortunately, this type of coverage isn't uncommon on treadmills that are this inexpensive.
General Information
Lifespan is imported by PCE Fitness, a company that began in 1994 by designing exercise equipment for other companies. They have been known for making some of the best looking designs in the business and are now trying to move into making equipment that is packed with safety and features that enhance the user experience. If you have limited space, this is a good brand to look at with some of the compact units they offer. Their quality has got better and better over the last few years!
Quality / Philosophy
Lifespan is primarily concerned with putting together a quality parts assortment into an attractive package, and they do that very well. They have become much more aggressive with their pricing. Lifespan has made a push into the specialty realm and now has their focus on the mass-market. Overall, they put good components into a nice package on the value end and better components into their higher end machines where it matters.
Outlook
We would expect Lifespan to be around for some time. If there is a Rocky Marciano in the fitness business, PCE is it. They have developed an impressive dealer list in a short amount of time and understand the marketing side of this business. That can carry you a long way. When you visit their headquarters, you understand they know how to pinch pennies which really helps in an economic time like this.
