Body Solid EXM1500S Single Stack Home Gym

I ordered the Body Solid EXM1500 one weekend; it arrived on Thursday in 6 boxes, with some scuffing and punctures, but nothing major.

If you have a metric socket set, it will pay for itself with this project; if you don't, get one before you even open the boxes. Next, organize the hardware (I used sandwich bags and a Sharpie). Other than a couple of slight discrepancies between the words and the diagrams, assembly is pretty straightforward, though with many parts. They even include a small bottle of touch-up paint!

My Customer Service experience: On Sunday, I found that the base frame was bent. I emailed pics to Customer Service. First thing Tuesday morning an email confirmed the replacement part had shipped. It arrived on Friday, well-packed, in perfect condition, and I completed assembly and began using it Sunday, two weeks after placing the initial order.

Impressively quick response on a replacement for what appears to be the most complex part in the unit. They completely insulated me from any kind of freight claim struggle (a concealed damage claim can cause an entire trucking company to spontaneously go deaf).

A very nicely designed unit, well-thought-out and rugged, with exceptional customer service and a great price. I would certainly do it all over again!

My doctor suggested some specific exercises for me. This machine had almost all the ones he wanted me to do for my back. For the price, great value. Easy to assemble, with good instructions. Smooth movement.

I purchased this machine about a week ago, although not from Amazon, I wanted to leave a review here since I find amazon reviews very helpful with my purchase descisions. This machine is fantastic. It arrived from Body Solid via UPS Freight who contacted me ahead of time to schedule delivery. It came on a palet and UPS unloaded it and wheeled it right into my garage. Assembly, although a lengthy process was straight forward and the pieces all fit together perfectly. This is a very solid machine and very smooth in its operation. I couldnt be happier. For the price and the lifetime warrenty, it cant be beat.

The Body-Solid Home Gym arrived in six boxes in only 10 days. The instructions for assembly were not that great but after taking the time to organize the parts in particular the various sized bolts and associated nuts it went very well. I think the key to assembly is to read over each section carefully and get the exploded view down pat then follow the step by step directions. By the time I was done it took just about five hours and I had a few parts left over. The machine is everything I had hoped for. Its smooth action is a delight and both me and my wife love it already. I missed the workout center but now that I work out of my house the 20 mile round trip into town just didn't make sense. The money was well spent and I am 100% satisfied.

Overall, I am very satisfied with this purchase.

1. delivery. It took about 2 weeks from Chicago to southern California. The delivery man moved the 6 boxes into my garage, even though they are only obligated to drop at curbside.

2. assembly. It took over 6 hours to assemble by myself. The instructions are not very clear. There are many bolts and nuts that look very similar, so you need to carefully distinguish the different sizes. The problem is compounded by diagrams that are low quality (low resolution).

3. finished product. The time and effort involved was worth it because the machine is solid and a joy to use. Every motion is smooth and quiet. Very compact. Lifetime warranty is reassuring.

I would have given 5 stars if the instructions were better.