Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I received my Ironman Gravity 4000 a few days ago. Before I discuss the actual product, I want to include a few words about the packaging. The box arrived torn completely open on one end. Possibly, UPS was more to blame, but if the manufacturer had chosen to use double wall, heavy duty corrugated, it might not have torn. Once I opened the box, I found that cheap Styrofoam was used to secure the parts in place. At least, that must have been the idea. By the time I received the package, the Styrofoam had disintegrated into millions of tiny pieces. Once released, the Styrofoam bits took on a life of their own and invaded every nook and cranny of my Family Room. It took me hours to clean up the mess. Despite the Styrofoam padding, the heavy metal parts had all shifted around inside the box resulting in some damage including dents, broken plastic parts and one sheared-off screw. I emailed the manufacturer to obtain replacement parts, and they answered my email right away. A few days later, I received a large box (very well packed this time) containing all of the replacement parts I had requested, and more - All for free. Definitely major points in Ironman's favor for the quick response and excellent customer service. Once assembled, the Gravity 4000 seems to be a good, solid inversion table. It does what it is supposed to do and actually performs very well. I have no doubt that it will actually support 350 lbs as advertised. I do have some concerns. First is that the two primary pivots are just metal-to-metal. There are no ball bearings or any type of real pivoting mechanism. Despite that, the table seems to pivot well enough. I just wonder how long a system like this will last. Another concern would be with the plastic bushings around the main shaft. I'm not sure how long they will last either. Within a week after buying my Ironman table, a local Sporting Goods store ran a close-out special on Teeter Hang-Ups' NXT-R Inversion Table. The price was very good and the unit was so attractive, that I went ahead and purchased it. Now, I have two Inversion Tables. That either makes me stupid or a good little consumer. Either way, my Family Room is getting a little crowded. A few words about the Teeter Table: The difference in quality of packaging alone made a huge impression on me. It is obvious that Teeter's packaging was carefully thought out. The individual pieces were in plastic bags and the inside of the box was blocked out with corrugated dividers. Unlike the situation with Ironman's packaging, none of the parts in the Teeter box were damaged. Teeter also includes a DVD which details the assembly process and contains lots of information on using the table as well as general tips for taking care of your back. That's a nice little added feature, but you do pay for it. Since, for the time being, I have two inversion tables in my home, I have been able to do a side by side comparison. Here's what I found: The Ironman's ratcheting ankle holder is definitely easier to use and more comfortable than Teeter's system. It has a long handle and you don't have to bend over as far or exert as much energy to lock it in place. As for overall construction, the metal parts are well made and the unit feels exceptionally sturdy. I am concerned that the plastic parts (bushings & spacers) might be easily damaged. As stated earlier, several of these parts were already damaged when I opened the box. I am hopeful that all of the plastic components will hold up well over several years, but only time will tell. The Teeter unit appears to be a high quality item from the minute you open the box. (Good packaging makes a real impression on me). The only thing I wound up changing on the Teeter was the ankle holder & main shaft assembly. The original ankle holder was just a foam covered bar. When I tried to use the table, the bar put so much pressure on the top of my feet, I could only use the table for a few minutes before having to get off to relieve the pain. Ultimately, I contacted Teeter and was able to "buy" a replacement main shaft with an upgraded, ratchet style ankle holder similar to the Ironman system. Teeter's customer service wasn't nearly as accommodating as Ironman's. They charged me $100 plus $30 shipping for the replacement shaft. I was hoping their 5 year warranty would cover the replacement, but no such luck. They do offer a partial refund if I go to the trouble and expense of shipping the original assembly back to them. After resolving that one issue, I'm now much happier with the Teeter. The Teeter's construction and function are all top notch, but again, you pay more, so the quality is expected. The Teeter that I frequently see advertised on TV appears to be a lower grade unit than the NXT-R model that I bought. One other thing that I should mention is price. The Ironman Gravity 4000 table retailed for under $200 on Amazon. The Teeter table that I bought locally retailed for well over $400 (I got it at a close-out price of $279). Add to that, the $130 I paid for a new main shaft & ankle holder and I now have over $400 invested in my Teeter table. My conclusion is this: Ironman makes a very good inversion table. For less that half the price of the Teeter, the Ironman table seems like the logical choice. Actually, I have no real regrets about buying either table, but Ironman definitely gives you more for your money. Teeter's 5 year warranty and overall quality are great, but remember, you pay dearly for Teeter's extra features. Also, Ironman's customer service was happy to replace my damaged parts without any warranty concerns. For now, I'm going to keep both tables. I'm still trying to decide which one I like better. I can say that even after replacing the ankle holder on the Teeter, I am more comfortable on the Ironman table for longer periods of time. I'm not sure if this review will help anyone decide between the two tables. In my opinion, you won't go wrong with either brand, but the Ironman is definitely a better deal.