🚨 Key Gotchas Found

Hardware Lock-In High

Peloton equipment becomes significantly less useful without an active subscription. Your $2,000+ bike or tread is essentially bricked for interactive workouts if you cancel.

"Access to certain features of the Equipment requires an active Peloton Membership... Without a Membership, Equipment functionality will be limited."

Subscription Price Changes Medium

Peloton reserves the right to change subscription prices with minimal notice. They've already increased prices multiple times despite customer complaints.

"We may change the price of any Membership at any time. Price changes will take effect at the start of your next billing period following the date of the price change."

Workout Data Marketing Use Medium

Your workout data, performance metrics, and fitness trends may be used for marketing and shared with advertising partners for targeted ads.

"We may use your workout data and performance metrics to personalize your experience and for marketing purposes, including targeted advertising."

Equipment Warranty Limitations Medium

Warranty claims can be denied for a broad range of reasons including "misuse" - a vague term that Peloton defines at their discretion.

"This warranty does not cover damage resulting from... misuse, failure to follow instructions, or use inconsistent with the Equipment's intended purpose."

📊 Score Breakdown

Health Data Protection 12/30
Third-Party Sharing 8/20
Subscription Fairness 8/15
Data Portability 9/15
Deletion Rights 4/10
Dispute Resolution 4/10

🤔 What This Means For You

Peloton's business model creates a significant lock-in effect. Once you've invested in their expensive equipment, you're essentially committed to paying their subscription fees indefinitely or accepting a dramatically diminished product.

If you use Peloton, you should:

  • Understand that your bike/tread investment is tied to ongoing subscription costs
  • Budget for potential price increases in your subscription
  • Consider whether the hardware lock-in aligns with your long-term fitness plans
  • Review privacy settings to limit data sharing where possible
  • Document any equipment issues carefully to protect warranty claims