Navigating Tariffs Without Compromising Quality

If you’ve recently shopped for home fitness equipment, you may have noticed something: prices are creeping up. From recumbent trainers to inversion tables, the cost of fitness (and most everything else) is rising – and a big reason behind it is tariffs.

At Teeter, we believe you deserve transparency about what’s driving those costs and what we’re doing to keep high-quality, joint-friendly fitness and recovery tools within reach.

What is Going On with Tariffs?

Tariffs are taxes imposed on imported goods—in this case, a significant tariff on fitness equipment made in China (currently 145%) paid by the importer. These fees add up quickly, especially on heavier, more complex products like inversion tables and elliptical trainers. The result? Production costs that are increasingly unsustainable and will ultimately require price adjustments for consumers.

Why Not Just Make Everything in the USA?

It’s a fair question that we hear often. The truth is, we do everything we can domestically. Teeter is proudly USA-owned – and the only brand in the inversion category that is. We’ve been family-owned and operated since 1981, and we design, test, and support every product right here at home in Bonney Lake, WA.

But manufacturing fitness equipment is complex. While we engineer and oversee quality control in the U.S., certain parts and raw materials simply aren’t produced domestically at the volume or quality needed. This makes it incredibly difficult – and incredibly expensive – to move production entirely stateside.

Why Not Move to Southeast Asia Like Others?

Many brands have shifted production to countries like Thailand, Vietnam, or Cambodia in an effort to sidestep the higher tariff rates. While this may offer some short-term cost relief, it’s not always a sustainable or stable solution. These regions often continue to depend on components sourced from China, adding complexity to the supply chain and contributing to extended lead times. And in a constantly evolving global landscape, there’s no certainty that these regions won’t face future tariffs or geopolitical disruptions.

The Inversion Industry: Why It’s Different

As the only USA-owned brand in the inversion industry, we’ve seen firsthand how lower-quality, direct-from-China products have flooded online marketplaces like Amazon. Many of these are priced suspiciously low… and that’s no accident. It’s a tactic known as “dumping,” where companies, often backed by foreign government subsidies, sell below cost to wipe out competition.

These knockoffs may look similar, but they rarely meet U.S. safety standards, and often lack real support, warranty coverage, or long-term durability. Teeter Inversion Tables are FDA-Registered and UL Safety Certified. We put our name on every product because your safety, comfort, and results matter.

Keeping Quality Accessible

While tariffs and rising global costs present real challenges, we’re doing everything we can to keep our products accessible. From smart inventory planning to investing in design efficiencies, we continue to look for ways to deliver exceptional value without compromising quality.

We know you have choices and we’re committed to earning your trust every day. With Teeter, you’re getting more than equipment. You’re getting decades of expertise, a family-run company that stands behind its products, and a commitment to helping you feel better, move better, and live better.

Thanks for choosing Teeter.