Why Concept2 Refuses to Let 40-Year-Old Ergs Die

In 1976 when brother’s Peter and Dick Dreissigacker began making the first Concept2 oars, they knew they wanted to make products that lasted. From the design of the products, to the materials we use, to the customer support we offer, to the quality of workout our products deliver; longevity is our goal at Concept2. 

When you purchase a Concept2 Ergometer, you are not only investing in yourself, but also your family’s future health and wellness. We strive to support your Erg as long as you own it, and for the next owner too. We would rather help service a product to make it continue to function, than to see it in a landfill. 

We do not plan for obsolesce; we plan for future proofing. No matter the age of your Concept2 Erg, we always try to offer an option to upgrade your machine for the better. For example, the Concept2 Model A RowErg, which was manufactured between 1981 and 1986, came standard with a classic analog speedometer. We are proud to offer a retrofit kit that allows you to upgrade your Model A to our flagship PM5 Performance Monitor. Over 40 years later and we have a monitor that still works for you. 

It’s not uncommon for a customer to call and ask, “I have a Model C from 1997, should I buy the newest RowErg?” Our team doesn’t see this as an upsell opportunity for our newest product, they see this as a chance to see if the Model C works, if it needs some maintenance, and perhaps our retrofit kits to modernize it. Ultimately, we want to keep that Model C working well, and support our community without suggesting they ditch their loved Model C and buy the ‘latest and greatest’.  

From the purchase price, to the replacement parts, we focus on quality and affordability. Replacement parts are kept as affordable as possible. In today’s world we’ve become accustomed to paying more for proprietary parts for the products we love. This will never be the aim for our parts and support. The lower we can keep the cost, the longer we can keep our products in use by the people who love them.  

Do you have a machine that has more meters than most cars? We would love to see it – send us a message to [email protected] and include a few photos of your beloved 40+ year old Concept2 RowErg!