Signature Fitness Rowing Machine Review - A Budget Concept 2 Alternative?

The Signature Fitness Rowing Machine for $300 on Amazon had all the potential to be a cheap but functional alternative to the Concept 2 RowErg. However, in dramatic fashion, this rowing machine failed to live up to even the minimal expectations that I hoped for it. The overall design, fit, and finish was acceptable for the price point but the machine quickly broke and was rendered useless despite very limited use.
Since I was almost forcibly ejected from the rower during breakage and for other reasons discussed in this video, I don’t recommend this rower to anybody regardless of the individual use case. I would highly advise that if you are looking for a budget Concept 2 alternative, even just for occasional use, you stick to the name brand options. A tried and true name brand rower for $600 used is still more cost effective than a potential trip to the ER.
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Video Sections:
0:00 Introduction
0:52 Who Is Signature Fitness?
1:21 Rower Design
1:43 Why I Sold My Concept2
2:01 Determine Your Use Case
2:18 Issues
3:49 Before Purchasing
4:33 Original Overall Rating
4:47 POV Rower Breaking
5:06 Retrospective Overall Consideration
Song: James Mercy - Vienna (feat. PhiloSofie) [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds
Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/Vienna
Watch: ncs.lnk.to/ViennaAT/youtube

[@dxs2007]

Great review! Wasn't aware of this rower, the beginning of your video had me searching for one, and the end made me close my search windows. Thanks!

[@TheJungleGymYouTube]

Glad I could help! Based on their other 2 products I own I thought this one would at least be comparable functionally, and even if it was a one-off malfunction, for it to happen to quickly into its lifespan and under really normal use, does not make me recommend this one.

[@TheXILLR]

Keep the reviews coming!

[@CarlYota]

My general philosophy with budget versions of expensive things is that it has to be mostly free of “this will break in a month” reviews online. And it must not cost more than 20% of the quality version.
Because I basically see it as a trial version of the object. If I use it for several years then it warrants me buying a lifetime quality version. But nobody should spend $5500 on a leg press machine only to find they never use it. so buy the $1000 version first.
But if you’re gonna spend $300 on a $900 item I’d rather just save up for the lifetime purchase. unless the reviews online say it’s just as good. But when that happens the price gets jacked up way beyond 20% of the name brand anyway.

[@TheJungleGymYouTube]

That makes total sense and is honestly great advice to people equipping their gym on any budget, unless money is literally of no object! I fell into “trial” category with the stairclimber and the leg press I bought. The stairclimber has lasted a year and I’ve been using it a ton so if it ever breaks I know paying more would be worth it.