Buy fitness and e-mobility in installments in Switzerland

An oak-wood Pilates Reformer, a fitness cable machine or the Sprinting Machine for your home gym: these are purchases ranging from CHF 1,499 to CHF 1,849. An e-bike can also quickly fall within this price range. Paying such amounts all at once is a reason for many people to put off the purchase indefinitely. But it doesn’t have to be. Through our payment partner HeyLight, you can buy from TWHEELS in instalments and spread the total over several monthly payments. In this article, I’ll explain neutrally and honestly how it works in principle, calculate illustrative monthly instalments and also clearly explain when paying in instalments is probably not worthwhile.

A brief clarification: We are a Swiss shop with an office in Zurich and a warehouse in Weesen. All prices in this article are gross CHF prices from our shop. The instalment amounts shown here are examples, not binding terms.

Can I buy fitness equipment in Switzerland in instalments?

Yes, you can buy high-end fitness equipment in Switzerland in instalments. At TWHEELS, this is available directly at checkout through our payment partner HeyLight (formerly HeidiPay). Instead of transferring the full amount immediately, you split it into instalments and pay it over several months. This applies to the entire range, from home gyms to e-mobility.

What’s interesting is that paying in instalments for home fitness has barely been a topic in Switzerland so far. Everyone knows it from mobile phones or furniture, but hardly anyone thinks of it for an oak cable machine or a Pilates Reformer. Yet the logic is the same: You don’t have to cover the cost of equipment you use every day for years from your budget in a single month.

It is important to have realistic expectations. Installment payment is neither magic nor a gift. It shifts the payment into the future and is subject to a credit check. HeyLight, not the shop, decides whether you receive installment payment and under what terms.

How does installment payment with HeyLight work?

Installment payment with HeyLight works as follows: At checkout, you select HeyLight as the payment method, enter your details, and HeyLight checks your creditworthiness and usually informs you of the result immediately. If installment payment is approved, you pay the purchase price in monthly installments over the selected term.

The process step by step:

1. You add your equipment to the shopping cart and proceed to checkout.
2. You select HeyLight as the payment method and choose the installment option.
3. You enter your personal details. HeyLight carries out a credit check.
4. Once approved, the order is placed and the equipment is shipped.
5. The installments then run over the agreed term, currently up to 12 months.

Think of it like leasing a vehicle: you set off immediately, the payment is spread over the months, and the provider first takes a quick look at your ability to pay. The difference is that the equipment belongs entirely to you after the final installment and does not have to be returned.

There are two things I want to state clearly because they are often overlooked. First: The credit check may also be negative. In that case, installment payment is not available for this purchase, and you pay as usual. Second: HeyLight determines the exact terms, including any possible fees, the term and the installment amount, at checkout. That is why this article deliberately does not make any interest-rate claim, but instead provides a transparent example calculation. We are currently creating a dedicated installment-payment section on twheels.ch that will bring together all the details. Until it goes live, you will see the binding terms during the payment process.

How much does a home gym cost per month? (Example calculation)

A home gym costs around one twelfth of the equipment price per month when the purchase is illustratively split into 12 installments. A Pilates Reformer costing CHF 1,499 therefore comes to around CHF 125 per month, while the Sprinting Machine costing CHF 1,849 comes to around CHF 154. The following table calculates this for our equipment, starting with home gym, followed by e-mobility.

*Example calculation: Price divided by 12 months. For illustrative purposes only. The actual terms (possible fees, actual term, instalment amount) depend on HeyLight and your creditworthiness and will be shown to you as binding information at checkout.

What you can take away from the table: Even the largest devices, such as the Sprinting Machine or the E-Mountainbike, come to between CHF 154 and CHF 167 per month in this calculation. That is an amount many people can plan for, whereas paying almost CHF 2,000 all at once can hurt more. For the Walking Pad treadmill at CHF 399, the calculated instalment would be around CHF 33; honestly, arranging instalment payments is hardly worthwhile here, as most people would simply pay that directly.

Are instalment payments worthwhile, or is it better to save?

Paying in instalments makes sense if you need a device now and the monthly payment fits comfortably into your budget without stretching it. If you have the full amount available and are not under time pressure, paying upfront or saving for a short while is usually simpler and cheaper. Both options are legitimate; it depends on your situation.

Here is the honest assessment, without sugar-coating:

My straightforward advice: Compare the example instalment with your actual monthly budget. If the instalment fits comfortably and you don't want to wait, paying in instalments can be a sensible option. If your budget is already tight, the better approach is to save for a while or choose a more affordable device, such as the Walking Pad instead of the Sprinting Machine. Instalment payments should give you flexibility, not enable a purchase you actually can't afford.

Which TWHEELS products can be paid for in instalments?

Instalment payments through HeyLight are intended primarily for our higher-priced equipment, especially the larger home gym pieces. In general, you select the payment method at checkout, where HeyLight will show you the specific availability and terms.

The typical candidates for instalment payments can be found in two areas:

• Home fitness (the most common case): Pilates reformer, cable tower, sprinting machine, indoor bike and water rower. All equipment is available in the Fitness equipment by TWHEELS collection.
• E-Mobility: E-mountain bike, folding E-bike city bike and Pro E-scooter. An overview of all models is available in the E-Mobility by TWHEELS collection.

If you have not yet decided between the devices, our other guides can help. For a concise introduction, take a look at our walking pad test and comparison for Switzerland. If you are planning a complete home gym, you will find the recommended order in our comprehensive home gym guide. And if you are specifically torn between wooden rowing machines and alternatives, our article on the wooden water rower as a NOHrD alternative provides an overview. We assembled and used the equipment ourselves, so our assessment is accordingly practical.

Frequently asked questions

Does TWHEELS offer interest-free instalment payments?

HeyLight determines at checkout whether instalment payments are offered and under what conditions. That is why we deliberately do not make a blanket interest-rate claim. You will see the binding details, including any possible fees, transparently during checkout before you agree.

How long is the term for instalment payments?

The term is currently up to 12 months. HeyLight will show you the exact number of instalments and the instalment amount at checkout. For simplicity, the example calculations in this article always assume 12 instalments.

Is the provider called HeidiPay or HeyLight?

Both refer to the same provider: HeidiPay has been renamed HeyLight. If you still see the name HeidiPay during checkout, it is the same instalment payment solution.

What happens if the credit check is negative?

If HeyLight does not approve instalment payments for your purchase, this payment method is not available for that order. You can then pay normally using one of the other payment methods available at checkout. The purchase itself is not blocked.

Can I also buy affordable equipment such as the Walking Pad in instalments?

Technically, you select the payment method at checkout independently of the price. For equipment costing CHF 399, however, the calculated instalment is only around CHF 33 per month, so honestly, an instalment plan is hardly worth the effort. Instalment payments are mainly useful for higher-priced equipment.

Will I end up paying more than the retail price?

That depends on the terms HeyLight sets for your instalment plan. Paying in instalments may be more expensive overall than paying upfront. That’s exactly why you’ll see the full terms at checkout before agreeing, allowing you to decide for yourself.

Do I receive the equipment immediately or only after the final instalment?

As soon as the instalment payment is approved, your order is placed and the equipment is shipped. You can therefore use it immediately while paying off the amount over the agreed term. After the final instalment, it belongs to you in full.

Conclusion

A home gym is an investment you use for years, so you don’t have to pay for it all in a single month. With HeyLight instalment payments, you can spread the amount at TWHEELS over up to 12 monthly instalments, subject to a credit check and the terms that HeyLight shows you as binding at checkout. The example calculations here give you an idea of the approximate amounts, but they do not replace the actual figures shown during checkout. And be honest with yourself: instalment payments are a tool for planning your finances, not a free pass to make a purchase your budget can’t support.

If you already have your eye on a piece of equipment, check the terms directly on the product page, such as for the maple wood Pilates Reformer or the Sprinting Machine, or browse the complete TWHEELS fitness equipment collection and select HeyLight as your payment method at checkout.

About the author: I’m Lena Brunner, an editor and tester at TWHEELS in Zurich. I assemble our equipment myself, use it in everyday life and write about it the way I would explain it to a friend, including the drawbacks. You can find out more about me and how we test on my author page.