Peloton brings back the free 'Just Run' mode on its $4,000 treadmill after customers threatened legal action
Peloton
- Peloton brought back the "Just Run" mode on its treadmills, which disappeared in June.
- The mode lets treadmill owners use their machines for free, without a monthly membership.
- After the June update disabled the free "Just Run" mode, some owners threatened legal action.
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Peloton owners can now use their $4,000 treadmill without paying a monthly subscription.
The company told The Verge it had reintroduced the "Just Run" mode on its treadmills, which disappeared in June after a software update.
Previously, owners had been able to use the "Just Run" and "Just Ride" modes on Peloton's treadmills and fitness bikes without memberships. This meant they could use their machine even if they didn't want to pay for classes, or if they wanted to cancel their membership.
Insider contacted Peloton for comment but didn't immediately hear back.
Some Peloton users were angry after June's update and threatened legal action against the company.
"They just turned that expensive hardware into a brick with no options for people," Lee Pierce, a Peloton user, wrote in a message to Insider at the time.
Initially, Peloton didn't explain why the mode was disabled, but said it would waive the cost of three months' membership. It rolled out the June update to add a password-lock feature after recalling the machines over safety concerns.
"We understand that this is an inconvenience for some and are working on updates to Tread Lock that will allow us to make Tread Lock and Just Run available without a Peloton Membership," a Peloton spokesperson said in an emailed statement to CNBC at the time.
Some customers were annoyed at the lack of clarity. "Without a very clear message saying this is temporary and a resolution will be provided to customers, then they're going to build a fair amount of mistrust in their loyal fan base," Taylor Dondich, who owns a Peloton Tread, previously told Insider.