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Do you belong to a gym?

post #1 of 15
11/2/10 at 7:14pm
Thread Starter 
I have been looking into joining a gym but I can't afford the expensive ones that are everywhere. I read a couple posts by friends on Facebook about a new gym in my former hometown, which is about 20 minutes from me. According to the posts, the gym was priced very well, ar around 20/month. I googled the gym, and found an article from before they opened that said the same. I couldn't believe it, because the rest around here are typically 50/month. This 20/month was for a VIP membership which includes aerobics, spinning, zumba, free weight gym, cardio gym, tanning and chair massage, as well as discounts on food/drink at their snack area thing.
I called today to ask about pricing because I wanted to find out about a signing cost and if there was a yearly contract etc. When I called, they told me they don't give rates on the phone and that I can set up a time to come in and discuss them. I said I couldn't and would prefer to discuss it over the phone but they said that because the rates change often, they don't quote over the phone.
I get that, but the website says CALL FOR PRICING INFO AND SPECIALS....so why can't i call?! Anyway, i got off the phone without asking them that, because I was frustrated. I made a facebook status about it, and according to my friends, ALL gyms do this. So, if you belong to a gym, did you get the pricing run around?? Also, do you feel like joining a gym is worth it? I was SO excited, because if it really is 20/month, I can totally afford it, and it would open at 5am so I can work out before I work each day...and take classes on weekends, but I just don't appreciate the way it went on the phone. However if that is the absolute norm, I guess I can get over it. I just have high anxiety with doing new things and get talked into things I don't want so I worry about going somewhere to sign up!
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post #2 of 15
11/2/10 at 8:04pm
I joined a gym a few years ago with the hubby. It was $584/yr up front for each of us, and we got 6 months "free" for paying in advance. Well, needless to say we went for 6 months, then never went back We were doing too much at the time and didn't have the continuous drive needed. Between work and school, we'd be too pooped to go to the gym.

My job is currently offering gym memberships where you get a discount if they take the membership cost out of our paycheck. They also are waiving the "registration" fee of $250 or whatever it was.

They have gyms in the malls here now, for ~$10/mo, or $20/mo unlimited gym, tanning, and use of ANY gym of theirs in the country. Tempts me, since I work right behind the mall, but I still dont think it'll be worth it for me.
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post #3 of 15
11/2/10 at 8:31pm
A lot of the gyms around here are like that. I have been looking for a nice one, but I think I have decided to go with The Rush once the new year hits. Just because they are open 24/7 and most of the gyms close either before I get off work or soon after!
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post #4 of 15
11/2/10 at 9:59pm
That sounds a little fishy to me. Like they want to upsell you and want to get you one-on-one to put on the pressure.

I work at a community center, and our resident prices are about $33 a month, but you don't have to sign a contract for a year, you can cancel whenever. So $20 a month...sounds kind of...unrealistic...
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post #5 of 15
11/2/10 at 10:28pm
20$ a month is a price for a kid at the Y here ... sounds to good to be true... On ave here a special is 45 -60 $ a month
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post #6 of 15
11/2/10 at 11:30pm
Well here on nearby apartment, they set up this small gym but with almost complete set and you can workout for just $.80 one day unlimited!
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post #7 of 15
11/3/10 at 4:01am
Wow, I WISH there were a gym around here for $20 a month! Dana and I have gym memberships and it costs about $88 a month for the 2 of us and that's with the corperate discount for where I work AND we're in a contract for 1 year or it would be even MORE expensive! That's about average price for where we live. We went in to discuss the membership though, didn't bother with the phone thing, and we chose this gym because it is the closest to home.

I LOVE this gym. There is a wide variety of equipment, the staff is great and the facilities are nice. It is worth it for sure, as long as you're willing to make the commitment to go regularly.
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post #8 of 15
11/3/10 at 6:01am
Nope. DH and I have thought about it, but, to be honest, I don't know that I have the motivation to really use a gym. The Fitness Center here is run by our local hospital (it's where I went for physcial therapy after the knee operation); it's $100 to join and $30 monthly. And I suppose I could go right after work before I go home.

But......we have a Bowflex, 350 pounds of free weights and the bench, the treadmill, the elliptical and 45 pounds of dumbbells. I use them and DH uses his free weights. And, in fact, when the basement renovations are finished, we'll have a fitness room down there. So it really doesn't make sense for us to join a gym.
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post #9 of 15
11/3/10 at 6:17am
$20 per month sounds way too good to be true. Especially for the tanning aerobics and all of that. I used to have a membership at a gym that was $75 a month! Or if you just want to go for a day if your regular gym is closed, it was $10 a DAY! And that was just for free weights. Now I just use the university gym. I get a membership fee added to my tuition so I can just go whenever I want.
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post #10 of 15
11/3/10 at 6:36am
$20 a month for a gym memberships seems fishy to me. They also most likely want you to come in so they can upsell to you. These type of gyms are not really the ones you want to go to as they really only seem interested in getting as much money as they can.

Honestly the best and most realistic gym I have ever been to was the fitness center run by our local hospital group. It was a bit expensive (I think it was $40 a month) but there was staff always walking around ready to help you and answer your questions. They had tons of benefits such as a swimming pool and all the classes you can handle included in the price. They also have a day spa (which is extra). Best of all it wasn't just a meat market. As a matter of fact you had to dress appropriately to be on the floor since it was very family oriented.

Any place that is offering $20 a month is going to be a gimmick.
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post #11 of 15
11/3/10 at 6:56am
I think that $20 a month plus the fact that they wont quote a rate on the phone or online is fishy. Also I think that $20 plus everything they offer is odd. Gyms in my area that offer all that stuff are AT LEAST $75-90 a month.

I do belong to a gym...I used to belong to one of those gyms that cost hundreds of dollars a month but Dh and I decided it wasn't worth it and it was out of our way to go.

SO we quit the gym for a year and really missed it so we ended up joining Planet Fitness as there is one close by and it is an easy drive for me to go there after work. I joined during one of their promotions which was join for a dollar and then it is $10 a month after that with a $30 yearly fee. BUT it is a bare bones gym just cardio equipment and weights. Which works for me since I am too shy to do classes.

DH joined the same gym but he got a slightly higher plan. He pays $20 to go to any gym in the state, plus unlimited tanning, discounts on the cooler drinks, and the massage chairs. AND he gets to bring a guest with him. He did that so he can go to any gym he happens to be nearby when he finishes work. BUT he can take me to any of them. Again i think his membership is $30 a year as well.

So not all the $20 a month gyms are gimmicks but those type of gyms should just be basic without classes and stuff.

Also when I went the prices weren't hidden I looked them up online and called ahead to verify.
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post #12 of 15
11/3/10 at 7:00am
I've worked at and been a member at many different gyms and the ones that won't tell you their rates over the phone tend to have some sales gimmicks going on. One place I worked had different membership levels and you could only use certain clubs in the area. As an employee I couldn't even access all the clubs. Recently a gym near me was offering rates like you describe and it turned out that they closed down a few months later. They were hoping to get memberships by lowering their rates and then they'd raise them later...it didn't work. By far the best value that I have found is the community center. They don't necessarily have a lot of equipment but I had a membership there for $20 a month.
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post #13 of 15
11/3/10 at 5:09pm
I pay monthly at Golds Gym/$33 month. Three local locations including the brand new one about 4 minutes away from work. All classes are free, saltwater pool, cardio gym, cardio equipment & free weights. Personal trainers are extra as are the water classes.
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post #14 of 15
11/4/10 at 9:44am
Maybe they are just offering a good rate to get more people to go there. Where I used to live, the gyms were $60+ per month. There was one gym that was only $35 a month and they didn't try to upsell or anything, the owner just didn't believe in charging $60 a month.

I joined a gym back in September when I moved here. It's $42 a month for all of the cardio equipment, weights, all the classes, pool, hot tub, steam room and the womens only side of the gym. It's a huge gym and that is a really good price for it. The only things that are extra are squash, tanning and personal training (one personal training session is free when you sign up). I haven't gone much lately since I have been sick.
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post #15 of 15
11/4/10 at 9:52am
I joined 24 Hour Fitness a few years ago after my Bally closed down and went ahead with their "pay $750 for three years and then pay $79/year afterward for life" promotion. There is some slight risk to that in the event that you move or that gym closes, but neither one is one the radar screen for us right now.

So that $750 for 3 years is ~$21/month, so $20/month is not fishy to me. Remember that cash is king and pre-paying for longer terms can get you a better price.

In these hard economic times, they might only be worried about breaking even until they can begin charging more again?? They can try to upsell you all they want, but you have to agree to purchase
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