Gym Membership price, how much negotiation?

mrpurple · #1 05-27-2007, 07:14 PM

I've been walking everyday for a few weeks and eating better. I've already dropped a little weight and am happy with the start. But, Its just a start. I've decided to join a gym. theres a Gold's a few blocks from my house and it has everything I'l need and then some. I called and they wouldn't give me a rate unless I booked an apointment with a 'fitness counselor.'

I talked to him over the phone and he told me $40 a month. Not bad. But, I'm assuming thats a jumping off point. How low can I reasonably expect to get when I meet this guy? He's offering a free 7 days to get familiar with the place.

My other option is the fitness center at my work. Its $300 a year, no classes, mostly cardio. But, it does have some weights and resistance machines. I'd like to get Golds to match this price. Is this likely?

kyleb · #2 05-27-2007, 07:40 PM

There is a ton of negotiation available, trust me. Just tell him $250/year and see where it goes from there.

1C5 · #3 05-27-2007, 08:42 PM

yes.
tricks: 1. lead on that you dont have too much money
2. mention the other gym at work that you will join if gold's is too much money and tell them the price of the other gym is whatever price you want to pay at golds or even a little less than that and they may match it or come close to matching it.

bwana devil · #4 05-27-2007, 09:32 PM

i was going to make a similar thread in a few days. there's a gold's gym and a 24 hr both pretty close to my house. i was going to go to both and get them to compete w/ one another on price.

my coworker signed up at 24hr and it cost him $24/mth. he then realized it was only for the one gym location and not all of them in the area. he went back to cancel the next day (guess he had 72 hours to cancel) and told them he was going to join gold's instead. they went ahead and gave him full access at the $24/mth price and he remained a member.

also the 24hr gym in my area has a buy one year get two years free right now. i called and got the run around similar to OP. im about 2-3 weeks away from joining that's why i havent gone in yet. is anyone familiar w/ how this buy 1 year get 2 "free" deal works? sounds too good to be true so obviously it is.

kerowo · #5 05-27-2007, 09:42 PM

Be careful signing anything long term, there was a post here no too long ago about it being impossible to quit 24hr. You might also look for something that isn't in a big chain and see what kind of deal they have. There was a place I went to in Denver I was very happy with, if it wasn't way across town from I work/live now I'd still go there.

kyleb · #6 05-27-2007, 10:12 PM

[ QUOTE ]
is anyone familiar w/ how this buy 1 year get 2 "free" deal works? sounds too good to be true so obviously it is.

[/ QUOTE ]

It actually isn't too good to be true; I am on this plan. You basically have to pay for a year upfront and you get X months free (for me it was 1.5 years). They figure that most people who prepay for a year won't even use the gym 6 months from now (and they're probably right), so it's +EV for them.

Definitely a solid play if you plan on using their facilities over the long-term.

1C5 · #7 05-28-2007, 12:08 AM

oh and DO NOT pay with a credit card, you do not want them to have your credit card as a big % of gyms are pure scum and will charge without your permission.

edfurlong · #8 05-28-2007, 12:23 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
is anyone familiar w/ how this buy 1 year get 2 "free" deal works? sounds too good to be true so obviously it is.

[/ QUOTE ]

It actually isn't too good to be true; I am on this plan. You basically have to pay for a year upfront and you get X months free (for me it was 1.5 years). They figure that most people who prepay for a year won't even use the gym 6 months from now (and they're probably right), so it's +EV for them.

Definitely a solid play if you plan on using their facilities over the long-term.

[/ QUOTE ]

I also did this. Back in the day they offered a deal where you paid upfront for a year and you could get in at ten bucks a month after. I of course declined this deal because I'm slow. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

XXXNoahXXX · #9 05-28-2007, 11:11 AM

Never pay a signup/joining/membership fee. Ever.

Obviously its hard to get no singup fee and reduced monthly rates, etc. so you'll have to weigh the relative value, but if you're just getting the standard deal, don't pay the fee.

I wanted a gym next to my work for the summer only, and they wanted $100 sign up fee, and $79 month each month, plus I had to jump through hoops and basically request cancellation two months in advance even though I only wanted it for three months.

After talking to the manager for twenty minutes, I cut them a check for $150 for the whole summer, including an extra week and 10 guest passes for my gf.

bwana devil · #10 06-14-2007, 03:34 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
is anyone familiar w/ how this buy 1 year get 2 "free" deal works? sounds too good to be true so obviously it is.

[/ QUOTE ]

It actually isn't too good to be true; I am on this plan. You basically have to pay for a year upfront and you get X months free (for me it was 1.5 years). They figure that most people who prepay for a year won't even use the gym 6 months from now (and they're probably right), so it's +EV for them.

Definitely a solid play if you plan on using their facilities over the long-term.

[/ QUOTE ]

i went into 24hr today during lunch. turns out their "buy one year get two free" is too good to be true. every year there is a $150 processing fee. to join for three years it would cost $850 (about $24/mth).

a mediocre deal and certainly not an "OMG im getting 2 years free!!" and then facotoring in paying most of the money up front makes the deal even less attractive.

i didnt negotiate w/ them so im sure theyd budge on that. just wanted to report initial results. im not sure yet where im going to go or what what deal i want yet.