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Thread: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

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    Featured Member AmazingKat's Avatar
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    Default How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    How much leeway do the sales people have in negotiating your monthly dues and redonkulous membership fees?

    I've always avoided getting a real gym membership because I've been afraid of paying too much or even worse, having trouble canceling it when I don't need it. Its come to the point where using the school gym isn't cutting it and I'm thinking about getting a 24 hour one so I can go all the time to any of the sport level or below clubs.

    Just like when I bought my car I'd like to be as informed as possible so that I know I'm negotiating smartly. Unfortunately, 24 hour is the only club within reasonable distance from my house, my parents house, or on my way home from school so I am pretty much stuck going there.

    Soo, any pointers to get the best deal on it?

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    Featured Member thechaosfairy's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    I'm using 24 hour fitness. I'm paying $28/month for mine. The biggest way I saved money was by getting a single club membership. A membership where you can go to any club costs about fifty-some-odd, I think.

    They'll also try to add on a zillion packages, personal training, etc. Just hold firm. The monthly rates are set. The biggest part where they'll hit you is the signup fees, which can be up to $300. I got lucky and joined during a special, so the fee was only $150 for me. But it's a one-time thing, and the fees include first and last month, if I recall correctly.

    Just make sure to ask what every cost is FOR, and if the monthly sounds too high, ask if they have a lower-priced package -- that sort of thing.
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    Like super-fast, frenetic, chipmunklike stylized humping with this look on her face like "Kill! Kill!"
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    i think people like going to parties and clubs and looking like douchebags.

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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    Try to sign up on the last day of the month. 24 Hour has close-out specials and they drop their monthly rates and initiation fees because they are under pressure to hit high sales numbers from corporate.

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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    Great question! I saw just how "flexible" these people can be when signing you up. First off, first offer, don't take it! Even walk out of the gym with a "thanks anyway." These people WILL call you. They'd rather give you a lower priced membership than lose out on your money altogether. I have joined 3 different gyms over the years and it is always like that.
    This most recent time I signed up with Bally's and at firs they wanted me to sign up for $200 on top of a monthly membership. I looked at her and made a face like "you crazy!" and then she went lower...I still acted unimpressed, and then finally she signed me for $99. ("well because it's Saint Patrick's Day....") so yeah, try to go on a "holiday" too. Again, these people WANT you to become a member of their gym.
    If you don't like the first offer, or two, don't budge. They don't want you to know it, but most people who work to sign up new members are VERY flexible.
    Good luck!

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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    Find out up front before you sign anything what the penalties are if you decide you want to cancel your membership. Usually when you sign for instance a 12 month contract and you decide you want to cancel 8 months in you will be responsible to pay the remaining 4 months. Usually no opt out like cell phone service. You also usually have 48 hours to cancel after you sign. READ YOUR CONTRACT BACK TO FRONT BEFORE YOU SIGN!

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    Featured Member Kaiyla's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    ^Good advice. You don't want to get roped into something you cannot back out of, or have to pay astronomical fees to back out of.

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    Featured Member AmazingKat's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    Thank you for all the awesome advice (and keep it coming if you have more!)

    I will probably wait until the end of the month to get a membership then. I wasn't in a big rush anyways. I actually tried getting a 24 hour membership a few years ago but the woman was incredibly bitchy and acting like she was doing me a huge favor for giving me this 'one day only' discount that I walked out. She called and I said "not interested anymore" because I was just going to use the school gym at that point.

    I'm totally going to have to act like it isn't my only option (even though it is) and try to be all 'ho hum' over the price.

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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    Sign up fees are a scam; don't pay them. They want your monthly money, and if you make it clear to them that's all you'll pay, you can get that deal for yourself.

    Gyms are always running promotions, but they're less inclined to waive sign-up fees during the very end and very beginning of the year (all those losers with resolutions that they'll never fulfill anyway make great marks for gyms) so look after March and before November/December.
    Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    The way I got a killer deal, but it may not work if you wanna pay monthly:

    Do all of the above. Refuse to pay sign up fees. Get every knockdown on the monthly price you can. Then tell them you want to pay up front (I paid for 2 years). I saved an extra 100 or 150 bucks off the regular monthly price, and they threw in two months free. Other bonus? You don't have to worry about them fucking up the automatic debits (like they did with my training sessions).
    I believe you Dottie and you have my support

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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    ^^^I'm not a fan of the long term contracts, I stick to the month to month that way I can get out of it anytime without being stuck paying if I stop going or move or etc....

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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    DO they ever offer two for one's? I'm thinking about getting my boyfriend and I a gym membership. This thread has been very helpful!

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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    You should find out if there's a YMCA in your area. They have great gyms and are reasonably priced. The ones here in Indy don't make you sign a contract. You just pay month-to-month, and the sign up fee is very small. I love the Y.

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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    I called the YMCA even though its a bit far and I was shocked at how ridiculous their prices were. They told me all the initial membership fees would amount to over $100 and the monthly fee was $60 or $70. I used to love the Y as a kid but when did it get so damn expensive?

    When I looked up 24 hour online they sell an all-club membership for $43 a month plus an up front like $80-90 fee.

    I'm definitely going to do a month to month. I considered the long term so I could pre-pay and they don't have my bank account info on file to do with as they please, but I'm want the freedom to be able to cancel whenever if I don't use it.

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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    Wow, I only pay $45 a month at my Y. It's the best deal in Indy. Our alternatives are Gold's and LA Fitness, which are exorbitant.

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    Featured Member thechaosfairy's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    Quote Originally Posted by AmazingKat View Post
    Thank you for all the awesome advice (and keep it coming if you have more!)

    I will probably wait until the end of the month to get a membership then. I wasn't in a big rush anyways. I actually tried getting a 24 hour membership a few years ago but the woman was incredibly bitchy and acting like she was doing me a huge favor for giving me this 'one day only' discount that I walked out. She called and I said "not interested anymore" because I was just going to use the school gym at that point.

    I'm totally going to have to act like it isn't my only option (even though it is) and try to be all 'ho hum' over the price.
    Yeah, the sales reps usually range from greedy and manipulative to dumb as dirt. And they're very nasty to fat people. I'm 99% sure it's because that's how the chain trains them. Gods only know why. Seems really bad for business, but they seem to do pretty well anyway -- I guess because they're very convenient.
    Quote Originally Posted by red red red View Post
    Like super-fast, frenetic, chipmunklike stylized humping with this look on her face like "Kill! Kill!"
    Quote Originally Posted by iseestars View Post
    i think people like going to parties and clubs and looking like douchebags.

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    Default Re: How to Not Get Screwed on a Gym Membership

    I dunno, I go to a fighter's gym.

    I paid no initiation fee (cause I showed them my HNS ticket and the owner of the gym is one of our bouncers, lol!)

    I pay $60/month for a year, and that includes Scott(owner) helping me with my diet, open gym and mat every day, and all the classes they offer, plus one on one help if you ever need/want it.

    I would pay twice that a month if I went to a fitness gym when the trainer, dietitian, gym fees, etc.. all included.
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