Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good??

"longlostanimegal" <longlostanimegal.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192634830.100837.239370@k35g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
> Hi peeps! I recently joined a gym with the intention being a lifetime
> member - exercise till the day I drop dead 0_0
>
> anyhow, this is the gym I joined and the perks. Because I joined with
> my two cousins I got a lower "onetime fee".
>
> Onetime/starter fee: $599.00
> Monthly Membership: $20.00 forever, will never go up

About a year ago, I paid $699 up front for three yrs prepaid at 24 Hour
Fitness. After the three years, the renewal fees are $29/yr. I think it
includes all the clubs and benefits except for their high-end ones. You can
go online to see the benefits offered.

I agree with Hobbes that it's (usually) not a good idea to pay such a high
fee up front but it seems a strong enough chain that the risk was worth it.
It's been a good deal for me so far.
 >> Stay informed about: Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good?? 

In article <1192634830.100837.239370.TakeThisOut@k35g2000prh.googlegroups.com>,
longlostanimegal <longlostanimegal.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi peeps! I recently joined a gym with the intention being a lifetime
> member - exercise till the day I drop dead 0_0
>
> anyhow, this is the gym I joined and the perks. Because I joined with
> my two cousins I got a lower "onetime fee".
>
> Onetime/starter fee: $599.00
> Monthly Membership: $20.00 forever, will never go up
>
> Perks:
> Free Parking
> Unlimited Guest Member Priveleges - I can bring anyone I want (no max
> # of people) and they can join the gym/classes. It can be the same
> person only once a month
> Free babysitting - I can bring my kids 6 months to 10 years old while
> I exercise
> Other gyms - (in other states) if I am away from my location/maybe
> vacation, I can join a gym in selected locations for a small fee
> Freeze benefits - $9.99 a month
> Free classes - no signups, etc. I love the classes, to name a few,
> cardiobox, bootcamp, pilates, yoga, sexy dance class, etc.
> Sauna available
>
> I think I pretty much stated all the benefits I can think of. What do
> you guys think? Right now, I will be exercising about 4 or 5 times a
> week.

No way would I pay $600 for a starter fee.

There are too many things that can happen. Go to a local university or
YW and join.

--
Keith
 >> Stay informed about: Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good?? 

On Oct 17, 11:27 am, longlostanimegal <longlostanime... RemoveThis @yahoo.com>
wrote:
> Hi peeps! I recently joined a gym with the intention being a lifetime
> member - exercise till the day I drop dead 0_0
>
> anyhow, this is the gym I joined and the perks. Because I joined with
> my two cousins I got a lower "onetime fee".
>
> Onetime/starter fee: $599.00
> Monthly Membership: $20.00 forever, will never go up
>
> Perks:
> Free Parking
> Unlimited Guest Member Priveleges - I can bring anyone I want (no max
> # of people) and they can join the gym/classes. It can be the same
> person only once a month
> Free babysitting - I can bring my kids 6 months to 10 years old while
> I exercise
> Other gyms - (in other states) if I am away from my location/maybe
> vacation, I can join a gym in selected locations for a small fee
> Freeze benefits - $9.99 a month
> Free classes - no signups, etc. I love the classes, to name a few,
> cardiobox, bootcamp, pilates, yoga, sexy dance class, etc.
> Sauna available
>
> I think I pretty much stated all the benefits I can think of. What do
> you guys think? Right now, I will be exercising about 4 or 5 times a
> week.



It's a very good deal -- if you really do continue to use your
membership for decades to come, and the terms don't change (or they
simply close down! 'Cause even despite the high start-up fee, I
wonder how they could continue to survive as a business...unless they
keep bringing in more people and keep expanding or adding new
locations...which would still be problematic as sooner or later the
scheme must collapse, due to there being no more real estate available
for new locations and new members [assuming the new members keep
signing up!]...reminds me of Social Security, now that I think about
it -- only even more shaky!).
 >> Stay informed about: Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good?? 

"Zen Cohen" <it's (usually) not a good idea to pay such a high fee up front
but it seems a strong enough chain that the risk was worth it.
>

You're deal was $699 for 3 years. This guy is getting nothing for $600. All
he gets is the right to pay $240 a year for the rest of his life.

My gym is open 24 hours, 7 days and has 4 locations and the fee is $225 per
year.
 >> Stay informed about: Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good?? 

"Prisoner at War" <prisoner_at_war RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192637759.374387.112610@q3g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> >
>
>
> It's a very good deal -- if you really do continue to use your
> membership for decades to come, and the terms don't change (or they
> simply close down! 'Cause even despite the high start-up fee, I
> wonder how they could continue to survive as a business...unless they
> keep bringing in more people and keep expanding or adding new
> locations...which would still be problematic as sooner or later the
> scheme must collapse, due to there being no more real estate available
> for new locations and new members [assuming the new members keep
> signing up!]...reminds me of Social Security, now that I think about
> it -- only even more shaky!).
>
They are counting on most of the folks not coming after a short time.
And if it gets too crowded and annoying they still have your money. And
some chains can be sort of hard to convince to stop charging your credit
card if you do quit.
 >> Stay informed about: Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good?? 

On Oct 17, 11:27 am, longlostanimegal <longlostanime... RemoveThis @yahoo.com>
wrote:
> Hi peeps! I recently joined a gym with the intention being a lifetime
> member - exercise till the day I drop dead 0_0
>
> anyhow, this is the gym I joined and the perks. Because I joined with
> my two cousins I got a lower "onetime fee".
>
> Onetime/starter fee: $599.00

[...]

You were robbed. Welcome to some life experience!

In 1979 or so I signed a contract for $600 for six years of gym
membership at the local to me Lancaster Health Spa. There was no
monthly fee. After the six-year contract expired, my yearly renewal
fee was a mere $50. That's for an additional one YEAR of gym
membership. I got several years at $50 a year before they closed the
joint.

Initially, Lancaster Health Spa had separate days for men and women,
so it was something like M W F for men and T Thu Sat for women and,
iirc, it was either closed or split on Sundays.

The gym owners relocated to the Golden Triangle shopping plaza at some
point, but my $50 a year (not month) gym membership transferred
without problem. Also at the new location, they had an outdoor and an
indoor pool. A Universal room, a free weight room, a karate studio/
boxing area, sauna, and more!

Again, you've been robbed. Dial 911 at your earliest opportunity.

Curt
currently paying $10 per month and I think my initiation fee was
waived because I paid cash for 18 months

--
 >> Stay informed about: Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good?? 

On Oct 17, 8:27 am, longlostanimegal <longlostanime... DeleteThis @yahoo.com>
wrote:
> Hi peeps! I recently joined a gym with the intention being a lifetime
> member - exercise till the day I drop dead 0_0
>
> anyhow, this is the gym I joined and the perks. Because I joined with
> my two cousins I got a lower "onetime fee".
>
> Onetime/starter fee: $599.00

You must love throwing money away.

If it's status you are after, then get richer and join a country club,
not a gym that thinks it is one.

> Monthly Membership: $20.00 forever, will never go up
> Perks:
> Free Parking

There is no such thing as free. If it appears to be free, you're just
paying for it whether you want it or not.

The client who takes advantage of every single one of the perks does
so at the expense of everyone else.

When faced with free perks, ask them to put a dollar value on all of
them, and have the ones you aren not interested in discounted from
your fees.

What if you don't drive to the gym? What if you don't have kids? What
if you aren't interested in taking every single class that is offered?

> Unlimited Guest Member Priveleges - I can bring anyone I want (no max
> # of people) and they can join the gym/classes.

Really? How about driving over a busload full of seniors for a
workout?

> It can be the same
> person only once a month

Ah, so this ``benefit'' is for the gym, not really for you. They're
basically offering free trials through the network of existing members
to try to attract more members.

I bet you anyone could go there and wheedle a free trial day out of
them without being connected to any existing member.

> Other gyms - (in other states) if I am away from my location/maybe
> vacation, I can join a gym in selected locations for a small fee

With a little cunning, you can join a gym anywhere for a small fee.

How does something that is for a ``small fee'' count as a benefit?

They get you accustomed to the big fees, so that small fee items look
like benefits.

> Freeze benefits - $9.99 a month

Completely ridiculous! Let's see, this means you don't go to the gym,
and they charge you anyway. For what, keeping a few bytes of record
on a hard drive and backup media?

What a racket!

> Free classes - no signups, etc.

No signups, just the six hundred bucks up front, and twenty a month.

> Right now, I will be exercising about 4 or 5 times a
> week.

I exercise 6 or 7 times a week. Most of it is outside, and costs
nothing.

For about 37 dollars, I buy twelve tickets to a gym near my workplace.

I lift weights once a week, so that effectively buys me a twelve week
membership.
 >> Stay informed about: Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good?? 

Wow it looks like I got a lot of negative opinions. Well, I guess I
should mention that I prefer only doing classes vs. using the exercise
machines. Right now, I've only been attending the classes and used the
walking/step machine only twice a week. And since I am taking my two
cousins with me (they are not able to go by themselves/Im the driver)
this means I definitely do the 4-5 times a week for my sake and their
sake. They will be pissed off if I didn't and they paid all that
money. I've been doing this schedule for more than a week now and
intend to keep doing it in the future. I don't see myself moving out
of the area anytime soon and I do intend to be a lifetime member. The
gym I'm at is very clean and it doesn't seem to be too crowded
whenever I'm there. They've been in existence for 15 years and been at
that particular location for 8 years. So that should be some comfort
to me right? That this gym will be around for sometime??? My coworker
who is a current Ballyfitness customer said she joined in 1997, paid
onetime fee 1200.00 and 9.00 a month. The YMCA which I previously
joined was $100 starter fee and $45/month and not free parking (and it
was always a fight to get parking!)
 >> Stay informed about: Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good?? 

On Oct 17, 11:27 pm, "Del Cecchi" <delcecchioftheno....TakeThisOut@gmail.com>
wrote:
>
>
> They are counting on most of the folks not coming after a short time.
> And if it gets too crowded and annoying they still have your money. And
> some chains can be sort of hard to convince to stop charging your credit
> card if you do quit.



Yes, but even if most folks stop coming after a while, they still need
to sign up new folks because there's always rent and utilities to pay
for, not to mention insurance and probably interest for the bank loan
(employees are probably the lowest cost of all)...in all likelihood
the gym will be out of business in a few years. I think that's
probably what the business model really is: get as much money as you
can while you can still be in business. But it's a bit like planned
obsolescence...at a certain point, they will simply have to go out of
business....
 >> Stay informed about: Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good?? 

On Oct 18, 10:26 am, longlostanimegal <longlostanime....TakeThisOut@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> Wow it looks like I got a lot of negative opinions. Well, I guess I
> should mention that I prefer only doing classes vs. using the exercise
> machines. Right now, I've only been attending the classes and used the
> walking/step machine only twice a week. And since I am taking my two
> cousins with me (they are not able to go by themselves/Im the driver)
> this means I definitely do the 4-5 times a week for my sake and their
> sake. They will be pissed off if I didn't and they paid all that
> money. I've been doing this schedule for more than a week now and
> intend to keep doing it in the future. I don't see myself moving out
> of the area anytime soon and I do intend to be a lifetime member. The
> gym I'm at is very clean and it doesn't seem to be too crowded
> whenever I'm there. They've been in existence for 15 years and been at
> that particular location for 8 years. So that should be some comfort
> to me right? That this gym will be around for sometime??? My coworker
> who is a current Ballyfitness customer said she joined in 1997, paid
> onetime fee 1200.00 and 9.00 a month. The YMCA which I previously
> joined was $100 starter fee and $45/month and not free parking (and it
> was always a fight to get parking!)



Good points were made by the skeptics, but ultimately "value" is in
the eye of the consumer...if it works for you, if you have no (or very
little minor) complaints, it's worth it to you. (If you're wondering
about "value" in a relative sense, then you need to shop around your
area and see for yourself.)

The main thing, as I pointed out, is whether they will really be
around for decades to come, whether conditions will remain mostly the
same (they don't start cutting back on services or equipment), and
whether you will actually avail yourself of the membership. One thing
you can bank on: the proprietors have worked out their business plan
with the bank that they got a loan from, so they're going to make
their money...which means that they're not giving anything away for
free...which means that it's all up to you whether you feel good about
what you're paying for.
 >> Stay informed about: Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good?? 

On Oct 18, 11:47 am, "Del Cecchi" <delcecchioftheno....RemoveThis@gmail.com>
wrote:
>
>
> Some people keep paying even if they don't go, or don't go very often.


Yes, but I doubt whether this group constitutes a major revenue
stream.

Anyone know how a gym is run as a business? I'm really curious. I
see a lot of independent (non-franchise) gyms come and go, even in
upscale nabes, so I'm wondering how people make a living with it.
Seems like you constantly need new people paying into "the
system" (which is why I was reminded of Social Security) or else the
whole thing goes belly-up....
 >> Stay informed about: Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good?? 

"Prisoner at War" <prisoner_at_war.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192718908.533631.190650@i38g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> On Oct 17, 11:27 pm, "Del Cecchi" <delcecchioftheno....TakeThisOut@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>>
>> They are counting on most of the folks not coming after a short time.
>> And if it gets too crowded and annoying they still have your money.
>> And
>> some chains can be sort of hard to convince to stop charging your
>> credit
>> card if you do quit.
>
>
>
> Yes, but even if most folks stop coming after a while, they still need
> to sign up new folks because there's always rent and utilities to pay
> for, not to mention insurance and probably interest for the bank loan
> (employees are probably the lowest cost of all)...in all likelihood
> the gym will be out of business in a few years. I think that's
> probably what the business model really is: get as much money as you
> can while you can still be in business. But it's a bit like planned
> obsolescence...at a certain point, they will simply have to go out of
> business....
>
Some people keep paying even if they don't go, or don't go very often.
 >> Stay informed about: Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good?? 

"longlostanimegal" <longlostanimegal.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192717568.098041.77960@q3g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> Wow it looks like I got a lot of negative opinions. Well, I guess I
> should mention that I prefer only doing classes vs. using the exercise
> machines. Right now, I've only been attending the classes and used the
> walking/step machine only twice a week. And since I am taking my two
> cousins with me (they are not able to go by themselves/Im the driver)
> this means I definitely do the 4-5 times a week for my sake and their
> sake. They will be pissed off if I didn't and they paid all that
> money. I've been doing this schedule for more than a week now and
> intend to keep doing it in the future. I don't see myself moving out
> of the area anytime soon and I do intend to be a lifetime member. The
> gym I'm at is very clean and it doesn't seem to be too crowded
> whenever I'm there. They've been in existence for 15 years and been at
> that particular location for 8 years. So that should be some comfort
> to me right? That this gym will be around for sometime??? My coworker
> who is a current Ballyfitness customer said she joined in 1997, paid
> onetime fee 1200.00 and 9.00 a month. The YMCA which I previously
> joined was $100 starter fee and $45/month and not free parking (and it
> was always a fight to get parking!)
>
I didn't think I was negative. I just tried to point out a few things to
think about. The nice gym and club here costs 70 per month. If you like
it and are going to use it for a couple of years at least then it is up
to you. But be sure to read the fine print in the contract.
 >> Stay informed about: Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good??