How to shop for a gym?

December 3, 2006 10:01 PM

I need to join a gym, and haven't belonged to one since a Y membership in 1996. Apparently, gyms don't tell you what they charge unless you go meet a sales rep in person. This seems extremely shady and sets off mental warning bells. Can anyone tell me what to expect? Forewarned is forearmed, etc. (Auxillary question, possibly whinefilter; how do they get away with this? Why can't I comparison shop in a reasonable manner?)
posted by Cranialtorque to health (25 comments total)

It is really annoying, and much like dealing with used car salesmen. The only benefit to you, is that you can usually haggle them down in price, by appearing "uncertain" whether you want to join, unconvinced by their prices etc. If you are the sort of person that is good at haggling, you can get a decent deal. Treat it like a car dealership for best results (be preapred to walk away etc).
posted by Joh at 10:07 PM on December 3, 2006

I can't see why you'd not be able to make phone calls and get the picture of their costs without going through a sales pitch. Or have you already tried? What I've done in the past though is tried out various gyms with brief free or cheap passes they give through promotions. Some are sleazy and stupid -- have untrained people giving health advice (like to eat zero fat in your diet!) and I do remember being given a hard-sell in a nasty little glass booth one time. Obviously I don't want to be a member of thsoe gyms. I would call them, tell them I don't like a hard sell and I need some facts before I take the next step. I don't believe good places would turn down a business call like that. I found the best gym was the community centre anyway: cheap and zero pressure.
posted by Listener at 10:08 PM on December 3, 2006

I'm shocked that there are gyms that DON'T post their prices. I would call them all in your local area, ask them their rates, and if they won't tell you, then tell them in no uncertain terms that they just lost a customer and that you will tell others that the gym in question is acting like a jerk.
posted by davidmsc at 10:29 PM on December 3, 2006

I recently signed up at a Y down the street. Completely painless, no sales pitches, and their rates are pretty competitive.
posted by mullingitover at 10:31 PM on December 3, 2006

I mistyped a little up there; it should be "... gyms don't tell you what they charge unless you talk to a sales rep personally." Listener, I'm a nerd who would rather look at a webpage or chart than make phone calls. Partly, its my antisocial nature, but more importantly, I simply deal with information more easily when I can read it.

So, I find the lack of pricing info on websites or brochures at front desks really upsetting. Walking into a gym and asking for prices, I expected to be handed a brochure, instead phone calls started to be made to talk to a sales specialist. The whole thing freaked me out, and I've only calmed down a little because I realize they all do it. (But seriously, wtf? I can understand needing to inquire at the location; I can understand why some locations would need to charge more than others. But why can't I get a straight answer? This all makes me think they charge different people different rates, and it seems ethically dubious. Feh.)
posted by Cranialtorque at 10:39 PM on December 3, 2006

mullingitover, can you tell me what is competitive? This is another issue, I don't know if I should expect to pay $25/mo or $150/mo. Is there a deposit or a membership fee? Is it $50 or $300? I know nothing about it, which is a big part of the freakout. I can haggle decently for cellphone service or computer parts or used books, because I have some idea what the price range is in the first place. I'm lost here.
posted by Cranialtorque at 10:43 PM on December 3, 2006

This all makes me think they charge different people different rates, and it seems ethically dubious.

Well, yeah. There is some of that around, but I think it's mainly it's so that they can pair you up with a trainer/salesperson who is of the opposite gender and hot, who can then sell you on some gateway package, which is really an opportunity for you to pay him/her to pitch you a bigger plan.

But it's not all bad - many places operate on a fixed membership price - your dues don't go up, even when their prices do, thus older members are paying much less than recent members. Thus, different people are being charged different amounts for the same thing, but it's not ethically dubious.
posted by -harlequin- at 10:47 PM on December 3, 2006

Many employee benefit packages offer discounts or fixed rates at specific gyms, or through big gym-consortium discounters.

I found my gym through globalfit.com, which I was eligible for through my health insurance (Blue Cross-Blue Shield).

It's an awesome service. I was able to search for gyms by zip code and amenities, and get a fixed quote for membership. When I went to the two or three that looked most convenient to me, they all quoted rates that were at least $10 or $20 per month more than I could get through the employee discount. I'm paying about $25 per month at a gym with a standard quoted rate of $40.

I really recommend looking into whether you're eligible for this, or similar, benefit through your employer. Lots of people do get these benefits, and don't take advantage out of ignorance.

I know three colleagues at my health club who are paying more than me because they didn't read the fine print of their benefits information. I've mentioned the discount to them, and they don't seem to see the advantage of paying the one-time $99 fee in order to save $15 per month indefinitely. ($15 X 12 months = $180, which is $81 savings in the first year, $180 savings per year afterwards, so yeah, I think they're being foolish.)
posted by croutonsupafreak at 10:54 PM on December 3, 2006

I don't know if I should expect to pay $25/mo or $150/mo.

It depends on your area, but it can vary that much. $150 month might get you a gym membership with the exercycles in a movie theatre, olympic pool, private spas, a place to leave the kids with an attendant, etc. etc, such that you are getting what you pay for - but unless they can give you the tour in person, you won't see all that stuff - on a webpage price comparison, they'll look like a rip-off even though they're not.

If you just want a place with some machines and showers, etc, $40/m is closer to normal in my area, but you can get a range of programs each with different pros and cons from the same gym. SO think about what it is that you want - access any day, or just some days? 24hours? etc etc.
There is usually a sign-up fee, which could break three digits, but like cable, there are often specials to waive the fee. However - sign up soon - I'm under the impression that there is no way in hell you will get anything but the most jacked up prices if you leave it another month, because New Years is when everyone is after gym membership, after having made a new years resolution to finally start getting in shape, so New Years is the sellers market for gym memberships :)
posted by -harlequin- at 10:56 PM on December 3, 2006

This is another issue, I don't know if I should expect to pay $25/mo or $150/mo.

You're going to have to provide more information. In my experience, prices differ between Boston, Cape Cod, and Manhattan. I'd wager that Illinois is different, too. Also, in my local area, an older gym charges less than a newer building with more aerobics classes. (Both are Gold's Gyms.)

Personally, I save money by purchasing an annual membership — one payment, up front, for an entire year. My gym also offers a student rate that's even cheaper, but it requires monthly payments and they won't automatically rebill (which they do with non-student monthly memberships).

I've never had trouble getting "straight answers" over the telephone, and it doesn't strike me as "ethically dubious" that gyms don't publish brochures with printed rates. But if using the telephone gives you social anxiety, you might consider that shopping for a gym membership is a no-risk opportunity to confront that problem. As long as you're looking to improve your physical health, look at this as an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.
posted by cribcage at 11:04 PM on December 3, 2006

I agree with nearly everything Harlequin said - especially the bit about acting before New Years.

Definitely rank what's important to you, since facilities strongly affect the price. My range is closer to $20-30/month (but it was a 3 yr contract) for cardio equipment, free weights and nautilus and exercise classes. It's also worth it to see if they have locations you can use in other cities (perhaps where family lives, for example.)

And please, don't discount a visit to the place itself even if you figure out pricing on your own. Gym conditions can vary radically, and clientele can also make a big difference in your workout. Go at the time you'd like to work out, if possible. The closest gym to us is sprawling, but it's very popular and has a low ceiling that's quite claustrophobic. That plus a lack of windows makes it feel pretty nasty and sweaty even when we can see the cleaning staff working. We drive 10 extra minutes to go to one that's always near empty and has a nice airy layout.
posted by synapse at 11:14 PM on December 3, 2006

If you're an alumnus, and it's conveniently located to you, check out your alma mater's gym options. I love mine, though it's not a luxury club it does have courts, a pool, plenty of machines, discounted classes and rec trips entailed in enrollment (and a view of the Monterey Bay!)

Anywho, I am supposed to pay $70 per quarter, about 10 weeks. But whoops the cool student working the desk put the "Spring" sticker on my card when I paid, so I got three quarters for $70.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:39 PM on December 3, 2006

I'm a member of a local Bally's, although they are definitely on the "hard sell" end of things. Signing up with them reminded me a lot of buying a cellphone from Verizon. The pricing is complex, and if you want to get a good deal, you have to be prepared to sign a multi-year contract (!), and then play the escape-clause game later if you move. They offer a lot of promotions that can sometimes bring down the price, but the basic rate is like $30 a month for a single club in my area, making it substantially cheaper even than the Y ($40, at my income level), or the private/independent clubs (sky's the limit, really).

I've been told by several people now that Bally's has a policy of letting you add $5 to any promotional rate and do it "month by month" (i.e. no 3-yr. contract), which they did not tell me about when I signed up. If they had, I definitely would have paid the extra $5/mo to not let them get their hooks in me.

They also have 'add on' deals that let you go to any club in their network instead of just one, which could be good if you travel a lot.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:33 AM on December 4, 2006 [1 favorite]

You can check out Penn and Teller's Fitness episode to get the most cynical view of gyms available.
posted by RobotHero at 12:52 AM on December 4, 2006

Mr. Low-Ball here. It totally depends on what you expect from your gym, and the local market. Also be sure to weigh the monthly cost and commitment against the initiation fee.

Around here it basically comes down to whether you want classes or trainers, how much the gym's open, if you want a pool, sauna or racquet courts or anything else beyond basic resistance and aerobics equipment. And also if you want a fancy juice bar or personalized entertainment equipment.

In this neck of the woods (SW CT) the two major gym chains have gotten into a heavy price war. The lowest right now (my gym) is $10/month for a 12-month commitment plus a $40 one-time sign-up fee (which they sometimes waive) and an additional $10 fee once a year for renewal. That gets you access to your local gym (open 4am-11pm weekdays, less on weekends) with a good equipment selection (resistance and aerobics) and showers. The place is clean, airy and well-lit and the showers and lockers aren't disgusting. They don't offer classes though there are some trainers that operate out of the gym (for add'l cost.) No pool. No sauna. No child care. Multiple flat-screen TVs in the aerobics area with FM transmitters but no individual TVs. You can bring your own lock but can't keep your stuff in the locker room overnight. Totally no-frills and for $130/yr not a bad deal. They sell water and gatorade and power bars for way too much but I don't see too many people buying any of that there. The place is full of college kids and older folks who don't need a lot of attention and is very low-key.

For another $10/month they let you use any of their gyms throughout the country, which is nice if you need a 24-hour gym. And they give you the water/gatorade for half price. Okay, so that's them.

When they came into the area the local fancy gym chain (~30-40 bux/month plus $300-400 initiation fee) split their gyms into lower and higher tiers. They kept a higher initiation fee, but dropped the monthly rate to $10/month also. They offer some limited classes at their lower-tier gyms. Again, no pool but maybe they have a sauna. Individual TVs, I think. They seem to attract more of the Desperate Housewives set.

The expensive gyms in that chain kept the high initiation fee and high monthly rate but they offer more classes and I think child care and personal trainers. They might let you keep a locker there (though that can get skanky.) They're in the high-rent district so I don't think the clients care so much about money. I think they have a fancy juice bar. I believe this chain's facilities are a little dingier than my cheapo chain, mostly because they're older. So that's what $400-$500/year will get you around here.

Then there's the local Y and other community centers. They're cheap, and usually offer great deals for families, but they might not have the latest equipment. Pluses here are pools, saunas and/or racquet facilities. Hours are more limited than the for-profit gyms. Initiation fees are low or non-existent. Classes available but cost extra and again, limited times. Probably about $250/year but I haven't checked in a while. No TVs either as far as I know.
posted by Opposite George at 1:02 AM on December 4, 2006

Hey there,
In NZ at least, gym memberships are contracts, but if you can find someone else to take over the contract you can get out of it. On our local Ebay equivalent there are a myriad of different gym memberships, often cheaper than you can get at the gym, and with lower start up fees. Maybe you could give Ebay or your areas Craiglist a try.
posted by scodger at 1:29 AM on December 4, 2006

My gym lets me pay for the full year up front, doesn't push personal training sessions or additional services, and seems to be open almost all the time. The flip side is that it's a bit grungy and you bring your own towels, but that works for me. Once you've looked at a few of these places maybe you'll get a better sense of what you want - hours, pool, squash courts, spinning classes, blah blah - but look beyond the big chains, there are good independent (or even "boutique") gyms almost everwhere.

They prey on people with no experience, with the "you must sign up for this RIGHT NOW or you'll get nowhere near this good a deal!" act. Some places have you fill in forms with personal details before you even see the interior or salesperson. When you know how they work, you're able to ignore their urgency, get up & walk away to check out the facilities/pricing in some competing gyms. It would probably be worth thinking about whether you want a contract, pay up front, etc before you go over.

Also, be wary of any "introductory package of training" or whatever they may call it. If you want or need it then it's all good, but don't be persuaded into it - you'll be receiving sales calls for the next year.

And yeah, the YMCA's usually post their rates online and should give you at least a benchmark.
posted by jamesonandwater at 4:52 AM on December 4, 2006

Lots of good comments above.

In my area, the one time of year that you're more likely to hear advertised prices is coming up in January, the "New Year's Resolution" season. I'm sure we'll be seeing Kylie Minogue dancing around in Bally's TV commercials again once the champagne's gone. Those cheap sounding prices often come with a catch too, though.

The comparison with cellphone pricing is a good one. I saved money by signing up for an extended contract--but I actually kept going, so it was worth it for me. Someone who stopped going after a couple of months would have been totally screwed.

Also second the recommendation to check with your health plan. If they have a partnership with a local gym franchise, make sure you consider that one, the savings can be considerable.

I'm paying $19 a month at the moment--but that's as a five-year continuous customer, not as someone who just walked in the door. I could upgrade to a fancier chain for about $48 a month with unknown start-up costs. I know of an even swankier place I could go for $110 a month, but I can peel my own grapes.

If you travel consistently to another city, it could be worth checking to see if the chain you're considering has a location there.

Finally, if you're only going to go twice a month, there's a good chance that a gym that offers day passes would be cheaper than buying a membership.
posted by gimonca at 6:13 AM on December 4, 2006

The unwillingness to tell you anything, even over the phone, is not uncommon. They want you to tour the facility, and will likely give you a few free passes when you do.

Here in Philly, a month-to-month (i.e. no contract) membership for a medium-level gym (not super-swanky, but not just basic equipment) will be about $50-60/month. Those same places are more like $30/month if you pay a year up front.

As annoying as it is to have someone cheerfully insist that they MUST see you in person to tell you even a ballpark figure, it is important to note what you're getting for your money, even in comparison to similarly-priced facilities. Some gyms spend more on having a robust class schedule, some gyms replace their circuit equipment with the newest thing every other year, some gyms have lots of amenities like towel service and multiple whirlpools and such, some are in higher-rent areas of town, some have a pool...

I did once snap a bit at the PSC rep the third time I explained that I really, really, really didn't have time to take a tour unless she could give me a ballpark or a range or some vague notion of whether or not I had a prayer of affording the place.
posted by desuetude at 6:20 AM on December 4, 2006

Here's why they do it:
Because it's harder to say no in person.

Here's the real reason better gyms don't tell you their prices:

If you are going to a gym soley based on how much - you have no idea what one gym offers that the next does not.

The health club where I work out (also in the philly area), is one of the best clubs in the country (and cheap, given the quality.) BUT you'd never know it, unless you went there - and there are a number of other facilities that have opened to compete with them, just on this basis.

Do you want to know really why you pick one club or the other (if you're most people?).

Because you live or work close to the gym; not because it's price or quality.
posted by filmgeek at 6:34 AM on December 4, 2006

Consumerist recently ran an article on how to negotiate your gym membership that might be useful.

After getting shafted years ago (Gold's, refusing to stop charging my credit card after I paid to cancel early), I am shy of big box gyms. I am very pleased to give the Y my money for contract-free clear pricing, but I lucked out there because there's a huge swank one near my office and a perfectly fine small one near my house. The decision would have been a lot more complicated if they hadn't been an option.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:13 AM on December 4, 2006

Another might be to use the gym at your local community college. I would say this option is for folks who just do basic stuff (treadmill, weights machines, light yoga, etc.) If you do more advanced weights, I'm sure most CC's will have weights classes (mine does).

I signed up for a one credit hour fitness class, which cost $63. The policy at the CC is that if you are signed up for a fitness class, you can use the gym from the beginning of one semester until the beginning of the next semester. So, I get to use their gym from Aug. 06 until the third week of Jan. 07. That's 5 months of the gym for a little over $10/month.

There are no sales headaches, long term contracts, and the eye candy is generally pretty good. :) YMMV, but it's worth looking into.
posted by reenum at 8:06 AM on December 4, 2006

I have a lot of friends who work at various gyms. At most places, yes, the salesman who is largely commission driven, has the power to bend/break the corporate/institutional "rules" (if there even are any). So haggling works. But I think you should have a clear mindset of what you're looking for in the gym before you look to signup.

A lot of gyms will try to persuade you with things such as their Personal training packages, their facilities, their ease etc... IMO, depending on your needs of course, you should look at a few important things:

1.) Quality of equipment- if you're serious about working out, you want some decent equipment. Besides what they have (whether its antiquated or not), the spacing provided with the equipment is almost as important.

2.) Clientel base- real crowded gyms can be a hassle to any person trying to stay focused in a workout, as well as the general clientel. You want to feel comfortable in your gym. If you're not comfortable, you're not going to use the pool/spa/lockeroom etc...

3.) Cleanliness- lots of cheapo gyms (Ballys, Fitness First) have poor cleaning/no towel service. Creates a poor environment that you're looking for.

4.) Their package structuring- A lot of gyms only do lengthy contract requirments. I'm not a big fan of that, because they're trying to keep you in their system in an unwarranted manner. I think gyms should be catered around your individual needs and they need to be accountable for the shifts in their quality that do occur over monthly periods. Month by month basis worked well for me (WSC was an example) that can be negotiated (make sure to say something akin to "you wont be here all year long"...don't let me ruse you with their "we have over 200 locations across the US, so that won't be a problem" BS...).


Basic overlook of gym classifications:

Cheapos-

Ballys/FF/Gold's (?)- should be haggleable to 30/mo area. I had a friend who got a 1 year pass at Christmas time to Ballys for $100. Inquire about any signing deals, sometimes coroprate gyms like Ballys has them on special days of the week etc... You have to be very proactive and careful with gyms like this...

Intermediaries-

Sports and Health Club types- I like these gyms. I had a flexible mo by mo plan for about 65/mo. Clean, more limited clientel. Towel service, nice apperance. Serious nature, with either likeminded lifters or business professionals. Was never busy at the hours I enjoyed lifting, had a knowledgable staff that was good for spotting that wasn't overly obsessed with trying to sign me up for PT packages.

Exclusive gyms-

More for the socialites who want to be working out with the right crowd. A good way to meet singles maybe? Usually pretty expensive (depending on the area upwards to 150/mo+). I don't think this applies to you and often times the ammenities/features are grossly overpriced due to the image.

----

I reccomend the intermediaries for various reasons: often times they aren't big corporate chains so you can get a month by month deal. They are better with dealing with clientel and their services are usually more intimate/clean but at the same time equal in equipment (albeit on a limited scale). Little things stand out: when I lifted at Bally's, they locked away some of their subsidiary equipment (rope pulls, medecine balls, elastic bands etc) because they had to curb excessive theft. At WSC, I found the equipment to be readily available, of higher quality and clean. Studio space for personalized stuff (boxing, jump rope) was far better, heavy equipment was suitable (benches, shoulder press equip etc)...

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In summation, find something that suits you, because if you opt for the cheapo gym and you feel uncomfortable their, you won't be using it much and hence its actual value will be far less (and thus even more expensive) than something you would pay a bit more for but would be more comfortable in using and more apt to going to.

Really depends on the user though...
posted by stratastar at 12:05 PM on December 4, 2006

You're right, Cranialtorque, it is Total BS. You can't judge an apartment or a house without seeing it either, but the price is listed. You can't judge a yacht club or a day care center or a plastic surgeon...

They want you to come in and see in the full-length mirrors just how badly you need them. They want the chance to tell you how badly you need them. They want to dangle in front of you the hotties that could be yours if only you got in shape. If you can sit across the desk from some hot young guy in a wifebeater giving you carefully implied hints of sexual interest, and stay completely focussed on whether a Topaz Membership includes parking, well -- you're stronger than they think you are. Or you're a heterosexual guy, and they'd realize their mistake and get you a hot female "membership adviser" right away.

I don't actually know what I pay for my gym membership. It's like $30 a month or so. But the guy who sold it to me -- wow! He is etched in my memory.
posted by Methylviolet at 12:16 PM on December 4, 2006

The trick is to meet the sales guy, dont agree anything or sign anything. Just look vaguely interested and make sure you leave behind a postal address. Then wait for around 3 weeks...

They will eventually send you a follow up letter offering some special discount offer, typically waiting those few weeks will knock 30% off the price. Caveat: Don't expect this to work so well in January, the whole world joins up in January.
posted by Lanark at 3:11 PM on December 4, 2006