Pick your own fitness program price
December 13, 2010 10:52 AM Subscribe
A local workout club (small and private-owned) offers a "Name Your Price" program. They offer cardio/strength training/bootcamp/boxing club style workouts. What should I take into account before I make an offer?
A co-worker told me about the gym. It's in a warehouse, so it's very low-maintainence, which are the kinds of gyms I like anyway. The classes have been from 3 - 9 people and has the "bootcamp" kind of workout atmosphere (smaller classes = more personal input from instructor).
Co-worker has gone a couple of times and is really liking it and says she has noticed a difference already. I already know that I would like this kind of workout; the location is somewhat convenient. Co-worker has also stated that she'd probably end up going 2-3 times/week, simply due to needed recovery time. The classes are 30 or 60 minutes long, and you can go as often as you like.
So, all that being said, it sounds as if I'd offer to make a price based on, realistically, 3 times/week (4 at the most). Co-worker is paying $100/month. I can't afford that much.
Below is info from their website.
Here at “XX Club” we believe that a healthier lifestyle should be available to every family, every person and every budget. That is why we offer “Name Your Price” program.
“Name Your Price” program can & will help to provide a membership you can afford, whether you're a single adult or a large family.
This is an exciting program designed to fit the financial situations of a greater number of individuals and families in this area. Come and try us out for 1 week FREE.
Tell us the dollar amount that you would be willing to pay to get the best workouts in the area.
Say the amount you think and feel; we will not be insulted.
If “XX Club” accepts your offer then that is the amount you will pay.
You set the price & save!
So, bottom line question is: what should I take into account to offer a fair price for them, and affordability for me?
Thanks for your input!
A co-worker told me about the gym. It's in a warehouse, so it's very low-maintainence, which are the kinds of gyms I like anyway. The classes have been from 3 - 9 people and has the "bootcamp" kind of workout atmosphere (smaller classes = more personal input from instructor).
Co-worker has gone a couple of times and is really liking it and says she has noticed a difference already. I already know that I would like this kind of workout; the location is somewhat convenient. Co-worker has also stated that she'd probably end up going 2-3 times/week, simply due to needed recovery time. The classes are 30 or 60 minutes long, and you can go as often as you like.
So, all that being said, it sounds as if I'd offer to make a price based on, realistically, 3 times/week (4 at the most). Co-worker is paying $100/month. I can't afford that much.
Below is info from their website.
Here at “XX Club” we believe that a healthier lifestyle should be available to every family, every person and every budget. That is why we offer “Name Your Price” program.
“Name Your Price” program can & will help to provide a membership you can afford, whether you're a single adult or a large family.
This is an exciting program designed to fit the financial situations of a greater number of individuals and families in this area. Come and try us out for 1 week FREE.
Tell us the dollar amount that you would be willing to pay to get the best workouts in the area.
Say the amount you think and feel; we will not be insulted.
If “XX Club” accepts your offer then that is the amount you will pay.
You set the price & save!
So, bottom line question is: what should I take into account to offer a fair price for them, and affordability for me?
Thanks for your input!
Response by poster: Once the price is agreed upon, then it is a pay each month - as you go.
posted by foxhat10 at 11:03 AM on December 13, 2010
posted by foxhat10 at 11:03 AM on December 13, 2010
Response by poster: so, yes - there's no contract. forgot to add that!
posted by foxhat10 at 11:04 AM on December 13, 2010
posted by foxhat10 at 11:04 AM on December 13, 2010
I pay $25 a month for access to any Gold's Gym in the area, including their classes. I pay $95 a month for karate classes - as many as I can stand, up to six days a week. I'm in Austin, which is a relatively low cost-of-living city (but still a city, rather than something rural and genuinely cheap.)
If you'd be going to classes led by an instructor, particularly at that class size, I'd say $100 a month is pretty damned reasonable. But you could certainly offer something less and see if they'll take it.
I'd actually be a little nervous about that pricing structure. My dojo is willing to negotiate on rates, but we're a 501(c)3 non-profit and do a substantial amount of fundraising each year in order to offer need-based scholarships. A for-profit business must have a floor in mind and are just enjoying the rake off of everyone who offers more than that. So there's no particular shame in trying to find that floor.
posted by restless_nomad at 11:13 AM on December 13, 2010
If you'd be going to classes led by an instructor, particularly at that class size, I'd say $100 a month is pretty damned reasonable. But you could certainly offer something less and see if they'll take it.
I'd actually be a little nervous about that pricing structure. My dojo is willing to negotiate on rates, but we're a 501(c)3 non-profit and do a substantial amount of fundraising each year in order to offer need-based scholarships. A for-profit business must have a floor in mind and are just enjoying the rake off of everyone who offers more than that. So there's no particular shame in trying to find that floor.
posted by restless_nomad at 11:13 AM on December 13, 2010
You will be paying more for a small boot camp type thing than you will for a golds gym membership, but less than 1 on 1 training. You also have a much better chance to actually USE your membership in a small boot camp vs the globogym setting because you will keep going to class and will be with the same people every day.
Where I am an unlimited boot camp or crossfit type of thing is generally $125 - 200 a month. A lot of this cost is because the smaller gyms still need insurance in case someone is hurt in one of their classes, and it costs a lot more per membership for them to insure their 100 people than it does golds to insure their 10,000 people a month.
As for the name your price thing, figure a class is an hour. What do you think is fair to pay for an hour long class? Do you ever do yoga classes? Those are generally $10-15 an hour right?
$150 / 16 = $9.37 per class / hour
$100 / 16 = $6.25 per class / hour
$50 / 16 = $3.12 per class / hour
posted by outsider at 11:27 AM on December 13, 2010
Where I am an unlimited boot camp or crossfit type of thing is generally $125 - 200 a month. A lot of this cost is because the smaller gyms still need insurance in case someone is hurt in one of their classes, and it costs a lot more per membership for them to insure their 100 people than it does golds to insure their 10,000 people a month.
As for the name your price thing, figure a class is an hour. What do you think is fair to pay for an hour long class? Do you ever do yoga classes? Those are generally $10-15 an hour right?
$150 / 16 = $9.37 per class / hour
$100 / 16 = $6.25 per class / hour
$50 / 16 = $3.12 per class / hour
posted by outsider at 11:27 AM on December 13, 2010
Their costs are not your problem and you don't need to take them into account. They are a business, using a specific pricing strategy because they think it will be more profitable than a fixed price model. If they are especially jerky they will pay their trainers based on what the clients pay them but in that case you aren't the person screwing the trainer, they are.
Offer $5. If they don't take it, offer $10 and go from there in $5 or $2.50 increments. Evetnually they will accept or you will reach a point where you don't want to pay more. It might be easier to do this via email if you dislike doing this kind of thing.
Or if you dislike it more than you dislike paying too much you can just offer $50 and then $75. That seems decent to me.
posted by ChrisHartley at 11:47 AM on December 13, 2010
Offer $5. If they don't take it, offer $10 and go from there in $5 or $2.50 increments. Evetnually they will accept or you will reach a point where you don't want to pay more. It might be easier to do this via email if you dislike doing this kind of thing.
Or if you dislike it more than you dislike paying too much you can just offer $50 and then $75. That seems decent to me.
posted by ChrisHartley at 11:47 AM on December 13, 2010
Sit down and write down a figure that would be worth it for you, ignoring any concerns about whether it will be profitable to them. Then price-shop other gyms in your area -- specifically their contract prices, broken down per-month -- to see if you're willing to pay too much or too little.
You're willing to pay too much: go to this gym and offer the price that matches the best per-month price (with a contract) you were able to find.
You're willing to pay too little: go to this gym and offer the price you wrote down.
posted by davejay at 11:51 AM on December 13, 2010
You're willing to pay too much: go to this gym and offer the price that matches the best per-month price (with a contract) you were able to find.
You're willing to pay too little: go to this gym and offer the price you wrote down.
posted by davejay at 11:51 AM on December 13, 2010
You know, you don't necessarily have to offer them the smallest figure you'd pay. They're an independent small local business. You want to see them stick around? Do you like the owners and want them to succeed at their business? Is their location really convenient? Don't be afraid to quote a price where you are both winners.
posted by vito90 at 11:56 AM on December 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by vito90 at 11:56 AM on December 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Great input from you all! Thank you!
posted by foxhat10 at 12:14 PM on December 13, 2010
posted by foxhat10 at 12:14 PM on December 13, 2010
Is it really name your own price for all you can consume workouts? I suspect what will happen is that you offer $50 a month. They come back and say yes, but at that price you can only participate in 1 class a week, or something like that. It may be a good deal, but it is not so much name your own price as design your own membership plan.
posted by COD at 12:16 PM on December 13, 2010
posted by COD at 12:16 PM on December 13, 2010
Response by poster: Yes, you name your price for all you can consume.
I'm in fairly decent shape right now, but could definitely stand to increase my strength and cardio; if the workouts are as intense as they sound, I wonder if I could even stand to go on consecutive days....? (Of course, also, depending on if I take a class that will focus on abs one day, then do legwork/buttwork the next...ideally..)
posted by foxhat10 at 12:37 PM on December 13, 2010
I'm in fairly decent shape right now, but could definitely stand to increase my strength and cardio; if the workouts are as intense as they sound, I wonder if I could even stand to go on consecutive days....? (Of course, also, depending on if I take a class that will focus on abs one day, then do legwork/buttwork the next...ideally..)
posted by foxhat10 at 12:37 PM on December 13, 2010
I would offer between $30-$50. I think $100 is highway robbery, unless you're in NYC and even then.
Their profit margins are irrelevant to you. This isn't a charity. They are adult business people who are responsible for making their own business decisions.
posted by whoaali at 1:22 PM on December 13, 2010
Their profit margins are irrelevant to you. This isn't a charity. They are adult business people who are responsible for making their own business decisions.
posted by whoaali at 1:22 PM on December 13, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
If it's pay-as-you-go, I would be inclined to be more generous.
posted by circular at 11:01 AM on December 13, 2010