Gym Membership Comparisons - is my plan good??

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.

In article <1192634830.100837.239370@k35g2000prh.googlegroups .com>,
longlostanimegal <longlostanimegal@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

I agree with Hobbes. You shouldn't pay $600 up front for a gym
membership. machines and weights in any gym do virtually the same
things... are you wanting to pay for a fancy screen on your cross-
trainer? i know i wouldn't.

you might also want to think about personal training. you can get a
lot of sessions for $600 ! The personal trainer will be able to show
you many exercises you can do using little or no equipment which are
just as efficient at building muscle and burning fat as working out in
a gym (that you have to pay for, and travel to each time)

tim.


--
TeamWorks Fitness
Personal Training in your home
Bristol, UK
t: 01454 853 835 (evenings)
or 07960 844 554 (any time)
http://teamworksfitness.googlepages.com
teamworksfitness@gmail.com

"longlostanimegal" <longlostanimegal@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192634830.100837.239370@k35g2000prh.googlegr oups.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.

On Oct 17, 11:27 am, longlostanimegal <longlostanime...@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!).

"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.

"Prisoner at War" <prisoner_at_war@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192637759.374387.112610@q3g2000prf.googlegro ups.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.

On Oct 17, 8:27 am, longlostanimegal <longlostanime...@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.

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!)

On Oct 17, 11:27 pm, "Del Cecchi" <delcecchioftheno...@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....

On Oct 18, 10:26 am, longlostanimegal <longlostanime...@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.

"Prisoner at War" <prisoner_at_war@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192718908.533631.190650@i38g2000prf.googlegr oups.com...
> On Oct 17, 11:27 pm, "Del Cecchi" <delcecchioftheno...@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.

"longlostanimegal" <longlostanimegal@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192717568.098041.77960@q3g2000prf.googlegrou ps.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.

On Oct 18, 11:47 am, "Del Cecchi" <delcecchioftheno...@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....

On Wed, 17 Oct 2007, longlostanimegal wrote:

> Onetime/starter fee: $599.00
> Monthly Membership: $20.00 forever, will never go up

I assumed you'd misplaced a decimal point in the joining fee, but i guess
not.

> 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

What does that mean?

> 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.

I'm with the others: you got raped. I'm curious - if you're interested in
other people's opinions, why didn't you get them *before* you signed on
the dotted line?

tom

--
3364147 Complete space vehicles (excluding propulsion systems)

"Tom Anderson" <twic@urchin.earth.li> wrote in message

..... I'm curious - if you're interested in
> other people's opinions, why didn't you get them *before* you signed on
> the dotted line?

To soothe her cognitive dissonance for having already done so.

> I'm with the others: you got raped. I'm curious - if you're interested in
> other people's opinions, why didn't you get them *before* you signed on
> the dotted line?
>
> tom
>
> --
> 3364147 Complete space vehicles (excluding propulsion systems)

Even though I signed up already I still wanted to know what people
thought. Obviously its a done deal already but oh well!

<teamworksfitness@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:1192635947.372949.31690@v23g2000prn.googlegro ups.com...
>I agree with Hobbes. You shouldn't pay $600 up front for a gym
> membership. machines and weights in any gym do virtually the same
> things... are you wanting to pay for a fancy screen on your cross-
> trainer? i know i wouldn't.
>
> you might also want to think about personal training. you can get a
> lot of sessions for $600 ! The personal trainer will be able to show
> you many exercises you can do using little or no equipment which are
> just as efficient at building muscle and burning fat as working out in
> a gym (that you have to pay for, and travel to each time)
>
> tim.
>
>
> --
> TeamWorks Fitness
> Personal Training in your home
> Bristol, UK
> t: 01454 853 835 (evenings)
> or 07960 844 554 (any time)
> http://teamworksfitness.googlepages.com
> teamworksfitness@gmail.com
>

I agree that the $600.00 is a ludicrous amount of $ to pay for a membership,
but saying that you can get the same gains from little or no equipment as a
properly equipped gym is a bit nuts. A beginner may be able to make gains
like that for a while, but if you are someone who trains with heavier
weights is not going to be able to do too well with lifting soup cans etc.
;-)




--
Robert Schuh
"Everything that elevates an individual above the herd and
intimidates the neighbour is henceforth called evil; and
the fair, modest, submissive and conforming mentality,
the mediocrity of desires attains moral designations and honors"
- Nietzsche

http://www.hardbopdrums.com/

Zen Cohen" <aturny@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4716304f$0$7444$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "longlostanimegal" <longlostanimegal@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1192634830.100837.239370@k35g2000prh.googlegr oups.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.
>
>

How can these places even justify these type of WILDLY high sign up fees?
That is pure profit. I pay $24.99/month at LA Fitness and only paid a $29.99
start up fee. I wouldn't pay a $600.00 up front fee unless it came up with a
years worth of "happy ending" massages from Angelina Jolie! :-) I live in
Central Phoenix and for some reason, we don't have any of the better chains
like World's or Gold's close. It's really odd as we are now the 5th largest
city in the US, but they only have the Gold's and World's in the outer
fringes of the city.




--
Robert Schuh
"Everything that elevates an individual above the herd and
intimidates the neighbour is henceforth called evil; and
the fair, modest, submissive and conforming mentality,
the mediocrity of desires attains moral designations and honors"
- Nietzsche

http://www.hardbopdrums.com/

On Oct 18, 11:49 am, "Del Cecchi" <delcecchioftheno...@gmail.com>
wrote:
>
>
> 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.


Ack, "the fine print"...no one reads that, anyway -- you want it, you
really don't care; it's not like you can go somewhere else, exactly
(or why would you have gone so far with the current one, as to get to
the contractual stage)...you need to think like a lawyer to really
read that fine print meaningfully, anyway...besides, they always put
in a "terms subject to change without notice" clause...and they can't
make you agree to something that's against the law to begin with,
so...most folks just sign and hand over the money.

On Thu, 18 Oct 2007, Zen Cohen wrote:

> "Tom Anderson" <twic@urchin.earth.li> wrote in message
>
>> .... I'm curious - if you're interested in other people's opinions, why
>> didn't you get them *before* you signed on the dotted line?
>
> To soothe her cognitive dissonance for having already done so.

Well, if it's soothing she was after, she came to the wrong place!

tom

--
3364147 Complete space vehicles (excluding propulsion systems)

On Oct 17, 7:24 pm, "Lonnie Gold" <lonnie g...@yahoe.com> wrote:
> "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.

I don't have the 24/7 availability, however the fee for Planet Fitness
is only $120 per year for the one location or there's an option to pay
$240 per year and avail yourself of all four locations within a
"rock's throw" basically or six locations if you count Lancaster and
York - both areas I visit frequently enough. Oh, and free tanning (not
my thing) and unlimited gym guests as well.

Iirc, I paid $180 cash and they waived the initiation fee. Our PF is a
former World Gym and has a comparable set up to the Gold's in Carlisle
where I used to train.

Recently visited the local Gold's - paying a $5 visitor fee - for some
cardio and ab work. Saw a Gold's patron there and mentioned PF. She
said she pays $38 per month, but has been slacking off. She pointed
out the new fitness equipment the owner purchased recently as well as
their newly created "Cardio Theater" where people can do treadmill and
watch a DVD. She said they even lend you a tiny flashlight to adjust
the settings on the machines in the dark. I could be doing cardio and
watching my newest DVD - Training with Juliette Bergmann - while doing
my cardio.

Today's aerobic exercise was at Planet Fitness and in the form of Life
Cycle treadmill:

12 minutes @ 3.8 speed
3 @ 7.0
8 @ 3.8
3 @ 7.0
10 @ 3.8
5-minute cool down

Totals: 41:01 time and 1.26 distance

--
Curt

On Oct 18, 2:40 am, Kaz Kylheku <kkylh...@gmail.com> wrote:
[...]

re onetime/starter fee: $599.00, etc.

> You must love throwing money away.

D'OH! ) Couldn't have said it better myself.

[...]

> 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.

[...]

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

This is exactly what I did at Gold's the last time I renewed. The
sales rep wanted to increase my fee substantially and I balked.
Purchased a birthday card for the owner and had the sales rep pass it
on. Got a call from the owner stating that my request had been granted
and I kept my previous year's fee.

What I said within the text of the greeting card was that I
a) never showered at their gym (maybe 5 minutes from Gold's)
b) always purchased a Gatorade
c) alway replaced my weights, cleaned up after myself
d) frequented the juice bar (and never disturbed the ferns)
e) purchased Gold's gear/workout clothes

Um, etc.

Plus I said that I would pay CASH. I think there are lots of reasons
to prefer cash up front.

[...]

re "Freeze benefits - $9.99 a month"

> Completely ridiculous!

Ha! I pay one penny over the OP's "Freeze" fee and actually get to use
my gym!

> 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?

Hey, that's complicated stuff.

(rolls eyes)

> What a racket!

Racquetball? Sorry, there's a fee for that! ;o)

[...]

--
Curt

"Curt" < the fee for Planet Fitness is only $120 per year for the one
location > Totals: 41:01 time and 1.26 distance
>

Good cardio. I will check PF around here and see if it is any cheaper and
what the set-up looks like.

On Oct 18, 4:07 pm, longlostanimegal <longlostanime...@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> > I'm with the others: you got raped. I'm curious - if you're interested in
> > other people's opinions, why didn't you get them *before* you signed on
> > the dotted line?

An excellent question, however...

> Even though I signed up already I still wanted to know what people
> thought. Obviously its a done deal already but oh well!

Lemon laws? Or what's that "I was effing NUTSO and shouldn't be held
responsible for my monumental stupidity" clause I thought I'd heard
something about? Don't they (who, i dunno) give you three days to
realize you took it up the whateverouch&ishouldn'aoughtadonethat?

Best of luck.

--
Curt

In misc.fitness.weights Del Cecchi <delcecchiofthenorth@gmail.com> wrote:

> "Prisoner at War" <prisoner_at_war@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1192637759.374387.112610@q3g2000prf.googlegro ups.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.

I know many people who have gym memberships. I don't know many who
actually go to the gyms.

--
Chris Malcolm cam@infirmatics.ed.ac.uk DoD #205
IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK
[http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/]

"Curt" <curtjames@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1192757781.293152.177580@i38g2000prf.googlegr oups.com...
> On Oct 18, 4:07 pm, longlostanimegal <longlostanime...@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>> > I'm with the others: you got raped. I'm curious - if you're interested
>> > in
>> > other people's opinions, why didn't you get them *before* you signed on
>> > the dotted line?
>
> An excellent question, however...
>
>> Even though I signed up already I still wanted to know what people
>> thought. Obviously its a done deal already but oh well!
>
> Lemon laws? Or what's that "I was effing NUTSO and shouldn't be held
> responsible for my monumental stupidity" clause I thought I'd heard
> something about? Don't they (who, i dunno) give you three days to
> realize you took it up the whateverouch&ishouldn'aoughtadonethat?

They have to give three days to rescind a health-club contract in Texas, and
I suspect that's the law in a number of other states. Lotsa people seem to
think most/all contracts are like that, but that's one of the very few
scenarios where a person can get out of an otherwise binding contract once
he's signed it.

Holy freak, you guys are so cruel! 0_0 Just say yes, you saved or No,
you paid too much instead of all the insults and sarcastic remarks!
Stop trying to be funny for your internet audience or something. Good
grief.. another reason why other countries hate the United States.

"longlostanimegal" <longlostanimegal@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192761658.908680.102710@i38g2000prf.googlegr oups.com...
> Holy freak, you guys are so cruel! 0_0 Just say yes, you saved or No,
> you paid too much instead of all the insults and sarcastic remarks!
> Stop trying to be funny for your internet audience or something. Good
> grief.. another reason why other countries hate the United States.
>

Just think of it as tough love. Like what we're doing in Iraq.

Prisoner at War wrote the following and I have to agree.
Good points were made by the sceptics, 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.)

I have managed fitness facilities in the past and currently lecture on
the subject. It seems to me that unless they were very good salesmen
in the "rip you off" sense they must have done something right with
the club to get you to sign up. Cost is only relevant to what you can
afford to pay not what others want to pay. I can't afford a Rolls but
I don't think they should lower the prices.
The cost of the child minding that you now won't have to pay for will
soon cover your joining fee. If the facilities are what you want and
you do keep going then it is money well spent.
I could go into great detail about memberships and drop of rates and
retention costs but it looks like the owners have done there sums and
have a strategic business plan. The proof will be if they re-invest
some of the money and maintain the standards you expect. Remember they
have entered into a contract with you. In the fickle fitness world
they will be running very scared if they don't live up to your
expectations and you start to complain or spread negative comments.
In the UK a good fitness club would charge about $600 -$1000 per year
and those perks are not included. Just how much should you pay for
your health and happiness?

Mike
makememuscle.com

Very nice post! Thank you, Fred.

On Oct 19, 1:07 am, Fred <fredsteph...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> Prisoner at War wrote the following and I have to agree.
> Good points were made by the sceptics, 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.)
>
> I have managed fitness facilities in the past and currently lecture on
> the subject. It seems to me that unless they were very good salesmen
> in the "rip you off" sense they must have done something right with
> the club to get you to sign up. Cost is only relevant to what you can
> afford to pay not what others want to pay. I can't afford a Rolls but
> I don't think they should lower the prices.
> The cost of the child minding that you now won't have to pay for will
> soon cover your joining fee. If the facilities are what you want and
> you do keep going then it is money well spent.
> I could go into great detail about memberships and drop of rates and
> retention costs but it looks like the owners have done there sums and
> have a strategic business plan. The proof will be if they re-invest
> some of the money and maintain the standards you expect. Remember they
> have entered into a contract with you. In the fickle fitness world
> they will be running very scared if they don't live up to your
> expectations and you start to complain or spread negative comments.
> In the UK a good fitness club would charge about $600 -$1000 per year
> and those perks are not included. Just how much should you pay for
> your health and happiness?
>
> Mike
> makememuscle.com

--
Curt

Just go to the YMCA.

Also, some gyms have financial trouble. Did you ever watch what happened to
Bally? If a gym has large debt, the answer is bankruptcy, which excuses
them from providing the services in the old contracts.... The gym may or
may not continue to operate, but you would have to pay them *again* to
attend.


"longlostanimegal" <longlostanimegal@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192634830.100837.239370@k35g2000prh.googlegr oups.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
>
> 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.
>
>

On Thu, 18 Oct 2007, longlostanimegal wrote:

> Holy freak, you guys are so cruel! 0_0 Just say yes, you saved or No,
> you paid too much instead of all the insults and sarcastic remarks! Stop
> trying to be funny for your internet audience or something. Good grief..
> another reason why other countries hate the United States.

I'm British.

tom

--
3118110161 Pies

"Lonnie Gold" <lonnie gold@yahoe.com> wrote in message
news:kJTRi.871$q7.563@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
> "Curt" < the fee for Planet Fitness is only $120 per year for the one
> location > Totals: 41:01 time and 1.26 distance
>>
>
> Good cardio. I will check PF around here and see if it is any cheaper and
> what the set-up looks like.

Our PF is $59 to join and $10 per month. I think there is also a $20 annual
renewal fee. I don't recall if they allow you to go to other PF locations
with the membership. That would be another question to ask them.