The gym raised my rates again, so I'm thinking of looking around for a better deal. So I'd like to do a little research.
1) How much do you pay per month for your gym? Was there a hefty "joining" fee?
2) How far do you have to drive? What would you consider a reasonable distance?
__________________ The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. -- Carlos Castaneda
I pay about 35 bucks a month. (Though that will be much less starting next month due to a deep discount given to employees of the firm for which I'll be working.) I don't recall paying any sort of "joining" fee. My gym is about 10 miles from home. However, it's on the way to school and work. If it wasn't on the way, I'd find it much more difficult then it already is to go work out.
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My gym is 9.99 per month, but I got mine membership for my bday
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1) How much do you pay per month for your gym? Was there a hefty "joining" fee?
Nothing. They pay me (I teach group ex classes there and the membership is comped). Otherwise, it would have been $60/month.
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2) How far do you have to drive? What would you consider a reasonable distance?
About 4 miles or 8-12 minutes. I've read research that if it takes more than 12-14 minutes, on average, to get to a gym, people won't take advantage of it. FWIW.
The gym I goto now is free for 2/3rds of the year for me (student). But in the summer its about $20/month. This is a great deal as it included a track, swimming, rock climbing, a really well equiped gym, courts, etc. Its 2 mins bike from my house to get there.
The other gym I used to go to was the same price, it was a good 20minute drive. Great gym though, just sometimes a little far.
Technically the Gym is 26 miles away from where I live - but right across the street in our other building. Membership is free - the company I work for has a major health intiative going on so not only do I get free membership, but I also have free basic blood work and next year they'll pay me to have an age and gender appropriate physical and to work on specific health issues that come up as a part of my screening as well as improving my overall health score.
When I don't have access to that gym, I have stuff set up in my apartment so I can get the weight portion done. The aerobics part of it is always interesting and challenging when I am home.
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Bill, what do you pay, and how much are they raising your rate?
I charge a $49 joining fee, and $49 (plus tax) per month for an annual membership, $59 for open ended memberships. We're 24/7, and we have great personal training and classes.
I never raise rates on existing members. It's the least I could do to reward a loyal paying customer.
Most of my members work or live very close by. Most within 10 miles. For those who work nearby, they usually work in the building or in a surrounding building.
I would let your gym know that you're shopping, and that you plan to let your membership expire and they will lose you as a customer if they raise your rate.
One thing though... Is it worth the extra? Have they been making improvements or do they need to make some improvements that depend on some additional capital? If they are a small business and not a big box chain, maybe you should consider sticking it out, if the increase is reasonable (no more than 5%).
$220 a year australian. The gym in on university campus and is alittle far to drive there simply for training so we usually time our sessions based upon class schedules and when we are about to head home.
Drive there would be 20-25min depending on traffic.
$33 a month, raised with inflation, senior rates, and auto pay. No join fee, but an agreement to pay two months after notice to quit. The one I use is five miles away, the one in twin city is ten miles away and has the pool. Ours has climbing rock, tennis, indoor soccer, the other has hand ball courts.
I pay £29.99 ~ $60. They waived the joining fee and reduced my rate by £10 as I know the receptionist and I helped her move into her new house.
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The place I used to go to was $50 a month, but it was new and nice. It had a joining fee but they ran specials where it was waived. I decided to join a Y near me to save a little money. For my boyfriend and me, its $43 a month. There was a joining fee, I think around $75. Since April when we joined, my boyfriend's been there three times, but I keep trying.
I got a sweet deal at my UNI gym. It's about 100 bucks a year which is about 8 bucks a month. Not far from where I live either, 15 min walk, 5 min bus ride.
100 bucks is something you would have to pay a month many other places in town, which most students can't afford, so it's an awsome offer!
The one in my neighbor hood is free but it only has one bench, rack, etc. The one in my office building is free but it's hard to get away in the day and plus sweating and grunting in front of my co-workers isn't really my thing. The one I go to cost me 29.99 and is about 10 minutes from the house.
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Just north of $900/mo, with about a $20k sign up fee. But it came with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a 2.5 acre yard. It's about a .0001 mile commute and takes less than 1 minute. I'm willing to pay a little more for the privilege of being the only member, I guess.
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Bill, what do you pay, and how much are they raising your rate?
Currently 49.00/month, going up to 52.00. That's 36.00 a year. It's gone up 2-3 dollars a month every year since I joined.
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Originally Posted by Jean-Paul
I charge a $49 joining fee, and $49 (plus tax) per month for an annual membership, $59 for open ended memberships. We're 24/7, and we have great personal training and classes.
Hey, you know if I lived in LR, I'd totally be there!
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Originally Posted by Jean-Paul
I would let your gym know that you're shopping, and that you plan to let your membership expire and they will lose you as a customer if they raise your rate.
One thing though... Is it worth the extra? Have they been making improvements or do they need to make some improvements that depend on some additional capital? If they are a small business and not a big box chain, maybe you should consider sticking it out, if the increase is reasonable (no more than 5%).
Just my thoughts on the issue, being a gym owner.
It's the Y, so they tend not to negotiate unless you apply for financial assistance. One of the other frustration factors is the fact that there is a new director, and since he came on, the place has declined. The weight room, showers and locker rooms aren't being kept as clean, and yes, I've reported it.
There are other places, but they're a bit further away. I'm trying to figure out if I'll end up paying more in gas if I end up switching, or if the convenience factor of the Y might be worth it.
Thanks, JP and everyone.
__________________ The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. -- Carlos Castaneda
YMCA- $68 for the family pass. It's only 2 miles away.
Ditto, except ours is a little farther from our house. We have a citywide membership and can go to any of the other Y's in our area. I think there are 36 in Houston, but we haven't been to them all.
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I pay $65 a month and no joining fee. My gym has 5 locations around town so you are always close to one of them. All but the downtown locations have lap pools as well as whirlpools, saunas and steam rooms. The one closest to me is also open 24 hours in case I really need to get in early.
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This won't help you at all, but I like to brag . . .
As a staff member, I pay $9.23 per paycheck (works out to $20 per month) for use of all University rec facilities (the main one rivals most health clubs I've been a member of). Starting in 2008, my health insurance will reimburse me $20 if I go 8 times per month, so, effectively, it will be free. There was a $40 dollar enrollment fee.
The main rec center is a 10 minute walk from my lab (most of it can be done inside in bad weather). Sunday afternoons, the family can go for free.
The downside is the hours of operation get kind of screwy during finals and breaks.
I think we used to pay $45/month at the Y. My experience has been that I can't motivate myself to regularly drive more that 10-15 minutes to workout.
This won't help you at all, but I like to brag . . .
As a staff member, I pay $9.23 per paycheck (works out to $20 per month) for use of all University rec facilities (the main one rivals most health clubs I've been a member of). Starting in 2008, my health insurance will reimburse me $20 if I go 8 times per month, so, effectively, it will be free. There was a $40 dollar enrollment fee.
The main rec center is a 10 minute walk from my lab (most of it can be done inside in bad weather). Sunday afternoons, the family can go for free.
The downside is the hours of operation get kind of screwy during finals and breaks.
I think we used to pay $45/month at the Y. My experience has been that I can't motivate myself to regularly drive more that 10-15 minutes to workout.
Nothing, during times when school is in session. But during winter break, and summer break (and any other time the school is closed) I work out at home. Before that I had a junior Y membership at about $30 a month, but when I turned 18, they wanted me to pay full price, and it was about 15 minutes away.
my gym is in my dining room - so no commute, all sunk costs. I also have a residual $4/month to a gym from years ago that I transfered to the facility about 1 mile away. I don't go there. I should probably cancel it - but I keep thinking I should go there once a week just to use some of the equip that is there and not at home.
Strangely - because life happens around my home gym (not in a basement or garage where it would be more isolated) - it tends to work against being always ready to use. I've actually been thinking about joining the UCI gym as an alumni (120/qtr) for the next year just to have no excuses.
YMCA- $68 for the family pass. It's only 2 miles away.
Your YMCA is cheap compared to ours. A family membership (which you can use at any local YMCA in our city) is $93. And they raise it by $5 or so every year. Even an individual adult membership is $62.
__________________ If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. -Unknown
Your YMCA is cheap compared to ours. A family membership (which you can use at any local YMCA in our city) is $93. And they raise it by $5 or so every year. Even an individual adult membership is $62.
The student rates are much better. However, they could just tack it onto my tuition!
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“Life is a headlong rush into the unknown. We can hunker down and hope nothing hits us or we can stand tall, lean into the wind and say, 'Bring it on, darlin', and don't be stingy with the jalapeños.'"
Gyms - Dues and Distance
(I teach group ex classes there and the membership is comped). Otherwise, it would have been $60/month.
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