Gym Membership Cost Cutting: Official MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

[Deleted User]

Hi Jenny,
Yes, you're completely right and I'll be sure to get it in writing (I have a sneaky feeling I have a fight on my hands though!) I phoned the gym this evening and said I would like to sign up after all but couldn't manage to the gym to pass on my bank details til tomorrow. The girl didn't really accept this and urged me to give my credit card details or bank details over the phone which I was not prepared to do. I think she was quite anxious about getting the sales in by the end of the month!

mpchooligan

Deleted_User wrote: »

Hi all,
After visiting my local Greens gym last week for a look around, I got a text yesterday from them saying 'only a few more places left to get 6 weeks free, a free personal training session and no joining fee' and basically telling me to hurry up if I wanted to join. I was planning on joining this gym as it's lovely and the closest one to me, but not until March when my exams finish and I have more time. Do you think I should just go for it so I can make the most of this offer? Or will it still be there at the end of next month and they're just telling me to join now because they're short on sales?

Also, the girl said although it's a 12 month contract, I could cancel by saying I'm moving away (which I am in September, to Wales) and there would be no problem. Is this true or will I get to September, try to cancel my membership and be told by another sales advisor that I signed up for 12 months? Quite wary as I've had a lot of cr*p from Fitness First in the past with direct debits, baliffs etc. and don't fancy repeating the experience!
Thanks guys xxx

Making you think the offer is limited is common tactic used by gyms. It's all designed to pull you in and make you sign there and then without thinking. At the end of the day these chain gyms like Fitness First only care about the money. They are all about sales. They couldn't care less about your health or fitness goals. You can actually see the devil horns on the the salesmans head when you put that pen to the paper.

What is it that you want to achieve anyways? If you just want to use the gym for cardio (running, cycling, crosstrainers, etc) then it's a waste of money. Just buy some good trainers, a warm tracksuit and do some jogging around the block or around your local park. Do this three times a day and you'd save LOADS of money.

I wouldn't do it. All you need is the most basic gym equipment. Don't be fooled by all the frills. 6 weeks isn't much if you think about it, you shouldn't be paying a joining fee anyway and the personal training session will probably be crap. You'd be best off at a council run gym or buying your own equipment.

Why the hell would anyone want to pay over £30 a month for a GYM MEMBERSHIP??

[Deleted User]

mpchooligan wrote: »

Making you think the offer is limited is common tactic used by gyms. It's all designed to pull you in and make you sign there and then without thinking. At the end of the day these chain gyms like Fitness First only care about the money. They are all about sales. They couldn't care less about your health or fitness goals. You can actually see the devil horns on the the salesmans head when you put that pen to the paper.

What is it that you want to achieve anyways? If you just want to use the gym for cardio (running, cycling, crosstrainers, etc) then it's a waste of money. Just buy some good trainers, a warm tracksuit and do some jogging around the block or around your local park. Do this three times a day and you'd save LOADS of money.

I wouldn't do it. All you need is the most basic gym equipment. Don't be fooled by all the frills. 6 weeks isn't much if you think about it, you shouldn't be paying a joining fee anyway and the personal training session will probably be crap. You'd be best off at a council run gym or buying your own equipment.

Why the hell would anyone want to pay over £30 a month for a GYM MEMBERSHIP??

You've really made me sit back and think about this. I was dead cert on joining, now I'm not so sure. When I phoned, the girl's boss was in the background saying 'get her switch details now!' when I refused to disclose them over the phone. It made me think that they were desperate to get my money and not at all concerned about the fact I was at work and not able to give my details over the phone. My reasons for joining a gym are to use the machines but also to build up my muscles. I can't really run around my area because it's very busy, I'm very self-conscious and the nearest park is notorious for rapes/ murders so I'd never dare set foot in it. Plus, I live in Scotland so it's perpetually cold. I thought joining a gym would be a nice cosy way to get some exercise and shape up but now I'm thinking it might not be as cosy an experience as I'd imagined...

jenniewb

mpchooligan wrote: »

Making you think the offer is limited is common tactic used by gyms. It's all designed to pull you in and make you sign there and then without thinking. At the end of the day these chain gyms like Fitness First only care about the money. They are all about sales. They couldn't care less about your health or fitness goals. You can actually see the devil horns on the the salesmans head when you put that pen to the paper.

What is it that you want to achieve anyways? If you just want to use the gym for cardio (running, cycling, crosstrainers, etc) then it's a waste of money. Just buy some good trainers, a warm tracksuit and do some jogging around the block or around your local park. Do this three times a day and you'd save LOADS of money.

I wouldn't do it. All you need is the most basic gym equipment. Don't be fooled by all the frills. 6 weeks isn't much if you think about it, you shouldn't be paying a joining fee anyway and the personal training session will probably be crap. You'd be best off at a council run gym or buying your own equipment.

Why the hell would anyone want to pay over £30 a month for a GYM MEMBERSHIP??

I disagree- you need to get a different sort of kit for working outside- when it rains or snows its less likely many people will go out unless they are dead certain on getting their training in and lets face it, the UK isn't blessed with the driest (or warmest!) or weather.

Then there is the kit, you'd need to make VERY sure you had the correct and supportive/cushioning footwear and remember to change it frequently as running on a hard surface (treadmill is cushioned, studio floors are sprung) you can very easily do wear and tear damage or cause muscle or back problems at a far faster rate then in a gym. Its preventable yes, but many people assume their plush fashion trainers are just as good as a pair of proper sports style trainers, refuse to get properly fitted (some wear trainers that are too small as the general opinion is they look better).

Weights- and a variation of weights, different machines and advice on how t use them properly (even if most people seem afraid or too busy to ask- they must be as so many people misuse weights, the advice is still there).

Then there is the variation. Most gyms spoon feed you classes full of variation, the machines also offer some (admittedly not enough) variation. You can go to a park and run, but you cannot row in it. Variation is the key to fitness, to get the same sort of fitness outside of the gym you'd not only need to run/jog but also try other sports clubs such as football or tennis or whatever else...which all usually charge fees! You'd also be confined to practice the sport when other people were doing so, not when you fancied exercising.

I'd say each to their own, all I know is I keep my outside running for the sunnier weather and summer months. I like that I can do classes in a wide variety of activities, I like that a machine can tell me what speed I am doing so I can see my improvements and I like that I can programme an interval training session and know I am really doing interval training, not just thinking I am as the machines tell me my speed and heart rate (OK, my HRM tells me the heart rate) but its easier to see on a machine rather then my wrist.

FionaMcuffie

My son and his partner went to the David lloyd gmy and there was supposed to be a month free yet the day they went they were pushed into joining the gym, there is no cooling off period for them to change their minds, it is going to cost them 130.00 pounds a month and they are on a low income, how in hells name do they get away with doing this, I thought when you signed up for anything there had to be by law a cooling off period incase they changed their minds, please help with this as they are now worried sick as they cannot afford this amount every month

jenniewb

FionaMcuffie wrote: »

My son and his partner went to the David lloyd gmy and there was supposed to be a month free yet the day they went they were pushed into joining the gym, there is no cooling off period for them to change their minds, it is going to cost them 130.00 pounds a month and they are on a low income, how in hells name do they get away with doing this, I thought when you signed up for anything there had to be by law a cooling off period incase they changed their minds, please help with this as they are now worried sick as they cannot afford this amount every month

Not sure if there is a law (I've not heard of one) but if your son is not able to get out of the contract I'd consider contacting (or at least threatening to call) consumer rights as being pushed into a contract against their will or by any other forceful method (presumably something prevented them from saying 'no' when the £130 fee contract came up to be signed). Otherwise the CAB, but they do get very very busy so it may not be as suitable.

But first before anything else I'd want to call back the gym and ask about cancelling, just to see what they say and if they are able to do this without dozens of letters going back and forth and stress levels rising, it could be very easy to sort out- make sure you speak to the manager when you call.