Gym Membership Cost Cutting: Official MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

Raffles99

Is Nuffield leaving Nectar? The offer hasn't rolled over as it has for the last 3-4 years and still says that it ends 31st March 2009. The last vouchers I got were dated 3/09 as well.

If the offer does roll over, you should try to buy Nectar vouchers off collectors (vouchers not named). 500 points is worth £2.50 at Sainsburys, so if you pay £5 per voucher then they double their money and you're only paying £5 per visit - and the vouchers are good for 2 people at once.

I've been using Nectar at Cannons for 3-4 years, using various Nectar promos to build up my points balance. Will be a shame if this dries up now - it literally save me £1,000 per year as the club I use is the super-plush City of London one.

FitFreak_2

For those of you who want all the facilities of a private health club, at a fraction of the cost, you should check out the Harpers Fitness Website.

They have gyms all over the country so theres bound to be one near you. They offer swim only memberships, from as little as £19 a month for those of you who prefer to 'swim' than 'gym'! And gym memberships are reasonable too, they offer discounts if you take out a contract, as well as flexible memberships which you can cancel.

Take a look!:money:

computerbar

I wanted to join a gym so I went to my local FitnessFirst (FF) today.
Asked about what there rates are
I was given three prices.
1- £19.99 per month and then pay £1 on every visit (12 month contract)
2- £27.95 permonth (12 month contract)
3- £32.95 for Students (3 month contract)

I stood up and said it is too expensive and do not want to be tied in in contract
She said wait and see what I can do.
After a while I was offered £25 per month (Guest pass) and as many time I want to visit and what ever I want to and no contract.

I thought it was good deal and paid them cash and asked for a receipt.
I was given a guest pass with one dates.

The good thing is she did not ask for my address either... So I am sure there would be no nasty surprises...

Beckster2

Anyone had any luck with reducing the price of ESPORTA gyms?

I have phoned up the Salford Quays Esporta gym and was told that a 12 months contract is £60 per month! Off peak is £50/mt but the hours were not helpful for me.

When i told them i was a full time student, they said that their rate was £50/mt for a 12 month contract, £58/mt for a 6 month contract or £65/mt for a 3 month contract.

They sent me a text message this week with their current offer- they will pay your membership for april and may if you join before 30 April 09. I called them about this but was told that i had to pay a joining fee of £80 if i wanted to take up this offer, which defeats the whole object of it really!
I was also told that as a student, they do do a special £50/mt, 9 month contract, but that you could not sign up to this alongside the 'membership paid until june' offer.

Im really surprised that they are so expensive given the current climate. When i spoke to them, they seemed quite adamant that the prices were not open to haggling.

Beckster2

Just wanted to post a quick update.. after the shock of ESPORTA's ridiculously expensive membership (and their 'membership paid until June' but £80 joining fee scam), I decided to check out my local VIRGIN ACTIVE.

I was told the following options were available:
1)- Standard 12 month contract at £49.95/mt, which allows the use of all Virgin clubs.
2)- Corporate 'pay as you go' membership of £55/mt with no contract
3)- Student 'pay as you go' membership of £38/mt with no contract (but
you can only use your set Virgin Active gym, ie. no access to any
others)

There is no joining fee at present either.

Given that a 12 month student contract at Esporta would have cost £680 for the year (including the joining fee), I think paying the student fee of £456 for a 12 month use of Virgin Active is pretty reasonable (saving £224 a year). Especially when i can cancel at any time.

Any comments? Would you try and haggle with this offer?

jojo2004

geojay wrote: »

I'm a member of Fitness First and pay £45 for membership. I want to reduce this, I'd be happy if I could get it down to £30 and ecstatic for £25!

I'm currently on a three month contract but am now in a position to move to a 12 month contract so that's an instant way to reduce the monthly amount. I use the gym in the evenings so an off-peak membership isn't appropriate. It's a 'platinum' level gym within Fitness First so I think that attracts a premium.

I've called them and explained that I'm considering leaving them and moving to the £160/year deal that my workplace has with the council gym. This is actually an empty threat (unbeknown to them) as the council gym is on the other side of town as opposed to FF being virtually next door! £160/year isn't a bargain if I don't actually go... All FF offered in response to my threat to leave is a reduction to £39/month if I increase my contract to 12 months. I don't think this represents any discount as I'm pretty sure that's about the rate for a 12 month contract anyway! She 'gave' me two days to get back to her in order to get it processed in time for the next direct debit. I assume that's just to get me to rush the decision...

Can anyone suggest how I can achieve my £30/month target with them? I'm tempted to call and actually ask her to initiate my cancellation but am worried she'll call my bluff. I don't actually want to be without a gym membership!

A friend did suggest it's a bad time of year to get a gym discount as January is when they have an influx of new customers on New Year's resolutions. I'm not sure how true this is in the current climate?

Thanks in advance!

I literally JUST went into Fitness First (in London), and was quoted £36.95 per month (with an intial start up 'admin fee' - PAH! of £30), so your deal doesn't sound great. I'm hoping to hang in there and let them come to me with a better offer. Good luck! xx

lostkelly

Hi,
I have just joined fitness first, they said it would cost me 37.95 and told them a friend recommended me and they reduced it to £31 a month plus no joining fee or admin fee, i was looking to pay £30 pound so was happy to pay it. I'm sure i could of haggled more though.

jojo2004

I got a callback from Fitness First yesterday - I said I couldn't afford it, so 'unless there's anything you can do on price', I would say no. He couldn't have cared less!!
Is that part of the great bargaining game where gyms are concerned, or should I give up and buy stretchy pants?
xx

dizziblonde

Our local authority gym was advertising a no joining fee Feb and March deal (they've just refurbished the place) which we'd missed - however when we went down to join they're doing it for April as well despite it not being on their website. They also do reduced rate for couples but can split the couple payment down the middle so you can still each pay for your own half which is quite a good deal really.

colprimus

jon200 wrote: »

Hi guys,

Me and my partner are both pretty overweight and decided that now is the time to really knuckle down.
I excercise on and off. Enough to maintain my weight, but not enough to lose any.

Phoned around the local gyms (Wickford, Essex). Wanted a decent gym with lots of choice in excercise.
Best price i got was £37.95 each at Fitness First. They said they no longer do joint memberships because of a court case a couple of years ago.

We quite simply do not have that amount of money each spare per month to join and was wondering if anyone had any ideas or suggestions?

I joined the local leisure centre, but the gym is small and is always extremely busy to the point where you have to wait up to an hour for any of the cardio equipment.

I would suggest that you try booking into the classes eg Body Pump or Spin that way your place is assured and you can get the exercise you need without taking all night. It should be considered that Private Clubs are SELLING A PRODUCT and need to keep on selling that product so they may have more equipment in order to prevent queues and impacting on their sales but you pay for this in the monthly fee whereas council gyms are PROVIDING A SERVICE to those who can not afford to pay for the private gyms. Although they appear to be similiar with similiar goals they are not Club Chains are all about money and getting as much as possible whereas the council is struggling to provide an affordable recreational activity for council tax payers