Cancel and rejoin your gym membership

laurahughes

Hi

I used to work in gym membership sales and can advise current members of the best way of getting a good deal.

1. Find out what new members at the gym are paying, either by chatting to them or phoning the membership sales team. Then shop around, find out your competitors prices, even if you don't want to join there as it is too far away or not as nice etc. Find out what the joining fee would be, what special offers they have on, and what the monthly membership price includes.
2. When you go to your gym ask to speak to the membership team. (They are actually sales people!) It is better to do this face to face as it shows them you are really serious and a lot of the time if you phone up they will just ask you to come in for a meeting.
3. Tell them that you are unhappy with the current price you are paying and have found another gym with a cheaper rate. Quote the cheaper rate and what it includes (any gym membership salesman worth his salt researches their competitors offers every month and so know when you are bull****ing!) Tell them you are out of your contract and whilst you like this gym you want to cancel as you can't afford to keep paying at the current price.

Their possible responses will be
- move you onto a lower monthly fee
- cancel your current membership and re-sign you (they will often do this as they may earn commission on it as you are effectively a new member). DO NOT let them charge you a sign-up fee, most gyms can waiver this if necessary to boost their sales.
- they can't do any better. And sometime that sales person really can't as they don't have the authority. At this point ask to speak to the manager.

TOP TIP! The slowest week for membership sales is the third week of the month. Go that week and the sales team could be so desperate to hit their targets that they will do you a really good deal!

Hope this helps!

laurahughes

PS If you want any more advice on how to go about dealing with your gym membership team drop me a message and I will do my best to advise you how to get the most for your money.

jules36

The offer on my gym (LA fitness) is hardly changed from when i joined last year

BUT I just scanned their website and the offers vary from £30 - £45 pm for their most expensive membership which allows you to use any gym in the country, so you could always join the cheapest one and just attend your local one ;-)

dormouse_2

lkmc01 wrote: »

I pay £55 a year for gym, swimming, tennis and badminton courts!! :rotfl:

Thats a fab deal........:T
Which gym is that please........:j

lkmc01

student membership at the University of Stirling

jenniewb

lkmc01 wrote: »

student membership at the University of Stirling

Ahh, but you see: I pay £47 a month- and I don't pay tuition fees!:rotfl:

pixelchick10

Babboon wrote: »

Not really that viable for me as I'm with Esporta and they have a whopping 3 months notice you have to give them!
Although I am well outside the minimum term of the contract, I would still have to give them 3 months notice and any offers can't be guarenteed to be around by the time thats running out

Goodness go for it! I am sure you will get a reduction if you try -- give them the three months notice in writing saying you want to leave and watch them drop their monthly fee!! Make sure you get a receipt for the letter or send it recorded, so they can't claim they haven't received it. Gyms are desperate to sign up new customers and they certainly don't want the existing ones leaving at this time of yr. Best of luck.