Cheap gyms deals discussion

jenniewb

johncas1 wrote: »

I only pay £46 a month at nuffield health but I get it cheaper because I get 20% off where I work

My local councill gym charges £31 a month or £25 a year membership fee then £5.50 per session pay as you go but at nuffield health you don't get all the kids messing arround like you get in my local councill pool you cant move for kids getting in the way you don't get the steam room sauna or spa and the changing rooms not ther best and nuffield health you can swin without people getting in your way

I totally agree- I'm with a private gym, I pay what works out to £55 a month but my local council gym is £44 a month and thats not including joining fees which do not seem to be wavered. For that you get to share the tiny gyms in the borough with all the visiting schools (yes, kids are allowed in the gym once they hit-it would seem, 13 years of age) which would be fine- if they really wanted to be there, instead its a mixture of overly made up girls posing and boys either trying to lift weights with such poor form you want to run away- because the sounds of a spine snapping would give you nightmares, or they set up all the treadmills in a row to start....then run across them! Gym staff are normally too busy elsewhere. Showers 'spray' for 10-20 second blips (yes I counted them) lukewarm water, the 1 hair dryer is a travel hair drier (the hand drier is more use) and the litter is a joke, gets cleaned up once a day at the end of the day....sometimes. Don't get me started on the kids in the fitness pool...!

So I am more then happy to pay more as I get a free towel, no kids, better classes, more machinary and happy smiley faces when I arrive.

johncas1

Plus you get free classes steam rooms sauna's and spas and state of the art equipment some of the stuff at council gyms looks like it came from argos catalouge fitness section and as for swimming it takes a year to get to the end of the pool which is full of familys we don't have a lane just for swimmers in out pool so thats what made me join nuffield health my club closes in april and I have to move to greens which they have taken over which has same facilities you just transfer the membership over.

And I get 20% off for working at Tescos so always check you don't get a discount on gym membership where you work

jenniewb

johncas1 wrote: »

Plus you get free classes steam rooms sauna's and spas and state of the art equipment some of the stuff at council gyms looks like it came from argos catalouge fitness section and as for swimming it takes a year to get to the end of the pool which is full of familys we don't have a lane just for swimmers in out pool so thats what made me join nuffield health my club closes in april and I have to move to greens which they have taken over which has same facilities you just transfer the membership over.

And I get 20% off for working at Tescos so always check you don't get a discount on gym membership where you work

I'd have to disagree on the gym equiptment arguement though, my council gym does have up to date machinary....but far far fewer machines, added to that when they break down they are out of use for weeks rather then days (or hours as it seems now to be!).

Council gyms I think -where I live at least, are great for the 15-20yr olds who are at school/uni and get the gym for not a lot of cash at all, or kids who seem to be the main type in the pool and changing room (I still can't get my head around why its OK for 9 year old boys to be allowed inside the female changing rooms and yes they do stare...) but for the serious exercise [STRIKE]addict[/STRIKE] user! Its probably better to think about what you need rather then whats the cheapest thing going. I know for me if I value the gym I am at because its costing that little bit more I am more likely to use it and so benefit from it.

johncas1

How mutch do greens charge a month for full membership I was paying £46 a month at nuffield health Leicester which is closing down and being sold to the university now nuffield own greens but I was told I get one month free but I would have to go to greens and join up there as my membership can't be transferd over

7sefton

I'm basically just looking for some advice on whether or not I should join Virgin Active without them giving me a discount. Please read on and let me know what you reckon...

I've been in touch with a Virgin Active gym in London for about two weeks after having a free trial. I really like the gym and will use it, so am ready to join. But I don't want to pay any more than I have to, and have heard gyms are prime targets for getting a discount - problem is, I'm not having much luck!

- I am entitled to the 18-25 membership option because of my age, which is about £20 cheaper than the standard membership and only comes with a 6 month contract (instead of 12). However it does not allow use of other clubs, something I would definitely want due to my work location and has a joining fee of £30.

- The next option is a 12 month membership of around £80 per month with a £25 joining fee. This is what I would have to go for if I wanted multi-club membership. In February they are giving 12 months for the price of 10, but this seems to be a long-running offer so doesn't seem very special.

In various telephone calls they've made to me, I've said:
- I've had a better offer at LA Fitness
- Reminded them of my age
- Have offered to pay the year's membership up front for a discount.

They've been really friendly but simply won't budge, saying they 'treat all members the same so don't haggle on prices'. Not even a reduction in the joining fee! Is this pretty standard practice, or does anyone else know any tricks to help drive a bargain. A friend suggests I wait until the end of the month to see if they give me a call with an offer, but I really want to join now!

Just thought I'd ask for some last-minute advice before giving in and paying.

Thanks!

jenniewb

7sefton wrote: »

I'm basically just looking for some advice on whether or not I should join Virgin Active without them giving me a discount. Please read on and let me know what you reckon...

I've been in touch with a Virgin Active gym in London for about two weeks after having a free trial. I really like the gym and will use it, so am ready to join. But I don't want to pay any more than I have to, and have heard gyms are prime targets for getting a discount - problem is, I'm not having much luck!

- I am entitled to the 18-25 membership option because of my age, which is about £20 cheaper than the standard membership and only comes with a 6 month contract (instead of 12). However it does not allow use of other clubs, something I would definitely want due to my work location and has a joining fee of £30.

- The next option is a 12 month membership of around £80 per month with a £25 joining fee. This is what I would have to go for if I wanted multi-club membership. In February they are giving 12 months for the price of 10, but this seems to be a long-running offer so doesn't seem very special.

In various telephone calls they've made to me, I've said:
- I've had a better offer at LA Fitness
- Reminded them of my age
- Have offered to pay the year's membership up front for a discount.

They've been really friendly but simply won't budge, saying they 'treat all members the same so don't haggle on prices'. Not even a reduction in the joining fee! Is this pretty standard practice, or does anyone else know any tricks to help drive a bargain. A friend suggests I wait until the end of the month to see if they give me a call with an offer, but I really want to join now!

Just thought I'd ask for some last-minute advice before giving in and paying.

Thanks!

Yeah, I've never known them to haggle on costs either, LA Fitness and Fitness First do but VA don't or wont.

The 10 for the price of 12 is a discount still, its not always available but is on offer quite a bit. Its better then nothing however and in the past 2 years I've not actually seen anything better bar the offer of a rucksack if your a member and invite a new member to join.

For what its worth, if you have the money its worth it because its just a much nicer enviroment compared to other chains I've tried- and I've been to many! Its much cleaner and the staff just seem to be a bit more genuine and to know more. They seem less interested in how many hours they have left or what music is playing...

I would go if I had the money anyway. I think some healthcare insurance plans offered discounts but don't go down this route unless you really want health insurance as it does work out more expensive, it didn't used to apparently but does now.

jemcart

I got some day passes through I think Groupon, and when I used them all up the gym offered me discounted membership fees if I wanted to join on a monthly basis.

ec9wrr

I've noticed that some gyms offer access to all sites, if you join at a cheaper site, but permanently use a more expensive one do you think they'd mind?

gray1404

Hi guys

My membership with LA Fitness is up for renewal. I have had a one year paid in full membership running out on the 25 August.

The price they have quoted me by email for a retention rate is either £32 per month on a 12 month contract or £29 on a 12 month contract paying monthly. This seems like a massive amount to pay given that the price of gym memberships are coming down these days!

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of dealing with LA Fitness and if they are in the habit of going lower when I customer does not buy their first offer. Other gym members I've spoke to in the club say they're paying about £24 but they've been members several years and just kept it going.

I've emailed LA back saying I've been looking around, that price seems too expensive and can they give me a better deal.

Thanks in advance for your advise guys! :-) Btw, its not a North of England club - not London - as I understand they charge more for London clubs.

Cheers

Gray

jenniewb

gray1404 wrote: »

Hi guys

My membership with LA Fitness is up for renewal. I have had a one year paid in full membership running out on the 25 August.

The price they have quoted me by email for a retention rate is either £32 per month on a 12 month contract or £29 on a 12 month contract paying monthly. This seems like a massive amount to pay given that the price of gym memberships are coming down these days!

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of dealing with LA Fitness and if they are in the habit of going lower when I customer does not buy their first offer. Other gym members I've spoke to in the club say they're paying about £24 but they've been members several years and just kept it going.

I've emailed LA back saying I've been looking around, that price seems too expensive and can they give me a better deal.

Thanks in advance for your advise guys! :-) Btw, its not a North of England club - not London - as I understand they charge more for London clubs.

Cheers

Gray

I was with LA Fitness (not now though) they do keep sending me offers to rejoin but to be honest they're no better then what you have been offered. If your spotting gym memberships going down elsewhere maybe take it up with them and see if they can do anything, also take into account any freebies you can try for such as locker hire, free gym food/drink/bag...etc and see if they'll add anything, they can only say no.