Cheap gyms deals discussion

clare_hancock

I think the cheapest way to join a chain gym is to pay annually, often get free month (or 2). Is anyone else browsing this because Nuffield Health have hiked their prices hugely. I am in St Albans. Last year they raised prices from £48/month to £53/month, 11% OFF PEAK only (i.e. weekday daytime and after 3pm weekends) and this year a further £8 (15%) to £61/month. Nuffield Health is supposed to be not for profit so I am surprised by the hikes. The club is in a pretty poor state, old machines, many of the audiovisual (tv watching, very important) don't work, they refurbed the cafe but it was fine and that meant 5 weeks without a decent cafe, the showers have been cold for weeks for a boiler fault, the swim pool was closed over Easter for work. The manager has been sacked. lots of good staff moved to the new council gym opened in Nov. I'd like to move but some parts (kids swim lessons) are unbeatable in terms of quality. I can find deals on peak rates (LV members can get £64/month peak, £73/month is available thru the cheap gym membership site referenced in the general advice) but not off peak, any tips?

sarahD69

I joined the Castleford branch of Xercise4 less last Easter & love it. I paid 100.00 (with no other joining costs) for 15 months membership. That's £6.66 per month & includes dance classes such as zumba, spin etc. Large space, lots of equipment (although quite a few are often out of order!) It was a gamble paying up front, but I go twice a week & have really gotten my money's worth (plus i have lost a stone & am fitter!:j). My 15 yr daughter is now also a member, but I paid £10 pm on a rolling contract for her as I am not sure if she will keep up the enthusiasm! Would recommend.

PolkaTrio

I was just about to join Fitness4Less Southwark, as it's right next to my office and does lunchtime pilates/yoga classes at just £15.99 a month - then I noticed the joining fee of over £50!! Eeek! Was all excited about getting bendy and stretchy at lunchtime but now looks like I'll have to wait and hope a reduced joining fee code pops up in the near future.

jenniewb

PolkaTrio wrote: »

I was just about to join Fitness4Less Southwark, as it's right next to my office and does lunchtime pilates/yoga classes at just £15.99 a month - then I noticed the joining fee of over £50!! Eeek! Was all excited about getting bendy and stretchy at lunchtime but now looks like I'll have to wait and hope a reduced joining fee code pops up in the near future.

Have you gone and visted them? Some gyms will wave the membership fee during certain offers and some will wave it if the manager chooses to (not all managers can do this though so don't take it personally!).

PolkaTrio

I should do this, shouldn't I! I have heard lots about people's various successes in haggling with gyms. But I've always been too shy to do any kind of haggling anywhere!

jenniewb

PolkaTrio wrote: »

I should do this, shouldn't I! I have heard lots about people's various successes in haggling with gyms. But I've always been too shy to do any kind of haggling anywhere!

Try this:

Before visiting the gym, work out what price you can afford- not if you go without food/heating/friends...etc but what you can actually reasonably afford. Keep that number in your head.

Visit the gym and talk about what your getting for your money, what facilities they have, opening hours and everything else, still wont-and shouldn't-change the figure in your head, but just ask questions because if the price is right, you don't want to find yourself feeling short changed.

Ask the fees per month and if they are above what you can afford, look disappointed and explain they are above what you had been thinking about. If they can help you, they'll pick up on your disappointed look and try to help, it may require you saying the price is higher then what you had expected though- come clean, you have nothing to lose by doing so.

Remember, as much as gym staff may come from a very expensive gym, the fact is it tends to be the staff who are not in customer facing roles who have the massive salaries, the rest are not so far above minimum wage and most will understand if the price is too high. It is not in their interest to lower the cost, that's the sad facts so they may not act as if they understand- if they do lower the price they may have their hands tied so can only dip so low, they may not even be able to do this- don't see it as them not being on your side or understanding where your at, it's just what power they have or don't have.

And if you can, try to get a freebie pass before you visit so you can pick them up on anything your not happy with.

RHemmings

I've just joined my local "The Gym Group' gym utilising the special offer price of £10.99 a month. There was a £20 joining fee.

So far it seems like an amazing bargain. Even when I visit after work, supposedly the most busy time, I've always been able to find the machines I want. I don't do weights/strength training though, and I think those have longer queues. The staff seem helpful and friendly, but I haven't had much reason to call on them yet. The place seems clean. The lockers are flimsy and I wouldn't dare leave real valuables in them. But once I've ameliorated the joining fee a bit, this looks like it's going to be a real bargain. (Of course the continuing to visit a few times a week over a long period of time is up to me).

Last night I saw on one of the screens that there is free parking for TGG customers in my location at a local car-park. I don't drive, but I did wonder exactly how much you get in total for your £10.99 a month if you totalled it all up.

Another thing is that I'm planning to go mostly in the mornings before work. As I usually bathe in the mornings, on those mornings I'd wash myself in the shower after my workout, and not bathe at home, just shave. So I'd even be using their hot water to wash instead of my own.

alienacademy

4 month ago i joined a local "golden power gym" the price is only £3 per month

StiX_Clever

• My local gym costs £32 a month including Fitness Classes.
  
  
• PayAsUGym.com offers vouchers for the same gym @ £25 a month.
  
  
• Tesco Clubcard Deals enable me to to buy £15 worth of PayAsUGym.com for just £5.
  
  
• So, for the same gym, I end up paying £8.33 a month.
  

tesco.com/clubcard/deals/product.aspx?R=2860

Result! :dance:

abby1234519

I am struggling to find a gym in Harrogate that doesn't cost less than £47!!! I used to pay £16 a month in Leeds, to be honest if it looks like it will cost me less I will just end of travelling to Leeds for the gym. I don't want to do that but £47!!!! Please help!