Why is gym membership so expensive?

fred246

I pay for my membership a year in advance by credit card. I realised when I was thinking of joining that each person was giving me different figures. I negotiated a good deal. Every year I go with last year's receipt and they match it. I always wonder how negotiable fees are. I refuse to pay joining fees. I just say sorry but I don't pay those and they say ok.

DKLS

Those prices will be set at what the market will bear for the level of service from council run to chain and exclusive.

Some on here are 15k a year

DD265

I pay £38 a month for DW Fitness.

I usually go 4 times a week, traffic permitting (I have long commutes and go before work) and I've been to 5 different ones so far. I still go to a personal trainer but I'm stopping that and then will go to DW more again.

I use the pool and the gym - haven't used the sauna yet and I don't do any of the classes because they're in my working hours. Probably could on a weekend if I wanted.

The staff are lovely, always free/easy to park, I never have trouble finding machines to use, the changing facilities are clean and I can usually find a gym near where I need to be.

Dad pays less than £20 for Pure Gym - he goes 1-2 times per week (works away in London and I don't believe anywhere near a Pure Gym) and often has to wait for machines etc plus there is no swimming pool.

It is definitely a luxury but I don't at all feel like I overpay for what I get out of it.

InsideInsurance

When I used to go to the gym I really didnt care how rich or poor the person next to me was but I did appreciate that there were always plenty of machines even at peak times, that anything that broke was fixed/ replaced very quickly, that squash/ tennis courts were almost always available etc

Unfortunately if your going at peak time then realistically the only way this can be done is by charging more so that it can afford to run at a lower capacity etc.

I did used to go to the council gym before hand and it was ok but your workout was determined by what was free/ not broken or you had to queue and when you did get a machine you were just inches from the next person. Classes were first come first served and always turned people away as they'd hit capacity so more standing around queuing etc.

I personally hate the gym but its a necessary evil, therefore did like the "reward" of the wet spa afterwards or in summer at weekends then sitting out watching the tennis on the outdoor court with a drink etc