Joining a Gym - Insider Info

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      iJebus on 02/07/2013 - 23:36

      Yeah, so they say. It might just flag for them to check the video or something, as I've walked through with my girlfriend (both members) and we've not been fined. Maybe just lucky, though? ;)

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  bez-54 on 02/07/2013 - 20:40

  Anyone ever wrangled a monthly discount out of Virgin Active?

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  KBZ on 02/07/2013 - 22:58

  Hey guys or Nato,

  Just want to ask is there any limitations on the Anytime Fitness guarantee that you can train at any of their Gyms after the first month?

  I'm currently a foundation member at mine which opened at 55 a month for 12 months (a couple of months ago). Can I just haggle with other Anytimes when my contract finishes and try to bring it down to what other people are getting like 50ish (or less) and after the first month continue to train at my usual? Without any recourse?

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    leeroys_dad on 03/07/2013 - 14:20

    you should find a gym that is opening very soon and offer early bird prices, providng you can use any gym of the same chain. my mate signed up to a gym out in woop woop, but uses it in the city. he'sprobably paying half the fees as other members

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  kobrien456 on 04/07/2013 - 11:28

  Some gyms have days of the year where they are super cheap. In Bris it's Australia Day and Crackerjack for Clem Jones gym. Hibiscus has specials in winter. I have seen Griffith Mt Gravatt campus at beginning of year specials in local free paper. Uni gyms and council owned gyms can be very good and often include a pool.

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  faze on 10/07/2013 - 22:45

  Hey Nato. Looking for some advice. I've been a FF member for about 5 years, want to get my gf signed up now. She pays $10/wk at Fit N Fast, but I'd really like her to come FF. Talked to a rep today, and the best they could do was the normal rate ($22/wk) and a student discount of $4/wk taking the total to about $18/wk. What tactics can i use to get a cheaper deal? I'm also planning to wait til EOM. Cheers buddy!

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    Nato271 on 12/07/2013 - 15:45

    +1

    Yo faze. $18 a week, huh? That must be for a week-to-week membership, surely. It makes sense to think that you would get some special treatment as a 5 year member. Unfortunately, it rarely gets you anything extra (other than the ability to stay on your initial rate). Put it to them like this: either your gf joins at a cheaper rate, or YOU walk over to Fit N Fast. Might help you bargain a little. I would like to clarify something here - I mentioned in a previous post that Fitness First does not have "Family and Friends" memberships. I actually meant that YOU won't get anything like that for just walking in and joining on your own. I was referring to the use of a fictitious membership as a tactic to get you to join. They do have genuine, intermittent deals and promotions where you can bring a partner/friend in for a cheaper rate. I don't think it's running at the moment, but perhaps you could wait out until something like that pops up? Otherwise, the best you could probably expect would be to pick up a $30 iTunes voucher for referring a friend as per http://www.fitnessfirst.com.au/learn-about-membership/Refer-…

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  draistlin on 11/07/2013 - 12:48

  Does anyone know of any good prices on gyms in the south east of Victoria, preferably around Clayton? Was looking at the goodlife gym in dingley, but looking at their cheapest deal it's around $15/week. I know I can get a month off with them but if I can get some advice that would be great.

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    SavatteDodo on 25/01/2014 - 11:16

    Did you find anything good mate?, am from the region itself and looking at a cheap deal atm. Thanks

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    hahaboy on 25/01/2014 - 21:27

    yeh, the prices there are a higher than other gyms.

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  robbyjones on 18/07/2013 - 20:50

  I received an email this week advising my rates were going up from $29.90 a fortnight to $36.90 plus 50 cents because I pay by credit card. I sent an email back to them asking them to justify the rise and they sent back a chart showing base rate and percentage discount structure (because I have been a member for 3-4 years I get 12%) discount goes from 10% at 1 year, going up in 1% increments then to maximum of 19%. They say that they are adjusting all members over the next 12 - 18 months to make it fair for all. I am yet to reply to this, any suggestions?

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    cwongtech on 18/07/2013 - 21:54

    because I pay by credit card.

    Offer to pay in cash?
    Or direct debit.

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  tomee on 19/07/2013 - 22:02

  nice one Nato. appreciate the info.

  thank god our work pays for my Gym membership at a private place so i dont have to deal with this

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  asian23 on 22/07/2013 - 17:12

  Any tips for joining Next Generation? I've got one here at Kings Park WA which admittedly is prime location, but they want to charge me 40% more than Fitness First! They've got a nice swimming pool, sauna, spa which I would use intensively, that the other chains lack around the area, plus Life Fitness equipment which I dig. Also have Tennis/Squash courts which again the other clubs lack (but I wouldnt use them).

  A couple of emails back and forth but they refused to budge on the fortnightly fees…saying no joining fee, 6 weeks free, blah blah blah….

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    Nato271 on 23/07/2013 - 15:52

    Sorry dude, I'm unfamiliar with them. 40% more expensive than FF, huh? Lots of inner city "exclusive" clubs market towards rich business people and these rates are not out of line for that kind of model. Especially for a club with a pool, spa, sauna, tennis AND squash courts! I'd never pay that much- but all I need is a weight room. Good luck negotiating with them. Something tells me you've got your work cut out for you :-)

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      asian23 on 23/07/2013 - 17:03

      Yepp,

      I've spoken to the 2nd salesman at the club already and nope, nada, no reduction. I just dont understand, why are they so tight about it? The second one will give me the courts for free though which wasn't with the first guy.

      Any other negotiating tips? Should I say I can sign up today, just need the right price?

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  Chongy288 on 22/07/2013 - 23:36

  Hi Nato,

  Thanks for the useful information!

  I have the intension to join Goodlife in Fortitude Valley with my GF and I wonder what price should i be expecting per week and should i let them know immediately that I have someone else joining with me or wait til I settle on a deal and spring up what could be extra if i get other ppl to come.

  also, i notice on gumtree ppl selling their membership contracts at a what seems to be decent rates, lowest being $14 a week, is there any catch with this? Could they just be sales rep in disguise. I guess it could avoid that admin fee.

  And I like getting stuff for "Free" so what should have other ppl asked for when they joined up which is more than a bag, bottle or hand towel?

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    Nato271 on 23/07/2013 - 15:27

    Hey mate,

    No problemo. Knowing is half the battle…

    Last time I hit up Goodlife rates for a year membership were $15.95 a week, $70 admin fee, $100 joining fee.

    Joining as a pair might help you bargain a little bit, but only if you both walk in at the same time. Two sales for one tour is a tasty treat for a rep and they may play nice in order to get that. Otherwise, just negotiate your membership, find out what you get for referrals and then join your gf on the same rate (or use a "family" option if they have that).

    Reps won't post membership transfers on classifieds sites- usually they're genuine people who want to get out of their year long commitment. Picking up a membership transfer is awesome - saves you paying the joining and admin fees and sometimes can be lower than current weekly rates (as is the case with the $14 per week example you mentioned).

    Just check that the membership is everything you need, meet the seller at the gym and the staff will transfer the membership details. Easy.

    Note that you won't get any complimentary personal training sessions. In fact, you won't be treated as a "new" member at all. The sale of the original membership has already taken place, so the reps couldn't care less about giving you any goodies.

    You won't get any "free stuff" this way, but believe me when I tell you that the stuff they give out free to new members is rubbish anyway. Cheap nasty bag, tiny face towel, shoe bag, 50 cent water bottle. They'll tell you the welcome gift is worth something like $70 - suffice to say it is not. They'll tell you that in order to get the welcome package you'll also need to provide the rep with 20 names and numbers out of your phone for referrals. If you refuse, they'll probably give you the gear anyway - it's all branded and cheap marketing for the gym.

    Other than that crap, there's probably nothing else to ask for. The rest of the merchandising (t-shirts, singlets, towels, etc) is usually the responsibility of reception. Those purchases take place separately to any memberships.

    My advice: grab the transfer, forget the frills of "free stuff" and be content in the knowledge that you've dodged tours, referrals, joining fees and admin fees.

    Then engage beast mode and get down to work.

    • Nato271
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  asian23 on 23/07/2013 - 16:07

  So I visited a FF for a tour…platinum FF no less, on a Monday night.

  CROWDED. I mean REALLY REALLY CROWDED. No benches available at all, and 80% of the cardio machines being used.

  There was sort of like a "sweaty" feeling in the air as well, must have been the limited space and all those bodies together lol.

  I just dont know how FF can justify an average $70-80 per month price as shown on www.gymprices.com.au?

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    Nato271 on 23/07/2013 - 16:22

    Yep- crowding is definitely an issue that you need to investigate prior to joining.

    That said, Monday night is the busiest time in ANY gym. Psychologically, this is when everyone shifts into "work mode" and tries to undo the damage caused by the weekend drinking session and junk food binge. The next couple of nights are more manageable, Thursdays are quiet and Friday nights are DEAD!

    Here's a little hint to help you survive an overcrowded weight room: train legs on Monday instead of chest. EVERYONE wants to train chest on Mondays and thus there are no benches free. I bet you'll get straight into the squat rack though!

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  tds on 23/10/2013 - 13:28

  +1

  Managed to get a good deal from my local gym thanks to your post nato :)

  large chain 24/7 gym, no joining fee, no contract, no pass deposit, 16$ a week.
  Has all the equipment needed and at peak times there are still lots of free equipment (it seems everyone is just working their arms with free weights lol)

  Anyway without knowing alot of this information probably would have gotten hit with the joining fee so saved myself a month or so of membership. Thanks :D

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  ilostnemo on 24/10/2013 - 13:50

  My local gym is exactly 5km from home, I run there and back 3 times a week, excellent workout and cheap.
  No Admin Fees
  No Monthly Fees
  No Joining Fees

  winning

  The other thing they don't tell you, is that if all their members turned up at once, you wouldn't be able to move, their model is simple keep signing them up, 90% will use the gym less than 10 times in the year.

  Monday Night is always flatout, as people believe they can reverse the damage they did over the weekend.

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  ianyelts on 17/04/2014 - 12:04

  Jetts Gym - $14 per week, and save $150 if joining immediately:

  http://www.westfield.com.au/hornsby/events/3679

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  xyron on 17/04/2014 - 14:25

  Thanks for starting this thread Nato271, it is important that us OzBargainers band together to inform ourselves about the Great Gym Scam.

  I signed up with Jetts about 2 years ago now at the (then) new Glen Osmond (SA) Jetts - as a foundation member I had all the original joining, card, and prepaid-exit fee waived. I pay fortnightly as an automatic direct debit, i think its about $23 per fortnight.

  The benefit of Jetts for me is that it is truly 24/7, and there are gyms all over Australia - when I'm in Melbourne or Sydney, as long as I have my card I can go to any gym there too. It has also been super handy as I've moved 3 times over the last two years - and haven't had to change my gym membership at all (interestingly, at all three houses I've lived at, I have never been more than a 5 minute walk away from my closest Jetts!)

  One thing I find with Jetts though is the quality of the individual gyms vary greatly. There is a newish one in Prospect SA (where I last lived) which has loads of equipment and space, and is often empty or sparsely populated. I always found that Sefton Park was tiny and always choccers, and Kidman Park had terrible, old and broken equipment (and was also often overpopulated - it is also located in the middle of an industrial park so has no windows or any views).

  I'm glad to have the Glen Osmond one as my local gym now though - it is on the second floor of a complex and has huge windows overlooking the Adelaide CBD (Glen Osmond is at the start of the foothills). Very easy to jump on an ergo and zone out thanks to the view :D

  (God, I just realised this post sounds like a huge ad for Jetts. I should mention that I am in no way affiliated with the gym, just a mostly happy customer - and to be honest, if I had to pay the bullshit joining and card fees, the value proposition would have been a lot poorer).

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    ianyelts on 17/04/2014 - 14:27

    Jetts Hornsby is now charging $60 for a card fee, even though it isn't even open yet! (stupid idiots!)

    Just confirm with the idiots.

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  PresidentClinton on 27/08/2014 - 16:53

  This is just marketing 101. The most scummy, non-productive, society-destroying career path you can choose.

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  jiji888 on 27/08/2014 - 20:53

  has anyone managed to get the joining fee waived at fitness first?

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  Piangi on 22/09/2014 - 15:26

  I'm thinking of joining Fitness First platinum - there's a Law Society offer of 10% off regular fees (usually $48 per fortnight for an 18-month commitment, so reduced to $43.20) and waiver of the $75 joining fee. Do you guys think there's any further room for discount? Cheers

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    [Deactivated] on 22/09/2014 - 16:06

    What does platinum get you? Just access to all the FF's or something extra?

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      Piangi on 22/09/2014 - 16:26

      Just access to all FFs (normal "passport" membership excludes the platinum FFs)

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        [Deactivated] on 22/09/2014 - 22:18

        Yeah I would push for a further discount. I feel like you should be getting more than that for about $22 per week. Maybe I just expect too much. 18 month commitment is quite a while.

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  batrarobin on 23/09/2014 - 17:00

  Why do their card fees so high…Are cards or the configuring equipment usually that expensive ?

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  shelz2014 on 06/11/2014 - 15:53

  Hey, i am in the biggest pickle about the accidental gym sign up that its so frustrating…. any advice would be helpful if possible.

  basically my bf goes to a gym - goodlife dingly
  and he wanted to take me in and see if id like it
  so i decided i would get a free pass go and tell them i dont want it anymore
  i realized that gym wasn't for me and that the facilities was not what i was looking for.
  But basically i was in a hurry and the sales consultant i talked to told me yeps your gonna have a 7 day pass but i just need you to sign here and here and give me your bank details… he made it look like i got a 7 day pass but he signed me up for a contract when i specifically told him i dont want any contract…
  so i checked out the gym went with the bf the next day and didnt like it. i called the gym on what i thought was the 7th day of the pass to cancel the trial period. turns out it was the 8th day… but anyways i called up said i would cancel the trial, whoever picked up the phone was like yeah yeah thats fine. and so i thought there was nothing to bother about. about 2 weeks later i get a text saying oh your first personal training session is available, i freak out and tell her ive cancelled my membership or cancel it. i call up the gym and tell them to cancel it whoever picked up didnt seem to care and said yeah everything is fine. and then at the end of that month i get a fee saying i owe this much etc.
  furious i call up the gym, and the guy who signs me up tries to make me think i wanted a membership when i didnt, and then the manager who deals with customers basically says your bad luck for signing and that jake (guy who signed me up) never does anything like that. probably another tactic…
  then i talk to the actual manager of the place and he apparently "rings up head office" and sees if he can get rid of the membership. then i get an email saying either, continue with the gym membership, pay cancellation fees and whatever is due, or get someone to transfer.
  What was frustrating was my bf was going to cancel his contract cuz hes been there over a year with his contract and go onto mine but he couldnt even do that.
  apparently someone has to be a totally new member and not be with the gym for at least 3 months.

  do you think trying to take them to court is worth it? do you think contacting the head office will do much? or contacting the CEO of goodlife to try and plead my case will do anything?
  or do you think i should just suck it up and hurry up and pay whatever im owed? which is about $400
  i also have changed my account number so they cant touch my account but the bills keep racking up and its something i cant stop. i have considered just completely ignoring the fees, in hope that after a couple years they will just say pay like $200 and they will try to bargain with what they can get out of me, but i don't want any lawsuit because i didnt pay these stupid fees which i never wanted in the first place and that's the only reason i could not do that!

  what advice would you give for me in this situation?
  thanks

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