I just went to sign up for a membership at the Jetts Point Cook, VIC gym and got told that they are waiving the joining membership fee ($99) until the end of January! So I signed up straightaway, but forgot to ask if this offer extends to other Jetts gyms as well, but it definitely doesn't hurt to ask!
EDIT:
Fortnightly fee $21.95 + $1.50 Admin fee
Access card fee $29
Great excuse to finally realise your new year's resolution! Lol
P.S. First post, go easy :)
"they are waiving the membership fee ($99) for the month of January!"
Effectively it's a 3 day pass?
Pretty much any gym will waive the joining fee if you ask. This isn't really a bargain. I'd neg if my account was 30 days old!
The joining fee exists only as a carrot to get people over the line. Eg. "I'll tell you what, if you sign up today, we'll waive the joining fee and you'll save $99".
Some larger gyms even use their joining fee as a sales metric. Eg, "OK team - 30% of new members in January paid a joining fee. Lets see if we can get that to 40% in Feb".
Other gyms, the 'membership consultant' takes the joining fee as their "commission". The business treats the joining fee as a 'bonus' if they can get it.
tldr: any Ozbargainer should not pay a joining fee at any gym ever.
Source: I have worked in gyms for 10 years.
"I'd neg if my account was 30 days old!"
Allow me to do it for you, agree 110% with all the points you mentioned.
The title and the description don't tell all the catches behind the scene, you'll see all the crap once you signed the contract.
@hifer you look "too much" excited by this thread so much that it looks like an ad in my opinion.
Thanks for the tip. Hope its true.
Was trying to join local gym, but 2 are closing for reno's.
Others are Chains or small PT gyms (not sure what it means).
no mention of weekly charges or contract length
Who pays to go to the gym? A true ozbargainer uses the communal gym in their "friends" apartment building…
great! spill all the beans
wear larger shorts, then
ahahaha, joining fees.
Why would someone pay a gym to have the ability to pay again…
I don't get it…
according to their website, there is still a $29 "access fee" as well as fortnightly fees of ~$22.
The $29 access fee is for a key / magnetic card — allows 24 hours access
Do you mean the gym is open 24 hours per day?
Yes, all jetts gyms are. You have an access card to get in outside of business hours.
It's a fantastic gym…. This just isn't a bargain.
My son has just started using the Grand Hyatt, Melbourne Gym on a five day free trial. They ask for a $200 joining fee. Has anyone any experience as to whether they might waive this or, at least, reduce it? Thanks.
Your son: "Look, I'd be interested in joining, but I'm a little uncomfortable about the idea of paying a joining fee"
Them: "Unfortunately, we can't waive the joining fee because of the special rate we've offered you" (or whatever reason they give).
Your son: "Oh OK. Look, I think I might get back to you after I've looked at some other gyms in the area.
Them: "Ok Let me give my manager a call, hold on"
2 mins pass
Them: "OK! So, I've spoken to my manager, and if you're happy to join today, we're happy to waive the membership fee this time - just don't tell any of our other members!"
Cheers :)
Did exactly this the other day, but you must have the balls to follow through if they call your bluff. Also keep your old contracts in case you re-sign. They will always maintain your contract at your previous rate, it's fair for everyone. Do not let them bully you!
Yep. These guys are usually highly drilled. There is a formulated response for every objection you may choose to bring up.
Best option if they don't give you the price you want (within reason of course) and no join fee etc is to walk away. More than likely you will get a phone call in 24 hours offering you the rate you are looking for. (usually it will be before you get out the door though)
At the end of the day, it cost them nothing to have you there, so they will, in most cases, take a lot less for your membership than the price they are offering you.
If you are wondering what a 'good' price to pay is, find out what their "foundation" rate is (the rate that members who joined at the club opening paid) or their "student/pensioner" rate. You will only really find this out from speaking to other members.
imo, if you can join a 'good' gym and pay their foundation/student/pensioner rate with no joining fee, that is quite fair… (not an "ozbargain" fair but, you know, reasonable fee for service!)
Great advice Tafe & ilikeit. I was thinking the one at the Hyatt might be slightly different, if its not part of a chain etc.
We've never been gym members so don't know how these things work.
Ideally we would have the joining fee waived totally, be able to get a lower monthly rate and, this is my last question:
I am hoping he can just pay monthly without being locked in for a minimum period - just in case - or is that asking too much?
I don't know how prevalent fixed period contracts are.
Thanks again.
ps Personally I think he should be able to walk away since he will be at uni for the next 3 years and would save time using theirs - but he wants to rub shoulders with fat cats :)
Spam, I think. Not a bargain at any rate.
Jetts is good, but way over-subscribed - you start feeling guilty when you 'hog' the treadmill for 5mins.
Plenty of smaller gyms worth looking at.
But not many that can compare for those who need to work out outside of usual hours. :)
I go to Stepz and it's 24hrs and normally quite enough that you usually don't have to wait too long for a machine, with the exception of the times where you get a ^%&*%^ who takes over two treadmills by sprawling all her stuff over both of them.
There's Stepz in Melbourne now? Since when?
Not a bargain at all.
Is there a limit on replies? (as I cannot reply to your question mxyzptik..)
To answer you question, you are probably asking too much if you want the cheapest rate, no joining fee and no contract. It depends on the gym, and salesperson. The Hyatt is a 'top-end' gym, so my gut says no.
Fixed contract period contracts are becoming slightly less prevalent, but you are expected to pay a premium if you would like to cancel at any time with no notice. From an operators perspective however, I actually think this is fair enough.
Yep understood. You have been most helpful and we have got more than our moneysworth out of this thread.
(On replies, maybe the only problem is that you cant reply to a reply.)
No problemo :)
Threads of replies can only go 4 deep :)
like this
A reply within a reply… thats inceptions right there.
BRRRRRRRAAAAAWWWWRWRRRMRMRMMRMRMMMMM!!!
@ mxyzptik. With higher end gyms 12 months is the usual contract period. You may get 6 months, but sometimes at a premium. Jetts specifically caters for the short term contracts, so difficult to compare the two. The Hyatt will be probably give you some BS about exclusivity, blah, blah, but in the end it thats where your son really wants to go then he may have to put out (as in the $).
I wouldn't say this thread isn't worthy of being on ozbargain. I have been contacting / pushing one jetts since Nov, to waive a joining fee, but they wouldn't. I tried everything, and generally speaking I am a pretty good haggler.
I was even contemplating joining another nearby club or one that was just opening, to get the discount, and then because you can use any jetts gym then just start using my preferred one.
So in theory yes with most gyms they are pretty flexible with giving u a deal but in my experience with the specific jetts I wanted to join, they wouldnt budge (but now I can join under this deal for no joining fee. )
Can people share their access cards? E.g. if 2 pips go on different days?
Yes, you definately can!
But you will definately get your arse kicked, they do review videos and check memberships, believe me!
I managed a year membership for $338 at Jetts without referring a friend, no other fees. Only catch was I paid upfront when the gym opened. The person even gave me a card in case with their personal phone number if I wanted to change my mind. Seriously, haggling may be a skill but a casual chat and just being friendly usually works well. Working in retail, you realise people will just discount things when you aren't seeking anything. Makes me feel warm inside not trying to screw over good people who don't hassle me.
As for joining Jetts, its a decent gym. But I am craving to return to the Adelaide unigym just cause I bonded with the people there and they have all facilities that you need to get big. So if there are any Adelaide uni students… just try them out ;)
The good thing about jetts gym is u can access any of the Jetts gym 24/7 for one membership fee i usually go to their city one and also one close to my house in point cook plus their rates are cheaper than many other local gyms :) 29 fee is only for access card and i pay 17.95 per fornight and if uget another family member its half price and also if you refer 4 people you get the full year free :)
If u setup direct debit tjer is no admin fees plus there is no contract can cancel anytime you want :) nocancellation charges
I barely believe, how can they direct debit you without a contract??
If you get caught in the direct debit loop hole, then good luck!
There's still a contract I imagine , however there would be no minimum committal period. My previous gym direct debited me and I was free to leave any time I wanted with the condition being that I needed to provide up to a months notice in advance of the cut off period.
Change title as the gym membership is not free, its the membership/admin fee that has been waived
How much are you paying a week/month? Cause this is something many gyms offer during their promo periods