With the economy is a rut, almost all services are hurting, including gyms, so this might be a good time for you to get that gym membership, or switch to the gym you really want to be going to. Even though it’s still January (typically the WORST time to sign up for memberships since everyone else is), I’ve found lots of great deals out there.
First of all, everyone is now offering month-to-month contracts at affordable prices. 24 Hour Fitness has a $29.99 (there’s a $10 off coupon floating around the web, and if you can’t find it, tell them your friend got it and they’ll give it to you) initiation fee and then $29.99 month-to-month. They used to force you into a 3 year contract if you wanted to get that monthly rate.
If you used to be a member of a gym and you let your membership expire, call up customer service and see if they have any discounts for previous members. Bally’s called me the other day (I was a member there 2 years ago) and offered me $99 for the rest of 2009 and then $9/month after that! I’m not a fan of Bally’s but that’s a great deal. I think I was paying $29.99 or more back when I was with them.
Finally, try to negotiate out those “intiation” and “processing” fees. I checked out th Spectrum Sports club a couple of weeks ago and was told that there was a $199 initiation fee, $55 processing fee and then $94 month-to-month (corporate rate). After a couple of days the representative emailed me and said they could waive the initiation fee. I didn’t respond and a few days later she said she could also waive the processing fee, so it seems they have lots of wiggle room (especially now) with those stupid fees, so do your best to get around them. and get to the gym!!!
