Westwood vs. Total Fitness

Mensch

Hey, I just wanted to get a few views and opinions from you guys and gals.

I'm thinking about joining Total Fitness in Sandyford after being a member in Westwood for the past while. Truth be told, I've made a lot of good friends up in Westwood and I do feel at home there, it's just an issue of price. At the moment I'm being charged €75 a month, and I just can't afford it anymore. I went an had a look at Total Fitness yesterday close enough to peak time (4:30 - 5:00) and I was mightily impressed with their facilities.
I've had a look on the forum here for reviews - just to see what people think - and they seem to be mixed. I know from what I saw yesterday that Total Fitness is superior in terms of facilities, but I'd like it if I could hear from anyone who has been a member of both clubs and could maybe give me their advice etc.

Any help is much appreciated.

Cheers

G-Money

I'm a member of Westwood as well and I got an off peak membership which is 55 euro a month. The restrictions are that you can only go between 6am and 4pm on week-days and after 4pm at the weekends. This suits me as I live and work close to the gym and I found myself going in the morning before work anyway so I figured I might as well save myself 20 euro a month. Also I hate gyms in the evenings as they are usually packed.

I only went to Total Fitness once and that was to get a tour etc and see the place. It might have been the fella I got, but he was the most unenthusiastic salesperson I've ever met. He really made no effort at all to get me to join and came across like he just couldn't be arsed. This was a big factor in me deciding not to join. Plus I hate where it's located, and driving up that wee narrow road is a complete b****h. On the plus side, it's a big gym and it kind of has an indoor running track upstairs. Although it's been a few years since I was there.

I also believe there's a gym supposed to be opening in the Beacon complex - Crunch Fitness as far as I know. I don't think it's opened yet and who knows, with the recession, maybe it never will.

I haven't been to Westood for 6 or 7 months but I will be going back soon so it will be interesting to see how well they spent their money when they did that big upgrade.

cardio,shoot me

im happy with TF, plenty of machines and weights, rarely have to wait for anything

Mensch

grandmaster wrote: »

I'm a member of Westwood as well and I got an off peak membership which is 55 euro a month. The restrictions are that you can only go between 6am and 4pm on week-days and after 4pm at the weekends.

News to me! It's funny how they never, ever mentioned that type of membership. I'm usually a morning person when it comes to training, so this would definitely suit. That said, I'm very intrigued about Total Fitness.
In regards to getting the tour of Total Fitness, the guy who brought me around was pretty cool. Had a lot of time to run me through everything and show me all the facilities, and this was after me clearly telling him on the phone earlier that I wouldn't be joining - if I was at all - for another month or so.

Food for thought

Noffles

TF Sandyford is like heaven, I had to leave there as we moved house and am in a crappy little hotel based one in the south... Never have a I loved a gym like TF in SFD... go there enjoy and stay.... =(

Mickk

Noffles wrote: »

TF Sandyford is like heaven, I had to leave there as we moved house and am in a crappy little hotel based one in the south... Never have a I loved a gym like TF in SFD... go there enjoy and stay.... =(

I completely agree, I love TF in sandyford. I am moving over that side of the city next month and cant wait to start training there again, best gym in Dublin.

cardio,shoot me

awesome everyones coming :P, mickk you better take the hummer

G-Money

Mensch wrote: »

News to me! It's funny how they never, ever mentioned that type of membership. I'm usually a morning person when it comes to training, so this would definitely suit. That said, I'm very intrigued about Total Fitness.
In regards to getting the tour of Total Fitness, the guy who brought me around was pretty cool. Had a lot of time to run me through everything and show me all the facilities, and this was after me clearly telling him on the phone earlier that I wouldn't be joining - if I was at all - for another month or so.

Food for thought

I'm not really surprised they didn't tell you. They're chancers at times. When I went to enquire about joining they said the joining fee was 499 euro but if I joined by 9pm, they'd drop it to 99 euro or something like that. It's such a con as I was in a few days later and I heard one of them say the same thing to someone else who was in viewing the place. Plus since then I've received text messages on my phone of membership offers with the same "Join by 9pm and the joining fee is X instead of 499".

To be honest, gym joining fees I think are the most unreasonable charges I've ever heard of in my life. I mean we have to pay a monthly fee as well, so why do we have to pay to join? It's not like it's some sort of security deposit you get back incase you wreck the equipment or cause trouble or something.

PS: The talk of Total Fitness is making me consider re-joining although I think my WW 12 month contract isn't up until October. That's another joke, why are we locked into a 1 year membership? It's not like some TV service that they have to set up and actually put effort into providing for you specifically. When you join you can never have any dealings with them at all if you so choose.

Sangre

Like I've just posted in another thread. I'm a big fan of TF, just back down. Its a bit awkward to get to, car is the only safe option. The distance isn't that far from me but all the lights and roundabouts mean you're journey can be twice as long even without traffic.

Hanley

TF Sandyford is an amazing gym. Def. one of the best in Dublin.

Tomm0

grandmaster wrote: »

I'm a member of Westwood as well and I got an off peak membership which is 55 euro a month. The restrictions are that you can only go between 6am and 4pm on week-days and after 4pm at the weekends. .

Hi Grandmaster.

You don't happen to know if Westwood's off peak membership includes use of their tennis courts at Clontarf do you?

Or do you have to pay extra for that?

Thanks

T

kayakmoss

Was kinda thinking of going the other way...TF to WW that is! :rolleyes:
Member in TF sandyford but im over in fairview a good bit so if i joined WW i could use the gym there too plus they have a 50m pool which would be nice.

But reading the comments here, im getting second thoughts! Was hoping to haggle them down to the same price as TF but id say thats a long shot!

G-Money

Tomm0 wrote: »

Hi Grandmaster.

You don't happen to know if Westwood's off peak membership includes use of their tennis courts at Clontarf do you?

Or do you have to pay extra for that?

Thanks

T

Sorry, I don't know.

davmol

TF is a great gym, great facilities,great circuit classes/classes for when youre feeling weak,nothing like seeing a 55 year oulone running past you to snap you out of it.
Most importantly some fit mots to look at and make yourself go harder in the gym(no pun intended)

Prezatch

Membership fees for TF have dropped to 450 for annual membership.

conno16

happy days..
might actually join now

tribulus

Just a small point but the membership for that deal expires on the 1st July 2010 so it's not a full year. Also, you don't get access to all TF's with that deal.

https://www.totalfitness.ie/join/

copacetic

tribulus wrote: »

Just a small point but the membership for that deal expires on the 1st July 2010 so it's not a full year. Also, you don't get access to all TF's with that deal.

https://www.totalfitness.ie/join/

still seems like a pretty good deal compared to what westwood are offering?
I guess if you are regularly near one of the other ones maybe not.

I like the openess of having the deal on the web though, westwood are still doing the keep everything quiet until they get you down there and then try the high pressure sales tactic.

tribulus

copacetic wrote: »

still seems like a pretty good deal compared to what westwood are offering?
I guess if you are regularly near one of the other ones maybe not.

I like the openess of having the deal on the web though, westwood are still doing the keep everything quiet until they get you down there and then try the high pressure sales tactic.

Oh yeah I agree, just pointing it out in case people didn't read the fine, flashing print!

Dragan

I trained in both for about a year and a bit and TF Sandyford wins hands down.

It's a great gym, great attitude in there. People are there to work and work hard, staff are cooler, trainers know there ****.

Great gym. Westwood pissed me off the the point of leaving tbh.

Now i train in RAW and it's hands down the best gym i have trained in.

Mensch

Cheers for all the comments!

I think I'm going to join Total Fitness, I just have to do a bit of saving and I'll go up and buy the years membership there and then.

Again, cheers for the help.

sinny10

TF Sandyford is defo the gym to join. The guy that toured me was real sound and took his time touring me around and showing me everything he seemed really interested to find out about my reasons for joining. it has an amazing free weights area with dumbells up to 60kg. it has everything you need and more.

also a note about paying. i was told when i was there that you can start on on the direct debit option and pay off the annual membership in 90 days and they will take any direct debit payments that you make off the annual amount. really good options so you can get started now and pay off the balance later.

squod

It says 'Option 1- Pay €450'

If thats what you call 'good'.

I wouldn't pay €450 in a fit. That's like over a hundred euro more than anywhere else.
Can someone tell me PLEASE who is paying this kind of money for a gym.

copacetic

you'd want to have a look around again if you think that is €100 more than everywhere else. For example have a look at the other gym the OP was directly comparing TF too.

squod

Well that makes them both over a hundred euro dearer doesn't?

Hanley

squod wrote: »

Well that makes them both over a hundred euro dearer doesn't?

Basically what you're saying is that they're over €100 cheaper than Carlisle or one of those places??

squod

What I'm saying is that €350 is an average price for a good gym,
regardless which one you want to pick.
Clearly comparing prices of over priced gyms against each other is a false economy.

Hanley

squod wrote: »

What I'm saying is that €350 is an average price for a good gym,
regardless which one you want to pick.
Clearly comparing prices of over priced gyms against each other is a false economy.

G'wan then, name the "good" gyms you have in mind with comparable facilities.

squod

I'm not living in dublin so you have me at a disadvantage.
However, and for example Aura here is about €400, the gym I go to is
€250.
Last week a good gym In wexford was charging €400. Many other 'carlise' type gyms are now cutting prices also.
So I'm pointing out simply that an 'average' price is well below €450.
Why then would you pay more for the same type gym?

cardio,shoot me

total fitness can be bargained down to 400 if your willin to haggle

Hanley

squod wrote: »

I'm not living in dublin so you have me at a disadvantage.
However, and for example Aura here is about €400, the gym I go to is
€250.
Last week a good gym In wexford was charging €400. Many other 'carlise' type gyms are now cutting prices also.
So I'm pointing out simply that an 'average' price is well below €450.
Why then would you pay more for the same type gym?

How much is a pint down your way?? You'd pay anywhere from 5.5 to 6 on average in the city.

Maybe the average price OUTSIDE Dublin's that much, but INSIDE Dublin it certainly isn't. As for a reason why you would pay the extra... maybe cos you don't hve the extra time to make a 2 or 3hr round trip each day to go to the gyms you're talking about?

squod

Eh.. no again, as as I've said an average price is €350 in Dublin.
There are still people who pay extortionate amounts for gym membership outside Dublin aswell.
These people are thankfully limited in numbers and won't push prices up for everyone else.

Hanley

squod wrote: »

Eh.. no again, as as I've said an average price is €350 in Dublin.
There are still people who pay extortionate amounts for gym membership outside Dublin aswell.
These people are thankfully limited in numbers and won't push prices up for everyone else.

I thougt I asked you to name those gyms?? Why you'd start going on about ones outside of Dublin so??

Once again, name the gyms in Dublin, with facilities comparable to that of WW or TF that are priced at €350.

squod

Fine I'll make some calls, meantime continue paying more than you should.
That seems to suit you.
Fairplay to you cardio, shoot me. Bargaining TF down to €400.
'Someone' could do with some training from you on how to haggle.

sinny10

squod wrote: »

Eh.. no again, as as I've said an average price is €350 in Dublin.
There are still people who pay extortionate amounts for gym membership outside Dublin aswell.
These people are thankfully limited in numbers and won't push prices up for everyone else.

try ringing around some gyms in dublin like Total Fitness, Westwood, Jackie Skellys and Crunch an see what they offer you. TF, JS and Crunch are all around the same price and WW is ridiculously more expensive. believe me you wont get a quote for anywhere near €350.

cardio,shoot me

lol it doesnt take much to haggle, i usually just go in with the money im willing to pay, tell them how much ive got, if they say no i walk out, usually get called back in straight away.

squod

Well done so sinny10. In a few sentences you've managed to prove something.
That you're the only one getting these quotes.

Mickk

I don't get why some people always just look at the price and not the value. If TF in sandyford said it was a grand a year I would still join, ffs even at a grand a year if you train 4-5 times a week its only 4 or 5 euro a visit. Choosing an inferior gym over less than 2 euro a week is crazy.

MisterWriter

cardio,shoot me wrote: »

lol it doesnt take much to haggle, i usually just go in with the money im willing to pay, tell them how much ive got, if they say no i walk out, usually get called back in straight away.

CARDIO. i find that hard to believe that you got them down from €600 to €400. I used to work in TF doing sales and the one thing that people interested in joining used to say was that TF wouldnt move on their price. they would go off and have a look at other places and then realise how good a gym TF is compared to everywhere else.

i'd say that you are a student or who will automatically be on a better price

squod

MisterWriter wrote: »

I used to work in TF doing sales

That has to be the quote of the year.

Sangre

squod wrote: »

That has to be the quote of the year.

Worst year ever.

cardio,shoot me

i got it for 400, dunno what else to tell ya

The Davestator

Lads, 400 a year fir Tf is a great deal. I work in the industry (sales/management) and we're under pressure to get the sales in. However, once you take vat off and pay the sales person their commission, the club is not left with much. The people who haggle are often the people who are regular gym users and used to haggling. Most gyms will make a loss on these people as their is a cost per vist for every member. (cleaning, staff, utilities etc)
I also agree with Mickk - if you like the club and it suits you its worth it, the amount of times I've heard people say, 'i'll join ben dunnes and save xxx' and then never actually go cos its too far is madness.

Just my two cent!

Hanley

squod wrote: »

Fine I'll make some calls, meantime continue paying more than you should.
That seems to suit you.
Fairplay to you cardio, shoot me. Bargaining TF down to €400.
'Someone' could do with some training from you on how to haggle.

K, off ya go. Good luck finding sales staff from those gyms who'll quote you over the phone.

And for your information, I'm a member of the strongest gym in Ireland - Hercules (2 strongest junior powerlifters, strongest tested lifter and strongest untested lifter in the country) AND a member of all 3 Total Fitness's for less than €710. So I reckon I'm doing ok for myself. Thanks for the concern tho.

copacetic

squod wrote: »

Fine I'll make some calls, meantime continue paying more than you should.
That seems to suit you.
Fairplay to you cardio, shoot me. Bargaining TF down to €400.
'Someone' could do with some training from you on how to haggle.

so hang on a minute, you don't even know the names of any of the gyms in Dublin, or how much any of them cost. However, you are still telling all of us, (who actually know the names and the costs) that the average price is €350?

Do you see a problem here? Possibly you should look up what 'average' means and that working it out involves having figures to begin with

Sangre

I'm actually huming and hawing about moving out as I won't be able to use TF sandyford anymore. Nearest gym would be then the maldron. A hotel gym so probably all cardio.

worded

kayakmoss wrote: »

Was kinda thinking of going the other way...TF to WW that is! :rolleyes:
Member in TF sandyford but im over in fairview a good bit so if i joined WW i could use the gym there too plus they have a 50m pool which would be nice.

But reading the comments here, im getting second thoughts! Was hoping to haggle them down to the same price as TF but id say thats a long shot!

The Westwod jyms could do with upgrading their saunas, especially the one in Leopardstown. My kitchen gets steamier.

If you have cash and you are there in person with a sale rep for a years membership your arm will be taken off. Fcuk joining fees, those days are near over. Haggle away. its a punters market now, dont be shy.

If its Leopardstowns westwood pls ask them to spend your money on the sauna, theres no point only doing up the reception area, and the pool lighting OMG. Its like a warehouse. It was a luxury pool in the 80s. Not now though.

squod

Hanley wrote: »

I'm a member of the strongest gym in Ireland - Hercules (2 strongest junior powerlifters, strongest tested lifter and strongest untested lifter in the country

Facinating sport, there's a few good powerlifters in my gym also.

Getting a lot of sensitivity on the subject of gym fees here.
I dunno why.

Hanley

squod wrote: »

Facinating sport, there's a few good powerlifters in my gym also.

Getting a lot of sensitivity on the subject of gym fees here.
I dunno why.

It's because you don't know what you're talking about - you're making ridiculous claims and can't even name the gyms. What are you basing it off?

Sagid trains up that way right? Seriously strong bencher.

squod

Hanley wrote: »

It's because you don't know what you're talking about.

Do you reckon? Northwood santry costs €300, TF costs €400.
It's reasonable to assume that the average price for a good gym
in Dublin is €350.

Hanley

squod wrote: »

Do you reckon? Northwood santry costs €300, TF costs €400.
It's reasonable to assume that the average price for a good gym
in Dublin is €350.

THAT'S your sample size????

Since when does TF cost €400? What are you basing that off? Cardioshootme's like 17 years old, he either got a school or student rate. Just today I was talking to someone who paid €500 to renew their full membership of my TF.

Are you aware of how many chain gyms there are in Dublin?