Gym Membership-Fee Negotiations Tactics

gudbuzz

Hi,

I am interested in joining a gym, the gym which would suit me most is quoting me €55 p/m which totals €660, although they are giving me the month of September free so its really costing €605 + joining fee (wasn't told what that is yet).

They are also going to give my friend a 20% discount on my first three months for recommending me which is great, (though I have been a member in same gym on 3 previous occasions they are not prepared to offer me the discount as well).

I consider €660 extortionate for a small gym, the location is what suits me most. Their off peak membership doesn't suit me at all and I'm not a student but the sales guy is not willing to negotiate on price whatsoever. Any tips you guys can give me to barter him down?

I know the new gym opening in Jervis is amazing value but the location doesn't suit me as well, any tactics at all would be great, thanks.

ronaneire

gudbuzz wrote: »

Hi,

I am interested in joining a gym, the gym which would suit me most is quoting me €55 p/m which totals €660, although they are giving me the month of September free so its really costing €605 + joining fee (wasn't told what that is yet).

They are also going to give my friend a 20% discount on my first three months for recommending me which is great, (though I have been a member in same gym on 3 previous occasions they are not prepared to offer me the discount as well).

I consider €660 extortionate for a small gym, the location is what suits me most. Their off peak membership doesn't suit me at all and I'm not a student but the sales guy is not willing to negotiate on price whatsoever. Any tips you guys can give me to barter him down?

I know the new gym opening in Jervis is amazing value but the location doesn't suit me as well, any tactics at all would be great, thanks.

If you think it's too expensive find another that is cheaper.
Why should they offer you a discount? I take it that your friend recommended you for membership so he gets a discount for that.
Try and find someone to join and maybe you too can avail of the 20% discount.

squod

PAYG untill you find an offer that suits. €660 is big money IMO.

gudbuzz

ronaneire wrote: »

If you think it's too expensive find another that is cheaper.
Why should they offer you a discount? I take it that your friend recommended you for membership so he gets a discount for that.
Try and find someone to join and maybe you too can avail of the 20% discount.

Hi,

I see your point but having said that I personally think its a bit silly to just accept the first price your quoted from a company when its common knowledge all sales reps are given the authority to discount people at their discretion. if you don't ask you don't get imo.

TommyKnocker

I'm going to be the controversial poster

660 is a sizeable chunk of money, no doubt. It's the guts of a power rack and a set of Oly weight for home and yes, there are cheaper gyms out there. However here is the thing. It's no good joining a gym simply on price if you can't use it as often as you wish and at the times you wish.

How many times do you think you will use the gym each week?

As it is, just taking the €660 you mentioned and dividing that by 48 (weeks -4 weeks for holidays) this works out at €13.75 per week. Say you were to go 3 days each week, this works out a €4.58 per visit. If you were to go 4 days per week, then thsi would work out at €3.43 per visit.

So basically for the price of a limp sandwhich and maybe a bottle of water, you get access to the gym Personally speaking I think that's not too bad, and I would be more concerned with the equipment that was available and how busy it would be at the times I planned to use it.

My gym costs €1000 per year. But as I don't go abroad I would use it 52 weeks of the year, usually 6 days a week. So it costs me €3.20 per visit. I know for a fact that the sales folks in my gym have no leaway to discount price. What they usually tell you is that the joining fee is €499, but they can usually "get" it for you for anywhere from €199-€99. But the price per month is non negotiable.

I remember a few years ago paying for a 1 day pass for UCD gym, about €15 IIRC. Also paid for a 1 day pass for TF Coolock, €17 iIIRC. So €3.20 for the facilities available to me, total win IMHO.


M

gudbuzz

B-Builder wrote: »

I'm going to be the controversial poster

660 is a sizeable chunk of money, no doubt. It's the guts of a power rack and a set of Oly weight for home and yes, there are cheaper gyms out there. However here is the thing. It's no good joining a gym simply on price if you can't use it as often as you wish and at the times you wish.

How many times do you think you will use the gym each week?

As it is, just taking the €660 you mentioned and dividing that by 48 (weeks -4 weeks for holidays) this works out at €13.75 per week. Say you were to go 3 days each week, this works out a €4.58 per visit. If you were to go 4 days per week, then thsi would work out at €3.43 per visit.

So basically for the price of a limp sandwhich and maybe a bottle of water, you get access to the gym Personally speaking I think that's not too bad, and I would be more concerned with the equipment that was available and how busy it would be at the times I planned to use it.

My gym costs €1000 per year. But as I don't go abroad I would use it 52 weeks of the year, usually 6 days a week. So it costs me €3.20 per visit. I know for a fact that the sales folks in my gym have no leaway to discount price. What they usually tell you is that the joining fee is €499, but they can usually "get" it for you for anywhere from €199-€99. But the price per month is non negotiable.

I remember a few years ago paying for a 1 day pass for UCD gym, about €15 IIRC. Also paid for a 1 day pass for TF Coolock, €17 iIIRC. So €3.20 for the facilities available to me, total win IMHO.


M

okay thanks, thats fair enough. maybe il just haggle on the joining fee and not on the price per month. cheers.

SanoVitae

gudbuzz wrote: »

Their off peak membership doesn't suit me at all and I'm not a student but the sales guy is not willing to negotiate on price whatsoever. Any tips you guys can give me to barter him down?

It might be the case that he truly isn't able to go any lower than the price he has quoted you. While some gym sales people are allowed to be very flexible with the prices they quote, many do not have the permission to do so. If this is the case, then there is not a lot you can do.

However, if you contact the decision maker (usually the gym manager) and say that you're willing to pay "X amount", then it's very possible that you'll be able to negotiate a better price.

I recommend that you first ring the gym and speak to the manager. If he/she agrees to lower the price, then follow it up with an email for confirmation of this price.

Offer them €450 and tell them that you were a member before so you're not going to pay a joining fee.

Hope that helps,

Paul

TommyKnocker

gudbuzz wrote: »

okay thanks, thats fair enough. maybe il just haggle on the joining fee and not on the price per month. cheers.

The point of my post was not to disuade you from haggeling :eek: As you said, nothing ventured, nothing gained :D Of course, try and get the best price you can from the sales folk.

I was simply saying that price would only be 1 aspect of my decision regarding joining a gym. Finding a gym that you can get to at the times that suit you, has the equipment required for your workout, is clean and has a decent athmosphere are also important in my book.

Also though the yearly membership may sound expensive, if you are getting good use from it and you think about it from a cost per session perspective (glass half full ), they it's may not be that expensive after all.


M

marathonic

I think €605 + joining fee is quite a lot if you are one of the people from whom the gyms make most of their money, i.e. the ones that start and quit after a month or two.

What sort of training are you planning on doing? Depending on this, whether you have spare room where you live and whether you think you'd have the motivation, you could buy your own equipment.

I live in Donegal and work in Derry. My gym costs 22 pounds (of which work pays half).

I did look at this http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/premium-strength-package.php package and was quoted 600 pounds plus 35 pound delivery to Ireland.

It would take almost 5 years before I'd be making a saving by purchasing it but, if I'd to pay over 600 euro for a gym, I'd definately go for it.

At least then, if you give up after a month, the equipments always there and you can start up again if you like in 6-12 months with no loss.

I was considering buying this and just doing running for my cardio.

ray jay

another price factor is how much extra going to the next closest gym is going to cost you per year

tomdublin

You should tell us which gym it is, then other members will be able to tell you how much they are paying. For a gym to reduce or even wave the "joining fee" isn't really a concession at all, since they usually expect only complete idiots to pay the quoted price in full (e.g. 499 at Westwood). Regarding negotiating tactics, reject their initial offer but leave your mobile number with them. Chances are they will call you back within a few days to improve the offer. If it's not good enough reject it again but name a price you would be willing to pay (maybe 10 percent below their last offer) and see if they call you back again. If not, you can always take up their second offer.