Have gym membership prices come down for 2011?

buzz55

I was in to check out the gym in Leisureland at the weekend, considering joining a gym somewhere.
They're doing 12 month membership for €450 - and even with the drop in rates, the girl in there admitted that they were after getting very quiet with the last year or so.

Just wondering if other gyms - Ocean Fitness, Connemara Coast, Ardilaun etc. - have been forced to bring down their rates now that the economy is gone to pot?

Prices in Dublin came down substantially at least 4 years ago, but some of them in Galway still seem to want 700 or 800. Surely they'd be better to get 100 people signed up for 500e a pop rather than o people at 700e?

gandroid

Am not sure about actual gym memberships but the prices of classes have increased considerably in the Kingfisher gym in NUI which is bad form as it's not a good time of year to be trying to wrench more Euros from people....

barryd09

€395 off peak (before 4pm mon-fri,anytime all weekend) with NRG in knocknacara,the use of their bohermore gym is allowed too but imo Bohermore is pretty lame and closes ridicilously early at the weekends.

squonk

Not gym per se but I got swimming pool membership to NRG in bohermore recently. They were doing a deal where it was normally 395 but I got it for 355. that deal ran out before Christmas but they might have something else in Feb perhaps.

MattKid

Olympic Physique are offering a Buy one get 2nd Half Price

So €390 and 195, makes it €292.50 each.

markesmith

Anyone know how much membership at Ocean Fitness costs?

barryd09

markesmith wrote: »

Anyone know how much membership at Ocean Fitness costs?

i know this time last year (when it opened originally) it was WELL expensive,at the time it was defo €700+.

fantastic facilities though,the pools & saunas are lovely.
the gym itself is split into two areas,one for the regular gym user,mainly weight machines & cardio machines.
the other gym area is all benches & free weights etc probably geared towards more to people looking to lift a lot of weights.

i got a free trial in there when it opened first,nobody in there on a sunday afternoon,dont know whats its like now though.

HardyEustace

Went to the Kingfisher Renmore last night.

Typical sales bull**** and were very aggressive about not dropping price. Highly unimpressed with the service.

Oh for a decently priced pool on the east side of the city.

Out of interest, what are people here paying in Kingfisher Renmore if they are members?

Xiney

I'd strongly advise against paying for a year upfront in any case.

Yes, it's cheaper... but only if they remain open.

barryd09

OMG IS KINGFISHER CLOSING???

Xiney

I doubt it.

But whenever you pay upfront for something, you are kissing that money goodbye in the case of a business going bust. Same with gift vouchers - you become a creditor, and good luck to you.

Mrs OBumble

Xiney wrote: »

I'd strongly advise against paying for a year upfront in any case.

Yes, it's cheaper... but only if they remain open.

.. and if you go

That said, we haven't see any gyms go bust, even though I half expected mine to do so in 2008 due to the drop in membership numbers.

Personally it's a risk I'm willing to take because of the amount by which it's cheaper.

YMMV.

cats.life

hipkids in briarhill has a ladies gym , there is a choice as 385 for a year or pay as you go. hard going put i see the results:D

epgc3fyqirnbsx

There's no way I could afford a gym at the moment, cash is way too tight. Especially p*ssed off when my brother told me this evening that he joined Ben Dunnes gym in Dublin for €150/year which has everything

Carolyyn

HardyEustace wrote: »

Went to the Kingfisher Renmore last night.

Typical sales bull**** and were very aggressive about not dropping price. Highly unimpressed with the service.

Oh for a decently priced pool on the east side of the city.

Out of interest, what are people here paying in Kingfisher Renmore if they are members?

Glad I didn't go down for that kind of hassle so, I phoned them about the open day and before I knew it they had me booked in for a chat with one of their "advisers" about membership. I hadn't a notion of joining, just wanted to use the pool for free.

A friend joined there recently and he paid around €500 for the year, God hope it doesn't...

Madame Razz

There's a fairly simple way to get a cheaper rate in KF; pm me for details:)

biko

Xiney wrote: »

Yes, it's cheaper... but only if they remain open.

barryd09 wrote: »

OMG IS KINGFISHER CLOSING???

And this, people, is how rumours get started

Pool4Life

Slightly off topic but does anyone know if olympic physique opens on sundays anymore.

TheCosmicFrog

Someone told me today they've dropped the student membership fee for €250 to €200.

PauricTheLodger

TheCosmicFrog wrote: »

Someone told me today they've dropped the student membership fee for €250 to €200.

For the NUIG gym?

MattKid

Pool4Life wrote: »

Slightly off topic but does anyone know if olympic physique opens on sundays anymore.

No

the hours are now
Monday 7:30 - 10
Tuesday-Thursday 6:30 - 10
Friday 7:30 - 8
Saturday 10 - 3
Sunday closed

I think it's a 10pm close during the week, this is all from memory

Pool4Life

MattKid wrote: »

No

the hours are now
Monday 7:30 - 10
Tuesday-Thursday 6:30 - 10
Friday 7:30 - 8
Saturday 10 - 3
Sunday closed

I think it's a 10pm close during the week, this is all from memory

Thanks Mate

BornToBe?

TheCosmicFrog wrote: »

Someone told me today they've dropped the student membership fee for €250 to €200.

Say what?

I renewed my student membership for the usual €250, a week ago,
I asked the membership lady before I renewed was the price gonna drop cuz I saw ad's for a new cheaper rate and she said it was for the full non student membership only,
Are you sure its come down before I make a fool outta myself?

HardyEustace

BornToBe? wrote: »

Say what?

I renewed my student membership for the usual €250, a week ago,
I asked the membership lady before I renewed was the price gonna drop cuz I saw ad's for a new cheaper rate and she said it was for the full non student membership only,
Are you sure its come down before I make a fool outta myself?

And you believed her?

These people will tell you barefaced lies with absolutely no qualms or shame in order to secure a sale at the highest price possible.

I would love to see Ben Dunne open a gym down here and get prices to a somewhat reasonable level.

Xiney

For what it's worth - I advised against paying for a year upfront in ANY gym

Any business could go belly-up in this climate. You don't want them to be holding a chunk of your cash when they do - that's just prudence. Think of the extra premium you'd pay every month as insurance.

(Also if you get lazy and stop going - you can't really cancel most direct debits, but you can close your bank account and open a new one, which is what I did)

topcat77

I've been paying €45 a month for kingfisher renmore(No contract). Joined last Sept and made sure i didn't pay any membership joining fee. It's handy for me but it has to be the dirtiest gym i've ever been in. I only use the swimming pool and i go about 3 times a week. When the summer arrives i'm gone and never to go back!

Xiney

Xiney wrote: »

For what it's worth - I advised against paying for a year upfront in ANY gym

Any business could go belly-up in this climate. You don't want them to be holding a chunk of your cash when they do - that's just prudence. Think of the extra premium you'd pay every month as insurance.

(Also if you get lazy and stop going - you can't really cancel most direct debits, but you can close your bank account and open a new one, which is what I did)

You can't do that with student memberships.

And considering they're always around the E200 mark it's the equivalent of around 4 solid months(full membership) so it doesn't take much to get your moneys worth.

Was just on one or two of their sites after reading this thread.

Why don't they put up their prices?.... what other purpose does having a website serve then having prices(i can't see much reason to use them otherwise)..... making you ring/call in couldn't be a better policy then having the prices up for someone to check.

BornToBe?

HardyEustace wrote: »

And you believed her?

These people will tell you barefaced lies with absolutely no qualms or shame in order to secure a sale at the highest price possible.

I would love to see Ben Dunne open a gym down here and get prices to a somewhat reasonable level.

she was really tall and blonde and leaned over the desk to hand me a pen and the form, next thing I'm walking out with membership.
and ya........it was worth it.:D (think of "Friends" when ross and chandler wanna quit the gym)

anyway, dont think NUIG Kingfisher will close, the college own it, if kingfisher go outta business, someone else will take over and membership will continue, the SU have would kick and scream otherwise

philboy

HardyEustace wrote: »

Went to the Kingfisher Renmore last night.

Typical sales bull**** and were very aggressive about not dropping price. Highly unimpressed with the service.

Oh for a decently priced pool on the east side of the city.

Out of interest, what are people here paying in Kingfisher Renmore if they are members?

So much for the sign they have up across from GMIT on the Dublin Rd saying that they have lowered their prices for 2011. I was a member there for 3 years. The last time I rang up about re-joining, they tried their usual hard sales tactics. I tried getting the price they were looking for and all I kept getting back was "Come down to the gym and well talk about it." Hung up the phone in the end. They have the most annoying and off-putting sales tactics. It was manky alright the last time I was in there too.

solid oak

Xiney wrote: »

For what it's worth - I advised against paying for a year upfront in ANY gym

Any business could go belly-up in this climate. You don't want them to be holding a chunk of your cash when they do - that's just prudence. Think of the extra premium you'd pay every month as insurance.

(Also if you get lazy and stop going - you can't really cancel most direct debits, but you can close your bank account and open a new one, which is what I did)

Hi if you pay by credit card and there is a problem with a club closing, you are entitled to a refund from the credit card company !

solid oak

I've been a member of Nrg for 4 years, price came down a couple of years ago to under 500 from 645. Find it good value with classes included (great spin and Zumba) and you can use the two clubs bohermore and knocknacarra. Prices all round now competitive in most clubs.

Greaney

Abigail Flabby Dungeon wrote: »

There's no way I could afford a gym at the moment, cash is way too tight. Especially p*ssed off when my brother told me this evening that he joined Ben Dunnes gym in Dublin for €150/year which has everything

Holy Mother!! At that price (if there was a pool), I'd join in a shot and not worry about how many times a week I didn't use it!!! I'd join it if that was a 6 month membership!! That's managable.

martyboy48

Don't know anything about this place but offer on until 28/02/'11...28euro a month DD..
http://www.smartsearch.ie/vouchers/details?id=127

rocky

Madame Razz wrote: »

There's a fairly simple way to get a cheaper rate in KF; pm me for details:)

PM'd

N1one

I've been offered €450 for the year in Kingfisher Renmore, membership up soon. How does this compare to others?

johnnyk66

N1one wrote: »

I've been offered €450 for the year in Kingfisher Renmore, membership up soon. How does this compare to others?

The KF quoted me a special deal to renew last year €495, I told them I wasn't going to rejoin as it was too expensive and they dropped it €445, I'm sure you can do a deal.

Malice

I was going to start a new thread but this one will probably suffice. I've recently moved back to Galway after a few years working elsewhere. I'm curious what gyms are available on the Western side of the city. By Western side of the city I really mean once I don't have to cross the city or travel across the Quincentennial Bridge to get to the gym.

I found this link but I wouldn't be surprised if some gyms were missing.

NUIG Kingfisher 091-xx
Salthill Hotel 091-xx
Leisureland 091-xx
NRG Clybaun Road 091-xx

I recall that there is/was a pool in the Connemara Coast Hotel but their website doesn't mention anything about it. I assume it's not there anymore. Also I used to be a member of the gym in the Tennis Club on Threadneedle road. I assume that's not there any more either.

Malice

Okay, I took a spin around to a few of the gyms listed in my previous post this morning to get prices.

Leisureland charge €550 per year, €300 for 6 months and €180 for 3 months. The gym is well-lit and the equipment looks reasonably new and maintained. I didn't see any broken machines anyway. It isn't too big though so it might get a bit crowded at busy times. I think I'll pop in during the week after work and see what it's like then. The staff I dealt with were quite pleasant and seemed happy to answer my questions and most importantly took the time to show me around.

NRG in the Clybaun Hotel charge €550 per year, €325 for 6 months and €225 for 3 months. They also offer a direct debit option of €49 per month plus a €25 joining fee. Unlike Leisureland or the Salthill Hotel the staff here seemed utterly disinterested in being helpful. The place was swarming with kids and the parking situation was poor with people (presumably parents) abandoning their cars wherever they felt like it.

Ocean Fitness in the Salthill Hotel charge €650 per year (February special, €750 normally). They also offer a direct debit option of €69 per month plus a €50 (February special, €100 normally) joining fee. As with Leisureland, the member of staff I dealt with was very pleasant. This gym is probably the best equipped of the three I went to but of course it is also the most expensive.

So, in answer to the OP's question, no iit doesn't look like gym prices have come down . At least what's on offer seems a bit on the expensive side to me anyway.

inisboffin

I find NRG Clybaun a whole different place at the weekend, much quieter during the week (no kids) and after 7. Surprised they are 550, thought they'd dropped it a bit.

stratbat80

Malice wrote: »

Okay, I took a spin around to a few of the gyms listed in my previous post this morning to get prices.

Leisureland charge €550 per year, €300 for 6 months and €180 for 3 months. The gym is well-lit and the equipment looks reasonably new and maintained. I didn't see any broken machines anyway. It isn't too big though so it might get a bit crowded at busy times. I think I'll pop in during the week after work and see what it's like then. The staff I dealt with were quite pleasant and seemed happy to answer my questions and most importantly took the time to show me around.

NRG in the Clybaun Hotel charge €550 per year, €325 for 6 months and €225 for 3 months. They also offer a direct debit option of €49 per month plus a €25 joining fee. Unlike Leisureland or the Salthill Hotel the staff here seemed utterly disinterested in being helpful. The place was swarming with kids and the parking situation was poor with people (presumably parents) abandoning their cars wherever they felt like it.

Ocean Fitness in the Salthill Hotel charge €650 per year (February special, €750 normally). They also offer a direct debit option of €69 per month plus a €50 (February special, €100 normally) joining fee. As with Leisureland, the member of staff I dealt with was very pleasant. This gym is probably the best equipped of the three I went to but of course it is also the most expensive.

So, in answer to the OP's question, no iit doesn't look like gym prices have come down . At least what's on offer seems a bit on the expensive side to me anyway.

ya bit on the expensive side! was with kingfisher in renmore 2yrs , 500eur for first year and 450 for 2nd! Anyone know what the ardilaun is like?

barryd09

inisboffin wrote: »

I find NRG Clybaun a whole different place at the weekend, much quieter during the week (no kids) and after 7. Surprised they are 550, thought they'd dropped it a bit.

the clybaun nrg is less that €400 off peak (mon-fri before 4pm,all day sat & sunday)
they also have an unemployed rate of less than €400 per year aswell,this is a standard membership,not off peak.proof of unemployment is needed.
they also offer a referal service,if you refer someone for a years membership you get an extra month free yourself.
as for the staff,yes i agree with whoever said they seem disinterested,they do.
the amount of people who should be pulled aside in the gym by instructors and corrected on what they are doing is phenominal.everything ranging from the clothes/gear they are or arent wearing to most importantly their form.people like making up their own exercises or doing common exercises just arseways but there is NEVER an instructor on the floor of the gym to correct or advise people.

stratbat80 wrote: »

ya bit on the expensive side! was with kingfisher in renmore 2yrs , 500eur for first year and 450 for 2nd! Anyone know what the ardilaun is like?

having been a member of the ardilaun in the past (3-4 years ago) i would describe it as more of a leisure club than a gym although i understand that they have either added or significantly improved their free weights section.
and it wasnt cheap either.TBH i think one of the best all round gyms considering price and facilities,its the NRG.

Malice

barryd09 wrote: »

as for the staff,yes i agree with whoever said they seem disinterested,they do.
the amount of people who should be pulled aside in the gym by instructors and corrected on what they are doing is phenominal.everything ranging from the clothes/gear they are or arent wearing to most importantly their form.people like making up their own exercises or doing common exercises just arseways but there is NEVER an instructor on the floor of the gym to correct or advise people.

This wasn't even an instructor though, this was the person on the front desk. If they can't even be bothered to sing the praises of the place then I dread to think what the instructors are like. I was roundly ignored for a few minutes while standing at the desk, then when I attracted their attention I was directed with a wave towards some brochures on the wall. When I retrieved a brochure and turned around to the desk to ask a few more questions the person at the front desk had gone off dealing with someone else. Now I realise it probably doesn't sound like much but in both of the other gyms that I visited that day I was dealt with straight away by a member of staff who showed me around the facilities and answered any questions I had. If the Clybaun management aren't going to instruct their staff on basic customer service then it's their loss.

barryd09

Malice wrote: »

This wasn't even an instructor though, this was the person on the front desk. If they can't even be bothered to sing the praises of the place then I dread to think what the instructors are like. I was roundly ignored for a few minutes while standing at the desk, then when I attracted their attention I was directed with a wave towards some brochures on the wall. When I retrieved a brochure and turned around to the desk to ask a few more questions the person at the front desk had gone off dealing with someone else. Now I realise it probably doesn't sound like much but in both of the other gyms that I visited that day I was dealt with straight away by a member of staff who showed me around the facilities and answered any questions I had. If the Clybaun management aren't going to instruct their staff on basic customer service then it's their loss.

so you werent even shown around?ah thats bad!but its not the norm in my experience,usually the girls on the desk are very keen to show people around,ive seen them do it many many times,maybe it was a bad day?
i know this wont change your view on it and rightly so.
im a member there for 2.5 years and i enjoy going there,just bewildered as to what exactly the gym instructors do when they arent on the floor?
some people should just not be left to their own devices in a gym.its an injury/accident waiting to happen.

Malice

barryd09 wrote: »

so you werent even shown around?ah thats bad!but its not the norm in my experience,usually the girls on the desk are very keen to show people around,ive seen them do it many many times,maybe it was a bad day?

This was a bloke, built like a rugby player. I'm sure it wasn't a great time as the place was full of kids but surely there was at least one other member of staff available for 5 minutes if he couldn't leave the front desk?

Anyway, for what it's worth I join the Salthill Hotel gym and am happy with my choice. Even though I tend to hit it after work (5:30-6:00PM during the week) I rarely end up waiting for machines. At most I have to ask someone to let me work in on the lat pulldown machine but that's about it there are plenty of mirrors, benches, swiss balls etc. available.

One thing I was very happy with was the fact that they gave me an initial program and revised it last week so I am keeping things interesting.

barryd09 wrote:

some people should just not be left to their own devices in a gym.its an injury/accident waiting to happen.

I totally agree but that's a wider problem, not just restricted to Galway .

Red_Wake

I've found that Active fitness out on the Dublin road is pretty good, and I'm pretty sure it's a lot cheaper than what you lads are paying.

No squat rack though.

Malice

Red_Wake wrote: »

I've found that Active fitness out on the Dublin road is pretty good, and I'm pretty sure it's a lot cheaper than what you lads are paying.

Well I can't speak for anyone else but I restricted my search to gyms on the Western side of the city as that's where I live. I try to deal with the cross-town traffic as little as possible.

jd007

Anyone know if any of the gyms have unemployed rates. I know Leisureland has, just wondering if theres any others?

jimbobaloobob

Are classes free with all these memberships?

Is there places for classes on a pay as you go basis?

carmex21

Kingfisher NUIG do both - you can join or just go and pay per class. I am a member and really like it.