Carlisle vs Westwood vs Total Fitness

FrankGrimes

Does anyone have any experience of Carlisle Health & Fitness club at the KCR, Kimmage?

I heard an ad on the radio yesterday saying if you joined this week and lose 6 kilos in 6 months they’ll give you your money back.

Rang up today and they said that offer finished on Sunday and should not have been on air. I said I heard it yesterday and want what was broadcast. They said they’d ring me back and have just left a voicemail asking me to ring back. She said the current deal is €425 up to end January 2007. Under that promotion it was €495.

I live in Crumlin so KCR is handy. I don’t have that much excess weight but I used to do boxing so I’m confident I can drop that 6 kg no bother and get me some free membership. However, I work in Sandyford and so Westwood and Total Fitness are nearby and it would be handy to go straight into either after work to avoid rush hour traffic.

I’m doing extensive renovations on my house in my spare time so don’t have as much time for gym as I’d like but the 6 kilo challenge would be a good incentive but I hate stuff like that where they try to renege on an offer so I reckon I will tell them no promo no dice, but would like to get opinions on Carlisle first. What are the rates and entry fees into Westwood and Total Fitness and what are they like?

If any of these gyms had an open area with mirrors where I could do my own circuits and shadow boxing, and possibly even a heavy bag, it would be a big plus.

Nice one.

FrankGrimes

They rang me back just now and said yesterday was the last day and they don’t do their ads to specify an end date. I said that seeing as it was aired on a Monday and said ‘if you join this week’ it basically amounts to false advertising that they won’t do the deal. She said it was just a mistake and there was no way Ben Dunne would do the 6 kilo deal for me. I think that’s really poor form as the ad was the only reason I rang them and it seemed pretty clear, but not so.

Their current deal is €425 for 14 month’s membership. So does anyone have any details on how this shapes up to the competition and what the place is like?

dubgirl

frank - you should contact Ben Dunne directly and ask him, he's usually ok to people who have a genuine problem. I reckon he would give you the 6kilo deal.

Guv

TF is not bad price wise about 450ish for a year or maybe 500 now. Westwood way overpriced imo.

At rush hour tf will be jammed. Carlisle will also be busy as they are selling too many memberships. However I'd join carlisle and go at about 8pm if that suits.

Big Balls

TF in Sandyford is 595 for full membership without the company discount..

So Carlisle comes in quite a bit cheaper. TF is quite a bit bigger though so may be less busy at rush hour.

poobum

id say tf is better for heavy weights like bodybuilding or serious sports etc(like provincial or national levels)
im in west wood! and it is good! the prices arent bad! and its convenient for you if you live near!
i like it! but i found i need heavier free weights!(heaviest dumbell is 30kg)

Guv

Big Balls wrote:

TF in Sandyford is 595 for full membership without the company discount..

So Carlisle comes in quite a bit cheaper. TF is quite a bit bigger though so may be less busy at rush hour.

595 already that's quite an increase!

iget my membershop in total fitness for 150euro!although i think it was a college deal!

poobum

origional posted what do you want the gym for? sports? general fitness? what? like its hard to say which would be best if we dont know your needs!

Big Balls

Guv wrote:

595 already that's quite an increase!

Increase on what ? It was the same price when it opened in August 2003. I paid then and I've paid recently...

dubkarl

Vehicles in total fitness get broke into every day which is a big problem. TF are not willing/pay to put any secure measures in place which means there are vehicles broken into on a daily basis and the gardai are not interested as TF are not providing them with any evidence camera photoage etc. So if you want to use this gym after work make sure you do not have any valuables with you. My van has been broke into a number of times along with many other guys i know in the gym who have had there vehicles broke into at least three times. Membership is currently €496/yr plus a sign on fee

shakencat

dubkarl wrote: »

Vehicles in total fitness get broke into every day which is a big problem. TF are not willing/pay to put any secure measures in place which means there are vehicles broken into on a daily basis and the gardai are not interested as TF are not providing them with any evidence camera photoage etc. So if you want to use this gym after work make sure you do not have any valuables with you. My van has been broke into a number of times along with many other guys i know in the gym who have had there vehicles broke into at least three times. Membership is currently €496/yr plus a sign on fee

which total fitness are you talking bout here?
Ive never heard of cars at mine been broken into?

also..

I got a deal a month or two ago..
290 for 15 months...

The Davestator

Car theft is a problem in all big gyms.
The lad who was killed at newlands cross a week ago had robbed the bmw from carlisle.
When I worked in TF Blanch, we had one lad who joined and paid cash. He sat in the car park until he saw a car he liked, followed the man into the changing room, started a conversation and robbed the keys before heading out and away in robbed car.

The way he was caught was because I highlighted the people who's cars had been stolen and noticed the exact same fella had swiped in directly after!

He got 6 cars and jeeps first though, so be careful.

Mickk

poobum wrote: »

id say tf is better for heavy weights like bodybuilding or serious sports etc(like provincial or national levels)
im in west wood! and it is good! the prices arent bad! and its convenient for you if you live near!
i like it! but i found i need heavier free weights!(heaviest dumbell is 30kg)

Are you sure you are in Westwood and not ben dunnes westpoint? Any westwood I have been to have always had heavy dumbbells. Btw for what it's worth I think either Westwood or TF are far superior to Ben dunne gyms, you get what you pay for...

shakencat

Ive been told northwood is ALWAYS packed....