Understand the gym market before going in
Written: Aug 15 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Large, well maintained facilities
Many perks included in monthly fee
Equipment readily available.
Cons: Persistent sales force
Personal Trainers expensive after initial "free" session
The Bottom Line: Good buy if you can cut the price to your actual budget from the posted rates. Great equipment, facilities. Use the free 2week pass if before dropping that HUGE initiation-fee.
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| siegelscott's Full Review: L.A. Fitness |
Ok, so this review is strictly related to the first impressions of the place as I only signed up today.
Before I even start, I want to say "No disrespect to the people at LA Fitness who worked with me. They were very nice and courteous. I am glad we were able to negotiate everything so both parties felt like they won. Please do not get upset that I am about to totally give up my whole impression of your operation to the viewing public".
WHY am I writing this, you ask? Well, the novelty of a new gym wears off quick on their members... BUT you are committed to it for a long, long time. Before you drop HUNDREDS at any gym in Los Angeles (or elsewhere for that matter), you should understand what the gym is all about.
Like any other BUSINESS, LA Fitness is out there to make money... not that there is anything wrong with that - so long as they provide service in line with the membership rates they charge.
FIRST CONTACT
We signed up at the local LA Fitness, about 2 miles from our apartment in Beverly Hills/Hollywood in Los Angeles. Before we even went to the gym, I phoned the local center for more information. First, the main desk answered the phone. Once they knew I was interested in a new membership, they quickly took all my information.
*Warning* If you give them your information, you are signing your peaceful evenings away to them. Their sales staff will try their hardest to get you in the door. That is the only place they can close the deal, so they will be sure to call you.
I spoke with a sales guy in the local office, who invited us down that evening to meet with him and to check out the facilities. He quoted me a membership in the $25 to $50 range (could they get more general?)
THE GYM - FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Ok, so we showed up around 7:30 - the time I told the salesman I would show up. He greeted us at the front counter, and they already had our names written down at the front desk. This is a sign that they had every intention of getting us in that door, since they really had no reason to expect that we would actually come in at all... I figure, if we didn't show up they were ready to hunt us down anyway. After a cordial greeting with the salesman himself, the front desk people collected my name and address/phone (again) and we were quickly wisked away to the floor.
The equipment looked relatively new, and in good shape. The center was opened about 8 months ago. The machines were almost all available, but it was a bit late and a Friday night, so that might have played into it a bit. The free weights area seemed pretty nice, and it was a little busy, but still plenty of room to work out. Our next stop was the hardwood dance/exercise room. They were holding a free class (to members of the gym, of course) in the room, and it there was more than enough room for another 20 people if need be, but that said, the class was large enough to be considered "respectable".
There are punching bags and bicycles for spinning near the aerobics room, and more stationary bikes and treadmills nearby. All the bikes and treadmills had a good view of TV screens, set to no volume. Tune a set of headphones to an FM station printed below each screen to hear that particular TVs audio broadcast...
The gym we visited had a large lap pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and large locker room (locker rooms: one for men, one for women). The locker room has plenty of lockers, private showers, toilets, sinks and all seemed very, very clean.
After leaving the locker room, the "tour" ended back at the entrance, near the juice bar and sales desks.
SHOWROOM
Ok, so why do I feel like I am at a car dealer showroom? Well, the environment is set for some hard core negotiations, at least if I have my way! So we sat down and got right to the numbers.
NEGOTIATE!!!!!!!!
The salesman started by showing us a printed piece of paper with numbers on it. Ignore it. That is for show, because your rate wont be on that sheet of paper, I promise. If you pay the rate on the paper, just jump in the pool and dont come up for air...
First, let them do all the talking. They talked about one time fees, they talked about monthly fees. They talked about annual fees. They talked about 2 year memberships. They talked about down payments. They talked, and talked and talked.
Then, after the conversation (!) came to an end, I looked at the salesman and told him "Ok, all of these rates are out of my budget, what can we work out so we can use this facility, and you can get your signup tonight?"
He was pretty willing to negotiate, and started to tell me about this great program that ended yesterday that he could get for me.... More talking...
At first, they wanted me to sign up the two of us at the published rate of $399 initiation fee, $49 per month x2. There was no way in hell we would pay $800 initiation plus $1200 for the year (assuming we'd go to the gym for 12 months, even though there are no "contracts" like the olden days).
At $1974 for the year (2x$399 = $798 2x$49=$98x12months=$1176 = $1974), we'd be paying like $82.25 per month, EACH, to go to the gym.
So, I told him that we could not afford that amount a month and that I know there was a program out there better suited for us.
I figured that $45 a piece per month ($45x2=$90x12=$1080) should be the price I would pay, at most... of course, i didn't get into all the details with the salesman, because I wanted him to counter offer with a better deal. If he could hit that mark, or better, I would be sold. BUT that $1080 would have to include the initiation fee...
So, he started shuffling around deals and numbers and everything got so confusing. I kept trying to get the numbers to add up right, and finally I offered him $300 plus $60 a month for the BOTH of us together. That would have worked out to $1020 for the year, around HALF of his initial offer.
Well, in the end, we wound up at $54 per month ($27 each person) and $399 initiation fee, for the both of us combined. That worked out to $1047, a little over the amount I originally offered him, and way, way less than the printed published discount rate, and less than my happy point price of $1080. I think both parties did pretty well in the deal, and both left the table smiling.
The important part is that the initiation fee is a one time deal. So for the second year (should we decide to stay that long, as there was no contract, even for the first year or first month), our monthly costs will remain at $54. Essentially, the fee drops from $98/month as he originally offered to $54/month, or $648 for the second year.
HUNGRY? WHY WAIT...
I don't think these sales people are hard core trained like used car salesmen, but tough love might get you a long way... if the salesman won't hit your particular price range, just leave. They already collected your information 2 or 3 times, so someone will most definitely call you to come back in. Before you go, just let the guy know that you liked the gym, but just can't afford those rates and need to speak to someone who might be able to make an exception for you. I'm sure the gym just wants that $399 upfront and hopes you never come back, so they will try their best to get you to sign something, even if they have to discount the monthly fee. Its okay to leave them hungry. Make sure that you are satisfied with the deal, because it will leave a hole in your wallet. They expect 2 months plus initiation up front, the minute you sign that contract.
TRAINER
The last part of this first look is the personal trainers. Sure, they keep an appointment book, but let's be real... you get your first visit with the trainer free so they can show you the equipment, and try to hook you onto hiring them in the future. Since the personal trainers don't work for the gym directly, if you have questions or problems it may be difficult to get someone to show you the ropes after yout initial consultation. Be prepared to ask all of your important questions during this 1 hour meeting, or better yet, if you sign up with someone, try to piggyback each other's initial consultations. This way, one guy can show you the equipment and the other guy can work out your training schedule and help you with your specifics...
ALL IN ALL
I guess the experience was pretty good, all in all. The membership averaged out to $87.25 per month for 2 people, which is pretty good for Los Angeles. Remember, this rate is just $5 more than he wanted PER PERSON originally, so its almost like buy 1 get 1 free. Since this place has a nice pool, I'll probably enjoy the laps even more than the gym itself during these hot summer months.
I remember when gyms used to nail you on an expensive 12 month contract, which was tough to wiggle out of. Now, they screw you up front with the stupid initiation fee (you can probably negotiate your way out of this fee all together using competitor promotions and having them try to justify what that fee goes to... we just wanted to get the gym for $45 each, so fighing down the fee didn't really matter with the counter-offer under $1080 for the year).
Anyway, DO THE MATH, if you like the facilities. You get access to the whole place for the same price, so we will take advantage of the basketball courts, the pool, the aerobic classes, the machines, and the weights. But understand:
1. How many months are you really going to go? Whatever you tell yourself, cut that number in half. That is your real expectation as without motivation, you'll be gone quicker than you think.
2. Add the stupid one time initiation fees to the monthly rate x months you really expect to attend.
3. Divide that number by the number of months used above to calculate your true monthly cost. If its more than you can swallow for the use of the gym, walk away and try to negotiate a better deal.
4. Don't forget to actually go to the gym and use the equipment. That is what this whole process was about in the first place!
Oh, I almost forgot, the most important thing of all: Visit their website and get the free 2 week pass. This way, you can try out the place and know exactly what you're getting into before you drop that huge initiation fee into their wallets. By the time you sign up, you should already have been there at least 4 times, done at least 1 class (come on fellas, its not that bad) and play in at least 1 pickup game of basketball. You'll be able to judge the kind of people who go to the gym by their character on the court and in the aerobics classes. If you don't like the instructors or members, check out another location or another company.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
siegelscott
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 - Top 1000 |
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Location: Charlotte, NC
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
I do "RISK" for a living!
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