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Do You Use Your Gym Membership?

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:30:24 -0800

Signing up for a gym membership is one way to help you get in shape. The hardest part, though, is motivating yourself to actually go. So tell me . . .

How My Gym Membership Bit Me in the End

SavvySugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:00:14 -0700

We all make mistakes, and a recent one of mine was both costly and frustrating. Here's what went down: I had a great month-to-month gym membership, and the customer service over the three years was always friendly and responsive. It was a totally satisfactory experience - until I called to cancel.

I moved to a new apartment, and the new place is too far from the gym for me to maintain my membership. I gave the appropriate 30-day notice to my landlord that I'd be leaving, and apparently, I should have called the gym at the same time. Unknown to me, somewhere in my contract it stated that I had to give 30 days notice before cancellation, or I'd have to pay for the entire next month in full.

My husband and I shared a family membership, which meant we were out an entire month's dues for something we couldn't even use. It was our bad for not checking the contract ahead of time, but it seemed like a pretty sneaky policy to enforce. Have you had any experiences with a gym membership that left you feeling less than satisfied?

Fittingly Mad: Increased Membership Prices at the Gym

FitSugar — Sun, 03 May 2009 03:30:00 -0700

I don't have to tell you that economically speaking, times are tough. Many stores and companies are actually cutting prices to help lure customers to their businesses, but not my gym. Oh no. They've actually raised membership prices by $10 a month! That's no small amount, especially because my hubby belongs too, so that adds an extra $240 a year. It really bothers me that they can take advantage of people who feel so strongly about their health, since they know most gym goers won't end their memberships - they'll just suck it up and pay. Since my gym does offer unique fitness opportunities I can't get at other less expensive gyms, such as state-of-the-art cardio equipment, group classes, and of course, the pool, I guess I'll have to be one of those people who agrees to shell out the big bucks. It doesn't mean I won't complain about it though. What about you? Have your gym membership prices increased recently too?

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You Asked: Is It Insulting to Get My Husband a Membership to a Gym?

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Dear Fit,
Being healthy and physically fit is very important to me. I eat well, exercise four times a week, and enjoy running and practicing yoga. My husband on the other hand, is more into sitting on the couch watching TV. Not only has he put on a little weight since we got married two years ago, but I'm worried about his health. Do you think it's insulting to get him a membership to my gym?
- Concerned Cara

I'm sure many FitSugar readers can relate to your problem, and I don't blame you for wanting your loved one to be as healthy and fit as you. To hear how I'd handle this situation read more.

It really depends on your husband's personality. If you're questioning whether he'll be insulted then that makes me think his weight and lack of interest in exercising has come up before. So it sounds like getting him a membership to your gym might be too pushy at first. Instead I would encourage him to do physical activities with you that seem less about exercise, and more about spending time together having fun. Suggest a bike ride in the country, go hiking on some nearby trails, play tennis, or start off easy with a walk around your neighborhood. Once he starts to move more, hopefully he'll realize how good it makes him feel. Then once he's hooked, you can suggest joining your gym.

If he's too stubborn for that then I'd be honest with him. Tell him how much you love him, and that you're worried about his health. Say that you wish he'd exercise regularly so that the two of you can live a long, happy life together. Tell him you were thinking about getting him a membership to your gym so you could work out together and see how he responds. If he gets defensive, then suggest just a month-long pass, just to try it out. Maybe you can find a gym that offers tons of activities that interest him, like a pool, basketball or racquetball court, or indoor soccer. He might be more willing to exercise if he knows how important it is to you, and allowing him to choose the place will make it feel more like his idea.

There's nothing wrong with a little gentle nudging and consistent encouragement, but try not to nag. Remember that you can want him to change his unhealthy habits all you want, but ultimately, it's up to him to want to make changes for himself.

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Savvy ATM: Tricky Gym Membership Contracts

SavvySugar — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:19:43 -0800

When you sign up for a new gym membership there's no guarantee for a beautiful behind, but more likely than not there's a guarantee that you'll have to sign a contract. I'm a big advocate of doing anything that promotes health, but there are some questions you'll want to ask before committing to one gym over another. To find out why you should pause before signing up at whatever gym is closest to your home just read more

The Better Business Bureau reported that complaints about gyms have risen more than 90 percent over the last five years! The majority of the customer complaints centered around contract issues, including people who were still being billed after they thought their contract was over. Avoid having something to complain about with these tips.

Ask about introductory memberships to make sure you like the gym before getting locked into a long contract.
Look for a gym that offers month-to-month memberships.
Make sure what the gym salesperson says meshes with what's in the contract.
Try and negotiate a shorter contract before signing away three years of membership fees.

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Ask Savvy: How Can I Get Out of My Gym Membership?

SavvySugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:30:47 -0700

Dear Savvy,

I've been trying to cancel my gym contract and the gym guy is making it impossible to get a hold of him to even discuss it. He said we could talk about canceling or reducing the rate, but every time I call and get an answer, he simply says to email him. Then, I get no response and when I call back, I get voice mail. When I go in during staffed hours, no one is available to help me.

I'm canceling because there is a trainer there who is like a pushy sales person and makes me uncomfortable. She calls, emails, and is just generally overbearing - she even tried to sell me a wristband on the treadmill. I couldn't imagine the regular customer service would be this bad, too.

I changed my credit card information on the website, because if this takes more than a month to figure out I'm disputing the charges. I know it's a contract and I signed it, but is there anything I can do?

To see my answer, just read more.

Savvy says: Think twice about changing your credit card information on the sly - just because the salesman is dodging you doesn't mean you should dodge payment. It undermines your case and could put your credit at risk when they don't receive payment from a contracted customer; I wouldn't be surprised if down the road debt collectors come calling for the money you owe. Be responsible and handle this another way.

You're obviously not getting anywhere with the gym staff, so take the issue higher. Get in touch with a supervisor, and if that person doesn't help you continue up the ladder. Explain your situation calmly and mention that customer service has been all around unsatisfactory. Plenty of gyms are hurting for customers these days, and I'd be surprised if a supervisor didn't do her best to keep you as a client. Maybe that means reducing your membership rate or allowing you to negotiate a month-to-month membership.

If you'd rather be done with the place altogether, read through the contract you signed and locate the section that lays out the cancellation process. Typically, there is an exit fee involved with breaking the contract, but it may be worth it to you.

How Much Is Your Monthly Gym Membership?

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:30:00 -0800

There are so many different types of gyms out there, from the no-frills gym with basic equipment and a ladies locker-room with no special touches, to the fancy gym with all the newest machines and sophisticated classes (not to mention the spa-like locker room).

Because gyms run the gamut in what they can offer, membership prices cover a huge range - you might pay $25 while your girlfriend pays $250. Not everyone has a gym membership and it's more than possible to get into great shape without paying a cent, but for those of you who do pay a monthly fee, how much does it cost?

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Do You Have a Gym Membership You Don't Use?

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:30:00 -0700

Everywhere you go it seems a new gym has popped up. Big gyms and little gyms are always offering great new deals to join, so chances are high you belong to one kind or another. I have a membership, but I tend to go less in the Summer when I can exercise outside. As soon as the weather gets colder though, I plan on taking full advantage of my gym membership. How about you?

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How Much Do You Use Your Gym Membership?

FitSugar — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 02:00:00 -0700

January is the busiest month for gyms, mostly because a lot of us decided that the new year was going to be when we started working out. As the months pass by, gyms get less and less busy as many gym warriors of the past start to lose steam. As we all know gym memberships don't come cheap so I am curious if you're getting your money's worth.

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Fittingly Mad: I Want Out of This Relationship...

FitSugar — Sat, 12 May 2007 03:00:00 -0700

...my relationship with my old gym, that is.

Has this ever happened to you? You join a gym and at the end of the term of your agreed contract, you decide to cancel your membership and try another gym. Simple, right? WRONG.

Turns out that when you sign the papers to join some gyms, you are signing your life away. I am not going to name names ~~Gold's Gym~~ ~~Crunch~~ ~~Liberty~~, but I have found that the process of canceling my gym membership is one of the hardest things to do, ever.

Here is how it went down. When I called to cancel, they told me I needed to cancel it in person. When I showed up in person, they told me I needed to send a certified letter (who sends certified letters anymore?). When I sent the certified letter my credit card still got charged for a good 6 months after canceling the membership. It came to the point where I had to just cancel the card that was being charged. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they were still trying to charge my card to this day.

I've heard many other stories just like my own and it just does not make sense to me. Why do gyms make it so ridiculously hard to cancel your membership? Did I miss something here? Gym memberships should not be this binding. I would really appreciate it if gyms could just take a cancellation for what it is, a simple cancellation, and leave the hard feelings at the door.

Bonus points if you can name the television show (no longer taping) that had an episode on this very same problem where one character can not get out of his gym membership so he brings along a friend to help.