Getting the best deal on your gym membership

Joining a gym can be a daunting and confusing process with many horror stories. Here is an insider’s guide on how to get the best deal when joining a gym.

 

Know what you want

Before you even set foot in a gym, know what your requirements are and try to find out if the gym or studio you’re looking at has what you need.  You should shortlist the gyms you are most interested in joining and take the time to visit them all.  Visit the gym you think you will be most likely to join last so you’re ready to seal a deal there. Make sure you visit their website to learn about the gym and their membership options.

Once you are in the gym, a good sales person will try and keep you as long as possible, so if you can cut to the chase and tell them what you are after, this will save you a lot of time – and money.  Knowing what you want, and showing you know the ins and outs of gym memberships, can put the sales consultant on notice and they may be inclined to give you a better deal straight away.

 

Know the competition

Most gyms will have a few direct competitors in their area, so it’s good to know what they are offering so you can compare the deals they are offering. Use this information to negotiate the best deal at the gym you want to join, which hopefully is the last gym on your shortlist to visit.

 

Membership types

Most gyms like to have a certain ratio of membership types or they may focus on a certain type for business reasons (e.g. student or off-peak memberships), and their promotions will reflect this. Some months they may focus on selling certain types of member plans, so it’s a good idea to ask if there are any specials to see if they’re something that suits you.  Note: a “membership special” is different to a “joining special.” For example, waiving joining fees would be a joining special.  A discounted 18-month membership that is fully paid upfront is a membership special.

 

Joining with friends, family or on corporate plan

The more people a sales person can sign up at once, the more interested they will be in a sale. If you have friends and family that will join at the same time as you, you’ll most likely get a better deal. Some gyms even offer special corporate rates if a certain amount of people from a company join.

 

End of promotion

Most gyms have sales targets to hit, and the closer to the expiry of the promotional offer they’re running, the more likely you’ll be able to negotiate a deal. Even if the gym or sales consultant has reached their sales target for the month, they may be keen to exceed their goals to earn additional bonuses.

 

Negotiate

There is always room to negotiate when signing up for a gym membership. This can be in the form of merchandise, reduced or waived joining/admin fees, reduced weekly/fortnightly/monthly fees and even free periods of membership. Depending on the type of gym, level of business competition in the area and your membership commitment, be sure to knock back the first deal you’re given and always ask for more.