The story of how I got my gym membership goes like this...I have mentioned before that we live on a budget and there was no room for a gym membership. However, I was not going to sacrifice all of my hard work. So I set out to find a great deal. There is a gym on my way to work that I knew would be perfect. When I say on my way to work, I mean all I have to do is turn into the parking lot. It is at the corner of an intersection where I already turn. It is a nice one and they have showers.
I called them up and was told month to month memberships were on sale for $40.00 plus an activation fee. I knew I wanted 6 to 8 weeks so that was going to be over $100, definitely not in the budget.
There are so many gym options where I live. Two of the places I called were more than $60 a month and you had to sign a contract. I also called two personal training gyms that don't typically allow you to just work out on your own. I led the conversation with the same line I had given all the other gyms. "I am an injured runner just looking for a place to do some cardio." They both said they would take me on a month to month basis, no contract and no activation fee. One was going to be for $25 per month, the other for $40. The problem was that neither of them have showers, which was not a great option because I wouldn't have time to come home and shower.
I decided to stop by the gym I originally wanted just to see. I went in and gave them my story about being an injured runner. They then gave me the tour. It's a nice place with a cardio cinema, spinning room, plenty of cardio equipment with individual cable televisions, and a nice locker room. I acted as though I was totally unimpressed. We proceeded to sit at a table and the guy who had shown me around went to get the manager. He sat down and all the sudden I felt as if I was in a used car dealership. He asked what I wanted and then began writing some numbers on a blank piece of paper. $30 a month for 2 months plus $30 activation fee was his first offer. I acted completely put off. I had already told him about the other two gyms so I said, "you are trying to compete with a gym that has offered to let me work out for two months for a total of $50, with a total cost here of $90? He then said, "I tell you what, we will put you on a weekly pass from now until March 1st, no contract, no activation fee, for a total of $35." SOLD!! I was at the gym the next morning. I am still not sure why he dropped from $90 to $35, but very happy that he did.
As for today at the gym, the 9 mph run was more difficult then I thought it would be, but I did make my goal of 15 minutes. I must admit that I was hurting at about the 4 1/2 minute mark.
Todays Run:
2 mile warm up, 2.25 miles at 9 MPH (all on the treadmill)
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6 comments:
Just goes to show - *everything* is negotiable!
has the world come to when Gym guys are like used car guys! Scary-but what a great deal you got!!!
I was expected to hear some horror story about how you got totally ripped off, but was quite surprised. That's a pretty good deal that you got there, much better than what I have paid for in the past.
I actually used to work at a gym like this in sales. I hated giving the spiel as much as people hated going through it. Everything IS negotiable at most gyms.
Wow. Gyms in the winter. They know, don't they.
wow! i need to try this out. when my previous membership ran out (last spring) i didn't renew (didn't really wanna pay $39/month anymore!) and i haven't joined another gym since. i, too, don't want another decent-sized monthly bill, i know they aren't too bad but in the end it's a few hundred a year! no thanks! so anyway, i need to go do this... glad you found a good gym that was willing to work with you.
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