Resolution: Get a Deal on a Gym Membership
FIFTY percent off the usual $250 initiation fee at Crunch. One week free at Curves. Zero enrollment fee and no payment due until Feb. 1 at New York Sports.
It’s New Year’s resolution time again, and the health and fitness clubs here in New York and throughout the country are out in full force.
This time of year you can count on heavy promotions. Clubs depend on the December-January rush for the bulk of their memberships. But this year the frenzy has been ratcheted up a notch as clubs try to make up for the recession, which caused many corporate sponsorships to evaporate and many individual members to drop out or cut way back on costly extras like personal training and massage.
The New York Health and Racquet Club draws a crowd for its noon spinning classes. Many gyms are offering discounts in December and January.
But lean times for the fitness clubs are good news for consumers.
“Join in December and you’ll get the best deals — across the board,” says Howard Brodsky, chief executive of New York Health & Racquet Club. “Health clubs are businesses just like any other retail business. They have numbers they need to hit.”
And here is more good news: Over the last decade or so the health club industry has cleaned up many of its questionable practices. Years ago, health and fitness clubs routinely made the Federal Trade Commission’s list of the top 10 sources of consumer complaints about deceptive sales practices, misleading contracts and lack of full disclosure.
Not anymore. The industry was forced to change after a wave of bad publicity, including a few widely reported lawsuits, as well as consolidation among the big players.
“Now, disclosures are better, and people are doing a better job reading contracts,” said Lois Greisman, associate director of marketing practices at the F.T.C., which has some consumer tips on its Web site about health clubs.
Of course, that’s not to say schemes don’t still exist, warns Ms. Greisman. You still need to shop carefully.
What’s more, a health club is usually a big financial commitment, even if you get a good deal. Members often get frustrated when they lose interest and stop going. They wonder why they’re paying each month for something they don’t really use, says Ms. Greisman. That’s why it’s important to shop for a price that makes sense for you.
So here are some things to keep in mind to find the best health club deal and avoid disappointment.
DOES ‘FREE’ MEAN FREE? “Few words are more enticing than free,” said Ms. Greisman. But there can be a catch.
Sometimes a free month of membership comes with what’s known as a negative option. That means that the onus is on you to cancel at the end of the month or you will start to get billed for continued membership. You can end up with a month or two of charges you didn’t expect and don’t want.
If a club is offering a free month or other free trial, make sure you don’t have to give your credit card or bank information. And always read the terms of the agreement carefully.
NEGOTIATE Even at the big chains, individual managers at various locations have room to negotiate. And the pressure is on at year-end for them to increase membership. You can use that to your advantage by asking for more. If you’ve found a club you like but you saw a better promotion elsewhere — maybe a lower initiation fee, or lower monthly dues — ask the manager to match that price.
“There is some flexibility,” said Mr. Brodsky of New York Health & Racquet Club.
CHECK FOR CROWDS You need to visit the club during the times you’re most likely to use it to see how crowded it is. (And then expect more people to flock in come January, after the big membership push is complete.) Ask the manager for a trial membership so you can really get a feel for the place.
KNOW THE TERMS What exactly do you have access to? Can you work out at any location, or just a specific venue? (If you’re limited to only one location, are you getting a discount?)
Most important, what is the cancellation policy? Can you bow out if you have to move or you are injured? Can you stop paying if you stop using?
“This is one of the most important parts of the contract and should be spelled out clearly,” Ms. Greisman said.
TAKE A BREATHER In exchange for price cuts, sales staff will often pressure you to sign up on the spot. Don’t do it, advises the F.T.C. Web site.
Go home, think about it. Reread the contract. Check out the competition.
Call your Better Business Bureau and your state attorney general’s office and ask if they have received complaints about the club you are considering. Then search the specific location on the Internet and see if any customers have written complaints.
What’s more, Mr. Brodsky says, be leery of clubs — especially newly established ones — that push you to pay the entire year’s membership up front. That could be a sign the club is in less-than-stellar financial health.
Only when you are confident you’re getting a good deal should you go ahead and sign the contract.
Have a good workout.
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