Joining the gym - negotiating the joining fee?

[iphonedyou]

Hi all,

Looking at joining David Lloyd. They're looking £160 / month for a couples membership, 12 month contract, no racquets at the particular club. It's in London, one of their more la-dee-da clubs area wise.

So on top of the £160 a month - 'but free towels!' - they're looking a £74 joining fee. I can just about get on board with the exorbitant membership cost but think the joining fee is a total racket and refuse to pay it. The membership woman phoned my girlfriend yesterday, and as discussed, we said we'd take it subject to their waiving the fee. They refused and we left it at that.

Really? Has anybody had any luck? This particular club was doing a 3 month promo with no joining fee just a couple months back, but apparently now they're completely unable to waive it?

They're aware we're looking at a Virgin Active nearby. Just seems ridiculous they'd let £74 get in the way of £1900 guaranteed fees.

[LordGrover]

May be worth waiting... I did similar with fitness first (considerably cheaper though).
I left it until the end of the month (guessing they have monthly sales targets) and did as you suggest. The manager called me back and asked what could he do to make me join. I said, waiving the joining fee and he did.

[smiffy180]

Whaaaaaaaaat.
I crease at £30 a month!
I expect coke and hookers inc. of that price

[Lost soul]

I draw the line at £50- a month , joining fee would also void the deal for me

[anonymous-user]

I would be saying £160 a month. No joining fee, 1 months notice or you can stick it. Why are you even considering entering into such a restrictive contract? All they are doing is keying a couple of cards and giving you an induction (sales pitch for personal training).

[Muzzer79]

£160 is daylight robbery with molestation thrown in....

I used to baulk at £40 per month.

I know DL is expensive but cripes man; what are you getting that you wouldn't get in another, less expensive, chain?

[steve_bmw]

Muzzer79 said:

£160 is daylight robbery with molestation thrown in....

That's what I thought too. That's a lot of money to go to the gym, for that price I would expect my protein shakes thrown in for free.

DL has always been pricey round where I live.

[mcelliott]

I pay £40 a month to work out in probably one of the best gyms in Britain. Best of all, occasionally there is even fresh bog roll in the st houses.

[Hoofy]

Muzzer79 said:

£160 is daylight robbery with molestation thrown in....

I spent a moment trying to figure out what kind of exercise equipment a mole station was.

[t400ble]

£10 a month here at Megagym

[Mr Roper]

Jeeze thats a lot, not to mention the joining fee!!

I pay £44 per month which includes 2 x 1 hour PT sessions per month.

[Pit Pony]

I pay £36 a month (rolling contract) to attend possibly one of the best climbing walls in the east midlands (Its it the top 10 at least). I only do this as they charge £8 a session, and this motivates me to go more often, in order to get my 'payback'.

Would you feel better if they charged you an extra £6.50 a month and waived the joining fee. I mean £160 or £166.50. Either way they saw you coming. Almost £2K a year. How many hours do you have to work to earn that after tax ? Too many.

[dave0010]

Due to moving around lots with my job I've been a member at about every large gym company in the UK.

They always go on about the joining fee and apart from my very first gym membership I've never paid it. I just simple say no and tell them if they want me to join then remove it. This is normally meet with the normal sales talk but I've never been refused membership.

[theshrew]

No way any gym is worth paying that much + I'd rather take my own towel than have one that's had someone else's sweaty crack on it.

[iphonedyou]

Thanks for the tip on waiting until month end, that's a useful one and I'll perhaps give that a go!

As for £160. Yes, it's extortionate! But it's Fulham, it's 3 minutes from home and to be honest they're all pricy. Sadly. But consensus is clearly - don't pay the joining fee!

[anonymous-user]

I cancelled my DL membership last year and joined a local private gym.

£25 per month and no contract

[iphonedyou]

DL is rolling 30 day for a slightly higher amount (ha). I've done the cheaper gyms and they serve a purpose but there aren't really any locally that we like.

[z4chris99]

cheaper than the harbour club. or virgin active in the city

I'd say you will join if they waive the fee. then wait. They will call you back

[iphonedyou]

z4chris99 said:

cheaper than the harbour club. or virgin active in the city

I'd say you will join if they waive the fee. then wait. They will call you back

Cheaper than a great many in London!

Yeah I'm hoping for a callback within a day or two... After that I may ring and offer.

[z4chris99]

I pay £59 for FF black....