Article: "How Low Cost Gyms Like Planet Fitness Psychologically Manipulate Members Into NOT Going"

NoelFigart1 wrote: »

Well, I think the article is poorly-written, badly-structured, and without enough supporting evidence for the author's presumed point.

It's not that I think the author is incorrect about a gym's business model presuming not every member comes, but I don't think feeling out of place in a weight room is by specific gym design. I admit I do not frequent either bars or the Planet Fitness franchise, so it's possible I don't have enough evidence, either, to make a judgement on the psychological layout and what it's meant to imply.

The cheap membership might make some people value it less, I agree.

The author's ideas of what a good gym costs is bizarre. Five hundred bucks a month and they kick you out of you don't attend enough? Maybe if your membership included a personal trainer to talk you through your workouts or something. Or if it were some elite gym for world-class athletes. I pay less than $500/year for a good, mid-grade community gym with a pool.

Yeah, my first thought was "Is this a psychologist making comments about how gym lay-outs effect people psychologically?"

My gym is one of the greatest in the state, but it only cost $10 because I work for the University. If I was an outsider it'd be about $80 per month I think.

But I do fall into the the "It's OK if I don't use it cause it's so cheap" mindset.

But I also love outdoor activity and hike around a lot.

I've never been to a Planet Fitness, but I went to a mini-Gold's and it was a terrible, terrible experience, but I don't think it was Gold's's fault. It was the people there. I went for like 4 days and each day caught someone red handed trying to steal from me. I know we need to keep our valuables locked up, but I'm not used to a "culture" that will literally try to steal your dirty gym shorts or half used bottle of water. I thought it'd be smart to go to a gym near my got at-the-time (OKC), NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, drive to work and drive home, no more loggy-gagging in that area, ever, ever again.

In my gym there are three "stories".

The very top story is a track with white cardio and more basic level machines. Intimidation level, maybe 1.

The middle level is the cardio room, a rock wall, and some crawling and stretching stuff and the class rooms. Intimidation level 0.

Now the bottom floor, if you're brave enough to descend (which I always do, I'm no novice) There's a few weight rooms, racket ball courts, basketball courts, more advanced machines (black, not white!), free weights, in two rooms and some weird things I don't understand if you want to skateboard in a pipe there's one down there too... All the guys pumping iron are college guys, Intimidation level: 10 or more!

So there are "psychologically intimidating" areas in my opinion, but fortunately I can do two full levels if I don't feel like rocking out and being a bad *kitten*.