What should we do?

amymeenieminymo · December 2009

I wrote a week or so ago about a Planet Fitness opening up down the street and we just joined a Fitness 19 about 10-15 minutes away a few months ago. I like our gym, but only going down the street is very appealing. We don't have a contract, can cancel anytime, but we paid $170 up front (85 each for my bf and I) so canceling now would lose that money.

However, the Planet Fitness offer pre-opening deals which is either $1.00 down and $20/month (we currently pay 10/month) and you can use any gym, or we can get $1.00 down and 10/month but we can only use this location.

So basically cancelling now wouldn't really be losing that money we put down since there is practically nothing required down at the new gym, and we would get to go to a gym so much closer and more convenient. But I am worried about locking myself into a gym where I am limited on the location. Though granted, I have only used a different location for my current gym once and I hated it. And we just bought a house so it's not like we would have to worry about moving anytime soon. But still it feels weird not to have a choice of where to go IF I needed it.

What would you do, cancel and go to the closer one, or stay put?

Luludog1 · December 2009

I'm cheap and would get my moneys worth first before switching...but if money is not an object then switch for the convenience.

amymeenieminymo · December 2009

I'm cheap and would get my moneys worth first before switching...but if money is not an object then switch for the convenience.

Yeah it does bug me that my current gym is getting money that I won't be getting use of.....BUT, as far as money paid, I've already spent it, the only difference to me is I will be SO much closer to my house, plus M-F they are open 24 hours and they have lockerrooms and showers, so if I was ever so inclined, I could work out before work and shower whereas I can't at my current gym.

ischmelle · December 2009

I would use the gym down the street. I have found that when it comes to working out, the more convenient it is to your daily schedule the more likely you are to stick with it. Since the gym is so close to your house, you probably won't need to use a different location. And, if you do ever have the need to use a different location, most of the time gyms offer a one day pass charge that you could pay just that one time. For example, I work for the YMCA. If you aren't a member of a Y, you can still come in and pay a $6.00 daily pass fee and use the facilities. For the number of times you may need to use a different gym, it is probably more cost effective to pay just a daily fee if the need ever arises. AND, I am a busy gal, so I always consider my time and energy into the "cost" of something. Traveling 15-20 minutes takes 30 to 40 minutes out of your day. That is A LOT of time and sometimes the time you "pay" can be just as expensive as the money you pay and is something to consider when you are trying to decide if you are "getting your moneys worth." Just think, with the time you save you could add an extra 20-40 minutes to your workout for the day! Good luck with your decision!

ragos97 · December 2009

Well, you can look at it this way. You'll be saving gas money, time, & wear and tear on your vehicle by going to the 1 down the street instead of driving to the 1 further from your home. That's just my perspective. Time is a precious thing: you'll be saving 20-30 min. round trip.

CasperO · December 2009

Have you visited the local gym yet? How's the equipment? The staff? The culture? Is it clean?

The $170 is what's called a "sunk cost",,, it's money that's spent and you can't get back. So, looking at it from today's perspective, what's the best plan? How much additional money will it cost to go with the local gym as opposed to using the old one? How much will you save in time? In gasoline? Is it worth it?

Decisions decisions,,, :bigsmile:

CrystalT · December 2009

The start up fee for the 1st gym is sunk cost at this point and you can't get it back any way you go. Since there is only a $1 start up fee at the new gym is so small that it really just leaves 3 things to consider.

1. Will the closer location increase your likelihood of going to the gym and/or sticking with the routine? My gym is 15 minutes away and I will admit that I would probably be a lot happier with one that is only 5 minutes away, but I don't have that option.
2. Cost differences? There isn't one if you stick with the 1 location option. As far as considering the multiple location option, does Fitness 19 have multiple locations for $10/month? How often would you us a different location? Is it really worth an extra cost?
3. Are you more comfortable in one of the gyms over the other? I am much more comfortable in the gym I current go to over the last one I went to.

amymeenieminymo · December 2009

Have you visited the local gym yet? How's the equipment? The staff? The culture? Is it clean?

The $170 is what's called a "sunk cost",,, it's money that's spent and you can't get back. So, looking at it from today's perspective, what's the best plan? How much additional money will it cost to go with the local gym as opposed to using the old one? How much will you save in time? In gasoline? Is it worth it?

Decisions decisions,,, :bigsmile:

Wow, I feel like I am in my accounting class, we were just dealing with sunk costs and differential costs the other day. We haven't been to the new gym yet, and since it's a pre-sale (the gym hasn't opened yet) we'll have to try out another location. But yeah, we plan on doing that on Wednesday before we sign up.

amymeenieminymo · December 2009

Thanks everyone for the replies, we're going to visit another location on Wednesday just to make sure we like it (our location isn't open yet) but as long as we do I am pretty sure we'll switch. I really value my time and that is often included in my decisions about money, and sometimes I worry that I too often choose time-saving and convenience over saving money. But as you all pointed out, the money I already put down is sunk, and the monthly will cost the same at both gyms. On top of just saying my time, I will be saving gas and wear and tear on my already worn and torn car.

Thanks again!

songbyrdsweet · December 2009

Planet Fitness has a Lunk Alarm (no grunting or powerlifting allowed). That alone deters me from ever joining one. If the weight is heavy--as it should be--I'm going to grunt!

Like Casper said, definitely visit the gym first. They all have different atmospheres, type/quality of equipment and staff.

Nich0le · December 2009

Depends, not all gyms are equal. I have gyms all over the place and there is only one that offers the classes I like (Les Mills) so it is worth the extra mile to go because I know I'm getting what I want.

I don't know what you and your friend are doing at the gym but maybe see if you can get a trial pass from the new gym for a week and give it a go, you might decide it's worth switching and you might decide the other gym is better for you personally.

check your agreement with the current gym too, you might have a certain amount of time to cancel and get your initiation fees refunded. You might also mention to the new gym that you are thinking of cancelling because of the new gym and see if they will give you a month or two for free to stay.

paddlemom · December 2009

I would also talk to the sales reps at the new gym and tell them that you just bought this other membership at a competitor and you are exploring the benefits of switching....if they are recruiting for new members at this new location, then they may even offer you a better deal - perhaps the portable membership at the non portable rate - just to sign you up! Regardless of what they are advertising, there is always room for negotiation.
Particularly because the new one isn't opening yet, they probably would like to lock you in before you really get into the habit of going to your other one and then can't be bothered to switch.

I don't know how long before the new one opens, but at least you can continue where you are until then and "use up" some of your intial investment in the meantime.

havingitall · December 2009

Even if you go to another location to try it out, I find that at my gym that the different locations are completely different. The one near home is okay but I love the one near work it has better equipment and a much nicer pool. The one near home has a Booster Juice and a sports nutrition store. The one near work doesn't.

Personally, I wouln't buy into something that wasn't already in business, but that is just me. I have heard stories about gym chains that move all the great stuff to one gym for an opening and then a couple of weeks after they move that equipmemt to another gym when they are doing a member drive and then the equipment gets moved again for something else.

Just be careful before locking yourself in or add to the contract that you have the right to cancel up to 2 weeks after the new gym opens so you can see how it is.

Nich0le · December 2009

Havingitall makes a great point. Pure Fitness was supposed to put in a new gym only a mile from my home and we discussed how nice it would be because we could ride bikes to the gym or even walk, a bunch of people signed up and then when the stock market took a dump they bailed on the new location but kept members locked into their contracts and the only one close by is about 8 miles away. In that 8 miles we probably have 15 gyms so a lot of people got screwed. We did take advantage of the new offer they had going at the time and our gym reduced our monthly fee from $30 to $20 so it worked out well for us.

What should we do?

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