24 Hour Fitness membership
 

I just returned from a consultation with a salesman at 24 Hour Fitness, and I feel he didn't give me the best offer he could. They're wanting a $400 initiation fee, plus $25 per month thereafter. A pilot colleague of mine paid about the same initiation fee for his, but got after one year (or two-- can't remember) $99 a year forever.

Their prices seem flexible, but I don't bargain well. Has anyone else a membership with 24 hour that can share what kind of deal they were made? I don't trust these buffed car salesmen!

Two words about 24 hr fitness:

STAY AWAY

They're out for your $$ only, and use hard sales tactics. I think you witnessed that yourself.

Gold's Gym is my recommendation.

Let them know whos boss1
 

I am currently flight training at UND and am from Hawaii and go home about twice a year. Im usually only home for a few weeks and always get short memberships. As a pilot you know all about networking....the same goes for gyms. I go home for three weeks and pay $40 for the whole time....relatively speaking this would cost some random who walked in about $120. When I was home for the summer i paid $100 for three months....No initiation or processing fees. Just talk to them and let them know that your serious about a membership and that you know people who have paid a $90 processing and initiation fee and have paid $30/month after that....(thats what i paid while in high school).....the reason they want to get an expensive rate out of you is because they make a percentage of everyones monthly payment that they sign up. So be slow and make sure you understand everything they are offering....they'll also try to jack up the monthly by offering unnecessary services....so just take your time and you should be fine

If you fly International to places like Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, and Seoul it will be worth it as you can you use the california Fitness clubs in these cities. If you were to walk in off the streets in Hong Kong it would cost you $40 per visit. I purchased a two year membership in Bangkok for $500. Just my two cents.

Where are you?
 

I am a member of 24 hour fitness in Las Vegas. I paid a $70 registration fee and that's it. My dues are $30 a month for all active clubs...$42 if I want all sport clubs too. No contracts required. They often have specials which waive the $70 inition fee too. Try checking their website.

Bally Fitness
 

Bally Fitness is doing $19 initiation and $19 per month. The catch- a 36 month contract.

Golds gym has always been great for me!

Never pay an initiation fee. It is purely the salesmans commision.

As a pilot your main priority is a chain that has lots of locations. 24 Hour Fitness has a LOT of clubs in the western US, many of them convenient on pilot layovers. They have a lot of really nice, new clubs. There's one in the LAS airport that I use on longer sits. They also have the standard reciprocal agreement with many other clubs.

They have the distasteful salesman thing going, but once you get past that, for $30/month it's pretty convenient. I wouldn't pay more than $100 initiation. Get the Sport Club membership.

If you ever go to Teterboro and stop in at Jet Aviation they have their own Gym you can use for free. Pretty cool:)

A happy 24 Hr. Fitness member...
 

Obviously you are on the West half of the US is you are looking into 24 hour Fitness.

The great thing about 24 HR. fitness is that you can have one membership and access all of their clubs. This is IDEAL for a pilot and those who are always traveling for work.

I paid up front $700 for an all club 3 year membership with no monthly fees. And a LIFETIME all club renewal membership for only $20 per year after my 3 years are up.

This was a fantastic deal, but you have to cough up some change up front. And you have to be the type of person who is going to continue to use a gym membership regularly. My membership also came with 4 personal trainer sessions, a box of power bars, shakes and cookies, and a metabolic rate Breathalyzer test.

I think your 24 HR. guy could definitely offer you a better deal. Phone other clubs and see what deals they offer. Call his bluff, tell him that you're going to LA Fitness across the street and walk out.

Good luck

Gordon,

I'm a 24-hour member as well, and I got a much better deal. I too, got a 3 year membership for $700, paid up front, as well as a couple of training sessions/consultations, and a box of power bars and supplements. My company also has a contract with them so I didn't have to pay an initiation fee. My other choice other than paying up front was just to start paying $39 a month. I chose coughing up the $700 up front for 3 years, as it is a much better deal.

I would definitely check to see if they have an arrangement with your airline or company. They often have deals/and or contracts for employees of large companies and people are often unaware of them. I didn't know about my companies contract with them until another employee told me.

On the down side, make sure you do your stretches and warm up everytime you go. I hurriedly ran into the gym to knock out my workout a couple of weeks ago and tore up my knee. I'm home recovering from emergency knee surgery that I had last Friday...:(

I would avoid signing any contracts if you can. I am presently being screwed by Bally's Fitness. I stupidly signed a 3 year contract with them.

Yeah, I did this too. Great deal (in the west), the clubs are often close to layover hotels, and there is even one in the LAS airport.