Perhaps you’ve been contemplating joining a gym for a while now – you hop online, hoping to get a bit of an idea of how much you’ll need to fork out each week and whether there’ll be any other associated costs.
To your absolute frustration, it seems like no gyms are willing to display this information. It feels like trying to find buried treasure in the middle of a desert.
The reason why gyms don’t list their prices is that they don’t want a new potential lead to make a decision based on finances alone – and many new gym goers initially put far too much importance on the price. Gyms want to have the opportunity to get you emotionally invested in what they can do for you, which they can’t do if you’re only gauging them on price.
The reality is, if you simply join the cheapest gym you can find, it may not always be the right gym for you and you’ll instead end up wasting time (and money) jumping from gym to gym.
Today we’ll be addressing why gyms don’t list their prices, whether gyms are worth spending money on as well as options you have when trying to visit the gym for free or less-expensively.
Let’s dive right in.
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Why Don’t Gyms list their Prices?
Yes, it’s extremely frustrating. How can I possibly make an informed decision about whether a gym is right for me if I don’t even know how much it’s going to cost?
The reality is that most gyms want to have a chance to give their sales pitch before presenting you with their prices. Making the life-changing decision to take one’s health seriously and join the gym is a very emotional decision.
Perhaps you are unhappy with how the weight has slowly crept up on you, maybe the doctor said you needed to start exercising, or perhaps you want to add a few inches to the biceps?
Whatever your reasons, many gyms thrive on the opportunity to utilise your emotions to sell you a membership. By not presenting their prices online, they have a greater chance to pitch to you and convince you why their facility is best. Unfortunately, some gym membership consultants take advantage of this and pressure nervous new gym goers into making an immediate decision.
It’s important to know what to expect when visiting a new gym. Remember, you never have to make a decision right there and then – you can always ask for more time to think about your decision before you commit. You have the power and as long as you remember that, joining the gym is a very simple process.
Now that it’s 2020, much of the old school ‘sales’ tactics are falling away and many newer gyms are getting much better at the new membership process. They are being more transparent with pricing and upfront costs and are really just there to help you.
At the end of the day, most gyms genuinely care about helping you improve your health and achieve your goals, which is why they want a chance to show you how amazing the results will be before you worry about how much it’ll cost.
Are Gyms Worth the money?
Investing in your health is one of the most important things we can do. We spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars a year on insurance – health, car, home, contents, life – you name it, there’s insurance for it.
In reality, investing in a gym membership and putting your health first will help you live longer, live better and generally makes you a happier person. When you look at it that way, gyms are worth every cent.
Sure, you don’t necessarily need a gym membership to stay active, however, going to the gym is a very proactive way of taking control of your health and fitness. For many people, it is the extra step they need get motivated and the financial committment also keeps them accountable to exercising regularly.
Picking the right gym can be difficult, however, you should think about why you’re doing it and what exactly you want to get out of the membership. Based on this, ensure that the gym you choose fulfils those needs.
It’s important to consider more than the weekly or monthly price when making a decision about which gym is best. You need to consider the following too:
- Are there any upfront fees or other associated costs?
- Is there a minimum contract length or cancellation fee?
- Is this gym right for me? Will I keep coming? (It can be expensive to pay for a cheap membership you never use!)
How Can I go to the Gym for Free?
Many gyms give you the ability to try out the facility for free whicg most often comes in the form of a free day pass or week. These can be easily sourced on a gym’s website.
It’s important to keep in mind that gyms will often use this opportunity to give you their ‘sales pitch’ and will also keep your contact details to follow up later down the track.
Although not completely free, there are some cheaper options, such as Groupon, that allow you to purchase ‘coupons’ for cheap short term gym memberships or passes. These can be another great option if you want to trial a few local facilities.
Classpass is also a good option, and while it isn’t free, it allows you to trial and test a multitude of different gyms and fitness classes without ongoing commitment or upfront fees.
What is the Cheapest Gym to Join? (In Australia)
In Australia, the cheapest gym chains are:
Snap Fitness – $12.95 per week
Plus Fitness – $13.95 per week
Jetts – $14.95 per week
Keep in mind, that this doesn’t necessarily mean they are the best VALUE. These gym chains are often very overcrowded during peak periods of the day and have very limited equipment and space.
If you invest in a small group fitness gym, it may cost you $50-60 a week, but the value you get is second to none. You’ll learn far more, have your individual technique critiqued, and will be motivated by other like-minded people to get the most out of your session.
Should I join the Gym or Not?
At the end of the day, it’s really up to you to decide whether joining the gym is the right decision for you. There are pros and cons of both joining the gym and working out from home and it comes down to what you want out of it and your financial situation.
Joining the gym will give you an added layer of accountability and motivation, which for many people is the step they need to take their health and fitness more seriously. On the other hand, working out from home or going for a run is free and costs you less time, so for others, this may be the best option.
The Next Steps
Make sure you gain and understanding of why you want to join a gym before you sign up – ensure that the gym your joining fulfills your needs. Doing so will ensure you’re getting the most value out of your gym membership, even if it isn’t the ‘cheapest’ option.
At Get Gym Fit, we are all about transparency. We spend an extensive amount of time reviewing gyms in local areas to ensure new gym goers feel informed before making a decision. We want to help you join a gym you’ll love and keep coming back to.
