LoganSnake

How much does a membership at Bally's cost? I'm about to sign up with a couple of friends tomorrow for their $19/30 day trial and would like to know if anyone's a member how the process there works. I'd appreciate it if anyone replied before tomorrow.

Thanks.

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The_Jazz

I don't know the exact cost, but I can tell you that Bally's business model is built around making it close to impossible to cancel, even if you move out of the area.

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LoganSnake

So if I decide to discontinue after 30 days, I won't be able to do so? I heard they make you sign contracts, is that true?

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braisler

Yeah, the big gym chains, Bally and Gold's, are at least as bad as used car dealer. Gold's Gym actually forged my signature on a membership form and tried to lock me into a longer contract than I initially paid for. No kidding. If you are there just for a 'trial' membership, just don't sign your name to anything while in the club. Don't 'sign in'.

They'll probably want to give you a 'fitness' consultation which will amount to a 30-60 sales pitch. Just say, "No thanks, I just want to try out the gym." You are much better off working out with your body weight as resistance in the park. If you absolutely have to join a gym, see if you can't find a local gym than is not part of a chain. They might have some of the same problems, but it is less likely in my experience.

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The_Jazz

I would check the fine print on the 30-day thing and make sure that it's not recurring. As long as it is a 1-time charge, you're absolutely fine. They do make you sign a contract (as do most gyms/clubs), but the question is the expiration date. Bally's notariety comes from their "lifetime" membership that means you past $25/month (or whatever) for the rest of your life, regardless of whether your use their facilities or not. They offer a much-reduced monthly bill to get you to sign on, but it costs more in the long run.

I can't tell you for sure since I've never seen a contract, but read it yourself and ask questions if you don't understand something. If they make you sign it, make sure you either read for yourself that it will expire in 30 days or write on it that it will expire on such-and-such date.

And for god's sake, don't go to the one at Clark and Diversey!

__________________
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin
"There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush
"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

LoganSnake

Well, there is a local gym right across from my house that's $50/month. I figured that since Bally is a big chain, there might be much better and newer equipment.

Actually, I plan on joining the one on Dempster. It's near where I live.

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Seaver

You have to negotiate a deal with them. They'll try to fast-sell you, that if you sign up now you'll get this "special" discount, etc. They're full of it, what they try to sell you first is the price they have every day.

Listen to their speech, simply ask for the prices and nothing else. Then get up, thank them, and inform them you're going to Gold's Gym, 24 Hour Fitness, etc. to compare prices.

Just like a used car salesman they're almost full commission based, and will try to sell you quick and sell high.

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mojodragon

Or, you could do what I did. My club doesn't cost me anything. In fact, they pay me, whether I use their facilities or not. On the down side, though, their 4 and 6 year contracts are incredibly binding, and they have the option of relocating me when they see fit.

thingstodo

Beep, beep, beep! Back the truck up! You're saying that a business pays you to use their business? I'll take a 6-year contract on that one!

My experience with Bally's is that they are a mess inside with eqipment everywhere, perhaps since many are meat markets.

I also think you get what you pay for, so you have to figure out what you want. Many gyms offer the basics for a low fee, meaning weights, some cardio and that's it. They're usually places you wouldn't want to shower.

On the other end are gyms that have everything in the form of equipment, clean shower facilities, lockers with locks built in that work with your key, hand towels and bath towels, pools, saunas, clean hot tubs, blow dryers. I belong to a place like that and it costs me $60/month. I love it because I can go before work or at lunch, workout and then get ready for work in a place that's almost like a nice hotel in the dressing rooms.

The most important advice: read the fine print, clearly understand the term, what renews automatically, how you can cancel (usually when you move 25 miles away).

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LoganSnake

Well, I don't plan on showering there as I live only 3 miles away, so I can shower when I get home. I just want the basic equipment since I don't plan on using any of the water based facilities (can't swim).

My choice is somewhat limited though, since the friends I'm going with have their mind set on Bally (since their friends recommended it to them), so if I want to have a workout partner that I know (not a stranger at the gym), I gotta go with the flow. I just wanted to know what to expect in terms of plan price.

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mojodragon

Just see your nearest Air Force recruiter, and they'll be more than happy to sign you up! Just take your own advice on the fine print, though. It's pretty binding.

Ilow

alright, that's pretty funny. I was curious too. Guess it's good they don't have a lifetime option.

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thingstodo

So nothing is really free! I think I'll continue to pay. I grew up an AF brat and that was enough for me!!

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If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves.

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MontanaXVI

I can say with all honesty, that Bally's is a crock of shit to put it lightly.

I joined myself and was actually fool enough to get two more friends to join with me, not only did we get locked into 3 year contracts, but the place wasn't that great as far as equipment for the prices we had to pay.

The guy who locked us in with the great sales pitch, and becoming our best friend in the 45 minutes we were there was nowhere to be found once we tried to get our free personal training sessions we were promised when we signed up. I tried to cancel since I felt I was totally lied to, and made to sign a contract in which they did not live up to their end of the deal and was flat out told that I had to get a medical professional to say I was not fit enough to work out AT ALL to break the contract (that included ANY light walking, or any lifting of any weight, which any doctor will tell you that you need to do) so I was under the impression I had to pretty much be dead to get out of the contract.

The equipment sucked, many of the treadmills had loose belts on them and slipped when you ran, the weights were usually scattered around the weight room and no one had any respect for you doing your workout, my friend and myself would be doing a small circuit on the hammer machines, and people would just come throw your plates on the floor and do their sets and not put your weights back, or even ask how many more reps you had to do until they could have full use of the machines.

I just paid the total due, and stopped going back, I know I got ripped off, but chalk it up to experience and I did get about a years use of the club out of the three year deal.

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Siege

I don't know about bally's over there, but over here, they're not doing well at all. A lot of their big locations got bought out.

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pornclerk

You just have to watch that if you decide to cancel your membership, make sure they stop taking the money out of your bank account. Goodlife Fitness pulled that one with me. I canceled and then 6 months down the road I noticed on my statement that they'd been taking money (I don't really check my statements that often). When I called them they said that I was still attending their club and using my membership. I moved away for crying out loud! Eventually after much grievance from dealing with it they gave me my money back.

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yellowmac

FWIW, I'm pretty content with my Bally's membership. The facilities aren't new, but it's the closest gym to my house (well, it was at the time I joined) and I don't have any complaints. The wife and I pay $45/month, and we're a bit over a year into a 3 year contract. Short-term we're not going anywhere, so I'm fine with it. It makes me go to the gym and work out, cause otherwise I'm just burning money, and I hate that feeling.

itlain

I was sort of curious about that. Was thinking to myself, "My that sounds like me job, except for being the Army"

In the Army you can even get a 15 month paid vacation to a sauna!

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Smooth23

I go to planet fitness. $10/mo with no contract, open 24/7, most the equipment is new. My only gripe is not enough dumbells, only 1 squat rack and no pullup bar.

KungFuGuy

if you're in an urban area you could check out your local ymca. My friend in manhattan says that it costs $50/year and has just gotten all new equipment. (hooray for gov't subsidies right?)

It'll probably have more a gritty feeling though. But works for a lot of people.