Feeling a little down lately about your weight? Instead of being depressed about it, look for a way to get in shape. Join a gym or sports club to improve your physical condition today. It is estimated that 33 million Americans are members of approximately 17,000 gyms. While many consumers who join are satisfied with their choices, some have had very poor experiences. Learn from these poor customers’ mistakes and protect yourself when shopping for a gym membership. Don’t be fooled by high-pressure sales tactics, material misrepresentations of facilities as well as services, broken cancellation and refund clauses in the gym membership contracts, and lost membership fees caused by the particular gym closing. Before you join a gym, follow these easy steps and you will be well on your way to selecting a good choice.
Instructions
1. Call or email the gym’s public relations contact. Set up an appointment to visit the gym during the hours you will typically use. This will allow you to see how many people go there and if it’s overcrowded. With your notebook and pen in hand, jot down your observations. Pay particular attention to details such as if the facilities are clean and well-maintained, and if the equipment and machines are in good condition.
2. Inquire about trial periods. Sometimes the gym will give away a free one-week pass so you can try it out.
3. Ask how many members the gym has. Also inquire about the demographics of the clientele to see what age group and gender of people use it the most.
4. Find out about the gym’s hours of operation. Some gyms have been known to restrict males from using the gym during certain days and females to others. Some may have higher fees during peak hours or weekends. It’s best to know all the policies at the outset.
5. Inquire about the gym’s instructors and trainers. Some people hire trainers and instructors who have special qualifications and certifications while others do not. It’s good to know about staff qualifications to see if group classes or personal training is an option.
6. Review the contract and wait a few days before signing up. Use this time to take the contract home and read it over thoroughly. Make sure to check if everything that's been promised is reflected in the contract.
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