Wonderful and Exciting news, (NOT)

[soda72]

I received a notice from my gym(Health and Athletic Center(HAC)) telling me about the wonderful news of being bought out by life time fitness.  When I first heard this I thought it wouldn't be so bad, in fact they already have a large facility in town that is closer to where I live.  But after reading the small print it looks like it's not going to be such a great deal for me.  Currently I pay $23.12 a month for HAC, Life time fitness offers five service levels: bronze, gold select, gold, Platinum, and Onyx.  Bronze being the cheapest package starts at $43.25.  I also found out that the larger facility that is closer to me is not available to bronze members, only gold or higher.  The gold select membership is $54.07 which is more than double of what I'm currently paying.  It's still unclear what is going to happen to the existing HAC facility.  I don't know if they are going to close it down or keep it open as a bronze membership facility.  I'll need to have someone from HAC clarify this but after reading the news letter it didn't sound like they were going to keep it open after the 31st of December.  If they keep it open past December 31st it will need to be a bronze member facility otherwise the only bronze member facility nearby is North Dallas which is to far to drive. 

My options are:
1.) don't do anything, my HAC membership will expire September 30, 2008.
2.) Sign up for bronze, Allows me to pay my existing membership dues and continue access to HAC until December 31, 2008..
3.) Sign up for gold, allows access to large facility and HAC.


Does anyone here have a membership to 'life time fitness'? and if so are you happy with their service and facilities?
Is anyone a member of LA fitness or 24 hour fitness?  What are their monthly rates like?  I don't expect to get the same great deal I
had with HAC but I would rather pay only around $30-$40 for the service.   

[Hornet33]

Dude you can't let them buy your gym!!! You need a dodge ball turny so you can win enough money to buy the gym and keep it like it is.

[soda72]

If they are going to send me a news letter to tell me about the great news (for them) and spin it how wonderful it's going to be apart of their service, I would like to know that I'm getting something in addition for the extra amount I'm now going to pay.   I'm basicly going to be paying double for the same service and facility.   Why is that good news?

[john9001]

i have a bicycle, it's paid for , sometimes i have to buy new tires for it.

[Elfie]

I have tennis shoes, I have to buy new ones every 9 months or so because the pavement wears out the soles. 

[Reschke]

From what I have been told Lifetime Fitness is a good company. They are supposed to be putting in a massive facility here in my town but nothing has happened yet. When my wife and I lived in San Francisco several years ago I was a personal trainer for 24 Hour Fitness and they were an outstanding company to work for at that time...don't know about now. BUT the equipment and everything they had then was state of the art and was great stuff to work with for rehabbing clients and getting new people into working out regularly for the first time.

[VonMessa]

YMCA ?

Usually fairly reasonable.

[soda72]

Thanks Reschke

YMCA ?
Usually fairly reasonable.

They are on my list as well, basically I'm looking for access to free weights, machine weights, and anything for cardio type work outs.  I don't really care about having access to a swimming pool, wall climbing, or racketball courts.

 

[VonMessa]

Thanks Reschke

They are on my list as well, basically I'm looking for access to free weights, machine weights, and anything for cardio type work outs.  I don't really care about having access to a swimming pool, wall climbing, or racketball courts.

 

The "Y" usually has all of the above, and usually for a reasonable price.

[bongaroo]

Any competition?

In my area Planet Fitness is creaming Gold's and the other trendy gyms.  10 bucks a month and it was 10 bucks to sign up for me when I watched for a promotion.  Free weights, machines (in great condition), treadmills, bikes, and they have this big alarm they sound when muscleheads get all grunty and slam weights around.  I always get a chuckle out of that.

Anyways, are they the only option you have?

[Airscrew]

Soda, dont worry about it...

Relax...

Have one of these...

[Chalenge]

Marry a woman 20 years younger then you and you will get all the cardio you need. 

[Maverick]

Forget any kind of so called lifetime memberships or renewable ones at any gym. The buying and selling of gyms is a time honored practice and has been going on for decades. The first experience I have with it was from the very early 80's. The gym was heavily advertising memberships with renewal options basically for life. After 2 years they sold the gym to another company. Of course your plans all changed and the rates went up. It's a nice scam. If you are willing to play by their game then continue to buy a membership.

[BMathis]

I had a Lifetime fitness membership for a year... Great facilities, and training staff. (You have to pay for thier personal trainers, but not the classes). Then they upped the monthly price, and I said good bye. It's a huge corporation, and they're expanding rapidly. May wanna ask if they have any positions available and get some free work outs 

[soda72]

Anyways, are they the only option you have?

I'll be looking around to see what's out there, as of now I only know of YMCA, LA fitness, and 24 hour fitness...   I'll most likely sign up for the bronze membership that will give me until December 31st to make a decision while still paying my $23.12 rate..