Checklist 

Before joining a health and fitness club, be realistic about what activities you are likely to participate in and how often you’ll use the club. If you have never exercised before, or haven’t for a long time, question whether you will be able to stick with a new fitness regimen. Most people who join clubs stop using them after only a few months. Since many clubs charge nonrefundable initiation fees, you can waste a lot of money if you quit. 

If you still want to join up, this article should help you choose a club. Our Ratings Tables list ratings of area fitness centers for quality and price, and offer details on available facilities, activities, and amenities. 

Some quick advice: 

• Weigh all your options. Can you get exercise less expensively some other way—for example, by doing push-ups and sit-ups, running, biking, or joining a sports team or exercise class? 
• Shop around. You’ll find that some clubs charge twice as much as their competitors for about the same facilities and amenities. Because many clubs have several fee plans and discount options—and may offer the best deals only if it’s absolutely necessary to close a sale—make sure sales staff offer you the best available rates. When discussing costs, mention other clubs you’re considering. And check whether you qualify for a discount due to an arrangement between the facility and your employer or health insurance plan (see below). 
• Ask whether a membership you’re considering has a time commitment. If you’ve never joined a fitness facility, test both your determination to exercise and the club by taking a short-term or month-to-month option. 
• Before signing on the dotted line, find out the rules for canceling and freezing the membership. 
• Ask for a guest pass to try out any club you are considering. While there, check out the cleanliness and the condition of equipment. Use your pass at a time when you’re most likely to exercise regularly to see how crowded it gets, and judge how helpful the staff is. 
• Get sales staff to put promises in writing. If a salesperson says you can cancel your membership at any time, make sure it says so in the contract. If the salesperson says the facility is about to break ground on a new lap pool, don’t believe it unless it’s written down. 

You had such good intentions when you bought that expensive recumbent exercise bicycle—so why are you only using it to stack magazines? You were also certain the “ab” contraption you bought—while sitting on your couch watching late-night TV and inhaling a pint of Ben & Jerry’s—would make all the difference, but so far it’s just a convenient footrest. Ring a bell? Well, at least you have plenty of company: The fitness industry thrives on good intentions. 

Maybe the facilities of a health and fitness club—coupled with the financial commitment of membership—could finally provide the motivations you need to get fit and stay fit. 

If you are thinking of joining a health and fitness club, be prepared to make a number of decisions. There are many clubs in the area from which to choose, each likely to offer several membership options. And because sales staff at some clubs use high-pressure and deceptive sales tactics to close deals, it’s not always easy to make the right choices. 

Membership at many clubs doesn’t come cheap. Although you can join a bare-bones gym for $350 a year or less, many clubs charge more than $700 per person for the first year, including initiation fees. Want a club that offers racquet sports or has a wide range of facilities and amenities? Expect to pay a lot more. 

While the amenities and services vary from facility to facility, large price differences exist among clubs with roughly the same basic features. If you’re just interested in fitness equipment and group exercise classes, at the time of our last full, published article, a single membership that provides unlimited access to all facilities for one year costs $188 at the Planet Fitness in Cherry Hill; at Active Fitness in Medford, you’ll pay $787. If you want to play indoor tennis and racquetball and swim, a three-year couple’s membership costs $2,599 at Northeast Racquet Club & Fitness Center in Philadelphia; at Healthplex Sports Club in Springfield, you’ll pay $5,433. 

In addition to comparing the facilities and services of various clubs, compare the costs of joining a club to the many other fitness options. This article will help you sort through those options and, if you decide that a health and fitness club is the best way to go, help you get what you want at the best available price. 

Weigh All Your Options 

Before joining a club, think about your own motivations and interests—and consider alternatives. Many consumers pay fitness clubs a lot of money for activities available more cheaply elsewhere. 

In fact, most people can save money and meet all their fitness and recreation needs without joining private fitness clubs. You can do push-ups, sit-ups, and many other exercises at home for free. Walking, running, and biking are very inexpensive. A regular soccer or basketball game at a nearby park is not only inexpensive but probably a lot more fun than lugging weights around a smelly gym. For a one-time investment of a few hundred dollars, you can buy various types of home exercise equipment. 

Local governments offer both facilities and programs. At parks, you can find tennis and basketball courts and sports leagues. Some local governments have recreation centers where you can use cardiovascular fitness equipment, weightlifting rooms, and indoor swimming pools, or take exercise classes—all free or much cheaper than comparably equipped private health clubs. 

For example, the Greater Plymouth Community Center offers a fitness center, an indoor pool, a gymnasium, an indoor track, and a wide range of group exercise classes. A one-year pass for adults costs $395 for residents and $535 for nonresidents. 

Philadelphia operates 13 community centers that offer fitness centers or weight rooms and 16 facilities with indoor pools. Access to these facilities is free. 

And as you can see on our Ratings Tables, YMCAs usually have facilities comparable to those of private health clubs for prices that are often lower than what you can expect to pay at for-profit facilities. 

Even if you expect eventually to join a private health and fitness club, spend a few months trying the alternatives. That will give you a better idea whether you really are likely to stick it out at a club and which activities and facilities matter to you. 

Work Out a Plan 

If you don’t currently exercise on a regular basis, or want to increase your fitness regimen, first develop a plan. For most people, beginning a drastically new exercise routine is akin to quitting a bad habit: Having a doable plan increases your chance of success. Your plan should include realistic fitness goals, a list of exercises for achieving those goals, an exercise schedule, and a list of reasons to keep you motivated. (If you are older than 40, check with a physician before beginning any program of increased exercise.) 

Obviously, you have a better chance of changing your habits if you enjoy what you’re doing. Although some individuals endure a few months of agony before they start to enjoy exercise for its own sake, it’s easier if you like it from the start. It helps if your new exercise regimen includes opportunities to see friends or meet new people. So does an attractive facility. And it certainly helps if you look forward to playing a sport you enjoy, rather than pedaling in place or pushing and pulling on a machine. 

Size Up the Clubs 

When considering a club, you’ll want to consider several points, including what its members say about it, its location, membership fees, contract terms, facilities and equipment, classes, and amenities. Our Ratings Tables include many of these details for area facilities. 

Review Ratings from Customers 

Our Ratings Tables report ratings of the facilities by their customers. We surveyed area consumers (primarily CHECKBOOK and Consumer Reports subscribers) and asked them to rate health and fitness centers they had used “inferior,” “adequate,” or “superior” on the following aspects of service quality— 

• Quality/maintenance of facilities and equipment 
• Cleanliness 
• Adequacy of facilities/equipment for demand 
• Quality of instruction 
• Availability/convenience of organized group activities 
• Friendliness of staff 
• Providing what the sales staff promised 
• Overall value for your money 

For facilities in the Delaware Valley area that received at least 10 ratings, our Ratings Tables show the percent of each club’s surveyed customers who rated it “superior” (as opposed to “adequate” or “inferior”) on each survey question. (Click here for further discussion of our customer survey and other research methods.) 

Although several clubs rate quite high on all survey measures, we receive scads of complaints about many other facilities, as evidenced by the ratings shown for them on our Ratings Tables. The most common complaints relate to lousy facilities and equipment, and indifferent customer service. 

Check Complaint Histories 

For firms that were evaluated in our last full, published article, our Ratings Tables show counts of complaints we gathered from local Better Business Bureaus (BBB) for a recent three-year period. 

You can check current BBB complaint information on any company by visiting www.bbb.org or by phoning the BBB that serves the area where the company is located (click here for contact information). You can check current customer survey ratings by clicking on the company’s name on our Ratings Tables and, in the details under the listing, clicking a link to the BBB’s most recent report on complaints about the company. 

When using the complaint information, keep in mind that complaints are not always justified; sometimes customers are unreasonable. And remember that we didn’t have a measure of business volume; large health and fitness centers are more likely to incur complaints simply because they serve more customers. 

Take the Tour 

Before joining any club, take a tour and ask questions. Most clubs also provide prospective customers with free guest passes; be sure to take advantage of these offers. 

When trying out a club, ask members what they like and don’t like about the club, and consider the following questions. 

Is the location convenient? 

If you can’t easily get to the facility, you’re not likely to use it. Surveyed CHECKBOOK subscribers cited location as the most important factor in choosing a club. Consider only facilities close to your home or workplace, depending on when you plan to work out. Most chains offer memberships that allow you to use several different facilities. 

Is it open when you need it? 

Check hours of operation. For early workouts, most open by 6 a.m. on weekdays, but not until 7, 8, or 9 a.m. on weekends. In the evening, most are open until at least 10 p.m., but a few close as early as 9 p.m. Also check hours of the specific facilities you expect to use; for example, the tennis courts may be open until midnight while the weight room closes at 10 p.m. and all aerobics classes end by 9 p.m. If you’re interested in specific classes, make sure they’re offered when you can attend them. 

Does it have the facilities and amenities you want? 

Check whether the club has the types of facilities and equipment you plan to use. Our Ratings Tables list this information for the facilities we’ve evaluated. All facilities listed on our Ratings Tables offer some form of weight training. Many also have racquetball or squash courts, but indoor pools, indoor tennis, basketball courts, and indoor tracks are less widely available. The table also indicates whether facilities have such features as saunas, Jacuzzis, showers, towel service, and lockers. Remember that our Ratings Tables say nothing about the size or quality of what is offered: One club’s pool might be barely bigger than another club’s hot tub. 

Does stuff work? 

Even if a club offers all the facilities and equipment you want to use, they won’t do you much good if they’re poorly maintained. Our Ratings Tables report how surveyed customers rated clubs for “quality/maintenance of facilities and equipment.” Some clubs received “superior” ratings on this question from more than 80 percent of their surveyed customers, while others were rated “superior” by fewer than 30 percent. 

Does it offer the classes and activities you want? 

Our Ratings Tables tell you about a variety of classes and activities offered by the rated clubs, including aerobics, yoga, group cycling, and dance. You can check the club’s schedule of classes for the current period to see how often these activities really are available, but that won’t tell you how quickly classes fill up. To give you more insight on the availability of activities, our Ratings Tables report ratings on our survey question “availability/convenience of organized group activities.” 

Is it crowded? 

Good facilities and equipment won’t do you much good if you can’t use them. Our Ratings Tables show ratings on “adequacy of facilities/equipment for demand.” When trying out a club, visit it during the time you are most likely to use it and check whether there are waits for equipment, find out how and when to reserve court time, check sign-up rosters for courts to see how full they are, and ask club members whether crowding is a problem. 

Is it clean? 

Our survey asked about “cleanliness”; as our Ratings Tables show, clubs’ scores varied widely. When you check out clubs, pay particular attention to the state of locker rooms, showers, and swimming pools. 

Does it offer childcare? 

Our Ratings Tables indicate which clubs offer childcare. If you’ll be toting along your tots, inspect the kids’ area. Is it clean and well-maintained? Are age-appropriate toys available? Are workers attentive and caring? Are there enough workers to safely supervise the number of kids? Do the kids seem happy? Is the area secure? 

Is the staff competent and helpful? 

You’ll want a well-staffed club—with good tennis pros; experienced, inspiring class leaders; knowledgeable instructors on weights and exercise equipment; etc. A good staff can help you progress quickly, stay motivated, and avoid injury. 

Ask how much experience various staff members have and whether they have certification—but be aware that there are many certification programs, and some of them are meaningless. 

Certification programs sponsored by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (www.afaa.com), American College of Sports Medicine (www.acsm.org), American Council on Exercise (www.acefitness.org), and The Cooper Institute (www.cooperinstitute.org) are among the most respected. Although certification through these programs may not ensure competence in every facet of exercise, most provide a good foundation for personal trainers and fitness center workers. Also find out whether any instructors have college or graduate degrees in physiology or related fields. The fitness industry has become increasingly professionalized. 

You can judge staff competence to some degree by observing them in action. For example, simply ask weight-training instructors what kinds of activities—and what limitations—they recommend to reach certain goals, and then ask why. Evaluate the coherence of their answers. Also make sure tennis pros, for instance, provide students with the kind of feedback you’d want. 

 As our Ratings Tables show, our customer survey question “quality of instruction” yielded some of the lowest scores. 

Does it have the right atmosphere for you? 

Different clubs have different atmospheres. Some are very attractively decorated, others more down-to-earth. Some seem oriented toward socializing; others provide little opportunity for mingling. At some clubs, standard dress is come-as-you-are casual; at others, you might feel uncomfortable arriving in jeans. Although in-person visits are the only way to find out how a club feels to you, our survey’s feedback on “friendliness” might provide some enlightenment. 

Avoid Getting Burned 

Although it’s easy to check on clubs’ facilities and activities, finding the right membership option for you could be a lot more difficult. Some clubs refuse to give price information over the phone. And even when you can get the information, it can be hard to compare rates since initiation fees, monthly charges, facilities, and many other features vary widely. Even worse, you may be expected to make a substantial upfront financial commitment—a high initiation fee or long-term contract that may cost a lot even if you, like many club members, stop using a facility after a short time. 

At some clubs, already-confusing fee structures are made worse by salespersons who try to squeeze each prospective customer for all they can get. 

When our shoppers called clubs, some salespersons pushed long-term contracts and mentioned month-to-month or lower cost options only after our shoppers hesitated or asked about them. A common ploy is to offer a steep discount only if you sign a membership contract that day. 

In addition to allowing selective price-squeezing, multiple pricing plans open the way for other abuses. A salesperson might not offer you the best prices because he or she thinks you’ll use the facility too heavily, complain too much, or won’t “fit in.” 

Another ploy is the discount that isn’t a discount. Many clubs print up membership fee schedules with inflated prices so that they can cut the price during the sales pitch. 

The same non-discount strategy appears in advertising. While many advertised specials truly offer special prices, others are confusing or misleading come-ons. 

Careful shopping is your best tactic. When deciding whether to sign up, forget about the discount on the table and focus on how the club’s price compares to prices at other clubs. 

Compare Costs 

As previously noted, fees vary dramatically from club to club. Our Ratings Tables report fees for six different profiles, ranging from full access for three months for one person to full access for three years for a couple. Based on the fee information collected from the clubs, we’ve attempted to calculate the lowest possible fee for each profile for each club that was evaluated in our last full, published article (see further descriptions of the profiles in the footnotes for our Ratings Tables). For the three-month user profile, we assumed the user planned to use the club for three months and then quit. Charges might be much higher for someone who planned on being a member for a year but quit after three months. 

For each profile, fee differences are large. For example, the one-year full-access individual user would pay $178 at the Planet Fitness in Malvern and $1,068 at Hockessin Athletic Club. 

When comparing fees, keep several factors in mind— 

• Which facilities you can use. One reason for the price differences is that some clubs offer much more than others. Evaluate the price in relation to the facilities, equipment, and activities offered (also shown on our Ratings Tables)—especially those that you expect to take advantage of. Some clubs offer lower fees for memberships that exclude certain features, such as racquet sports. 
• Times of day. You can sometimes save money by using a club only at off-peak hours. 
• Per-use fees. Some clubs, or membership options, require you to pay separately for court time or other benefits, while others offer a broader array of benefits for a basic fee. If you want tennis instruction, regular massages, or other personalized services, check the clubs’ charges for these services. 
• Other clubs you can use. If you are interested in using more than one club location, either locally or outside the area, ask for details on multi-club use opportunities. Our Ratings Tables report whether each club offers membership options that allow customers access to other local clubs and has memberships that allow access to other clubs nationally (typically through a national reciprocal-use program that gives its members access to participating clubs for a per-use guest fee). 

If you are interested in using more than one club location, get a list of participating clubs. Some clubs offer use of only one other local club, while others let you use dozens. 

If you know you will be using only one club location, mention it to membership salespersons. Health club chains often have lower membership-rate categories for customers who agree to limit their access to one club location. 

• Renewal fees. Some clubs charge lower fees for renewals after an initial contract period. 

Ask About Discounts 

Check whether you qualify for a discounted membership rate. 

Many clubs offer steep discounts for seniors. The age requirement varies by club, with some clubs offering discounts to members age 50 and up. Keep in mind that some clubs limit access of senior memberships to off-peak hours. 

You may also qualify for a discount through your employer. Many clubs have agreements with employers for “corporate” rates typically 10 to 20 percent lower than normal rates. If your employer doesn’t have an agreement, you may be able to foster one by recruiting coworkers to join with you. Clubs typically extend corporate rates to employees of businesses with even a handful of employees willing to sign up. 

Finally, find out if your health insurance plan offers benefits for fitness services. Some insurers reimburse a portion of your health and fitness club membership costs if you work out frequently, and most insurers participate in programs that offer plan members discounts at participating clubs (see below for more information). 

Review Contracts 

Once you identify clubs that have the range and quality of offerings you want, examine the kinds of financial commitments they require. 

You might expect a health and fitness club would let you use it when you want for a daily fee. A $10-per-day fee, for example, adds up to $1,040 per year if you used it twice a week. In fact, most YMCAs—which aren’t out to make a profit—allow such per-day payment. 

But most private clubs are not so flexible. Many clubs want to lock you in with a substantial initiation fee, a long-term contract, or both. That’s good for the clubs: They collect your money even if you—like most new club members—lose interest and stop using the club. But it’s bad for you. Oral promises salespersons make when pitching clubs may not be legally binding. If a club does not meet your expectations, or its service is terrible, you still may be responsible for paying off the contract. 

Don’t join a club without carefully reading its contract’s fine print. For the most part, clubs are merciless in enforcing their contracts. If you’ve signed up for a year and want to quit after a week, your club may come after you for payment for the full year. You need to look for several contract terms to determine how much flexibility you’ll have. 

Initiation Fees 

Newtown Athletic Club’s $250 initiation fee would seem stiff if you quit after two months. Fortunately, most initiation fees aren’t so high. 

A big initiation fee does more than raise the risk that you’ll waste your money if you lose interest; you also risk losing all or part of the fee if the club goes out of business. In the past several years, many clubs have failed—and many members have lost their fees. 

Long-Term Contracts 

Some clubs require you to sign up for a year or more. While most clubs let you pay monthly fees throughout a contract’s duration, others demand the full fee for a long-term contract upfront. Our ,Ratings Tables indicate which clubs offer month-to-month or short-term contracts that permit you to drop out at any time without obligation for future payments. 

Low initiation fees and the availability of month-to-month memberships may also be signs of quality. Clubs that require no initiation fees, or only modest ones, or offer month-to-month memberships, display confidence that you will be satisfied enough to continue your membership. Also, clubs that don’t devote enormous resources to advertising are likely able to count on word-of-mouth recommendations of satisfied members to recruit new members. 

Cancellations/Refunds 

Most clubs will not release you from a term contract or refund payments if to quit. Clubs in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania must by law allow you to cancel your contract if you quit because of medical reasons or move out of the area. Some clubs will let you off the hook for monthly fees or refund unused shares of their annual fees in the absence of illness or moving. In many cases, however, you’ll have to repay the club for any discounts received for committing to a term or pay a cancellation fee. 

Transfers 

If a club won’t let you out of your contract and refund your fees, you might be able to sell your membership to someone else. However, most clubs don’t allow members to transfer contracts to someone else, and those that do usually charge a fee for the privilege. Selling memberships is not easy. You can advertise on Craigslist or similar websites, or pass the word among other club members who may have friends who’d like to join. But expect little help from the club itself; don’t count on posting your offer on a club bulletin board. 

Freezes 

For members who need to take some time off, many clubs defer monthly payments during “freeze” periods. Or they may have you continue making discounted payments on schedule but extend your membership and waive the initiation fee when you become active again. Most clubs that allow freezes restrict them to cases of illness or injury, pregnancy and childbirth, or temporary relocation: You can’t just take time off because the weather is nice. But some clubs allow membership freezes regardless of the reason. Many have a minimum length of freeze (for example, at least three months), a maximum, or both. And some require you to pay monthly fees at a reduced rate for the months when your membership is frozen. 

If You Have Second Thoughts, Cancel 

Since the financial commitment of a club membership is substantial, and since some clubs employ aggressive sales tactics, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania laws provide for cooling-off periods. You have three days after signing a contract to cancel and get your money back. You should cancel in writing by certified or registered mail. If you can persuade the club to give you a longer cooling-off period, or trial period, than the law requires, do so. 

Many health and fitness clubs have reciprocal arrangements with other clubs in the area, or participate in reciprocal programs that allow members to work out at other clubs worldwide. Our Ratings Tables show which clubs offer local and/or national reciprocal benefits. 

With most chains, you buy a membership to a “home club” and can purchase an upgrade that admits you to other clubs affiliated with the chain either for free or for a discounted guest fee. 

Some area clubs belong to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) or International Physical Fitness Association (IPFA). Generally, members of clubs that belong to either of these organizations can pay a discounted guest fee to use all other member clubs on a per-visit basis. To utilize these reciprocal benefits, members must be at least 50 miles away from their home club and present proof of membership in good standing. It’s a good idea to call a club you will be visiting ahead of time, as most clubs place a priority on meeting the needs of their own members. 

If a club’s reciprocal arrangements with other clubs are a factor in your choice, ask for a full list of clubs that reciprocate and the rules and fees for using reciprocal privileges. IHRSA (www.healthclubs.com/passport) and IPFA (www.ipfa.us) list all participating clubs worldwide on their websites. 

Most health insurance plans offer discounts on health and fitness clubs and other fitness-related purchases. Some insurers even reimburse members’ fees at health and fitness clubs, if they use them often enough. Insurers usually publicize these programs as ways to promote healthy habits among their members. Cynics argue the insurers are trying to attract a large pool of health-conscious customers who are less likely to run up huge medical bills. 

Some of these programs offer pretty good deals— 

• Both AmeriHealth and Independence Blue Cross reimburse their members up to $150 per calendar year for fees paid to participating health and fitness clubs once members have worked out 120 times during the year. 
• Aetna and Coventry have relationships with GlobalFit.com, which claims to offer the lowest rates for thousands of fitness centers. (If you find a lower rate on your own, GlobalFit promises to reimburse you the difference, plus five percent.) When we compared its rates with what our shoppers were quoted, we found that most GlobalFit rates were lower. For example, Holy Redeemer Health & Fitness Center quoted our shoppers a rate of $688 for a one-year membership with access to only that location; GlobalFit’s rate was $478. Similarly, the GlobalFit rate for Cornerstone Health & Fitness for a one-year membership was about $400 lower than what our shoppers were offered. 

But it is harder to calculate the savings you might get through programs offered by some insurance plans. Cigna and UnitedHealthcare have discount programs for health and fitness clubs. Each plan says that its program provides 10 percent discounts off participating clubs’ current rates. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield has a relationship with ChooseHealthy.com, which like GlobalFit, promises big savings at participating clubs. Unfortunately, these discount programs don’t provide customers with detailed costs. A 10 percent discount sounds fine, but if you still have to call or visit clubs to gather fee information, you’ll still be subjected to the hard sell that is common at some clubs. Remember, many clubs show prospective customers inflated “regular” rates and then offer discounts to create the illusion of value. If you don’t have fee information in advance, you won’t know whether the discount your health insurance plan offers really is a discount. 

The message here? Push clubs for their lowest rates and then ask for any discounts available through your health plan. And don’t limit your choices to participating facilities. A club outside the program may offer a better deal—without forcing you to hit the gym 120 times a year to get it. 

Where to Complain

State and Local Government Consumer Agencies

Delaware Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Unit
820 North French Street
Carvel State Building
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-577-8600

New Jersey Office of Consumer Protection
124 Halsey Street
P.O. Box 45025
Newark, NJ 07101
1-800-242-5846 or 973-504-6200

Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General
Bureau of Consumer Protection
14th Floor, Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120
800-441-2555 or 717-787-9707

Burlington County Consumer Affairs
49 Rancocas Road, 3rd Floor
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
609-265-5054

Camden County Consumer Protection
Jefferson House, Lakeland Road
Blackwood, NJ 08012
856-374-6161