What's the lowest rate at Lifetime Fitness? (Tyler: daycare, taxes)

[mark311]

Originally Posted by texastrigirl

In a plug for 24, I taught at 24 on William Cannon and now teach at one in Seattle. At our area Costco they have a deal where you can buy 2 years for $300. You might see if the Austin area Costco carries it.

Yes, that deal is available at the Austin Costco locations (the last time I checked anyway). It's also available on the Costco website. If you're not a Costco member, I think they just charge you a 5% surcharge to purchase items on-line.

Costco - 24 Hour Fitness 2-YR Adult Membership Free Shipping

[trayanh]

probably too late for me

about 2 years ago, I walked in LFT for a guest pass, and was talked into signing a membership without realizing the rate could be negotiatable.

Originally Posted by texastrigirl

As one who has worked at a few health clubs, has negotiated my own deals prior to working at a club and still works at a health club, it's much like buying a car. Go in, name your price, make it lower if you are willing to pay cash up front for an annual payment and be prepared to walk if you don't like what they tell you. They always have a special or promo coming out so tell them to call you when a deal closer to your price comes available. Be polite. Be firm. It also helps to come in with "I know this person (insert member's name) and they pay 'x' per month. I would like that same deal". Make sure the person is not on a company discount!

In a plug for 24, I taught at 24 on William Cannon and now teach at one in Seattle. At our area Costco they have a deal where you can buy 2 years for $300. You might see if the Austin area Costco carries it.

[trayanh]

but 24 hour fitness is so crowded.... I tried the one close to aboretum before, and it took me really a long while to find a parking space.

Originally Posted by mark311

Yes, that deal is available at the Austin Costco locations (the last time I checked anyway). It's also available on the Costco website. If you're not a Costco member, I think they just charge you a 5% surcharge to purchase items on-line.

Costco - 24 Hour Fitness 2-YR Adult Membership Free Shipping

[jclimber99]

Last time I checked Lifetime was $50/month. Or $60/month if you wanted access to the climbing wall and racquetball/squash courts (South Austin location). This was pay by the month, no memberships.

Instead I bought a 3-yr membership to 24-hour, averaged about $19/month. That is over, now I only pay $99/yr

[trayanh]

really?! How come they don't use flat rate when there is no corporate discount?! There are only two locations, and the one I go to is the north one. I even don't know there would be difference for different access level, but I do have an impression that the climbing wall is always closed.

Originally Posted by jclimber99

Last time I checked Lifetime was $50/month. Or $60/month if you wanted access to the climbing wall and racquetball/squash courts (South Austin location). This was pay by the month, no memberships.

Instead I bought a 3-yr membership to 24-hour, averaged about $19/month. That is over, now I only pay $99/yr

[another_hot-day]

Climbing wall has hours of operations. It isn't always closed.

The $50 I pay gives me access to everything. I never have to wait for a machine and their equipment is well maintained.
24 hour fitness...not so much.

[austinnerd]

The climbing wall only seems like it's permanently closed, it does have hours, but it certainly appears to be closed way more often than it's open.

We like LT a lot, it's great if you have kiddos (the pools are wonderful). And of course if you're into racquetball/squash then there is no comparison. Like others, neither myself nor my wife have ever had to wait for any of the equipment since they seem to have tons. And it does seem pretty clean and most of the equipment is in good shape. My only complaints are that it could be cheaper and their online court reservation system sucks, hard.

[another_hot-day]

No doubt! I don't even use it. I call them and reserve a court.

[jclimber99]

Originally Posted by austinnerd

The climbing wall only seems like it's permanently closed, it does have hours, but it certainly appears to be closed way more often than it's open.

We like LT a lot, it's great if you have kiddos (the pools are wonderful). And of course if you're into racquetball/squash then there is no comparison. Like others, neither myself nor my wife have ever had to wait for any of the equipment since they seem to have tons. And it does seem pretty clean and most of the equipment is in good shape. My only complaints are that it could be cheaper and their online court reservation system sucks, hard.

Yeah, I really had a tough decision when I decided to consolidate my gym memberships (I was at Gold's Gym and the Y). I had the Y membership only for racquetball, played there for almost 15 years. But then most of my buddies stopped playing, some moved to LT. I wasn't motivated to keep playing anymore (because I like running just as much and I can do that for free) so I dropped the Y membership and Gold's and moved to 24-hour. It was about the same price as what I has paying at Gold's and it had a pool. The climbing wall would have been nice at LT, but I wasn't willing to pay $60/month. The pools look fabulous, but I have no kids so again that wasn't that attractive to me.

I usually go to 24-hr after work and there's no issue using all the free weights/machines on the bottom floor. However there's usually a wait (not always) to use the aroebic machines upstairs. I don't use them (can't stand do aroebics indoors when I can run or bike outside) so it's not really an issue. My wife does though and she's able to get in a workout without much of a hassle. Sometimes the music is blaring a bit too loud for my taste. I don't see the point in playing music in a gym - the people that want to listen to music have Ipods and the rest of us would prefer just the natural sounds of the gym. Most of the time it's not that noticeable which is good.

[TylerDurden79]

I got a year at 24 your fitness for $150, that $80 a month sounds like what i paid for jiu-jitsu classes. Tha's pretty steep.