Are You Getting FOOLED This New Year?

WAIT! Don’t sign that contract yet! Here are 5 Red Flags to look for before you sign your new gym-membership!

A great deal of people will sign new gym membership this coming January with the intention of starting this year off right. A fast and quick reaction could cost you severely in the long run. Make sure you have done your research, take a tour of the facility, and ask questions that really matter to you. I comprised a list of things I have dealt with personally in the past, as well as, checked out the BBB to see what common issues and problems can arise.

1.) CHEAP INITIAL MONTH(S) Up Front THEN HIGH BACK-END COST

How many times have you seen Gym will sometimes hit you with a deal too good to be true and all you have to do is put your credit card info on file. This is a common way gyms get your information so as soon as a certain day hits, usually the last day of your trial or challenge. Some gyms have a 14-30 day cancelation policy even up front during a trial period or challenge period. Make sure your cheap “challenge” rate doesn't into a very expensive rate with no added value and possibly a year long contract before your trial period is even over.

*At Empower Performance our cost is the same all year long. We want you to not only commit to us but more importantly, yourself. We have no discounts because our service is the same throughout the year. It doesn't changed based on the season and neither should you. To us, it doesn’t seem fair to give a discount to someone based on when they signed-up. Of course we do have a ramped up KICK-OFF in January as a reward to current and new members but we keep this same high energy all year long. This task is not just undertaken by each member but also every staff member because we truly invest and commit to every single person. Our trial periods have no obligations and our challenge period does not require any credit card info up front to trick you.

2.) MAKE A PRIORITY LIST

Make a quick list of what you need in a facility. Even if it’s exactly what you want and need but 50 miles down the road, how long will you continue to stay on task? Make sure where you are going is reasonable for you and offers what you need now. Verbal promises mean nothing but many people will use these tactics to get you to sign-up.

Make sure after visiting a gym, you make a pros and cons list to compare with other facilities in your area. Some gyms may even already have this done for you comparing their facility to other local ones. Just don’t take their word for it though, do your own homework.

*We want you to become a vital part of Empower Performance if we are the right facility for you. Unfortunately, we will not be the right fit for all but we will help you as best as possible find a place that is. This does, however, mean the quality of our service is top notch because we specialize in a few areas versus trying to offer everything at a lesser quality. No matter who tells you otherwise, when you offer a great number of products, details can get left behind and attention to details are what make a place like Empower so special.

3.) TARGETED AND PRESSURED SALES – “We can only get this deal for you today”

WHY? There may be a legit end date to a certain promotion but more often than not people are given certain boundaries to be able to sign you up for a new membership. Look for a gym that doesn’t use a phrase like “this is a special deal for you only.”

Tip - Ask to take a day or so to fully read the contract and to think it over. If they keep pressuring you tell them thanks but you need to talk it over with your financial accountant or someone else before a decision is made. My rule of thumb is 72 hours. If I am to commit to something serious I always wait 72 hours and if it's still on my mind then I'll do it. This allows me to make sure I'm not going to regret the decision later.

*At Empower, we encourage you to speak with us on the phone, e-mail or other device so we can tell you who we are and what we offer. If you decide we sound like a place worth a further look we will tell you to stop by so we can really dive into what you want out of a facility and make sure Empower Performance will meet your needs. The last thing anyone wants is for anyone to be unhappy, so for us, tricking you into an agreement is the last thing on our minds. We pride ourselves in having the highest quality intakes because we want every member to love coming to our facility and want you to show up each day ready to tackle a new feat.

4.) YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

I’m not sure why when it comes to fitness everyone look for the deal of the century. If you saw a $10,000 TV marked down to $59 would you not stop to ask some questions? Whatever price you are paying or considering to pay, just like anything else it has to FIT YOUR BUDGET AND YOUR NEEDS!

Tip - If what you need can’t fit your budget at this time then it’s time to start the shakedown and get rid of that morning coffee routine from the drive-thru and start making your own, for example.

Some places may be overpriced and some others could be underpriced. It’s the company’s responsibility to show you their perceived value but YOUR responsibility to be smart about signing documents and make sure all of your questions and needs are met beforehand.

Tip - Access member pages through social media, website, yelp, etc. and see what real members are currently saying or have said. The Better Business Bureau can also be searched for many facilities and you can see how they’re even rated.

*Empower Performance is usually one of the higher priced memberships in town and we are proud to say so. This is due to the fact of the quality of service we provide. We don’t try and trick you into signing-up. We offer a free introductory class and consult to discuss all of the information, to make sure Empower Performance is the best place for you. On top of all of that, if you decide we are not, based on the information we have gathered, we will help give you information for local gyms that may provide exactly what you do need.

5.) “WE HAVE THE BEST COACHES”

Quick Advise- Every facility I’ve ever been to thinks they have the best coaches in town. Some Coaches are great some, not so great. Either way, Coaches come and go and if your contract isn’t directly linked to the one coach you love, you are going to be out of luck. You need to make sure you enjoy ALL of the coaches at the gym. Don’t get me wrong, each coach is different and has many different ways of accomplishing the same goal. Usually though, you will learn something new between two different coaches or something may even become clearer that wasn’t before with a different coach. You just need to know all of these things going into your agreement.

Tip- Do they use the word Trainer or Coach when referring to themselves. It’s always been my opinion a trainer is there for you to get a workout in but a COACH is there to fully invest in you and your time, in and out of the facility. Don’t take these words lightly but form your own opinion.

*At Empower Performance, many of our Coaches have undergraduate or even master degrees in exercise physiology or science and/or high level certifications but we never talk about having the best coaches. We more frequently talk about the quality of our Coaching staff as a unit. Meaning, we hire people that understand they are here for you and want to help you out in every way possible.