10 Questions to Consider When Choosing A Gym

Does this sound familiar. Someone in your life has tried to convince you to join a gym at some point and you cringed at the idea. Maybe you’ve tried to join a gym once but managed to make a quick escape when they tried to force you to talk to 4 different employees and a freaking personal trainer, even before you signed up. Or you looked at the 15 pages they handed you, after they advertised the quick and painless sign up process with no hidden fees, and began to feel your shirt start to tear and your skin begin to turn a light shade of green.

Someone once told me that they would rather spend 3 hours at a car dealership trying to make a purchase than to talk to a front desk attendant at a local gym. I fully understand the frustration. I’ve attended and worked for several different gyms in my life and have dealt with the ugly side of gym memberships. Yes it can be overwhelming, but like purchasing a car, you just have to do a little research before making a trip to disappointment. I’m going to make it easy for you. How? Simply by listing some vital questions to ask when choosing a gym.

1. What are their hours?

It’s important to know how many days during the week and what times a gym is open, especially when you only have a limited amount of time for your workout. If you are pressed for time try choosing a gym that is open 24-hours per day. That will give you ample time to comfortably get your workout in at any time you wish. You’ll also want to find out their holiday schedule. Many gyms do open most holidays but you don’t want to assume or rely on the internet to tell you that. Ask the front desk for an accurate answer. Knowing everything you possibly can up front is going to alleviate the chances of you being discouraged with your selected gym in the future.

2. What are the busiest times of the day?

Most gyms are busiest in the afternoon/evening. If you’re someone that only has a chance to workout during this time of day, it’s best to know up front which times there is lull and which times are the absolute busiest. When you visit gyms try to go at the exact time of day you would be training so that you can visually see what you’ll have to endure. The atmosphere may not be right for you, and if your time is non negotiable then you’ll know it’s not the best gym for you.

3. How much does membership cost?

This is by far one of the most important questions to ask. Just because you saw on tv that membership is only $1 per month does not mean that is the most accurate information. Many times prices vary depending on season. During the high times of the year (New Year’s and Summer for example) prices tend to be the lowest. However, it is your responsibility to ask about hidden fees that are not advertised such as the ever pesky, annual fee. Some membership agreements will note that although you are paying a certain price per month, there will also be a one-time mid year fee. If you are not told up front about these fees I would suggest scratching them off your list. However, if it is the closest gym to you and you want to make every attempt to make it work, have them highlight for you in the actual membership all of the important financial sections. Then ask, are these the only things that I will ever be charged for? If the answer is yes, make note of the person who helped you, the time, date and exact words in which the front desk attendant used. If you’re still not convinced very nicely ask to speak to a manager to have that information confirmed. You have to always remember that you are not signing up for a gym for anyone else other than yourself. Money is important to you so be diligent about asking and reading your membership agreement before signing up so that you know where it is going.

4. What is the cancellation policy?

This is where most people get screwed over. A lot of people will say that it does not state in their membership agreement anything about a cancellation policy. That is not true. Legally it must be included. Most of the time it is surrounded by words such as “hassle free” or “one time”. Again, this is where you have to ask up front. Do not rely solely on what is written in the membership agreement (although you should absolutely read it yourself). You need to know what the procedure is for cancelling. Do you have to sign a form? Is there a certain period of days that you should cancel before you are charged for a new month? Is there a cancellation fee? If no one can give you a straight answer give them the deuces. If you’re considering only signing up for a period of time then it’s probably not the best option for you. I can tell you from experience that if you know what the cancellation policy is up front it will never be an issue for you. People that have problems with this typically never took the time to ask about it or just assumed it worked like every other gym. BE DILIGENT.

5. Are there extra fees for any of the services provided or are they included in the price once you become a member?

For the most part gyms don’t usually charge you for taking their classes or for weird maintenance fees. I’ve heard that before from someone and found out personally that it isn’t true. Personal training is different. That is something that is never included as part of your membership plan and that should be understandable. Personal trainers make their living because of the personal training packages offered to members. Trainers build custom programs from scratch (the good ones do anyway) and take the time to sit down with you and give you one on one attention to ensure that a proper plan is set to meet your fitness goals. Make sure to ask about child care. This is often overlooked, especially if you have children. It’s such a load off knowing that you can bring your kids with you to the gym and they will be cared for while you work out. Ask if it is included in your membership or if it is a separate fee. If it is included you definitely have a winner (most actually are).

6. Is the gym equipped?

When you enter the gym pay close attention to the condition of the equipment and if there is a variety to choose from. If the padding is torn on the benches or they don’t like they’ve been wiped for weeks, you do not want to be a member there. Also look closely at machines that have “out of order” signs, especially the cardio equipment. If you see too many of them it should be a red flag in your mind. The best gyms ensure that their equipment is functioning properly, have multiple cleaning attendants on hand and have enough equipment to prevent long waiting times and tempers from flaring. Make sure you get a tour of the gym and note the equipment you know you’ll be using the most such as dumbbells, benches and treadmills. If there are not enough for at least 2 people to use at once then you might want to rethink your choice.

7. Is the staff helpful and friendly?

Guest service and experience is huge. There is nothing more annoying than being ignored by staff members when you have a question. Well, maybe getting attitude from them is on the same level. If your very first experience with a staff member is a negative one, walk out the door. If the front desk is not helpful or does not provide great service, it is an indication of what management is like at that gym. Do you really want to hand over your money to people that are not going to be helpful? Asking these questions is a great test of their service skills. If they remain friendly and are eager to answer your questions honestly it makes walking into the gym every day seem less like a chore. It’s such a great piece of mind to know that if you ever need assistance you will get it. Do not ever underestimate great member service. To me it is more important than what a gym looks like or how much it charges. Sometimes the price alone is worth it for the friendly and helpful environment the staff provides.

8. Is it clean?

This should be a no brainer. If it’s dirty and disgusting, especially the locker/bathrooms there is nothing more to consider. You go to the gym to be healthier not to catch some rare disease. I’ve had friends come out of gyms with ringworm because equipment is not properly cleaned. This is not just on the staff. If the vast majority of members around you are dirty assholes that can’t take the time to wipe down equipment then you know cleanliness is not a priority at that gym. Just, please don’t. I don’t care how cheap or close the gym is to you, don’t let cleanliness not be important to you.

9. Are there different classes available?

It’s always great to be a part of a gym that offers different classes. Trying different forms of fitness keeps your training fresh and enjoyable which will ultimately lead to consistency and continued motivation. It’s also something to consider when considering the price of membership. If the cost is $20 per month but they offer 15 different classes throughout the week, that is quite the steal.

10. What does your gut tell you?

At the end of the day it comes down to how you feel. Don’t be forced into joining a gym if you don’t feel like you’re ready. If there is a piece of you that really wants to give it a try and everything seems right to you, go for it. If your gut tells you that a particular gym is not right for you, then keep looking. There is one out there that will have what you are looking for. Just because all of your friends go to one gym does not mean that it is the right one for you. If you are not comfortable where you exercise it will never stick. Ask all of these questions but then take a day before signing and analyze the data you gathered. There may have been something you missed or something you did not notice originally. Do not ever join if you are not ready.

One more piece of advice I want to offer you is to try the gym out for a few days. Ask about daily passes that are offered. Sometimes, if you have expressed interest in joining they may allow you a couple of days free to give it a go. Other times they may charge you like $5 for the full day. If someone you know is a current member, have them find out about guest passes so that you can go and get a feel for what it would be like to be there multiple times a week. All of your questions may have been answered to your complete satisfaction but it’s best to have actually exercised at the location before having signed up.

That’s it. I think you have all the necessary tools in your utility belt to make a gym decision. I would never personally force you to join a gym but I do highly recommend and encourage you to try it at least once. Joining does not have to painful or stressful. A gym membership is a great personal investment towards you your health. Now you won’t be suckered into anything. You have control and knowledge to sign up with the perfect gym for you. Your fear has been removed and your confidence is high. The Comic Corps has got some kick ass workouts ready for you.