So 5 Gold's Gyms have converted to "Fitness Connection." I got something in the mail about $10 a month plan for the one around the corner from me so I call the North Hills location and the sales guy won't tell me what the start-up costs are. He said they have a number of options, from $30 a month with no upfront, to $10...with an upfront cost that he wouldn't tell me unless I show up in person...which kinda pissed me off.

Anyone know what the start up costs are there?

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/business/five-golds-gyms-converting-to-fitness-connection-clubs

10/25/2011 9:30:03 AM

I'd wager it's several hundy for the $10/month...pretty sure beatsunc talked to em.



[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 9:40 AM. Reason : maaaaaaaaaan]

10/25/2011 9:39:20 AM

10/mo = $199 startup

20/mo = $99 startup

30/mo = $0 startup

10/25/2011 9:41:35 AM

I go to the one in Cary but we were members when they were still Gold's. They had a deal at the time where if you could prove you were a student you paid $20 / month with nothing up front on a 9 month contract, then it goes month-to-month after that at the same rate. We were both taking online classes at the time and that qualified us for the student rate. The contract is up now but we are still locked in at the same rate which is a pretty good deal considering we can keep it forever or cancel anytime we want.

10/25/2011 9:43:01 AM

1) anyone know if they still have any student discount? and by prove, i guess the id trick wouldn't work huh?
2) if i give them the $200, what are the odds they go out of business in the near future and I'm hosed? are they still owned by golds in some way....if so i'd feel a little safer

10/25/2011 9:46:28 AM

I give them 9 months before they close up shop, and I've been a member at the Cary location for 6 years now. They're stripping assets out of the place in every way possible.

10/25/2011 10:42:32 AM

The low cost gym business model is very flawed.

The only way to make it work is:

1. Have a huge number of members who pay monthly fees but don't use the facilities.
2. Buy old, used equipment or crappy new equipment.

Planet Fitness can get away with it because they exclusively cater towards the people who will sign up for a yearly/monthly contract on a kick to get in shape, but don't have it in the to be "hardcore".

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 11:04 AM. Reason : ;]

10/25/2011 11:03:31 AM

im a golds member /now a fitness connection member. Would suck if they closed shop, kinda like going though.

10/25/2011 11:04:50 AM

Lifestyles at Six Forks/ Wake Forest. They were running a $0 down $33 month special

10/25/2011 11:24:46 AM

^ I pay 19.99 there. Basic membership since I do no classes..

10/25/2011 11:49:54 AM

^^^^^ I think I saw you there the other day, doing shoulders. Maybe I'm wrong though...

What have they been pulling out of there? Seems like most of the equipment is the same since I started going about a year ago. It's not the nicest gym but it's never very crowded and has enough equipment for me, plus it's only 1 mile from my house, so I hope they don't close. We went to Lifetime for a while and it was 3x as expensive plus way overcrowded with people who seemed more interested in looking for dates than working out.

10/25/2011 12:47:53 PM

what they're pulling out is the stuff you don't see - maintenance contracts and franchising fees. I personally signed up at Gold's because I travel a lot and like to be able to use a gym in other places I work. I can't do that anymore, yet they want to raise my rate and bring in new people for half of what I pay. That's just an all-around dick move on their part. I also don't like how they let certain pieces of cardio equipment sit broken for months. If you can't fix it, then buy a new one. PreCor ellipticals are the cheapest pieces of equipment in a gym to replace. Their cables are frayed on many machines, the rubber safety grips on some of the dumbbells have ben cut off, and half the flourescent lights are burnt out.

I think I was training shoulders last Friday, so maybe. I probably stand out in there more than some people.

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 1:02 PM. Reason : .]

10/25/2011 1:02:23 PM

who was that Asian bodybuilder I used to see in the Cary location...you were porbably the only other bog dude ive ever seen at that Golds

10/26/2011 11:55:33 AM

Neko? He's a trainer there. He took 2nd in this year's NPC USA out in Vegas for the middleweight class.




there are a ton of NPC female fitness and figure competitors that train at Gold's Cary. Friday between 5-6 is a good time to go and see how real women train.

[Edited on October 26, 2011 at 12:05 PM. Reason : .]

10/26/2011 12:03:57 PM

I think she placed well at the NPC USA out in Vegas this year.


Pro Card Holder - has done the Arnold and the Grand Prix's before



did the NC State show this year.



aaprior used to train there as well back when she was training for a show. not sure what happened to her though.

[Edited on October 26, 2011 at 12:24 PM. Reason : .]

10/26/2011 12:24:02 PM

^yea, that was him...always saw some woman working out w/ him but none of those pics ring a bell. cool to see he placed well, you don't see many jacked asians

10/26/2011 1:16:43 PM

I see him walking around in there from time to time and can't help but stare. His biceps are bigger than my thighs.

10/27/2011 7:41:25 AM

I have been at that gym for two years and it just keeps getting better! There is no danger of it closing! Just ask those people that have their picture posted on this site without their permission! Funny that most of the people that complain dont use the gym that much!

10/28/2011 4:50:33 PM

ohhhh snap!

10/28/2011 4:51:31 PM

take a look in the gallery of the person who posted those pictures and tell me you've never seen me in there.


PS - if you're going to lie and pretend to just be a gym user and not the gym manager, don't put your real name in the user info block. A simple google search goes straight to your facebook page with pictures of you in your front office at Golds.

[Edited on October 28, 2011 at 5:13 PM. Reason : .]

10/28/2011 5:05:08 PM

Hey guys, i am the general manager of the Cary Location. We are under the same ownership, just a different name. Fitness Connection is definately a growing company! At all locations we are remodeling our locker rooms, installing new flat screen TVs, as well as upgrading our cardio equipment! Feel free to stop by with any concerns or questions. We are always trying to make this a better place for your fitness needs.

10/28/2011 6:31:14 PM

LOL

10/28/2011 7:06:27 PM

Throw in a wolfweb startup waiver on the 10/month plan ... or BUY AN AD!!

10/28/2011 7:27:20 PM

I was a Gold's member in New Bern when I lived there. Pretty comparable to the Cary location, with a daycare, plus they had an outdoor section with tractor tires, fire hydrants, giant concrete balls, sleds, etc. I paid my membership in full upfront for 2 years, and it worked out to $13/month.

10/28/2011 7:32:37 PM