Boston Sports Club

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

So I've been researching gyms and I think I've settled on BSC, I love that it's right in the square.

Rates tend to be negotiable with gyms, do any of you have an idea of the best rate, or the lowest they will go? If you've had success with haggling, I'd love to get the lowdown.

Comments

[livingadream.livejournal.com]

I really did not like my 2 yr relationship with BSC. I've noticed that since they consider themselves the end all be all gym in the city, they're not that great about giving competitive prices. I tried to haggle with no success.
If you're just looking for a place to do a no frills work out - I'd check out the Planet Fitness that is opening at Porter. I go to the one on Middlesex Ave and it's $10/month.

[whaler.livejournal.com]

Check out planet fitness, I go to the BSC in central and I absolutely hate it. Not worth the exorbitant fees. PF is cheaper I believe.

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but I want to be able to use the pool at the one in Medford.

[davelew.livejournal.com]

With the basic BSC membership, you can use your "home" gym at any time, and use other gyms at off-peak hours.

Since the BSC in Davis is so crowded, you probably won't be able to use much equipment during peak hours. If you plan to use the pool in Medford, it might make sense to make your "home" gym in Medford, and then use Davis off-peak.

[einzelein.livejournal.com]

I can't help you much but I know BSC tends to be at the higher end of the spectrum. My husband used to go to the one in Watertown and paid 70+ a month.

There's no pool but the Gold's in the Twin City Plaza is low 20's/month.

[nathanjw]

BSC goes as low as $55/month for their "gold" membership; that was the special rate I got for signing up when they opened in Davis, but they have so many specials going on that I'd be a bit surprised if you couldn't get down into that territory.

[twitch124.livejournal.com]

The gold membership rates went up a lot. They're trying to get people to upgrade to the Boston regional membership at $79/month.
Davis is $73/month for gold memberships, though some other locations are cheaper.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

I understand wanting to be able to use the pool, but I found when I was recently researching local gyms that the BSC in davis is too small and has too high a membership (I heard recently they are the smallest BSC and have the highest membership) for me to get a good workout during any normal hours. This may change as weather improves though. It was 74 for the normal membership, 79 for the regional. The only promo's they've been doing is waiving the first month fee and/or the signup fee and halving the first month.

I ended up going with the fitcorp near my office in Beacon Hill as they were doing a pretty good promo (free 6 personal trainer sessions) instead.

[dianamp04.livejournal.com]

How do you like fitcorp? I'm thinking of joining the one near my office (at the Pru), but I'm worried it'll always be packed, since a lot of offices (including mine) offer a special rate to it. I'm very tempted by healthworks, despite it being twice the cost of fitcorp.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

The one by me is not too crowded, I'd go and check yours out during the times you'd be working out, look at their group exercise schedule (if you're into that sort of thing) and see if they offer classes you'd want to take at times you'd want to take them.

I'm tempted by healthworks too, and then I realize I have bills to pay, and am not weight loss centric. ;)

[mrsdollylevi.livejournal.com]

I was told well over a year ago that they were going to expand onto the 3rd floor of that building. It might still be happening, but it doesn't seem to be. I feel a bit baited and switched.

As others have said, it is a VERY small and very crowded gym. It doesn't help that the staff there is pretty rude. I've walked into the gym with no one at the front desk to swipe my card. I've also had my things stolen out of my locked locker. I know crime can't be avoided everywhere, but I'd feel more comfortable if I know only members where in the gym (maybe others walked past the front desk too). The trainers tend to put NOTHING away after they use it. They often sit on equipment near the equipment they are using - tough when there are four benches.

I agree that Central is also not great either.

All that being said, I've enjoyed using the Wellington location. I have heard if you join there, it is cheaper.

[philipph.livejournal.com]

I remember seeing somewhere recently that they *are* probably going to expand into the 3rd floor. But since I can't recall where I read/heard that, all I'm doing here is providing a little more rumor to the mill.
I don't go there that much these days, although I've kept my initial membership alive because it's a reasonably good deal at $55 (compared to what they'd charge otherwise) and because, well, hope springs eternal.
I was glad to see they started spinning classes, which might tempt me in.
Though now the spinning bikes are just cluttering the space most of the time.
Anyway, I don't do regular hours these days to it's not terrible when I do go there, but I can imagine that at peak times it's pretty ridiculous.

Bally's

[smoterh.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised noone has mentioned bally's.

I have an annual membership that works out to about $28 a month. Plus they have a pool and a track on top of their building.

It's a basic gym but it does have a lot of equipment and the pool (smallish). Works for the money.

Re: Bally's

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm firmly anti bally's because they have very shady business practices of which I spent nearly 6 months of my life fighting them, and I'm not alone. Also, I've heard that their pool is not kept up, but that could just be rumor.

[jodi.livejournal.com]

duffless, i'm one of the rare posters here who has had an entirely positive BSC experience.

yes, it is small, but it has everything i need except a pool or open-type basketball gym.
it is insanely busy in the colder months (oct-april) during "rush" hours.
during non-rush hours? it is laughably empty.

the greatest benefit to BSC is the location. I live close and i go to the gym 6 days a week. i would not be able to convince myself to go to the gym so regularly if it wasn't right there in the square.

i have never found the staff or trainers to be rude. in fact a few of them have been so friendly and fun that we can yell greetings when we see each other out on the world and be facebook friends. i've never walked into the gym to find an empty desk, though i can see how this can happen easily. most times when i leave, the desk person will say "have a good night" as i leave. i also feel that this BSC location is kept very clean. they have had the same excellent janitorial staff since opening and that staff is always busy and efficient.

they have been telling people that they will expand (to a portion of the 3rd floor) for a while now but my informant has said that that will happen in the summer, possibly not till august. i hope the salespeople are mentioning that little bit of info!

i joined this BSC for their opening and thus pay a super low rate (possibly 55 or 60 dollars a month?) and i feel that the location and what they have to offer me is great for that price. i am not sure if i could justify spending more. I would advise you to go to the BSC website and get a trial membership for 19.99 so that you can try the gym on for size. if at the end of a week or so you think that you would pay 75 or so dollars for it, then go for it. if not, people do speak highly of some of the other gyms that are not so conveniently located.