Good gym?

[tisana.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend are moving near the Tufts campus in Medford--not necessarily close to Davis, but much of what we do is centered in Davis--what's a good gym in the area?

I understand it's more difficult to find a gym that's good for women, and he's more interested in weights anyway and this is mostly for him, but we'd like to find a gym that would appeal to both of us (I'm not even going into what sexist stereotypes that invokes, but work with me).

Comments

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

Workout World (WoW), on Boston Ave by the U-haul.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

Seconded (although I've had friends who had less than pleasing interactions with sales staff)

Wasn't there a few threads on this just recently? I wonder if they were tagged?

[tisana.livejournal.com]

Really? I hadn't seen any recently (other than the plea to take over someone's gym membership), but if it's repeating too much, I apologize.

...Did you actually put one of those squishy-gel toys on a Doberman's head to get that icon picture? That is the most patient dog ever. It's great, but the violence potential had the pet been, say, a cat...would make me cringe.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

If you'd searched the LJ (using the search function in the userinfo) on the word "gym", you'd find this (http://www.ljseek.com/search.php?users=davis_square&q=gym&sortby=4). No biggie, just something to remember for the future.

I didn't actually create the photo-op - the blame falls to a coworker of mine. Apparently the dog was both patient and well compensated!

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I should just make a community link list of area gyms, dry cleaners, vets, and not-too-expensive-salons. Not a week goes by when it isn't asked, and tagging seems to do nothing to help.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

Is there a way to easily find the tag list for Davis Square? I couldn't find one.

They're tagged (when they're tagged) "local businesses") maybe we need a new one - exercise? gym?

If there's a way to link to 'all entries tagged "gym"', that'd work better than a static link list.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I know so little about formatting that I'll have to defer to the mods with more tech skill. I've seen communities where all the tag topics are listed in a sidebar and can be clicked for instant retrival, but I don't know how to make that happen here.

Mods with superior geek powers, I give you the floor.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

If you could bring it to their attention, that'd be much appreciated!

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

and even just making a "gym" tag for the time being would help.

[ron_newman]

I still haven't figured out how to add my own tags.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

You can't. The most you can do is edit an entry to add already existing tags.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Their advertising methods are a little misleading, but I've been going there for a bit over a month and I'm content with it. If you decide to join, email me at jen at jenniferhunter dot com so I can get a free month out of the deal?

[deadwinter.livejournal.com]

Hi. I am ze boyfriend. Do tell me more about the misleading. I have friends who would gladly burn Bally's to the ground for pretty much the same thing.

Can you elaborate?

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Sure thang.

My housemates go to WoW, so I figured it was an okay place, but I knew that they paid $30/mo. and I didn't think I could swing that. So one day I got a WoW "coupon" in the Valu-Pak mailer that said:

$200/year
No registration fee

So I thought, great, $16.66/mo., I can handle that. So I went in. And that's when they pointed out to me the teeeeeeny little asterisk after "$200/year" and the teeeeeny little cross after "No registration fee", and on the back, hidden amongst the list of gym features, the asterisk led to "plus registration fee" (which turned out to be some huge fee like $500-something), and the cross led to "with $50/mo. membership".

So in other words, it was EITHER $200/year OR no registration fee, but not both. Then they did some sort of stupid gimmick where they gave me a plastic egg to open (it was Easter time) and it had a coupon inside which gave me a discount on my registration fee, and there was various other crap they did with the numbers, and I wound up paying about $150 to join and $30/mo. It's a two-year commitment, and I can only get out of it by either paying $100, getting a doctor's note, or moving more than 20 miles away.

I'm embarrassed because not only did I fall for their scam, but even when they came clean with me, I didn't storm out of there but instead actually signed up, so I was giving them positive reinforcement for their sneaky marketing practices. I am glad I joined, though, because I'm exercising regularly for the first time in over a decade, and that's worth the money.

[whodameg.livejournal.com]

Haha, I stormed out of there after the Val-Pak coupon thing... I went back and gave'm hell a second time and signed up at $0/down, $29.99/mo. I just wanted them to match what I was getting at Gold's Gym on McGrath (I moved from East to West Somerville).

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

My hero! You indeed da meg.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Bally's is a hard-sell corporation and they will go to any ends to sell you things above and beyond your membership. When you join, you are effectively joining for 3 years, though they won't tell you this if you don't read the fine print. There is virtually no way out of your contract unless you move somewhere where there is no Bally's for 50 miles.

I've been a menber for almost 10 years, because my monthy fee is now so low that it's almost free. But when you join, it's imperative that you either make SURE you are taken off their telemarketing list, or give then a fake phone number. Otherwise they will plague you with ceaseless telemarketing calls, trying to get you to upgrade your membership or buy the worthless crap they sell.

In spite of all that, it's worked out for me once I got off the telemarketing list. It's your cheapest option in the area.

[deadwinter.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough, price is not so much the issue, convenience is. I am a member of CRFC in Cambridge, which I am plenty happy with. But after the move, going there will mean driving backwards to Cambridge in the morning, from Medford when 93 N is practially in our new backyard.

I despise the hard sell. I have been known to walk away from good deals because of it. And the amounf of complaints I have seen with a simple Google search is insane.

[signsoflife.livejournal.com]

Years ago, I joined Bally, and managed to get a one-year membership by making it utterly clear that 1) I *would* sign up for one year and 2) I would *not* sign up for three years. I'm glad I managed that, because I really found that gyms in general and Bally's in particular are not for me.

[joifulgurl.livejournal.com]

i joined about a year ago, and i talked them down to $19.99/mo and a $150 reg fee. just talk and talk and talk, and it'll pay off. they're in business, and in business, they want to make as much money as they can. so - talk em down. they'll work with you.

[bettyw.livejournal.com]

What they said - the trick @ WoW is to reject the first pitch and then come back (or, as I did, sign up but then come back within 3 days and say you've changed your mind and want the contract cancelled). Then you get the no reg./$30 a mo. offer.

The sales guy I interacted with fulfilled every used-car-salesman stereotype imaginable...

[water-childe.livejournal.com]

It was over a year ago, but I had a very bad time with their sales staff. I found them pushy and rude.
There was also some sort of nonsense about 'no bandanas'.

[water-childe.livejournal.com]

This was at WoW.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't get the whole bandana rule.

[tisana.livejournal.com]

The no bandanas might be their way of avoiding gang trouble by not letting people wear gang colors. Not that I was aware it was a particular issue in this area, but that's why some schools do it.

[water-childe.livejournal.com]

They also told me that didn't want people grunting while lifting.
That and the 'no bandana' rule are their ways of trying not to have 'big muscle gym rat sort of people' come to their gym. I mean I do understand that many people go out of their way to try and find a gym where they can feel comfortable working out and not intiminated by 'powerlift dudes/dudettes'.
I found this kinda discriminatory and weird. I even told them so.

[tisana.livejournal.com]

No grunting?!
I mean, I find it unappealing to listen to, but isn't it kind of unintentional in the first place?? How the hell can you regulate that?

God, that'd be awesome...places that require signs saying "No Grunting" with a forbid symbol over a pig. I imagine gyms and brothels using them. ;)

[water-childe.livejournal.com]

I mean, I find it unappealing to listen to, but isn't it kind of unintentional in the first place??

My thoughts exactly. The sales guy got really surprised when I told him that that, along with the 'no bandana' rule was the stupidest thing I've heard of lately. I challenged him, "So, your telling me that if I wanted to wear a bandana on my head, to keep the sweat from running into my eyes, I couldn't use your facility and equiptment?" He couldn't really answer me. I mean I see women wearing bandana's at gyms all the time. Very standard. Lame.

[water-childe.livejournal.com]

Regardless of a man or woman wearing them, bandanas are pretty standard workout wear in my mind.
The whole deal made me furious.

[deadwinter.livejournal.com]

trying not to have 'big muscle gym rat sort of people'

As a big muscle gym rat, I am glad you have brought this to my attention.

[water-childe.livejournal.com]

No worries. It's a shame because I really liked WoW's gym.
I think it's a nice facility with a decent range of equiptment.
I've worked in the industry, in terms of selling memberships.
At the time when I did so, I often went to other gyms to essentially to 'see what the competition was pitching'. At least when I toured WoW 2 or so years ago, they go for the 'intimidation and shame tactic'. Or at least my salesperson did. He really was miserable. If he had any idea as to how badly he represented his gym to me! I know a lot of people hate Bally's, but the sad fact is that most gyms are kinda of skeezy to a degree when it comes to getting a membership. I have a Bally's membership at Porter. As a co-ed gym I think it's pretty decent, and I've never had an issue thus far. But, honestly. Getting a gym membership is worse then buying a car. I agree with what everone else has said so far in terms of sticking to your guns and arguing the salespeople down. The key thing? It's all about ratios. Gyms need to make certain monthly quotas in order to keep things in the black. Your two big negotiation tools are how much you pay up front and how much you pay later. If you are bad with ratios and mathmatics? Take a friend with you to keep things straight or they'll liable to talk you into something you may not want. In a lot of situations paying more up front, if you can aford it (intitiation fee) will mean less money per month over the term of your membership. Zero down always sounds good, but be careful as this means they'll want to rope you into a longer contract, possibly as long as 3 years.

[marmota.livejournal.com]

Thirded. It's good enough that I'll renew if I'm still in the area. Their hours are excellent; 5am to midnight, the equipment is well maintained, and the staff is helpful (albeit harried during peak hours). The place is a bit stark and utilitarian, but I like the idea that I'm not paying extra for it to look fancy. Oh, and I agree that the sales staff are something to watch out for... you can fairly easily cut a good deal, but you *will* have to at least try to haggle, and watch the math. Bally's sales contracts were designed in Hell, so WoW is still worth a look by comparison.

[ludimagist.livejournal.com]

I would see if you could access the Tufts gym, I heard they have something for residents. They have really good facilities in terms of weights, plus a pool and squash courts and so on.

[tisana.livejournal.com]

See, this is why I ask this stuff--I wouldn't have thought of that.

If we can access it, that would be great--the campus is right across the street, though I don't know where in there the gym is. Worth checking out, certainly.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

The gym is near the College/Boston Ave. intersection, a little to the north, iirc. So it may be extremely close to you, depending on what part of the campus you are adjacent to.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

I agree -- I found the Tufts gym just fine when I was an MA student there, and at least some Tufts facilities are open to residents (I mean, for a fee, but probably quite reasonable compared to a gym membership).

The people there pretty much ignored me and my husband when we worked out. Of course, there's a bunch of 18-year-olds with teenage male metabolisms who wouldn't be fat no matter what, and a bunch of blond sorority types with perfectly matching workout suits, so it can be a bit dispiriting if you're not good at ignoring that ;). But again, I am not skinny, not blond, and don't have stylish workout clothes, and no one cared.

[ludimagist.livejournal.com]

I'm a grad student there now so I tend to run into my students there now and again, but overall I'm really pleased with the facilities.

[nalz.livejournal.com]

I actually trek to the Gold's Gym in Arlington right now - its $40/mo. But I do really enjoy the facilities and the environment there. There is one opening up in medford that is part of the same franchise, right down on 16 where cross country auto used to be (i think). Basically right past the meadow glen mall.

It should be open soon according to all their signs.

[deadwinter.livejournal.com]

That would rock. That's a reasonable path to 93 also, from where we will be. Might be worth it to keep my current membership until they open.

[nalz.livejournal.com]

From what the folks at the Arlington gym say - it should be "any time now" - so yeah it's probably worth it. :)