Check out the lunk alarm at Planet Fitness

[Yev33]

Opening a gym is an idea I have been considering for a while now, I am trying to see how profitable it is in the long run. If I had the money I would open one up right now as kind of a "pet project" where all I would care about is it not losing me any money and not worry about making a living off it.

[JaggyShortBuff]

Opening a gym is an idea I have been considering for a while now, I am trying to see how profitable it is in the long run. If I had the money I would open one up right now as kind of a "pet project" where all I would care about is it not losing me any money and not worry about making a living off it.

Go for it brother ya never know what could happen I have been there...By the way, I wanted to reply to your other post too and ask ya why would you be caught dead in a Planet Fitness when you know about their rules just like you wouldn't be caught in a Curves because you are not a woman...Think about it.....

[Yev33]

Planet Fitness is cashing in on a fad, they are looting the fitness industry and anyone who is truly serious about training. Yes, they do make money, but like many other business ventures just because something is profitable it doesn't necessarily mean it's moral.

[JaggyShortBuff]

No, they spread because of the people that lift once a week and take up space real lifters use.  They do cater to one group, pissants.  I would bring them together by having two separate wings.  the average lifter does grunt, it's normal.  It doesn't have to be Ronnie Coleman proportions but during a straining lift you make noises.  Shit, most people do that when moving shit out of their house.

So in your opinion...There are how many types of people in the consumer market??? Let me ask you what you think the majority is??? Also, I tried to the two seperate wing thing and the hardcore lifting guys would always end up wondering back over to the portion of the facility I had marked for "fitness" only because most of the women were over there...Go figure lol....

[JaggyShortBuff]

Planet Fitness is cashing in on a fad, they are looting the fitness industry and anyone who is truly serious about training. Yes, they do make money, but like many other business ventures just because something is profitable it doesn't necessarily mean it's moral.

HAHAHA LOL......Go talk to Mike Katz and explain to him your morals that you feel gyms should have......Go cry somewhere else and open a non-profit hardcore gym for the "moral lifters"....LoL that is hilarious, now there are morals when you open a facility...Go burn down a Curves well your at it because they don't cater to you or follow your moral...Amazing you guys lol

[Yev33]

Go for it brother ya never know what could happen I have been there...By the way, I wanted to reply to your other post too and ask ya why would you be caught dead in a Planet Fitness when you know about their rules just like you wouldn't be caught in a Curves because you are not a woman...Think about it.....

I know that since it's their gym I have to follow their rules, since I don't agree with their rules I will not support them with my membership fees. I won't try to go in there and purposely break their rules to prove a point, it won't get me anywhere but possibly arrested. What I would do is write a well worded letter to the company and urge others to do the same, there is strength in numbers and if there is enough people they will eventually be seen as dollar signs.

[JaggyShortBuff]

I know that since it's their gym I have to follow their rules, since I don't agree with their rules I will not support them with my membership fees. I won't try to go in there and purposely break their rules to prove a point, it won't get me anywhere but possibly arrested. What I would do is write a well worded letter to the company and urge others to do the same, there is strength in numbers and if there is enough people they will eventually be seen as dollar signs.

I think this is the most intelligent post I have read yet from any of you guys...Now that is the way you go about it, but let me ask you this: What makes you think they will change their rules when that is one of the main reasons other than membership price they are doing so well??? I am really trying to slam this into you guys that heavy lifters, bodybuilders, powerlifters, extreme lifters are part of such a small percentage of the population it is not worth it to cater to them...I swear to ya man about 3 years ago I tried to cater to everyone when I was running a pretty big facility and still couldn't do it and I have spoken to many many others that have done the same thing and failed...The sad fact is that the hardcore lifters are the most dedicated gym members, but they will ruin you if you cater to them because there is no money in it...

[Yev33]

HAHAHA LOL......Go talk to Mike Katz and explain to him your morals that you feel gyms should have......Go cry somewhere else and open a non-profit hardcore gym for the "moral lifters"....LoL that is hilarious, now there are morals when you open a facility...Go burn down a Curves well your at it because they don't cater to you or follow your moral...Amazing you guys lol

Yes, I know I am sounding idealistic but it's just my view. The businesses that are put there to make a quick buck fade away the ones with a strong business plan that cover ALL areas of the market stay. Why would you want to give away even 5% of your possible profit, an intelligent owner will figure out a way to get that 5% back instead of alienating it.

[JaggyShortBuff]

Yes, I know I am sounding idealistic but it's just my view. The businesses that are put there to make a quick buck fade away the ones with a strong business plan that cover ALL areas of the market stay. Why would you want to give away even 5% of your possible profit, an intelligent owner will figure out a way to get that 5% back instead of alienating it.

Brother, I have been trying to figure that out for years and many men more intelligent than myself have been trying to figure it out for decades...If there were an easy answer than it would be done already...What Planet Fitness is doing is marketing to the majority better than any other fitness franchise I have ever seen I will be honest about that...I felt a little bit the same as some of you guys did about their rules, but coming from a perspective of having run a facility before I could not believe how they had actually found a way to cater to the majority of consumers and were very successfully proving it....

[Yev33]

I think this is the most intelligent post I have read yet from any of you guys...Now that is the way you go about it, but let me ask you this: What makes you think they will change their rules when that is one of the main reasons other than membership price they are doing so well??? I am really trying to slam this into you guys that heavy lifters, bodybuilders, powerlifters, extreme lifters are part of such a small percentage of the population it is not worth it to cater to them...I swear to ya man about 3 years ago I tried to cater to everyone when I was running a pretty big facility and still couldn't do it and I have spoken to many many others that have done the same thing and failed...The sad fact is that the hardcore lifters are the most dedicated gym members, but they will ruin you if you cater to them because there is no money in it...

You have more experience in running a gym than I do, I take your word for it that it's very difficult. But I believe that there are gyms in this country that have overcome this. It's easier to just cater to the "majority". But if you dig into to it deeper, you find that your typical "mainstream" customer is not renewing his/her membership, you might think no worry I just had 400 new members sign up this month, what you should be thinking is, why the hell aren't these people renewing their contracts? Are the "lurk" alarms not working? What's wrong with my facility? Is it my target clientele?

[JaggyShortBuff]

You have more experience in running a gym than I do, I take your word for it that it's very difficult. But I believe that there are gyms in this country that have overcome this. It's easier to just cater to the "majority". But if you dig into to it deeper, you find that your typical "mainstream" customer is not renewing his/her membership, you might think no worry I just had 400 new members sign up this month, what you should be thinking is, why the hell aren't these people renewing their contracts? Are the "lurk" alarms not working? What's wrong with my facility? Is it my target clientele?

I will give you a few quick stats that are an average but very accurate...The average Planet Fitness member is in a non-contractual agreement(meaning they are not forced to pay by contract) and the average Planet Fitness member is also only paying anywhere from $10-$20 per month for membership...With that being said the average member does not end their agreement for the period of 2 years on average...By that time, more people have already signed up, more people have moved to the area, and more people will not end their agreements or they will renew their agreements after leaving....I have watched it happen first hand...I even watched guys that hated the rules go to other facilities and end up coming back and obeying the rules just because most of the women were at Planet Fitness lol...

[JaggyShortBuff]

You have more experience in running a gym than I do, I take your word for it that it's very difficult. But I believe that there are gyms in this country that have overcome this. It's easier to just cater to the "majority". But if you dig into to it deeper, you find that your typical "mainstream" customer is not renewing his/her membership, you might think no worry I just had 400 new members sign up this month, what you should be thinking is, why the hell aren't these people renewing their contracts? Are the "lurk" alarms not working? What's wrong with my facility? Is it my target clientele?

To add just a little bit more you have to judge your gym based on the monthly EFT and monthly in take of money(More so on the EFT)...More than the amount of members...If your monthly EFT keeps going up and compare it to the last years EFT will really tell ya if you are doing well with your gym...

[Yev33]

$10-$20 a month is pretty damn low. I can see how they get so many people to sign up. Around my area, LifeTime gyms are pretty popular. A couple of the people I work with are members and are paying about $60  a month. The gym does offer a lot, most of which I won't use. But they also have dumbells going up to 130lbs and deadlifting is allowed, no chalk though. The place is huge and there is at least three different ones that I know of in the Chicagoland area. It's not a World Gym but it sure as hell beats a concept like Planet Fitness. The way I see it, most people don't see $10-$20 a month as big investment so they don't care if they waste it by not going. However if you are shelling out $60 a month,  you will think twice before signing a contract if you know there is a slight chance you will eventually quit. This goes directly against the concept that Planet Fitness is using, but the fact is that LifeTime fitness is doing very well. If your product is good and you have the right target consumer you don't have to lure business in with low prices. Both models work, but I think that the Planet Fitness model will not stand the test of time.

[JaggyShortBuff]

$10-$20 a month is pretty damn low. I can see how they get so many people to sign up. Around my area, LifeTime gyms are pretty popular. A couple of the people I work with are members and are paying about $60  a month. The gym does offer a lot, most of which I won't use. But they also have dumbells going up to 130lbs and deadlifting is allowed, no chalk though. The place is huge and there is at least three different ones that I know of in the Chicagoland area. It's not a World Gym but it sure as hell beats a concept like Planet Fitness. The way I see it, most people don't see $10-$20 a month as big investment so they don't care if they waste it by not going. However if you are shelling out $60 a month,  you will think twice before signing a contract if you know there is a slight chance you will eventually quit. This goes directly against the concept that Planet Fitness is using, but the fact is that LifeTime fitness is doing very well. If your product is good and you have the right target consumer you don't have to lure business in with low prices. Both models work, but I think that the Planet Fitness model will not stand the test of time.

Very good for reading between the lines....You hit the nail on the head about people not viewing it as a major investment...Thats the reason they won't on average end their membership for years....Simply because the average person spends more than $10 the first part of the work week on fast food lol....Yes, Lifetime Fitness does have a great business model, but when you take into consideration overhead and how much it costs each month to run a big facility then your profit margin is somethng you should look at...I know of several Planet Fitness location on the northern east coast that have a profit margin of over $50,000 per month(That is $50,000 profit after you subtract overhead by the way)...The Planet Fitness locations I have been involved with have averaged a profit margin of $8,000+ after only a few months after converting....

[jwb]

Very good for reading between the lines....You hit the nail on the head about people not viewing it as a major investment...Thats the reason they won't on average end their membership for years....Simply because the average person spends more than $10 the first part of the work week on fast food lol....Yes, Lifetime Fitness does have a great business model, but when you take into consideration overhead and how much it costs each month to run a big facility then your profit margin is somethng you should look at...I know of several Planet Fitness location on the northern east coast that have a profit margin of over $50,000 per month(That is $50,000 profit after you subtract overhead by the way)...The Planet Fitness locations I have been involved with have averaged a profit margin of $8,000+ after only a few months after converting....

Shaggy is right.

The planet fitness model is low risk compared to these huge gyms like lifetime... People are paying so little they don't expect much other than equipment that works and is clean. They also don't stress if they only go once a month or less since the investment is so low.

Bigger gyms with more services that charge more have loads of headaches and often make a lot less profit. Putting on a decent aerobics program can cost you $5000 a week if you have a couple of studios.

Lots of gym owners are converting because it is a low stress business to run unlike most gym business models...

[JaggyShortBuff]

Shaggy is right.

The planet fitness model is low risk compared to these huge gyms like lifetime... People are paying so little they don't expect much other than equipment that works and is clean. They also don't stress if they only go once a month or less since the investment is so low.

Bigger gyms with more services that charge more have loads of headaches and often make a lot less profit. Putting on a decent aerobics program can cost you $5000 a week if you have a couple of studios.

Lots of gym owners are converting because it is a low stress business to run unlike most gym business models...

Exactly....All these guys are acting like someone is taking away their toys or something and crying as if a child....I cannot believe some of them lol...Open your own damn gym if you don't like it or don't go to Planet Fitness LoL....And some of you guys comparing it to taking away your civil rights is a complete joke....But I do have to say it is very entertaining to read you guys bitch all up and down the boards and accomplishing nothing but sitting down and Salk all out of breath lol....Thanks for the laughs guys...Only on Getbig...

[Stubborn]

Exactly....All these guys are acting like someone is taking away their toys or something and crying as if a child....I cannot believe some of them lol...Open your own damn gym if you don't like it or don't go to Planet Fitness LoL....And some of you guys comparing it to taking away your civil rights is a complete joke....But I do have to say it is very entertaining to read you guys bitch all up and down the boards and accomplishing nothing but sitting down and Salk all out of breath lol....Thanks for the laughs guys...Only on Getbig...

Only if we could accomplish as much as you have with your posts. You can state percentages of hardcore lifters to lights users all day but it wont change the fact that this rule is rediculous. Fine, fine....if you want your quiet, "unintimidating" gym then you can have it. Its not that I feel it will one day take over my gym (it very well may) but its an accurate reflection of society. We are not just seen this way in the gym but walking around on the street. I can say from personal experience that everywhere I go I am seen as a "challenge" by others. I come to this conclusion because I am frequently confronted with people who seem to need to prove to themselves that they are "just as tough as that guy!" Its not just me it happens to either. Its downright annoying. I dont think that everyone should go out and "get big" but if thats not your thing then just accept it and learn to feel good about who you are without looking down on others for making a noise, sweating, or looking intimidating. YES, I understand that this will not change anything because I am just on an internet board but it doesnt mean we cant have an opinion and discuss it. I dont care to change it (because we are all entitled to do what, go where, and say anything we wish) but I feel I should let people know that such things exist and are not universally agreed with. I WILL let everyone I know hear about this and try to keep those who I am in direct contact with informed about what can only be described as segregation (n. The policy or practice of separating people of different races, classes, or ethnic groups, as in schools, housing, and public or commercial facilities, especially as a form of discrimination.). This IS discrimination. If that is really how you feel then go to Planet fitness, but know that this is how you will be seen by "the lower percentage of gym goers."


Thats just about all I have to say on that so start tearing it apart if you wish.

[JaggyShortBuff]

Only if we could accomplish as much as you have with your posts. You can state percentages of hardcore lifters to lights users all day but it wont change the fact that this rule is ridiculous. Fine, fine....if you want your quiet, "unintimidating" gym then you can have it. Its not that I feel it will one day take over my gym (it very well may) but its an accurate reflection of society. We are not just seen this way in the gym but walking around on the street. I can say from personal experience that everywhere I go I am seen as a "challenge" by others. I come to this conclusion because I am frequently confronted with people who seem to need to prove to themselves that they are "just as tough as that guy!" Its not just me it happens to either. Its downright annoying. I dont think that everyone should go out and "get big" but if thats not your thing then just accept it and learn to feel good about who you are without looking down on others for making a noise, sweating, or looking intimidating. YES, I understand that this will not change anything because I am just on an internet board but it doesnt mean we cant have an opinion and discuss it. I dont care to change it (because we are all entitled to do what, go where, and say anything we wish) but I feel I should let people know that such things exist and are not universally agreed with. I WILL let everyone I know hear about this and try to keep those who I am in direct contact with informed about what can only be described as segregation (n. The policy or practice of separating people of different races, classes, or ethnic groups, as in schools, housing, and public or commercial facilities, especially as a form of discrimination.). This IS discrimination. If that is really how you feel then go to Planet fitness, but know that this is how you will be seen by "the lower percentage of gym goers."


Thats just about all I have to say on that so start tearing it apart if you wish.

Naa I won't tear into ya just as I have not tore into any of you guys...I am a bodybuilder guys lets get that said first...I don't have a bias view on the Planet Fitness thing either because they are very successful in what they are doing...Did I have to stop working out there even when I was running one of them?? Yes, I did because of the rules...What I am trying to tell you guys is that you are all just bitching and bitching about a company that is not marketed towards you and you are offended by it is all...To call it discrimination is ridiculous...Ya know how dance clubs have certain rules like at many places no solid color t-shirts, no backwards hats, no nudity ect...You guys have to understand these are privately owned clubs they can set their own rules lol...Just like many country club fitness centers I have been in you have to wear a collar shirt in order to workout there...Do I start bitching and complaining about discrimination because I shouldn't be judged because I workout in a t-shirt?? No lol....You guys keep up the good bitching though and tell everyone your feelings about the rules of Planet Fitness, I do when I run into people and I still see a few bodybuilders going and signing up there lol...I can't believe my eyes what a bunch of hypocrites lol....

[Stubborn]

So they are not discriminating? Okay, I wont argue, people can decide for themselves. I just wish I could take off my muscles (like say a t-shirt) and workout with everyone else.

[JaggyShortBuff]

So they are not discriminating? Okay, I wont argue, people can decide for themselves. I just wish I could take off my muscles (like say a t-shirt) and workout with everyone else.

Yeah and I wish I could walk into an aerobics class and fuck every hot chick in there too without any of them saying no...LoL...I would also like to walk around with my dick hanging out too and not get arrested...More than anything else, I wish I could inject my roids in public and not have to worry about the DEA...I could go on and on about what I could wish for...Rules are rules the fact is they are successfully marketing the majority of consumers right now...Fitness Fads change about every 10 years or so..Something else will come up and we will all bitch about that too...I hate those damn places Curves for Women because they won't let me work out in there because I have a penis what a bunch of dictators they are LoL...I am now going to have to workout at a hole in the wall balls to the wall 24 hour gym to where I can actually bodybuild and make as much noise as I want to boohoo lol...I hate being forced to go to a gym to where I can make progress damn Planet Fitness lol.....

[Deadpool]

  I would also like to walk around with my dick hanging out too and not get arrested...

I'd like that too 

[Stubborn]

Whether you like to admit it or not its rediculous. Rule or not, its rediculous. Cant argue that.


 

[Deadpool]

rediculous:  something that has been re-dicked?

[Stubborn]

Over and over!

[JaggyShortBuff]

I'd like that too 

LoL...At least someone agrees with me on that lol...Now, all the others that agree with that too should all write letters to your state representatives and try to get a law passed so I can walk around with my dick hanging out...Because I am so offended that I can't walk around with my cock out right now that I am going to just do it anyway and boycott all the areas that don't agree with my same line of thinking...That will show congress and they will definitely pass a law to allow it because I know that would appeal to the majority of the population LoL....