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Original poster

Are David Lloyd memberships negotiable in any way?

24 replies

NoHayDosSinTres · 29/03/2022 16:09

I am looking to join my local DL, however the price has gone through the roof as it has recently become a spa centre. I wanted to join as a Diamond member, but now have to have the full monty membership which includes all the clubs in the country, which I won't use.

I am just wondering if anyone has been able to negotiate the fees down, or waiver the joining fee etc. or are they set in stone?

OP posts:

TeenPlusCat · 29/03/2022 16:12

I'm not sure they are negotiable, but you could try I guess.
Can you join off peak - would that help?

HunterHearstHelmsley · 29/03/2022 16:16

Diamond membership is the full monty one, I believe. Previously it was club plus and platinum with diamond at some clubs. Now it seems to platinum and diamond. Diamond will be getting more than new platinum members over the coming months.

At the moment, they won't negotiate at all. Most clubs are at capacity. Some have doubled their joining fees recently.

Do you work anywhere that offers GymFlex? You can usually get a discount through them.

Anyfeckinusername · 29/03/2022 16:16

I don’t think they are but you might be the first!

When I tried I was comped with loads of visitor passes to sweeten the deal.

Silkierabbit · 29/03/2022 16:22

When we were members we got better deals but the trick was to keep turning down their offers and wait, there are also different offers each month. Some workplaces get a discount. You also get better deals by resigning your membership and re-joining rather than being a constant member but not been a member for a few years and it will depend on supply and demand. If they can hit targets without offering discounts they will. It tends not to be discounts more like a month or two extra free.

TiddleyWink · 29/03/2022 16:22

Absolutely zero room for negotiating when I joined recently. We got it via Gym Flex through work which removed the joining fee, and i think they also take the joining fee off if you’re referred by an existing member but the monthly rates seemed set in stone. I took a few weeks to decide and I think they would have offered anything they could do, it wasn’t like I signed up on the spot so they didn’t need to offer anything. I was undecided and the guy was v keen to sign me but still didn’t waver from the monthly rates.

Original poster

NoHayDosSinTres · 29/03/2022 16:23

Sorry Hunter, I mean't I wanted to get the Platinum one and they are now only offering the Diamond one as they are a Spa club.

I will still join. It's just that before my tour I was geared up to sign up for the Platinum one and the fees of the Diamond one threw me. I was also a member there a few years ago, pre spa, and it was a lot cheaper!

I need it all times and I will use the tennis a lot.

OP posts:

Original poster

NoHayDosSinTres · 29/03/2022 16:25

OK, so no negotiation then. I will give it a go though. I just didn't want to join and then get taking to people who have negotiated it all down and feel an unassertive fool.

OP posts:

mowglika · 29/03/2022 21:00

They sometimes do offers like get one month free on 12 months but haven’t seen one in a long time. Also they might do more if you are referred so ask if they have a referral scheme (if you have anyone who can refer you)

Fees are going up every year but we have an old membership which is cheaper that what they are offering currently, my sister joined after me and tried to negotiate but was not offered much

scrivette · 29/03/2022 21:05

My local one offers 20% off to people who work for the local Council and my SIL got money off for working for the NHS if either of those apply to you?

SiobhanSharpe · 29/03/2022 21:12

I'm on the 'old farts' rate at a DL club. But still expensive compared with previous clubs i belonged to.
Eg previous (premium) full membership at a Herts hotel and leisure centre, full access with no time restrictions, free classes - £55 a month with discount on food and drink in the bars, plus discount if booking functions. Two guest passes per month.
David Lloyd club in city where i now live - off-peak senior rate £65 per month. Includes some classes but quite restrictive hours. No discount on food or drink in 'the Clubhouse' and no free guest passes.

Silkierabbit · 29/03/2022 21:22

Yes I was shocked how much prices had risen - we used to pay £200 a month for the family for everything, towels, discounted food, spa, kids club, tennis, pools in one by London. Moved further out and enquired how much would it be to do same again £400 a month So never joined though do miss it and was so much healthier when there. Will maybe join when kids have left home.

BritInUS1 · 29/03/2022 21:26

How much is a single membership with spa access peak?

Just ball park?

So hard to get a figure out of them without doing a tour

CecilyTheWake · 29/03/2022 21:29

If it’s any help, I pay £130 per month with no spa access in the south east.

Sauvignonblanket · 29/03/2022 21:39

You can pay for the 12 months up front and get one or two months free I think. Not that anyone wants to hand over that money at once.

Silkierabbit · 29/03/2022 22:02

We used to do annual but I don't rate your chances of getting money back if you wanted to leave early, its always worth reading all the small print of their contracts and be very careful when you want to leave - think there is 1 day each month you can give notice otherwise its an extra month notice and it must be in writing handed in to club or used to be like that.

ToastedCrumpetwithCheese · 29/03/2022 22:14

No discount here either. We were really keen to join as a family but no follow up sweetener to sign the deal. We actually chose not to join because I looked at other clubs in the same tier (as we travel around so wanted to see where else we could go) and they were beautiful. Our DL was expensive and grotty. I expect they are full as so no need to invest when there's plenty of people who want to join.

rookiemere · 30/03/2022 07:12

I joined about 10 months ago, tried all the negotiation ploys I could, but the only thing I think they can waive is the joining fee, and - as others have said - offer a discount if you pay the year in one go.

YellowHpok · 30/03/2022 07:22

I heard that you had to fake your own death to get out of the contracts, you have to give a ridiculous amount of notice to quit. So I did a three month rolling trial which was more expensive but did allow me to see if I thought it was worth it. It wasn't, I joined the local council one afterwards

Silkierabbit · 30/03/2022 07:45

I think the 3 month one is better to start with but read the contract like a hawk for leaving and do it to the word and get signed proof. If you do that on correct day of month its OK but many people get caught if they don't follow contract to the letter. Also whenever we gave notice we would get calls offering extra months free if rejoined but that was a few years ago but we would get offers like 2 months free, pay for 3 months so 5 months for price of 3 and no joining fee to continue. People had paid quite different rates there but if demand is sky high now it sounds difficult to get things now. We also got free adult tennis with kids membership from reception who let us book in as kids though that was unofficial and think was as reception liked us.

Original poster

NoHayDosSinTres · 01/04/2022 09:54

OK, so here goes.

I got offered the joining fee wavered if I got a friend to recommend me via their app and I paid upfront (ouch) and got 5% off. I also got 6 personal training sessions thrown in.

Better than a slap in the face with a wet kipper.

OP posts:

Anyfeckinusername · 01/04/2022 13:20

You did well! The six PT sessions is a lovely sweetener!! Well done

Original poster

NoHayDosSinTres · 02/04/2022 08:28

Thx

I have given them to my son as he is lifting weights at home and I am sure is going to hurt himself!!

OP posts:

HunterHearstHelmsley · 02/04/2022 22:40

I've just seen the diamond membership for my club and genuinely laughed out loud. Its £120 more a month.

@NoHayDosSinTres it sounds like your club has a spa. Mine doesn't. I have no clue why they think people are going to pay that much extra. I pay annually, I'm worried when I come to renew they won't be offering platinum anymore.

TeenPlusCat · 03/04/2022 08:56

@HunterHearstHelmsley

I've just seen the diamond membership for my club and genuinely laughed out loud. Its £120 more a month.

@NoHayDosSinTres it sounds like your club has a spa. Mine doesn't. I have no clue why they think people are going to pay that much extra. I pay annually, I'm worried when I come to renew they won't be offering platinum anymore.

They have memberships available for existing members that aren't offered to new members. I know this due to multiple conversations recently as we have been a member for over 20 years and our 'off peak' times are different from newer members' off peak times.

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