David Lloyd gym price increase AIBU?

[NotMariah]

I’ll start with the disclaimer that I KNOW David Lloyd is very expensive, and this is aimed at other DL current member pls.

We have been members for a long time partly because of local provision otherwise is poor, and partly because one of our family has health needs which are better met by their facilities. This is relevent.

The AIBU is the fee increase for next year is a whacking +14.5%, on top on annual increases if never less than 10% for lst many many years. This is wildly more than inflation now, it’s ridiculous and I feel stuck. They know they have the monopoly. I feel stuck because it’s a chance to make a real difference to a family members health. And as a wider family it’s beneficial as we do go together - but - the rates will just be too much to justify, the principle / tipping point. We don’t go every day which is frankly what would be needed to make it count.

can I ask how much other pay for full access (blaze etc) family membership for 2 ad + 2 kids (one teen one not)

fwiw this is not one of their newest clubs, and has blaze & courts but nothing else new or different.

has anyone negotiated successfully ? I have sent them a reply but I don’t hold my breath.

thanks

I have that set up and it costs us £270

I pay £93 for me and my baby- peak membership with no racket sports. Live in the South West. I used to live in central London a few years ago and go to Third Space which was £200+ but it was incredible - like gym in a very plush hotel. They let you pause your membership for £20 which I did whenever I was travelling for work or on holiday for a few weeks.

I like that my David Lloyd is a bit of a community but I may quit as now I'm back full time it's hard to justify it. The biggest bonus for me is the heated outdoor pool which is lovely particularly in summer.

I’ve just joined one. Yes, it is extremely expensive (£160 pm, I can go anytime but no blaze or spa which I wouldn’t go to anyway as I hate saunas etc.)

There are other local options but I went for DL because it’s open, and well -staffed, at 6am - and I’m an early morning exerciser. I go later at the weekends and it’s never too busy.

I see it, however cringe this sounds, as I’m investing in my health. A cheaper, more crowded, less well-maintained club, I just wouldn’t go to, so it would end up not being cost effective.

I can always get a parking space, too!

So an insiders view. I used to work in HO.

There are a lot of staff on the payroll. Its only the instructors who aren't. Think of all the other people behind the scenes.

The overall owners used to want much higher price increases than the DL board. I am not sure what this year's % is but there is a lot of trying to put the legacy prices in line.

If your price rise is beyond inflation then I am sure you can quit without notice.

I miss my gym membership but have joined a different gym as fancied a change. But I can see why people pay over £200 each to access the spas. M

I do agree about the staff and NI issue being a thing. Dd used to work at my local branch. By the time you have included the reception staff, kids club staff, lifeguards, f&b staff, the numerous managers, the sales team, the gym staff who aren’t free lancers, the membership team staff there are 60plus people employed just at one (small) branch. Plus head office staff. So the extra NI costs will make a difference.

We used to pay DL £200 for 2 adults & 2 teens, and that was a reduced price because we managed to get some sort of corporate discount for DH.

This was about 4 years ago. When they put the price up 10% we left and bought a peloton bike instead.

I still love the peloton, and would never pay those sort of gym prices again.

Oh not too bad here then, we're at an 'old but big' DL and I've just gone up from £77 to £80 per month for platinum with blaze & racquets. I don't actually use blaze or racquets so could probably go down to standard but I do go to at least 5 classes per week, so I like that platinum can book early and I can get on the class I want. Works out about £3 per class for me which is great. We have a friends & family rate through a fairly loose but kindly acquaintance!

This actually sounds ideal!

There's a FB page covering David Lloyd UK wide with lots of active current comments from members detailing price increases.

They are saying that if the annual increase is above RPI? - you can leave with 30 days notice as per the contract (rather than 3 months) and suchlike. HTH

I was thinking about this again today and wondering how gyms untransparent pricing policies are lawful. Surely they should have to publish a price, even if they then add to, or deduct from, it for certain things (deduct for off-peak use, add for kids).

Even airlines have to publish a fare and then all the add-ons. They don't always follow the letter of the rules, but there is some transparency, but with gyms there is none.

I vaguely considered rejoining my
local one recently. And then I discovered it would have been £300+ a month JUST FOR ME. Er, no thanks.

Are you based in London? That is extortionate pricing!!!

That is true. See my prior post.

Something else they can do is increase your price even if you have recently joined.

Also there are lots of legacy pricing. Going forwards members should be on a more streamlined model.

Yup! One of the ones with a swanky new spa.