Initiation fees for gyms

[indysteel]

OMG- I wish that the Y would let me do this!

While I imagine each Y approaches it differently, I'd suggest at least asking your membership director if you have a compelling reason to put your membership on hold. I know that when the economy started to tank, we were doing our best to work with members so that they didn't have to cancel their membership altogether. The YMCA is not a for-profit gym. While they do need to generate revenue, there is a charitable mission as well, largely supported by donations, to help make the Y's programs and facilities open to all.

[skywalkerbeth]

I joined. Paid the fee. It's already cheap.

alpinerabbit, I think you mean "haggle". Heckle is what people in the audience do to comedians or politicians.

[Becky]

While I imagine each Y approaches it differently, I'd suggest at least asking your membership director if you have a compelling reason to put your membership on hold. I know that when the economy started to tank, we were doing our best to work with members so that they didn't have to cancel their membership altogether. The YMCA is not a for-profit gym. While they do need to generate revenue, there is a charitable mission as well, largely supported by donations, to help make the Y's programs and facilities open to all.

"I wanna ride my bike more" doesn't strike me as a compelling reason, especially when I know how many families have a genuine financial issue these days. This also factors into my emotional tension over looking at the less-expensive gym near work. Although I'd love to save that money each month, I'm torn about considering that as part of my decision when my Y chapter does so many good things in our community and there are those truly in need.

[indysteel]

"I wanna ride my bike more" doesn't strike me as a compelling reason, especially when I know how many families have a genuine financial issue these days. This also factors into my emotional tension over looking at the less-expensive gym near work. Although I'd love to save that money each month, I'm torn about considering that as part of my decision when my Y chapter does so many good things in our community and there are those truly in need.

I understand your dilemma and thank you for taking the Y's mission into consideration. Depending on how many months during the year you don't use your membership because you'd rather be outside, you might consider cancelling and rejoining or talking to them about some other arrangement. Believe me, the average Y wants to work with its members in an effort to retain them.