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Post by determined1 on Nov 3, 2017 13:45:04 GMT
One thing that's struck me as odd is the fact that snap offers nothing, nada, zero, zip about any competitors. What are the pros of those companies, what are the cons? Do they even know? It's different in different parts of the US. There may be a big competitor in Alabama who's not in Oregon. So their teams should be able to compile this data and provide it to franchisees so that they're prepared. Every company I've worked for where we had to sell against a competitor has these. It makes it easier to differentiate your clubs from theirs during a tour.
It really begs the question, what value does snap bring to its franchisees? The only one I see is that members can use any snap around the world. However, only about 1% of my members take advantage of that.
So, here's one bullet point snap can put in their competitive book on planet fitness.
The black card only allows you 10 visits outside of your home club per month. That's an easy one and doesn't take much investigating.
We've been asking for these types of dossiers for years now. The response from corporate is basically just shut up and run our plan. These days our response back is that putting in vinyl laminate flooring, painting a wall red and installing MyZone doesn't sell prospects on your club. It boils down to sales and unfortunately this is just another area where snap has zero expertise. Watching their "How to sell the 3 tier pricing plan" or whatever it's called is a perfect example.
Basically you have to figure it out yourself and put the competitive handbook together yourself. If you have no sales experience then good luck making snap's model work.
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Post by snaplongtimer on Nov 3, 2017 20:23:19 GMT
This would be good information to have about major competitors. We hear tid bits of competitors about their hidden fees, yearly equipment fees and lock-in fees. Clubs like Planet and fit 19 like to hide fees on members. Spread them out so payments don't seem very high upon signup. We also hear comments of prospects walking in our door about different prices they are offered at other clubs. So we started making up shit to feed people coming in the door about other clubs. Usually only when they have been "shopping around" as they tell us. I swear we've signed people up with this technique, just make it somewhat realistic and tell them you won't stick them with hidden fees throughout the year and the price will never change.
I never knew that about the black card. Good to know...thanks!
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Post by cheryl on Nov 8, 2017 3:49:23 GMT
Good info. Maybe you should head up their competitive group. Oops, never mind they don't have any such thing. Why would they work on something which benefits the franchisees? There are plenty of competitors out there.
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Post by greenergrass on Nov 14, 2017 15:55:47 GMT
Have any of you looked into the Planet Fitness franchise fees and requirements? They have to replace their cardio equipment every five years and noncardio about every 8 years. Here's the big question...where does all this used equipment go? It seems to me there must be a lot of waste generated. I would hope the metal can be recycled. So I wonder if they have some sort of plan for all this waste otherwise this franchise is just bad for the environment, isn't it? There should be some negative campaigning against PF for all the waste generated.
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Post by snaplongtimer on Nov 14, 2017 16:23:53 GMT
I see they are pushing the black card membership more at over $20 per month. Probably want to get away from the $10 plan and have more people paying $21.99. That would help pay off their enormous debt.
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Post by determined1 on Nov 15, 2017 3:45:18 GMT
I constantly see the PF equipment up for sale at used gym equipment vendors. I was always hoping it was from a closed PF. I can tell you that the PH here replaced all of their strength equipment with the same models. No upgrades to the latest and greatest, just a new version of the same thing.
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Post by iwishicoulddoitover on Nov 15, 2017 20:29:32 GMT
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Post by escapeclause on Nov 18, 2017 2:23:54 GMT
The PF in my area blanketed a 10 mile radius with $1 down $10 per month last New Year and I'm expecting the same thing this January. I wonder how many really sign up for that or if that's mostly their loss leader? They spent $2.5M on a brand new facility, I don't see how they make the numbers work. Worse than that, how does a real gym like Snap lose so many members to a "kind of, sort of a gym"? Sadly I misjudged my membership. They all think I've been ripping them off... even the ones that have stayed think I'm rich and overcharging them. Well, I pay more each month to Snap than I pay myself :-(
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Post by snaplongtimer on Nov 18, 2017 15:29:50 GMT
I try to educate members that make comments like that. They don't understand business and that planet conducts business by the numbers. Back in the day, planet was $35/mo. They'd go out of business if they went back to that. They know memberships are worth more than $10/month, but when you can attract 10 or 15,000+ members to your club it's all in the math.
If that club stays stagnant they will eventually burnout. They need to keep slapping up clubs and putting others out of business to maintain or increase market share. Years ago, in my state, I heard they had another 50 clubs to set up. Yippee.
They want you in on the $10 deal, but my guess is try and convert you to the black card bullshit. They're pushing the $21.99 black card in my area and not so much the $10 anymore.
I can't express my hatred well enough for this club and what they do to the small guy. One day I will join this club just to slam the weights, scratch my initials into the frames of the machines and steal their toilet flappers.
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Post by determined1 on Nov 18, 2017 20:49:17 GMT
True, it is in the numbers. That holds true for all clubs. Get a large enough space and you can cut your price per square foot in half. Additionally you can get warehouse space even cheaper. This is where many boutique clubs are benefiting. We have clubs near us doing $10/month and for $20/month you get all of their classes. This includes similar classes to what the boutique clubs are offering, but at a much lower price. Again, it's the square footage. Spin classes, Bootcamp classes, HIIT, Kickboxing, etc. 40 to 50 members in a class.
Our secret weapon? Vinyl laminate flooring, a red wall, wood paneling and a huge impressive US Flag!! Seriously though you have to keep coming up with different things to counter what's popping up in your area. Sadly, we have a franchisor who hasn't a clue about business, fitness and obviously computer systems and coding.
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Post by determined1 on Nov 19, 2017 2:23:34 GMT
Oh, also, not to crush your plans, but the toilets at PF don't have flappers or tanks. At least the ones I've seen don't. You could still scratch your initials into the machines though.
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Post by escapeclause on Nov 19, 2017 8:18:35 GMT
If nothing else I want to thank all of you for giving me some really good belly laughs! People in my area get furious with me over our sign up fee and 30 day cancellations - I'm surprised by the number of people who seriously say nobody told them about 30 day cancellation when I've had them sign, sign and initial next to the highlighted part that says YOU MUST PROVIDE 30 DAYS WRITTEN NOTICE FOR CANCELLATION. I'm a bit concerned that I'll see more of it due to the "zip to the bottom of the iPad" and sign. I'm afraid LESS people are reading any of it - ugh. Since the beginning of the paper docs I created my own sheet reinforcing the gym rules like card sharing, guests during staffed hours and 30 day cancellation. I wish I could add an initial section with the most important rules that get broken. Why doesn't Planet have 100's of furious people hammering them about the yearly fees, contracts they often fail to mention and all the other misleading items like UNLIMITED TRAINING? Oh yeah, the room with the alternating red and green light LMAO!!! Thankfully I've met some of the nicest people I'd ever want to meet at my gym. And you guys are my support group - thank you    |
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Post by Gymballer on Oct 14, 2019 20:50:32 GMT
The PF in my area blanketed a 10 mile radius with $1 down $10 per month last New Year and I'm expecting the same thing this January. I wonder how many really sign up for that or if that's mostly their loss leader? They spent $2.5M on a brand new facility, I don't see how they make the numbers work. Worse than that, how does a real gym like Snap lose so many members to a "kind of, sort of a gym"? Sadly I misjudged my membership. They all think I've been ripping them off... even the ones that have stayed think I'm rich and overcharging them. Well, I pay more each month to Snap than I pay myself :-( A real gym like snap?! Lol You guy's really have a false perception of how you are viewed in the market place ..there is nothing "premium" or "real" about snap...they are lame apartment complex gyms |
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