Y neighborhood pricing
The Albany YMCA has introduced discounted "neighborhood" pricing in its bid to get people to sign up -- and perhaps save the Washington Ave location. The Y's executive director told a community meeting that the Wash Ave location needs 700 new members by April in order to stay open. [via]
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Comments
Wow, I'm really surprised by the fees. $35 a month -- even with the special neighborhood pricing -- for a single adult? I joined Planet Fitness for $99 for the whole year! The Y's prices are simply not sustainable, especially considering a lot of students and lower-income families live in that neighborhood.
... said Bob on Jan 6, 2010 at 2:18 PM | link
@Bob - while I can't speak specifically to the Albany Ys, I'm a member of the Southern Saratoga Y, and there are a lot of features you get with a Y membership that you don't get at Planet Fitness. If all you're looking for is a place to work out, though, yeah, go with PF.
... said Slacker on Jan 6, 2010 at 2:33 PM | link
Bob- What's the temperature of the pool at Planet Fitness? How are the basketball courts? Oh and if planet fitness was going to close would hundreds of citizens come out to try to save it? There is so much being said about the Capital District YMCA because it is more than just a gym. When you realize that you realize that you can being to understand that Y is worth the cost.
... said Swimmer on Jan 6, 2010 at 2:38 PM | link
@Bob - This is not just a gym you are paying for. As Brown said last night, the YMCA mission is *not* in the building, in the brick and mortar, but in the *programs*: how they help local communities, how they channel kids around town, etc. And it's not just his words here, many of those community leaders were here last night, and you could tell this was a very emotional issue to them. See my other comment here.
Back to your point: Brown was honest about it; this is not for everybody, you can find gyms for $10, and maybe it's your thing. I pay $46 a month, and I don't even go *that* much; yet I feel I owe them because they were around the block when I was recovering from an accident some time ago. And each time I'm there, I see teenagers all around, I see people learning in a few rooms next to the gym. And only 10% of these programs take place at the Y itself, a lot happens at other locations like churches and schools, according to Brown. So yes, this is more a matter of maintaining an element of your community, and what it brings to your neighborhood.
Clearly, there was a communication issue between the Y and its members, many felt like lightning had struck. I hope this gets resolved, Brown said he would use the Interweb more (it is a series of tubes, after all). But there are still a lot of memberships to grab before April...
... said -S on Jan 6, 2010 at 3:03 PM | link
As a single person, I'm always steamed that I have to pay so much more proportionately than a couple. In this case it would be $35 for me, but a couple (most likely two incomes these days) gets to pay $40, which is only $20 per person. How is that fair? They use the same resources per person that I would use.
... said chrisck on Jan 6, 2010 at 3:11 PM | link
@chrisck: I think the rationale might be that you are single, therefore you have more disposable income. If you are in a legit couple, maybe there is a good chance you have kids. Is that fair? Don't ask me, I'm socialist.
... said -S on Jan 6, 2010 at 3:26 PM | link
S--I don't think so because those parents probably would be paying family rates. I'm guessing that the majority of those couples are simply two adults getting a discounted price by virtue of being married or domestic partners of some sort.
... said chrisck on Jan 6, 2010 at 3:48 PM | link
The two adults pricing can be apartment-mates too...so long as you share an address.
... said Ike on Jan 6, 2010 at 4:45 PM | link
I used to go to the downtown branch, swore by it. But now that I live outside of Center Square, its not as convenient. I'd rather drive the extra few miles and get to use a Y where there is parking, well lit shower rooms and a track that doesn't involve running around the heating system. I love what it stands for, but I just don't go downtown now to work out.
... said Mel on Jan 6, 2010 at 4:58 PM | link
> well lit shower rooms
Oh. Come. On. You make it sound like "Love Camp 7" or "Women in Cell Block 9" (none of them I've seen of course). The Track of Hell is another story. Unicorn dreams die there.
... said -S on Jan 6, 2010 at 5:31 PM | link
I'm not sure you really even need the same address for a "couples" membership. My mom and I had one, but we don't live together or share the same last name.
... said Kerosena on Jan 7, 2010 at 4:01 PM | link
There has to be at least 30,000 people living within 2 miles of the Washington Ave YMCA. At that distance, you can easily walk, run or bike there. When I was a member, I ran 1 mile from my house to the Y as a warm up, worked out, and ran a mile back as a cool down. Use a little imagination, people! You don't need to drive to the Y unless you live more than 5 miles away!
"I'd rather drive the extra few miles and get to use a Y where there is parking, well lit shower rooms..."
Sounds like you need a spa, not a YMCA. And there is seriously something really backward and misplanned when people feel the need to DRIVE to a gym.
And yeah, the Y does so much more than a $10 per month gym.
... said Dave Discontent on Jan 7, 2010 at 7:37 PM | link