Fitness First Singapore's managing director Anthony Tottman said fees may differ for different plans.'It isn't the case at Fitness First that the harder you bargain, the lower our rates get or the more discount you can get,' he said.
True Fitness said its membership consultants have to adhere to fixed membership pricing and are not authorised to offer discounts.
But it added: 'Fixed deviations from the standard pricing do occur if there are any promotions implemented based on negotiations and directions from the management.'
All three gyms insisted they do not engage in hard-sell tactics.
But one trainer from True Fitness told The Sunday Times that consultants have called would-be members so often that tempers have flared.
He admitted that different prices may arise because some consultants cut their own commissions. 'Even trainers are made to hardsell,' he said.
Case executive director Seah Seng Choon said fitness centres should be more transparent in disclosing their pricing.
He added: 'If they think prices should be negotiated, then state so, so that consumers will not be misled into agreeing to the stated price.'
mavistoh@sph.com.sg
This story was first published in thesundaytimes on Oct 19, 2008.
