I did not expect FF to follow the same way like CF, increasing the price for the current members. All the while i was under the impression that FF is much fairer compared to CF.

I've just terminated my CF membership a month back and was planning to join FF soon.

Now it's Rm170+ for 1 club and almost Rm210 for all clubs?

Have been a member of Fitness First Bukit Tinggi Klang since they open their doors 6 years ago and like many of you here, have also received a very polite email from them informing me of membership fees increase effective 1st May 2014.

I think since I started with them, they have increased my membership fees 3x and this would be the 4th time if I'm not mistaken.

In general, I don't have much to complain about FF. The service I receive usually meets my expectations and the facilities provided are more or less comparable to the price I pay. The energy in the GX class is amazing and I've even become good friends with a few of the instructors. Being a Passport member, I've also enjoyed perks like being able to workout in their branches during work trips or holidays in places like Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia.

But their latest fee adjustment announcement really bugs me. Am already paying close to RM200 per month and now with this adjustment, it's definitely gonna be above RM200 monthly. Their timing couldn't be worse. Everything else has gotten more expensive and everyone is struggling to make ends meet, so much so gym membership can be deemed as a luxury item, depending on how you see it. Also, when I first joined them, I was a bachelor with additional disposal income to spend. I am now married with a kid - and raising a kid is not cheap these days...

Also, I find that their boast of what improvements they made for their clubs in general over the years a little bit unnecessary as some of the so called improvements doesn't apply to members who only visit their Home Club..

Take for example Bukit Tinggi Klang, a supposedly Platinum Club. The free weights area is soooo small and it's unlikely you'll have comfortable space to work out during peak hours. There aren't enough water coolers and the water cooler available doesn't dispense cold water and hasn't for months. Most of the time there are only 2 working hair dryers in the men's locker room, and if they can have a mini RPM area for Paradigm and Setia City Mall why can't they do it in Bukit Tinggi Klang?

So I've started scouting and hunting for other gyms since I received their email but unfortunately every other gym also has it's fair share of negatives, and there's not too many options in Klang. I've written an email feedback to Fitness First asking them if there are any changes coming to the Bukit Tinggi gym this year - pending their reply, I'll decide if it's still worth to keep the membership.

I did not know I was promoting for FF all this while?!  But I personally prefer FF than other gyms.

I did said something negative FF before....ask you to join other gym if budget is main concern.

In between, if it is small CF outlet such as SS2, then the fees would be lower. The fees I was talking about is the passport members that entitled us to visit all CF outlets. Home members fees is lower.

You can check on this thread:

https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/817206/+2680

It has all the pricing for all type of gym membership.

So I've checked out both GF Bukit Tinggi and CF Bukit Rimau. And now I have to compare it to FF Klang Bukit Tinggi as these were the only 3 clubs that I would frequent more now given my current working/living arrangements. My conclusions are as follows (1 for first and 3 for last): -

Price : 1. GF 2. CF 3. FF (Big gap between GF and the others, between CF passport and FF passport, not so much gap)

No. of available equipment: 1. GF 2. FF 3. CF

Newness of equipment: 1. CF 2. GF 3. FF

Cardio equipment availability: 1. GF 2. FF 3. CF

Free weights area: 1. GF 2. FF 3. CF

Member Lounge: 1. FF 2. GF 3. CF

Locker and Shower: 1. FF 2. CF 3. GF (CF also uses electronic card system, no need to bring own padlock)

GX class (Les Mills) and schedule: 1. FF 2. CF 3. GF (Although CF and GF have RPM Studios, FF doesn't)

Parking : 1. CF (Free) 2. FF (RM1 for first 4 hours on weekdays) 3. GF (RM2 per entry)
Special mentions:

GF has a cool rooftop TRX and Muay Thai studio and jacuzzi

FF is the only club that offers free flow of soft drinks and coffee

This particular CF is a very small club and has no steam room

No way for me.

No sure about office staff but for Operation Staff in the club:

1) Long working hours. 7 days a week open from morning till late night. But they work on shift but still long working hours;

2) I don't like to mix my leisure place with my working place. FF will become not a fun place to work out anymore since FF Staff will become my boss and colleague.... can be approach/ pressure by boss/ colleague for work related matter during work out time. They have their own KPI to meet which can be challenging.

3) I heard that FF Staff entitle for free membership but that's only RM200. Might as well work in the property developer which entitle me to purchase their property at discount. Property prices can go up in future as well depending on  demand/ supply.