How to Cancel a Crossfit Membership Early?

[theaveragearchi]

I've been at the same gym for 2 years now, it's a small locally owned crossfit gym that I used to love.  Recently I tore my ACL (and maybe more, MRI next week to determine) during a rugby game, and the crossfit gym has zero of the equipment I need to rehab (treadmill, stationary bike, etc).  Because of the injury I can't do 90% of the programmed classes, and I think it's ridiculous to pay $173 to use a gym that doesn't actually have the equipment I need. 

I've found a new gym where I would pay less ($100 a month, vs $173) and be working with rugby players and a professional football player who has also torn and rehabbed his ACL.  Plus, the new gym has all the required equipment I need and I'm not constricted to specific class times.  All in all, this is a way better option for me.

The problem is that I still have 6 months left on my contract,  I've emailed and asked to be let out of my contract for financial reasons (I can't afford $173, plus having to pay extra to go somewhere else to use a treadmill and stationary bike, as well as physio and chiro), Also I'm gone to India for a month of my contract.  I didn't get a response, so I'm going in next week to ask personally.  Any suggestions on how I can cancel this membership without burning bridges?  I like the people there, and I don't want to end this all with a blowout, but I do know the one owner and head coach can be very stubborn and tends to take people leaving the gym very personally. 

[geekette]

If I were you, I'd skip the long explanation and just say "I have an injury such that I can no longer use this gym.  Can I cancel my contract?"  They may counter with at least a hold until you're rehabbed.

[Malone]

I would definitely use ACL as the issue rather than financially can't afford it. Check out their contract and see. I know my gym it's pretty easy to suspend the membership, they may be willing to do this for you also? ACL injuries can take a year to heal, so it should buy you some time. It sounds like this may be a smaller cross-fit studio, so they may be able to have some wiggle room. Smaller gyms are also more impacted by reviews, so if they don't budge I'd drop a politely, "I'm very sorry you feel that way regarding an injury. I'd be happy to provide a doctor's note, but if that still won't work I wish I would have seen in my contract injury wasn't a valid reason to suspend the membership. Would it be okay with you if I modified a recent positive review I had of your gym to reflect this so others are aware?", at the end of the discussion.

[ZMonet]

Just my 2 cents...First, check the contract to see if there is any wiggle room to get out.  If not, ask in person if you can get out of the contract.  If they won't let you out, after you explain the injury issue and your inability to use their facility, at least try and negotiate...Tell them you'll pay 2 months upfront to terminate the contract early.  I would also let them know how much you enjoyed Crossfit and how you would recommend it to friends, but you just feel like you need to move on for now.

[Jakejake]

I'm not sure if you already mentioned the new gym or not. If not, I wouldn't. I would imply that you want out now (temporarily) and you are planning to rejoin when your injury is healed/rehabbed. If you already did mention joining a different gym in your email, then emphasize that you love crossfit, but you need to free up the money short term to do rehab so you can get back to crossfit ASAP.

Leave them thinking you are a long term customer (and with 2 years there, that's reasonable) and you consider crossfit a permanent part of your life. Seems like they'd be more likely to work with you on this if you can get them more worried about losing years of gym membership long term, instead of them thinking it's a choice between no gym fees, or the fees for a just few more months.

[Distshore]

My box allows membership suspension or cancellation for medical reasons.  I've no idea if it's a standard contract, but most gyms have a similar clause.  If you have a doctor's note, it's likely they'll cancel your contract FOC.

[wordnerd]

Are memberships transferable? Could you sell it someone for slightly less than you paid for it?

[forummm]

Look at your contract. We don't know what you signed onto. There's probably some termination fee. Know what it is and then try to get out of it if you can. And $100 is a lot for a gym. Can't you exercise for free somewhere?