Can You Negotiate Fees with Personal Trainers

Looking for some input from PTs....

I currently workout with a trainer that owns his own independent training facility (not really a gym, but he does 1/1 training). I've been a loyal customer for over a year now and I really enjoy going there.

Would it be rude to ask for a discount? I'm planning to just be honest with him and let him know that financially I just can't afford to continue going there at the current rate, which is 100% the truth. I looked over my monthly expenses, and he is #2 right after more mortgage and before my car. You have to pay for visits upfront and he accepts credit, but I refuse to put myself into debt for training. If I can't afford to pay cash, then I just plain can't afford to continue training. I just don't know if its worth asking if we can work something out or if its better to just say I can no longer afford it at this time and leave it at that.

I have a business background and to me some amount of money is better than none, especially since he's not currently anywhere near capacity with clients from what I can tell. But I also don't want to come across as rude or disrespectful.

I personally do not offer discounts.

I believe it devalues my service and is disrespectful to my other clients who pay full price.

I know lots of trainers who would. Personally, if a client wants to save money I would just see them less frequently or for shorter workouts rather than discount my time.

That makes sense, I had not even thought about that. Nothing irks me more than learning someone is paying $20 (or whatever) less than I am for the exact same service.

Yes, it's rude to ask him to do the same job but be paid less. If you can't afford it, then you can't afford it and you need to find another trainer or setup that suits your budget for the time being. It's telling us the trainer/s that you don't value the work we do and the effort we put in and the trainer's time. So i wouldn't exactly ask him for a discount, but moreso a change in package.

* train less frequently
* do semi-private / group
* do shorter sessions

Doesn't matter if he's independent. If anything, he has to be more strict with rates in that instance. And if there's a trainer at a mainstream gym, they can't negotiate either since they often have the rates set by management (and then they just get an hourly rate out of it). Do you go to the supermarket and ask for a discount when at the butcher? Course not. "I can't afford it this week, but i really want it still" doesn't fly. Too bad. You can't afford it, you don't buy it.

It's not rude to ask, but it is rude to expect it because you have been a client for a long time or you think his business isn't doing well. If he's been giving you good service then he deserves a shot to keep earning your business, so have the conversation with him and let him know you can't continue. He may come up with a payment plan where you can stretch payments out or offer you a referral discount. I've done both in the past for people with financial issues.

"His business isn't going well, I think I'll offer him less money." Haha.

But seriously, go for small group training. If the guy is competent at all, after 12 months you should not need one-on-one, the attention you get in a group of 3-6, along with intelligent programming, should be enough.

Talk with him openly and honestly. If he is a great trainer, why not recruit some of your friends and get a group going?

I don't think it's rude at all, you've been with him for a year so you're an established client.
IMHO, you look great already and from your pics seem fully capable of working on your own. I personally don't like keeping clients past the point where they need me unless they're on the pro road.
If you like the environment, etc then I'd ask for the discount and see how it goes.

Thanks for all the feedback. I am not really interested in doing group sessions because I belong to Lifetime Fitness and can do all the group classes I want there. My membership fees are payed by my emoloyer so its free. If I am going to go the group route I just assume do it for free there.

So I will just be honest and tell him while I love going there I just cannot justify it financially at this time. Although one thing that kind of bothered me is that he had mentioned that he was working on a few things to make training cheaper.....and drumming up new business. But what he said made me feel that because he has fewer clients I have to burden the cost for that. I don't see how that is fair. I undestand that the more clients he has the cheaper he can make his rates, but on the flip side why should I have to pay more to cover fixed costs because there is excess capacity? Just trying to objectively view both sides.

did you ask yet?

I offer package discounts for everyone. Anyone who buys more sessions -say 20,30,40-all at once- the price goes down. wont hurt to ask if the business offers that

No, I actually decided against it. I told him that right now financially I cannot afford to purchase more visits but would like to come back in April when I have the funds. Went over better than expected. He said no problem, just keep working out on your own and we'll pick up in April. I figured I would let him offer a discount rather than ask....which he did not and that's totally fine.

I think you did the right thing by putting the ball in his court. I agree with others that have commented about not offering discounts because it's 1.) Not fair to my other clients and 2.) Not fair to me because I know what my knowledge and experience are worth. If he was willing to offer any kind of discount, he surely would have brought it up when you approached him about leaving.

That being said, I do offer 5% off package rates after a client has trained 100 paid sessions with me (usually 6 months to 1 year) and of course cheaper rates for group training and shorter sessions such as 30 min. I also give referral discounts.

[QUOTE=NKSTRONG;1314301391]I think you did the right thing by putting the ball in his court. I agree with others that have commented about not offering discounts because it's 1.) Not fair to my other clients and 2.) Not fair to me because I know what my knowledge and experience are worth. If he was willing to offer any kind of discount, he surely would have brought it up when you approached him about leaving.

That being said, I do offer 5% off package rates after a client has trained 100 paid sessions with me (usually 6 months to 1 year) and of course cheaper rates for group training and shorter sessions such as 30 min. I also give referral discounts.[/QUOTE]

I agree. any else find this time of the year is when clients are least motivated to go? lol I could be wrong ive had two clients cancel out until after thanksgiving?

A personal trainer has to treat everyone equal and give them the full service to their abilities. My mission it for clients to me to get their physique goal. In addition, to teach them , inspire, them everything having to do with exercise, nutrition, supplements and any and everything it takes for them to achieve their body desires

[QUOTE=JohnSmeton;1314307151]I agree. any else find this time of the year is when clients are least motivated to go? lol I could be wrong ive had two clients cancel out until after thanksgiving?

A personal trainer has to treat everyone equal and give them the full service to their abilities. My mission it for clients to me to get their physique goal. In addition, to teach them , inspire, them everything having to do with exercise, nutrition, supplements and any and everything it takes for them to achieve their body desires[/QUOTE]

Yes, this time of year it definitely slows down. Many of my clients go on vacation for at least 1-2 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas and I've got a bunch that drop their session count from 3-4 days per week down to 1-2 to save money for gifts for the holidays.

[QUOTE=JohnSmeton;1314307151]I agree. any else find this time of the year is when clients are least motivated to go? lol I could be wrong ive had two clients cancel out until after thanksgiving?
[/QUOTE]

I find it more around the holidays. I basically assume every year my session count will be about 50% of normal from December 15th to January 8th. It also allows me to take time off though so it's okay, you just have to budget for it.