Why is CrossFit so expensive?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone in thinking this. We get the question a lot. Especially when you might be looking at options like local big box (AKA “globogym”) pricing where you get 24hr access for $10 a month. Why pay more for a CrossFit gym?

Well here is the deal. When you sign up for globogym access, that is all you get. Access. When you start adding on extras with them like group classes, nutrition counseling, and personal training, the price starts to skyrocket.
Typical pricing for group classes in our area runs $75-$120 a month
Typical pricing for personal training in our area run $30-$40 an hour.

This is on top of your membership to whatever flavor of big box commercial gym you’re subscribed to. And honestly, let’s face it most people need some guidance. At times, even our trainers do. We are always looking for opportunities to continue our education. So it stands to reason that the average gym-goer would need some help. Odds are if you completely know what you need to be doing and how to do it, you have either worked with a trainer before, or you actually are a trainer yourself.

And here is another secret. Giant commercial gyms are built on a business model that is designed to profit when members don’t show up. It sounds crazy, but it’s true. The masterminds behind these gyms take advantage of psychological tactics to put customers into cheap easy agreements so they pay every month and never show up. Think about it, $10 or $20 bucks is enough for someone to tell themselves “This is the motivation I need, if I am paying every month I am going to come. I am going to be a fitness machine and I will have a six pack in a few months. This is the push I need.” But as soon as life pops up, people skip a day here and there and before long they are telling themselves, “Ah it’s just $10 bucks. I’ll make it up next month.” Behavioral economists call this “pre-commitment”. It’s a way they exploit human psychology to get you committed to something you won’t actually do.
Every now and then they will throw pizza nights and offer free bagels. I mean who doesn’t love free pizza? This usually brings in the less active members, but usually just for the food. And then when the year is up and it’s time to renew, they figure “Well I ate that much in pizza and bagels, so it was worth it.”
Even the layout in these gyms is designed to welcome in someone as if they are going to a club, or coffee shop. They put a sea of cardio equipment next up to try and impress prospective members, and they put the weights and anything serious that might be seen as intimidating in the back. They are well oiled and designed machines to get people in the door, once and never come back.
Just looking at the math with these places is pretty insane. NPR recently did a story on this topic and one of the gyms they looked into had 6,000 members! The architect who designed the gym said at max, there could maybe be 300 people at a time in the facility. And that probably wouldn’t leave much room for fitness. It would be like thunderdome in there.
Typically 50% of the people that sign up for these gyms, never step foot inside again.
About 15- 20% go with and degree of frequency (1-2 times a week)
Around 1-5% come often enough to actually improve fitness.

At CrossFit Ludus we are always in a small group environment. The training is personal and direct. And we are more than happy to work one on one with a member who might want some advice on diet or help with certain areas of their fitness. We are personally invested in seeing that you come to class. In fact, don’t be surprised if you are a member and haven’t been in a while and you hear about it from our coaches. We are going to check up on you. When you’re part of our community we are interested in helping you succeed and overcoming any problems that might have popped up that are preventing you from achieving your goals in the gym. When you sign up with us, you’re buying more than just access to a gym that would rather you didn’t show up. You are buying results. The program works. And typically, you expect to pay for something that actually works, as opposed to some gimmick or snake oil that seems too good to be true.

So when you compare apples to apples, it really isn’t any more expensive. Is the extra cost worth it when it comes to CrossFit? Well the answer to that all really depends on how important your fitness and health are to you? Is an overall higher level of well being and a fun hour out of your schedule worth a couple bucks a day? We think so. If you’re still questioning it, come in and give it a shot. We think you’ll end up agreeing with us.