kookyguy

No such thing as free. ;)

Steve Underhill

Yes in some PF they are ergoline, others have Heartland and others may have a different brand, however they are of the type I described. The tanner that goes to PF are the tanners that most complain about and call bottom feeders. Yes some tanners will go to PF for tanning and pay the $20 a month and not use the gym. If you have a high level of customer service and great equipment they will come back.
Also keep in mind that they must sign a 12 month contract and pay an annual membership fee.

__________________
Stephen Underhill
Consultant
steve@smuconsulting.com

kookyguy

PF does not require a contract, and some of the PF gyms have very high end Ergoline equipment included, not just base beds.

They do however, have a very exploitable weakness in their business model.

gmanII

What's the weakness?

Black Sun

Since posting this, I found out there are 4 beds..one stand up, 2 Passions and one Affinity...I have no idea what the standup is, but assume, it too is an Ergo...

For less than $20 a month, a well worth tanning investment IMO

Robert K

Steve in the last few years PF's have been opening with 5-7 tanning units. Standups are typically 48 lamp 2M and the beds are typically Passion 40/3 or better.

__________________
Robert Klem
Superior UV Technologies
(888) 526-7712 x77
robertk@superioruv.com

Steve Underhill

Actually if you do fitness only you can pay $10 a month with no contract but to get the black card membership that gets you tanning and massage it is $20 a month and a 12 month contract. The ergoline the use is a 40 lamp 100 watt with facials and a 48 lamp 160 watt booth. both very basic systems.

__________________
Stephen Underhill
Consultant
steve@smuconsulting.com

Black Sun

WRONG STEVE, just the opposite for me...I pay, $19.95 a month, NO CONTRACT, quit anytime with no commitment...and that gives me unlimited tanning and access at ANY PF in their system....for $10.00 a month, there is a contract with a $58 opt-out fee to leave before 12month end. It allows workout only, and no tanning, at the location only where you joined.

Membership commitments vary per location and not the same system wide..some location waive fees..most locations in the Atlanta area are as I mentioned...left up to local franchise owner. Local sites are always running membership specials. I joined under one, where no commitment and no sign-up fees were part of it.

And for the extra $10 a month unlimited, the beds you mentioned are far from 'basic systems'...they get the job done, and I have no doubt leave an impression on all who use them, considering the cost.

http://www.planetfitness.com/membership-types

Robert K

Steve?

The standard bed is a Passion 40/3 (15 Min):
•3 x 400 watt Ultra Performance Plus glass reflector high-pressure facial tanners.
•2 x 8 watt UV-B spaghetti lamps in the facial area.
•40 Genesis UV lamps (160 watt canopy & 120 watt base).

The standard booth is a Sunrise 480 (9 Min):
•48 X 200 watt Turbo Power UV Lamps.

Many location use even bigger units.

__________________
Robert Klem
Superior UV Technologies
(888) 526-7712 x77
robertk@superioruv.com

Black Sun

I would imagine Kooky is referring to their (PF) lack of detail and attention in the tanning end, such as lotions offered, lack of cleaning beds after use...the little 'customer service' amenities tan salons offer, would be lost in the 'gyms'.

Personally, I doubt this. From my observation, they have an extensive inventory in lotions. Locked behind the counter in a glass display, they looked like DS bottles...hard to see from my view point. The tanning is setup separate in this particular gym, have no idea how other PF's have theirs. It appears to be run as a separate entity, just like the massage rooms...I may tan sometime to see if I have to wipe the bed myself before and after use. There is an 'attendant' at the counter, so they may do it...I get the impression, it is not 'self-service'.