SATS is Norway’s largest, probably most popular, and at the same time, most expensive fitness chain (or franchise?) .
Last year’s prices for being able to work out were at a stunning 6500,- NOK (rougly 780€, or 1000$) . This year, they’re upping the price by around another 15%, according to their commercials where they claim that you can save that much on their “last year’s prices” campaign.
Many, many companies are picking up the fitness bill for their employees, after all, a fit person is a creative, happy person that is less likely to be on sick leave. But come on, 6500,- KRONER!! That’s.. too much moolah!! Regular people without generous bosses won’t be able to do their workouts in SATS! What the hell is that? Are we turning fitness into Golf? Something reserved for the fewer folks with the most NOK’s in their Nike pockets? I think this is where it’s all heading!
Greedy isn’t cute! Problem is the other fitness centers are picking up on the price – sure, if SATS can squeeze that obscene amount of coin out of us, then why can’t they get the same riches…beep! whirr..click..idea…bzz.. hang on, is there a bell ringing somewhere? oh, yea! that’s right! I forgot the medicine industry.. hmm, better not go down that road…
Being fit at a reasonable price is another thing that is fading away. Ten years ago, I’d sweat and scream in a “boys only” gym for next to nothing. We gave the man the money he needed to keep his equipment on par, and to pay his rent, he never asked for more. He was just overly happy to be able to work out all day and at the same time help people to be fit. One of his customers, someone I worked out with, took over the place after graduating in economics. Guess what. I’m not working out there any more. It’s gotten bloody expensive! obscenely expensive! But is it better? no.
Ultimately, nobody needs a fitness center to be in shape. Take a walk for 15-20 minutes every day, use the stairs instead of the elevator (not you, JP, 16th floor is just plain torture!). Eat healthy food. I know!! But who the heck wants that, when you can be fit by spending 6 hours / week in a gym total, and spend the remainder of your life in the sofa, watching fitness, nutricion, and “Supersize me” on the telly.. Please stop me, I can go on and on about this one!
What I wanted to say is:
SATS is too bloody expensive, the bastards that run it are getting too greedy.
And why do I care? Because my girlfriend works out there (she has a generous boss), and I don’t, and I certainly won’t pay the white out of my eye to work out with her! Good thing my own boss was smart enough to rent our office in a building that has it’s own little torture chamber in the basement. I shall leave no apparatus unused! Every dumbbell must be lifted, and lifted, and lifted, and breeeathe…
