I just signed up for a Gold's Gym membership in Sacramento and encountered a similar situation. They give you three different 'options' of membership: 150 init + 12/month, 115 init + 15/mo, or 65 init + 19/mo. Once you choose, they then tell you that you have to sign up for a 1 year contract (meaning, for 1 year's time, they all cost the same). If you don't submit a written letter after a year saying you wish to cancel membership, your contract is automatically renewed for a year. I thought it was funny how both sales reps I talked to described the $65 + 19 plan as the cheap plan and "probably the way to go" when in essence, you pay the same for all in the span of the first year and after that, the $150 + 12 plan ends up being the cheapest option.