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[Hawkman]

Interesting thread.

I find their gyms are okay, but like many others I find their aggressive Sales pitch quite insulting.  I don't know what it's like for Thais but towards a farang they need to learn some manners.

When I first looked around (Ratchada one); I was shown around by a girl from the front desk who seemed more interested in finding out if I had a girlfriend or not, but she wasn't annoying and quite pleasant.  Then I sat down with her and the Sales clerk and their offer was something like - 20K joining fee, then 3.6K each month, but I would have to pay 3 months up in advance.  My answer, understandably was, 'no way' and I told them that price was far more expensive than joining a gym in the UK.  They then all of a sudden they kept showing me 'special offers' (reducing the membership from 20K to 16K, then 10K, then 8 then 4 and the monthly fee down to 2K).  In the end I was polite and said no chance, it was then the sales person said, "Why not pay it, you are farang, you are very rich."  Even when he said this, the front desk girl, looked embarrassed by what he had said and even snapped at him in Thai.

Being my self mannered type and resisting the urge to tell him to go and do one, I just said, I'm off and will look at another chain.  They then said they will phone their boss and arrange a new offer for me.  In the end, I took a Lifetime fee of one payment for 12.5K and the yearly renewal of 100B.  I got the choice of 3 clubs I can go to.

Since then, a couple of months later, I had one sales woman have the cheek to offer me the chance to buy one of their towels for.... 3,000 baht.  As my mouth dropped, she then followed it with a big smile, and said, but to you, we have a special price of just 2,500 baht.  Again, the front desk clerk from before, rolled her eyes in embarrassment.  I just smiled and said, it's okay I will buy one from Jusco for 50 baht.  Her face was a picture as she couldn't think of anything to say back.

I've been hassled before by a group of PT's (not in a rude way though) and told them I may look into personnel training later in the year but not at the moment,; so that got them off my back.

Now, that I will be moving from the Ratchada area to Sathron, I asked if it was possible to change one or two of the 3 clubs on my card and told this was not possible.  They then said, however, I can upgrade to a membership that includes all of their clubs.  I asked for details re this, the clerk sat me down and showed me a package that said 59K joining fee and 1.8K a month.  She pointed to it but said nothing, then wrote down a figure of 14K one payment to change to this; I said I wouldn't pay that.  WIthout any negotiation, she shook her head, got up and walked back to the desk.

I will try with another clerk next time, but TBH I have a gym in my new place I'm moving to, so it's not a necessity and I can still always goto the ASOKE one as not too far from work.

But all in all, California Wow seriously need to work on their attitude towards potential and existing customers.

On a side note; is it just me or does it seem a tad over the top with all the pics and video clips of their personnel trainers coming on screen just seem a little vain to you?  It's as if these people think they are famous or something.  I do however, like looking at the pics of the Diet Coke woman; makes me buy diet coke everytime!

[Shock]

Tonto21, on 2009-11-05 18:13:01, said:

I'm sorry...... I just don't get it! I've been keeping fit for most of my adult life and staying out of the gym. I really am not trying to be rude, insulting or confrontational to gym users, the fact is, nobody needs to justify why they do what they do, but I do think most gym users just throw good money after bad; I compare buying a gym membership to buying a home exercise bike, now with less than 50km on the clock and used as a cloths hoarse.... You know who you are!  I know there are many reasons people give for using gyms, some good so please, I don't need to know why you're using the gym. If you feel you need to have a rant! Please, knock yourself out! (by all means)
I also find it strange how after spending a wedge of dosh on a gym membership most people feel they have achieved something, there half way to getting a 6 pack. It is a fact most people, (non fitness nuts) stop going after a few weeks.
As said this is not a dig at gym users, more another point of view for certain types thinking of joining.
Just stop and look at where you are! Thailand, if you can't get fit outdoors here...... where? Getting fit an't about grunting into a mirror and holding your gut in, because a bit of fluff walks past you!
I now ride a mountain bike, a good one, it's low impact and fantastic, , OK it costs a little more than  membership. I can't run anymore, (doggy knee) I've meet lots of people, Thai and Falange, joined the local mountain bike club, all Thai. And now I have a fitness program, floor work, stretching and the bike. I now know so, so many locals where I live Mae Tang, near Chiangmai.
Something to think about a!
Always remember: "Life's, it's journey, not a destination" Enjoy the now!

Have to agree with you Tonto - all my gym memberships in the past have been pretty much wasted. I would go a few times, but then stop and blame it on things like bad weather, sore, tired, etc.
At my apartment we have a pretty well-equipped gym downstairs - B700 p/month for unlimited 24-hour use. But I've been living here 4 months and have never felt the need to use it.
Then this week a Thai friend urges me to join CW with her so we can do yoga, but given my gyming history and some of the posts on this thread, I think I should rather not entertain the thought anymore.
Does anyone know of a nice yoga place in the Phaya Thai area? I was always quite good at attending set exercise classes.