Unpleasant experience with California Fitness
I WOULD like to relate an unpleasant experience with California Fitness at Novena Square on Feb 13.
I was contacted by their marketing department of a Chinese New Year package which I was rather interested in, provided they meet certain conditions I was asking for. After a few rounds of discussion via phone with Ms Shan of Novena Square branch, we agreed at 11.30 that night that they will meet the terms I was asking for and invited me to visit them to sign the papers that very night.
What I found when I reached California Fitness was Mr Colin Fernandez introducing himself as gym manager who then started giving a sales pitch of another offer which I had already declined. When I told him about the agreement made over the phone, he replied that there was no way that package could be given.
What shocked me is the unapologetic manner in which the staff of California Fitness conducted themselves - they got a customer out of the home at 11.30pm purportedly to sign papers whose terms have been agreed on, only to find that this was not the case.
This is certainly not what I expected from a reputable entity such as California Fitness.
Tan Beng Chong
definitely not what i was expecting as well when i walked in yesterday afternoon! i made myself very clear that i was shopping around for a gym membership and wanted to ask more about california's. it seemed however, i said "I WANT TO SIGN UP TODAY" because the gym manager almost forced me to.
it all started well, smiles and small talk with the gym manager who brought me around. i was thinking.. okay, this seems like a nice place. lots of equipment, friendly staff and clean. good thoughts. positive thoughts. so we proceeded to the tables where he said he'd tell me more about their membership. great.
but he sees his friend and he goes over to talk, leaving me alone. but it's okay, i'm not petty. i can overlook such stuff.
then he comes back and he starts drafting out a price list for me on a paper. when done, the conversation went something like that:
me: "so this is the best price you can give me?"
him: "i'm the gym manager, and today's the last day of the month. this is a special price."
me: "okay thanks. i'll look around and consider."
him: "you're not signing up today?"
me: "no. i just wanna look around. fitness first having a promotional package that's almost the same price."
him: "you have seen fitness first's equipment right?"
me: "yes, and it's not any less selection, just that you have more quantity. it's okay i just want to look around."
him: "no need to look around. if you are looking at price, it's all the same."
me:' "i'm not. i rather pay $30 more for a swimming pool."
him: "what do you want a swimming pool for?"
me: "i like to swim! you mean i cannot have a choice?"
him: "swimming only relaxes your muscles."
me: "it's okay can i have the piece of paper, i will look around."
him: "no you cannot."
he very rude! arghh! i'm fucking pissed and damn shocked that such an established gym can have such a rude gym manager. you tell me lah! in between he did offer another package that was a year long but i had to pay upfront 12 months. crazy! after such attitude he think i will sign with him? or i don't want to think twice? he implied many things ok. he implies that fitness first was not up to par, then he implied that i cannot afford to pay so much, then he challenged why i wanted a swimming pool.
i left the place astounded.