To avoid turning into a hippo, I have rejoined the gym. And since I was previously a member of Celebrity Fitness, I chose to rejoin at the same outlet.
My first experience with a chirpy counselor at CF:
-after showing us around the gym, showing us the equipment, the locker room, etc. she sat us down for a discussion. I thought she was going to start talking about the available packages. Instead, she went on about everything else instead of progressing with the application.
She: ...and do you know what are the benefits of joining CF?
Me (in my mind): Is she on a happy-pill or something?
Praveen: *silent/annoyed*
She: ??? Do you know? Do you? Well, we have CELEBRITIES like Amber
Chia, ....etc.
Me: So how much is it going to cost me
She: Before that, what are your goals in joining the gym?
Me: How.much.is.it.to.join.
She: Do you want to lose weight, do you want to stay in shape?
Me: No, I want to gain weight and be a fat pig. Why else do people join the gym?
She: Well, some ladies want to tone their muscles like for example...
Me: How much is it going to cost
Praveen: I think you'd better scrap all this and just tell us how much it is.
She: Okay. Since you are a new member, our special today is $1098 and a monthly fee of only $280/month.
Me to
Prav: Let's go. This is bullshit.
Praveen: We're not paying this.
She: Wait let me check with the manager.
In comes
Pejo, one of the best managers with CF. Unfortunately, he does not work there anymore. He has excellent PR skills, he's extremely friendly and the outlet has lost a great manager.
My experience a few weeks ago with a different counselor:
She: So, okay, are you serious about joining the gym?
Me: WHAT?! What do you mean am I serious?
She: Okay, wait yeah?
Me: No really what do you mean?
Prav: Just cut to the chase. Tell us how much it is to rejoin the gym.
She: Okay, wait.
Another lady comes to our table, doesn't introduce herself, she might as well be naked as her blouse wasn't buttoned exposing her pink bra and I was thinking
aiks! It would be nice if you were hot, lady. You're a bit oldish and I think you need to eat! And if you owned this gym you should be friendly and professional, not rude and ...slutty (no, can't even classify her as slutty she's got nothing to show). Or at least be attractive???
She: You want to rejoin the gym?
Me: *nod*
She: Can I have your I/C?
Me:(Reluctant because she was rude yet annoyed cause this should NOT TAKE SO LONG!)
More running around by the counselor. I don't know why they call them counselors or consultants or whatever cause all they know is where the dumbbells are. And some of the counselors are fat. Shouldn't the portray an image of fit and attractive women, not fatties? And of late, I noticed that the personal trainers/rapid results trainers are sleeping in the locker room.
Anyway, back to my application, the person-in-charge, Lionel, attends to us.
Lionel: Hi (introduces himself). So, since you were a member before, we would like to offer you a monthly fee of $199 and a joining fee of...wait what's the joining fee today? Okay, only $14.00.
Prav: Why would you want us to pay $14. It's such a small fee. I'm not paying it. And this is too much.
Lionel: That's the rate now.
Prav: No, we are going to pay the old price, no joining fee, no all this nonsense whatever specials, just the same price.
Lionel: Wait let me check.
-two minutes later, Lionel comes back with a real cheesed off tone-
Lionel: Okay, you can pay your old price, I'll waive the joining fee.
Waste of time having to haggle with the management, don't you think? I'm joining for the second time, I know what the rates are. Sigh. Anyway, the entire process takes an hour. Beat that!
The gym underwent a minor
facelift when I was away. They have improved in several areas, for example, their equipment are working well, the weights area has been expanded and the gym feels a lot spacious. I do not like the unfriendly faces of the new staff (I thought the old ones were bad enough but these new guys are horrible).
