The Gym Wars - California Fitness
by dailymuscle on January 18, 2006
I received this mailer in my inbox this morning, and I must say - this is a good way to get more people to join the gym, especially with the ‘gym membership wars’ currently taking place in Malaysia.
If you are one of the first 100 to sign up, you get to choose from an Estime 10s worth RM55 and a Za Skincare Set worth RM39, for FREE. More interestingly - they give you a Za Nail Colour just for completing a club tour, with no obligation to sign up. So perhaps you could go for that at least even if you’re not planning to join.
The mail also says that the offer is valid for those 18 years old and above and is for first time customers only. So, if you already are a member at California Fitness - tough luck. I think it would be nice if these gyms would once in awhile give a freebie or show some sort of appreciation to their members who have been with them for a long time. After all, with all these stiff competition between gyms at the moment, it may be a good idea to invest some money in keeping their existing members happy so that they don’t leave. Notice how California Fitness didnt use their ‘mascot’ (haha), Jackie Chan in the mailer. They must have finally realised by now that he’s nowhere as attractive and enticing as the lovely ladies above.
On another note, if you are keen on checking out Fitness First (opening their 11th branch in Klang (Bukit Raja Shopping Complex in mid 2006), they are offering memberships to everyone at RM8 only. They should just make it FREE.. I mean.. what is RM8 to them? Anyway, if you’re interested, you could give my friend Raja Mohan a call (FF Menara John Hancock) at 03-2093 8050. He’ll sort you out. Free trials shouldnt be a problem too. ;)
Read also:
- California Fitness sells Fitness Clubs in Malaysia - Jackie Chan gives way for Amber Chia
- Real Life Stories - Why I Dislike Mega Fitness Centres
- Mun’s Fitness Blog - Your Best Online Resource for Reviews on Fitness Centres/Gyms in Malaysia
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
I think Fitness first would be most affected by the opening of these newer gyms.. they are not doing anything to retain their current members and their less than satisfactory customer service. In one branch i’ve heard there are numerous intances of things going missing from guest lockers , but no concrete steps have been taken by the management….
Things going missing from lockers? Oh no. I should start to carry my wallet & mobile phone with me in the gym then. I need a waistpouch.
Wuahh so nice to ladies? When is man’s turn? kekekeke
wah, join for free ah? I am the interested … it’s near my office :D
But I LOVE FF. I’ve been totally happy here the last 1.25 yrs.
surfnux: yeah. i wonder what they would offer the men. but honestly, i think more women tend to join the gym compared to men. Women have a greater tendency to be in shape. ;)
scorkes: how far is FF away from you? If you ask me - I would switch if i were you. Having your gym close to your office helps you to be more regular. Works for me - the fitness first I go to is only a few mins drive from my workplace. And when its this nearby, I get to even go in the mornings for a quick cardio + shower and head to work. It’s worth checking out.
Yup.. u better do that… even mun has blogged about it at http://xfile007.blogspot.com/2006/01/loss-of-hand-phone-or-money-in-gym.html
So interesting site, thanks!
I wish that cali could treat their existing member better. apparently lots of freebie to non member only. guezz that paying member is not important at all, sucker..
as a long suffering member since xxxx days, maybe it is an indication that loyalty does not gets u anywhere.
WOW…i din know there are lots of dissatisfied customer here? if u dun like the management, then u should complaint…i mean gather a troop of ‘dissatisfied’ ppl..haha..that is ur right as a customer…u pay rm 100-200 a month to be treat like a crap??? well…y dun u pay me that amount of money…i could treat u worst..LMAO…
i dun think this fitness centre really care about u…they care to empty ur pocket…how many classes/machines u could use in one day? the payment u made is too expensive+the bloody treatment u got..from my opinion..its time for u guys to take action…NO ACTION TALK ONLY won’t make the management moving…u gotta drill them to get the service u deserved ya…hohohoh
Besides, I think the gym instructor are there to walk here and there. They should at least give advise to gym goers if they are using the equipments wrongly. Anyway, they only pay attention to gym goers when they signed up PT.
I’ve seen gym goers jogged at treadmill wearing badminton shoes, futsal shoes, thin sole shoes, tennis shoes and so on. And, I’ve not seen any gym instructor alerted them about the consequences and injuries that might occur by wearing the wrong type of shoes to run or jog.
This is sad man…..
hallo … sometimes u can also see half naked men (with towel) walk here n there.
i know leh, they want to go swimming, but no need to show how big their family jewel la..not interested on their mini coupe n 2 flat tire ( he he)
not interested to complain anymore.. no energy oledi.. have numerously complained even up to the management in Hong Kong..
supposed to reply via email, still waiting n waiting since 6 months ago..
have to wait in the line (like waiting in the line for DM, ha ha .. )
doglover: Line? What line? Where? Show me show me.. I seem t obe attracting more guys at the gym rather than women. Arrgh.
Chong: Interesting point indeed. You’ve inspired my next writeup. Thanks man.
Anyone know of an all women gym?
I’m looking for one around Bangsar or Universiti Malaya.
The all women gym I had been going to, She’s Fit in Midvalley is moving to Bangi.
Amira: I’m sorry, but I don’t know of any all women gyms.. But I do believe that True Fitness has an ‘all women’ floor. Am I correct everyone?
Chong:What shoe should we use when doing workout?..any idea?..dailymuscle..gv some comments here..what shoe do u use during workout?..what brand?…
Amira,
Phillip Wain is an all female gym in pusat bandar damansara.. quite near to bangsar…
“On another note, if you are keen on checking out Fitness First (opening their 11th branch in Klang (Bukit Raja Shopping Complex in mid 2006), they are offering memberships to everyone at RM8 only. ”
Is FF really gonna open a branch in Klang?? A membership consultant in SJ branch once told us that FF is opening in Klang too, before we sign up… it’s almost end 2006 and we still don’t hear anything… and Yogazone is already opening the 2nd outlet in Klang… *sobs*
Evelyn: Its interesting that you bring this topic up today. I was told that a huge fitness centre has advertised their banner on a building in Klang… its just nearby the Hokkien Association. I thought it was Fitness First, finally.. but when I passed it today, its not. Its some place called Y-Fitness, and its going to be the largest fitness centre in Klang.
I spoke to a fellow gym owner in Klang today, and he said that Fitness First and Celebrity Fitness have been considering this building.. but the rental is ridiculous.. and at the end.. Y-Fitness appeared outta nowhere. Rumour is that Fitness First is considering that building under construction nearby Tesco Klang.. thats just what I heard.
Yes indeed. Y-fitness opening Jan 2007 and FF at Jusco Bukit Tinggi Klang at end of 2007. Plus, joining Y-fitness at passport membership get to enter Yoga-Club in Bukit Tinggi branch as well. Good deal.
I’m with True Fitness till June 2009. Any advise that i should switch?
Brian.. ultimately.. you would want to be a member at a gym where its most convenient for you. Its not the name, or the fancy marketing gimmicks or the hot receptionist. ;)
I went to calfornia fitness at standart chart. Very nice, not so tight crowd. went 4 free trial 7 days. Enjoyed much!! dIDNT JOIN COZ I CANT SPEND more than a hundred 4 gym monthly. Now i work out at my old universities , just pay per enty. The catch i it far from where i work and not much xtivities as yogas and all.
Anas: Well, when you pay more, you get more, but you don’t really need a fancy gym which gives free drinks and great music and a cosy posh interior if you want to alter your physique. I believe what you have at your university is good enough. The trouble with the gym being far away from you is that the tendency is higher for you to skip your workouts.. so I hope that won’t happen. All the best! - in one of the greatest journeys you will take in your life.
what u guys think of a 30-45mins type gyms & at the same time offer a rate that cost less than a roticanai & tehtarik, off course dun expect 5 stars gym like those in town now, after all working out doesn’t have to cost us an ARM & LEG. Sort of like AirAsia ! no frills !
Of course such gyms are targeted at beginners & intermediate who are looking for an affordable place to start out,as well as a place for the intermediate to feed & maintain their daily IRON habits !
CHLow - gyms like that are actually a great place to workout - they’re not just for beginners. I know many hardcore bodybuilders who thrive in such an environment.
i think MOST if not all HARDCORE bodybuilders prefer the oldskool gym instead of training in a big Fitness Centre.
i myself prefer just a smalltime gym with lesser people in it and not so much distraction.
california centre if suck!!!!!
persuade me when sign up… but still need pay after i cancel!!!i need to continue pay my credit card!!ahhhhhhh
WTF!!!
Dear Sad Says ! look like a con job on CF part. Did the sales consultant advise u on how they going to debit yur c/card?? I spoke to one in True Fitness…ask to sign 3yrs…very special price for less than RM 90 p/mnth. but they will take RM 3.2k plus immdiately frm yur credit card (w/out telling you, oni if u ask them ) but they will tell u is INTEREST FREE ….common ‘man no one is that stupid nowadays to tie up for so long ( no pun intended)…with all the gym wars & new gyms/promo coming up as we speak.
I prefer good ole fashion out right discount or good price …without any customer commitment…..at the end of the day for us as customer to remain COMMITTED…the establishments MUST do their bits in providing a good service level. As customer, I like the restaurant concept….EAT first pay after ….& if food/service sucks , you can complaint, till they get it right…..howver if u “sudah bayar” concept…..i think less likely they will care less …cos $$$ sudah masuk poket !
Hope u find a solution with yur credit card company to resolve your payment issues.
wah….i m so scared when i read chlow msg.but for me,i spent rm175 per month for fitness first fees,i really enjoyed and i feel better now..i was lost 3 kg in 1 weeks,its really motivated me to come regularly to do exersize.ha…ha..i paid thru my maybank auto debit for every months..hu..hu..i lost my shopping money…u know what,i cut down my shopping money to join fitness first club,i hope it worth it
adalina: Well done! 3kgs is a lot of weight to lose (some of it may have just been water weight, and some bodyfat). After a few months.. your progress will slow down - but that is only normal. The trick is to keep on going.. and never give up easily, and you WILL experience results steadily.
By the way.. you couldn’t have found a better way to spend the RM175/month. It’s an investment into your health - and life.. and we can’t really put a price tag on that. :)
All I can say is I totally regretted joining TRUE FITNESS. Sigh…
I joined True Fitness at USJ recently. If I knew they are so lousy at their service, I would have stick to California Fitness (which is way so much better in terms of service and even machine maintenance and not to mention..they provide TOWELS~!).
The girl who was suppose to show me around at TF on the day I signed up..seemed like she was in total rush ! In the end, I had to figure out everything by myself. FYI, I am still using the carbon copy of my registration sheet to check in whenever I go to gym these days. The guy at the counter at the chic to tell me…”Miss, please keep your paper properly…so comot already”…!@^%&!!!
Also, when I said I do not want to sign up for the Personal Training thing because I have commitments…the guy asked what commitments I have>>!!? Hello! Dont think I need to spill my personal matters in front of him right?
Let me also top it off with this - shower rooms are lousy. Very badly maintained. They don’t even label which is Shampoo and which is Body Wash! Worst…some of it even has the same stuff ( you can notice the same color and same smell anyway). And for the price you pay monthly….California Fitness provides, towels, cotton buds, facial cottons, hand lotion and hair gel. At True Fitness….nothing of this sort. Sigh…im definitely going back to CF after my contract ends.
Angie: I was at True Fitness USJ just two days ago (Tues) to find out what their membership rates were, and though I was impressed with the facilities at the club, I was disappointed at how the membership consultant handled me.
You wouldn’t believe this, but halfway through the tour, she was calling me ‘darling’ and trying to get kind of.. uhmm.. shall I say ‘affectionate’ ? How’s that for ’sweet-talking’ a prospect?
Also, how much are you paying? I managed to bargain down a 12-month contract to as low as RM135/mth with a RM50 processing fee, nothing else. Though I hear there are ways to get better deals.
In the end, she tried to persuade me to part with a RM50 deposit - although I kept insisting that I only wish to join after I have consulted with a friend of mine. Once she noticed that I wasn’t going to part with any money, she no longer showed as much interest, and actually left to meet another prospect while I was still seated there writing down the rates on my notepad.
I walked out, got into my car, and drove off.
Hi
You know, I should have been smarter like you and walked out in the first place! :)
Well, at first I got it for 99/mth (1 yr contract) and with the Rm50 reg/dep too(not passport membership though). Then I decided to give them a hard time by bargaining because a friend of mine got it for RM85 /mth ( 1year contract). It was either I didn’t get the message clear or the consultant did a real lousy job in explaining the packages cos I didnt have the impression of being tied to 2 years contract till I went back to them the next day and get clarifications. Anyway..to cut the long story short, in the end they asked me to get a 2 yr contract for RM82 /mth using Public Bank card. By the way, the guy consultant gets mushy with me too…like calling me “dear” all the way until when I gave him a hard time, he was a bit pissed and decided to ask his finance supervisor( a lady) to talk to me! lol! oh and she went…” you look familiar, have I seen you before?”..(lame pick up line by the way!) and I went “what do you think ?”..(I just have to be sarcastic at this point)/
Anyway, good on you for not ending up with TF :)
Most fitness clubs use hard selling tactics..especially True Fitness really Disgusting!
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