Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To expect a salesperson to be prepared to answer a few questions?

20 replies

whomovedmychocolate · 02/08/2010 16:08

Honestly! Duncan Bannatyne would not be pleased!

I'm looking for a gym. I thought 'I know, I'll go back to my old one' (I had to give up when pregnant as they didn't have wheelchair access and I was unable to walk for quite a while).

Anyhoo, I sent them an email yesterday to say 'can you please let me know what the membership rates are these days' and a few emails went back and forth (none with the rates as requested) but during which I explained I would be a returning member and that I was considering a few clubs.

Agreed to go in today for a 'free tour'. So I pitched up in my workout gear (they normally take you round and expect you to be able to have a go on things etc so it's good to go prepared).

I get there and membership advisor says to go sit in cafe and she will come and join me.

She comes over sits down and says 'right so you want to sign up again'.

'Um well actually I'd like to know about the rates'

'Rates are these' 'which are you going to go for'.

'Umm has anything changed during the five years I
haven't been here'

'What do you mean'

'Well I notice there is a lot of building work going on, has anything changed, any new facilities or anything'.

'well obviously we are building a spa and there are a few machine changes, but I'll show them to you when you've signed up. So will it be a year or monthly?'

'I'm not decided which is better, I have to discuss childcare issues with my DH because if I am going to do offpeak he'll have to agree to look after the kids'.

'Well of course the sooner you sign up, the more you save' (they have a 'get the rest of the month free').

'Right'

'So which will it be'

'I'll need to get my bank details to do that, and I don't have them right now'

'Right well I'll show you the way out and you can come back with them'.

(Bearing in mind I could have signed up and paid on my credit card or in cash).

'So, no tour then'.

'Not if you are not going to sign up, no'.

If she'd have looked on her computer she could have seen instantly I was a long term member and was very likely to come back - and was only asking for someone to be civil and answer my questions.

AIBU to just expect not to be railroaded?

Please someone come and tell me there was a reason for this woman to be such a total witch? I feel very sorry for gym newbies if this is the approach she takes. Are there no double glazed windows to be sold anymore?

OP posts:
MortaIWombat · 02/08/2010 16:11

Nope. she sounds like a complete fool. SOooo, which gym was this (so I can avoid it)? {grin]

thisisyesterday · 02/08/2010 16:13

wasn't cannons was it?
i was fuming when i went into our local one to ask about membership fees

ALL i wanted to know was what the monthly fee was. I too had to sit in the cafe and they wanted me to give them my name/address etc!
i refused and they wouldn't tell me the monthly fee

ridiculous.

i went to esporta after that who were lovely

Kaloki · 02/08/2010 16:14

Wow, bet her boss would be thrilled!

1Littleboy1Bigboy · 02/08/2010 16:41

i go to virgin. Lovely staff and an Ofsted cresh to

whomovedmychocolate · 02/08/2010 16:46

Bannatynes, but a suspect a lot of chain gyms are equally slack.

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolate · 02/08/2010 16:49

I'm thinking about trying a Curves franchise - they do circuits apparently. Will have to see how they handle membership enquiries.

OP posts:
gingernutlover · 02/08/2010 16:53

i have been a member of 2 gyms and both have been happy to tell me the costs up front without any strings attached. They also both offered me a tour so I could see if I actually wanted to spend my time/money there.

This salesperson was extremely rude and I think you should complain - or at least tell someone in authority why you feel you cannot sign upw ith them.

I find it unbelieveable that she expected you to put money down before you had even seen the facilities!

whomovedmychocolate · 02/08/2010 16:57

Well I think she assumed I would (a) remember how it was five years ago; (b) blithely sign up hoping it was as good if not better.

She's going to call me tomorrow. Shall I tell her to sod off or shall I call her manager today to tell him to tell her to sod off?

OP posts:
foureleven · 02/08/2010 16:59

They get paid about £12,500 a year and have massive targets and are trained by twats so dont expect too much..

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 02/08/2010 17:00

I would lodge a complaint against her yes. (and how does this gym get away with no wheelchair access...)

Nemofish · 02/08/2010 17:01

I'm with Total Fitness. They may not be the poshest, but they are certainly the nicest and have never treated me like crap / put me under pressure / been rude to me... unlike a different gym that I nearly signed up to.

Kaloki · 02/08/2010 17:09

WMMC Curves were really lovely when I went, no pressure at all. Was gutted when I moved house and there was no curves gym nearby.

whomovedmychocolate · 02/08/2010 17:13

foureleven - yes exactly - and do I want to be a member of a gym which encourages their staff to behave that way?

Kaloki - thanks, I was hoping someone would say that - they have a really good deal on at the minute (see they advertise their prices outside the gym ). So I think I'll go see them tomorrow.

OP posts:
NetworkGuy · 03/08/2010 16:00

I'd ring them and ask for the manager.

Explain how you didn't get a simple response to your query by e-mail (I'm assuming they have a website but that too has no prices listed) and having been invited 'for a tour' even that part of attracting a potential (returning) member was too much trouble, for reasons you know not...

If they aren't "up front" about their fees, how can they expect to attract new members, when part of the current financial situation means people are more cautious about spending, but to then have a rather "pushy" membership advisor only interested in whether you would be taking monthly or annual membership was the last straw.

Make it clear that there is no need for a 'return call' as you have been put off by the "far from welcoming approach" you received, and will be going elsewhere!

YADNBU to expect answers to reasonable questions without a dismissive air, or outright avoidance (e-mail).

NetworkGuy · 03/08/2010 16:01

Oh, too late. Well, if you answered their call, hope you made it clear why you won't touch that gym for another 5 years!

whomovedmychocolate · 03/08/2010 22:14

NetworkGuy - she rang me this evening while I was trying to subdue the children and convince them to go and asked 'whether I'd come to a decision'

I said yes, I'd decided she was possibly the rudest person I'd ever met and that when I'd come for a tour I expected a tour and not high pressure selling so I would not be signing up. She went off rather sheepishly.

DH walked in halfway through and when I hung up said 'god, she really pissed you off didn't she'

I may send an email actually.

OP posts:
mumofthreesweeties · 03/08/2010 22:43

Sound like staff at DL

MortaIWombat · 04/08/2010 08:33

Send an email! Send an email!

StealthPolarBear · 04/08/2010 08:45

brilliant wmmc

NetworkGuy · 04/08/2010 15:52

Good for you, WMMC. Hope she changes her ways!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread