Aibu to be pissed off...

[sallycinnamon14]

About SW still charging membership fees at this time (albeit half) when we can't go to groups or get weighed? I understand they have introduced the virtual sessions but it seems like very few people are getting involved with them. We've been told if we don't pay 2.50 a week we are no longer members, will have our apps taken off us and will have to rejoin as new members when this is all over.

I think this is a shitty move of slimming world and so do a lot of people in my group. Our rep is typical slimming world and defends all of their actions wholeheartedly (I've had three different reps, they're all the same - if you cut them open they would bleed slimming world) but a lot of people seem very disappointed.

If you are a member what do you think? Will you be continuing to pay even if you don't go to groups? The actual cheek of charging people to weigh themselves at home seems crazy....!

Presumably these people need to make a living and this is one was for them to do so. If you go to them for support, why can't that be done online via zoom for example.

YABU

Did you know the consultants are self employed?;no members paying the fee=no pay.

They are on a commission only basis.Would you be willing to work for free?

No but they aren't working. The groups aren't going ahead and the vast majority of people aren't using the virtual app. To turn it around, what am I paying for?

I’m doing the meetings by Zoom and there’s loads of us on there. 20 on my group and she’s running four groups

You are being given access to the app. The half price is reflecting that you are not being given access to the whole service you normally would have.

What would you like them to do? Give you access to the online service for free? Did you know that SW online is the same price as the classes usually? So you are actually getting a good discount.

As with anything, you don't actually have to pay for it. But don't complain when you don't get it. It seems like everyone thinks everything should be a charity at the moment.

Absolutely not I just think that as a global multi million pound company slimming world might have offered a freeze on fees. I guess if the reps are still working then they should undoubtedly be paid but in my group nobody is using the virtual sessions. And I don't think the app alone is worth a tenner a month!

I don't really understand you're argument OP. All you would achieve from being able to freeze your membership is retaining the existing weight loss record that they hold for you. You're not magically going to not have lost 50lbs because the leader doesn't have it on her laptop anymore.

Are you suggesting that you should be able to access the app for free as well during this time? If you look at other weight loss apps and online services, you will find that £10 a month is the going rate. Unless you want to use my fitness pal.

As with anything, you don't need to pay it. But don't complain about not being able to use the service if you don't.

Our group had 36 people at the virtual meeting this week, we have a really good group leader who is still offering support and we are all involved with the Facebook page.
I think you have to decide if want to pay the fee and if you think it is worth the money

I have 6 weeks left on a countdown and slimming world won't refund me, they say they'll carry them over when groups reopen. I want my money back now though.

I don't want to do a virtual group, it doesn't suit me, it's not what I was paying for.

I'm a target member and I'm not signing up to the zoom sessions- I do zoom thing with my family and I find it odd, don't really want SW in my living room! Otoh, I understand that consultants need to make a living. They only make money out of me by me buying their hi-fi bars and books, and that would be
Iost to them anyway.

In short I feel a bit equivocal about it. If I still needed the support I might pay, and I will go back in future, but recently I had found I was only going to get weighed and not actually staying to class, so I'm not missing much.

You're given the choice to attend zoom and access to the app for a price of 2.50 per week so technically it's still group from the comfort of your home or just wait until group starts up after all this blows over 🤷‍♀️

If you aren’t able to afford £10 a month, then by all means cancel it.

Big companies don’t owe us anything, but equally you don’t have to pay if you don’t see the value.

If you choose not to get involved there will be no back fees or rejoining fees when classes do reopen. I don't have scales but have actually found the zoom times really work for me in keeping me in check. I've tried all the sessions this week because I honestly had no idea what to do.

I'm a target member so no fees. But actually I would pay it despite me being on no pay just now as I need that reality check to keep me on the straight and narrow.

I genuinely won't see any value from this. £10 a month might not seem like a lot but it is when you're getting nothing for it. I appreciate others might be using the virtual sessions and online facilities more so in that case they will be getting something for their money. That's fair enough.

Booting people out of Facebook support groups because they aren't paying seems a bit unnecessary and unsupportive at this time though.

I've just joined and think it's a great idea! I love my slimming world leader and despite me packing on 3 stone she hasn't judged, knows me well and even remembered all my downfalls!

I'm happy to pay it so I'm not an absolute whale after lockdown! I want half a stone off in my first week ideally! Doable as long as I'm 100% on plan!

I’ve just joined and was more than happy with the £2.50 a week and access to the app, consultant when I need advice and the weekly group! Everything has gone virtual now and I think it’s very generous for the 50% discount and they are also offering nhs staff it completely free! Well done slimming world

I genuinely can't see the issue here? Either pay the £10 a month and join in via virtual groups and apps, or don't pay and rejoin when it's all over. Either are reasonable alternatives just pick one and run with it. Slimming world haven't done anything wrong here and chances are when they're in a position to reopen, they'll publicise it and offer free membership vouchers like they usually do.

Just leave and rejoin when it’s over and back to norma - use a Boucher for no joining fee

Voucher

It ain't a charity.

I think 50% reduction whilst you can’t go to group is great value. Just because you don’t use the alternative service that is currently being offered for free, doesn’t mean that you should be able to still use the bit you do need to pay for for free too.

It's business not a charity- they are set up to make money

I've not signed up for it. I'll just pay £15 to rejoin in the future, I've done it more than once over the last few years and I've never had to rejoin as a new member

It’s no different to people who pay the full fee but don’t stay to group. They basically just pay for someone to weigh them and to have access to the app etc.

It’s not SW’s fault that you’re choosing not to use the services on offer. And it’s always been the case that if people stop paying (ie cancel their membership) then their access to the app and the Facebook support groups is removed.

I've never been booted off the fb support group either