But then two of my sisters decided to go to a new club. Not long after, I received a phone call from the club letting me know my sister signed me up for a free ten day pass to try the gym out. I was asked to come in, take a tour and sign up for my free pass. Grudgingly, I decided to go check out Xperience Fitness. If my sisters were going there, maybe it was a better place. I had my doubts and really didn't want to go because this place is on the other side of town and Planet Fitness is on the other side of the street. As soon as I walked in the place I was uneasy. But then again I'm that sort of person that is always uneasy in new situations. it wasn't long till a young attractive girl came to get me to tour the place.
Young Attractive Girl: So, what are your fitness goals?
Jeffrey Scott: To lose weight.
YAG: Awesome, how much are you looking to lose?
JS: About 50 pounds.
YAG: No problem, that's an attainable goal.
Then we proceed to tour the place. I'm told how awesome (that word again) the place is. Ten minutes later we are sitting at her desk where I see two boxes of donuts sitting. Kind of odd to see at a gym but I pay it no mind. Now she pulls out a binder and wants to know which plan I want to sign up for.
Jeffrey Scott: I think there is a misunderstanding. I came in to sign up for the ten day pass.
YAG: "Oh," she says. Her face drops and she excuses herself to get her manager. It's another young attractive girl.
AYAG: Hello Mr. Scott. So, what are your fitness goals?
JS: To lose weight.
AYAG: Awesome, how much are you looking to lose?
JS: About 50 pounds.
AYAG: No problem, that's an attainable goal.
(Is their sales pitch really a script?)
AYAG: You realize you won't lose 50 pounds in just 10 days.
(I fight the urge to look shocked and reply WHAT!)
AYAG: It's important to note that people who come in for the 10 day pass, do so and then quit. If this is something you are really dedicated about, you might want to sign up right away. With the incentive of the membership being paid, you'll want to come to the gym more often.
(No I won't I think to myself. I had a membership at Vic Tanny.... errrrr Bally's Total..... errrr Blast Fitness for years and I could go months without the knowledge of me paying for the membership to be an incentive to go).
AYAG: So what do you say? Do you have the motivation to want to join? We have a special that's ending on Monday. After Monday the prices go up. We don't even know how high they could go.
Wow, these are power negotiating tactics. Is Roger Dawson hiding in the gym somewhere? I love Planet Fitness, but they are making some valid points. The price could go up!!! And if I don't join, they may think I don't have enough motivation. So here I am sitting, dealing with high pressure sales and very kindly being persuaded by two young and attractive girls. So, you probably know how this turned out. I mean it's pretty obvious.
JS: Well, to be honest, I belong to a gym already. But when my sister suggested I check this place out, I decided to give it a tray. Just to be fair. I figured if this place is better than where I'm at now, you'll win my business. It's not a question of motivation. Because I've been at Planet Fitness for six months, I've already lost 40 pounds.
Suddenly the supervisor disappeared. Did she take a box of donuts with her? Meanwhile the first YAG fished around in her desk and give me a card that was good for ten days to visit the gym. Before sending me on my way, she persuaded me one last time to not letter the offer that was ending next week (I thought it was Monday) to slip by. She stressed I should make up my mind before then. Well, I'm happy to report I made up my mind before I got back to my car. I'd tell you what I decided, but I don't have time. I'm off to run a 5K at Planet Fitness. Later Gaters!
Some questions for discussion:
Have you ever experienced high pressure sales? What was it?
How would you have handled this situation?
Every pay for something you end up never using?
I've never gone to a fitness club before. One, because of my heart issue that makes working out difficult. And two, I'd be shy and intimidated.
ReplyDeleteThe most important thing is to take care of yourself. Having heart problems is not a good thing. I've had my own problems too and just the other day my mother suffered a heart attack. She's doing good now, but it can certainly be a scary thing.
DeleteI think I would have been up and out of that place much sooner than you were! Which says something about your patience. My gym is very laid back and I have no intention of looking elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI was certainly thinking about leaving right away. But there is something inside me that makes me want to see how something plays out. If anything, I end up with a story, such as this one.
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
Its all about weakening your resolve or strengthening your resolve and a YAG will do that every time, lol.
ReplyDeleteFortunately I knew what I wanted. Weakening my resolve might have worked if they had been just a tad less aggressive in their drive.
DeleteI think most gyms do that. Although Gold's Gym didn't pressure me much. But the tactic of the price going up next week is always just that - a sales tactic. You made the right choice.
ReplyDeleteI was happy where I was, but I was willing to give the new place a try. Too bad they oversold to me, they lost me.
DeleteIt's why folks hate buying a car. The experience is arranged to harrangue.
ReplyDeleteAnd you never know what the price is truly going to be. Even when they say the price on the sticker is the price you pay.
DeleteYikes! On a side note most gyms would say start smaller on the weight number. Haha!!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's odd they didn't think that was an excessive goal to start off with.
DeleteI hate high pressure sales. I can combat any of these @$$h0!e$ any day of the week and win.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
A to Z Co-host
Twitter: @StephenTremp
It's a tactic that must work on some (or most) people or they wouldn't use it.
DeleteI experience high pressure sales opportunities whenever I try to cut up a credit. If you think gyms are bad just try closing a point card or a we have your credit score card and see how many managers they make you talk to closing the account.
ReplyDeleteOddly enough, I've never owned a credit card. I've managed so far and knowing it can be difficult to cancel does not inspire me to get one much.
DeleteHello there.
ReplyDeleteSo sad, but this is the world we live in...sales, sales and more sales!
Entrepreneurial Goddess
You forgot to mention sales are involved as well.
Delete