GoodLife Fitness review: hidden fee 5

(My facebook status)

I went to Goodlife Fitness today to get a rough idea of the pricing. I was under the impression there was such thing as a no contract membership. I have a college credit in Advertising Sales and right off the bat I got the obvious vibes of pushy sales tactics (complimenting me on my shoes, making small talk). I get it, they were being friendly which I do respect - I can say that they do act professional and classy which is great. I get that they are sales people and make commission. But it was very aggressive sales tactics. Anybody who knows me, knows I have a hard time saying no to people - I am very kind to people I meet. But salespeople prey on people like myself.

Step 1) Sign a waver before you even go on a tour through the gym.

Nothing about a free trial is mentioned; which is available - but not presented as an option until you hand some money over.

Step 2) Take you on a tour, show you all the great things, push the personal trainers which are at a great discounted price.
Step 3) Show you what the cost of memberships are (I would of liked to of known this before spending 20 minutes of my time there).
Step 4) Urge you to make a decision on the spot, with the added comfort of knowing you can cancel within the first ten days.

I was even instructed to go on my cell phone, open my online banking and get my banking info right away for pre-authorized payments. I didn't think it was appropriate that he wanted to show me through it, seeing my account balances etc.

I was manipulated into thinking the cheapest plan was $39.99 bi-weekly. There is a year commitment, which you can "buy-out" of for $100 + tax. This is roughly $90 a month for a gym membership. I will only be using the one location period. Then there is a ### $50 + start-up fee, which has been made $39.99 for this month only? LOL dafuq is that for? But don't worry, you get a free gym-bag and t-shirt (paid for it I think with the start-up fee). Now the personal training. $150 for three 1 hour sessions, or $250 for six. You must make this decision on the same day or the price goes up. Another pushy sales tactic. So now we are talking $1080 per year to use the gym, $50 to start up, $250 for some decent personal training that won't even equate to one week. $1380 per year for me to "tone up"? Outrageous. I would rather buy some equipment and do this ### in a field.

At this point, I just wanted to not have to deal with this guy. So I signed up and left, already knowing I would be back when he is done work to get my refund.

The atmosphere was very clicky, lots of staring. Lots of meat-heads who walked like they had the moves like Jagger. For the females, it was a fashion show. Strap on your tightest pair of yoga pants and look as sexy as possible. This is not what I signed up for. Not into ego-building.

I thought of the meat-heads, and instantly thought of skinny guys doing jiu-jitsu who could tap them out in about 20 seconds flat. I'm not looking to become a brick ### house. I'm looking into fitness options to get fit, toned and in shape. I won't ever let things goto my head if I start to bulk up.

I know good people who goto Parabellum MMA. Martial Arts teaches respect, discipline, etc. I have a passion for MMA and think that this is more suited to me. It motivates me much more. The classes seem exciting. Plus I get to learn proper self-defense. The lack of money-motivated salespeople, people who seem like they genuinely want to help you better yourself. The atmosphere is just way more appealing to me. Also the type of people, overall are a much better crowd to be around. I would willingly pay at least $100/month for this kind of service. You are getting way more bang for your buck.

When I went back tonight to Goodlife to get my refund. The guy said my sales guy was gone for the night (I know, thats why I came when I did). He asked me to come back tomorrow. I said listen, I know already where I want to be. My decisions are made. He claimed he didn't really know how to do a refund because it's a lot of paperwork yada yada and that he wasn't sure who was available. So unless I came back tomorrow, I may have to wait a while. I said "no problem, I have nowhere special to be!" About 5 minutes later a female manager came out. She asked why I wanted to refund, and what gym I was going to? I said "my friend is a head instructor at Parabellum MMA in Oakville." She said, oh so it's like an MMA gym, combat kind of stuff? Yes. That's exactly it. I have never been to a gym before and a year commitment is hard to swallow even with the $100 buy out fee. Even with 10 days to think about it. I think by now they got the point I wasn't being persuaded. She seemed quite agitated, I did apologize which I didn't have to. I was friendly, respectful the whole time. Funny how somebody can go from being your best buddy to annoyed with you lol. It took her about 5 minutes to give me my refund and be on my way. As I was waiting at a table, a young classy girl about my age was at the table to the right of me. I overheard the conversation and could sense her irritation with the aggressive sales tactics as well. The guy asked her to go on her online banking on her phone and tried to show her through it. She wouldn't let him look at her screen and was like "how much is this exactly going to cost me?" She wanted to know before she handed over her banking. I left before she did. But when I was downstairs I saw her leave without a gym bag, t-shirt or paperwork. I think she overheard me and felt the same way as she looked at me at one point. Likely she had bigger balls than me and walked out without being pushed to commit.

The super pushy, aggressive, annoying sales tactics are brutal. It pushed me so far away from this gym and all corporate gyms like this for good. The place is huge, super packed. Parking is nearly impossible. It truthfully just seemed like a place for people to socialize and gawk at each other. Which is great and all, I would like to meet some new people. But what brought me there was to get in shape. Nothing else.

With proper documentation (doctor's note or visible sign of injury, ie broken leg) the membership can be put on hold or cancelled for free. Without it, we are unable to give benefit of the doubt and have to charge the cancellation fee.

Honestly people, it is your responsibility to read through the contract. It says right at the top in big caps "PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY." If you read through it either during your sign up or aftewards you would have seen it, clear as rain. If you didn't like that, you had 10 days to cancel with no charge.

We're trained to "care". Brainwashed into the meet and greet. It's all so fake, do you actually think we like your woven in hair extensions or your rip off lulu lemon sweater? They train us to meet and greet you with a compliment to make you feel more comfortable before we suck you in with all of our lies. We don't care about your life, all we see when a new member walks through the door is a dollar sign. The staff is treated like [censor] unless they're management, produced to nothing but sales they care as much about as as they do the members. If we're not bringing them in the money all we get is a cold shoulder and an announcement to the rest of the group about our [censor] month. They won't let you cancel, they force you into a membership, they harass passerby's into buying memberships, they call you constantly if you sign up for one of their "deals". Don't be stupid. Sure some of the staff may seem nice, and I do like a lot of the members but most of it is fake to keep you paying. I recently quit because I've had enough of their fake put on [censor]. The company is cheap, we have to buy our own uniforms, instructors have to pay for their own music. With a company as big as Goodlife Fitness you would think that some of that would be covered? Nope. They'll just keep getting richer from everyone's stupidity.

Yes yes yes. I have had the same exact problem. I had to move up North to help my aunt, she fell very ill and since my job had resently been closed down I decided why not. I had phoned them and told Goodlife what had happened, and they told me they would close my account. This was in August, I was quite happy with the phone call and thought they were nice about it. I had arrived home about around late December and delt with Christmas what not. My mother had gave me my bank statements and it said I owed the bank about $200. Apparently Goodlife started up my account again. I later phoned them and they told me I had put it on hold when I told them to cancel it. THEN they said if I wanted to close my account I would have to go to them and pay $90. So not only am I down $200 I have to pay $90 to close the account. They had never told me this... when I went there this dumb old woman told me I had to create an appointment to close my account. What the heck is that? In the end I paid to stop the money payments to them, but sadly enough I had to have my mother bail me out. Oh and I must mention when they told me it would cost $90 dollars to cancel it, they never said plus tax. I'm now at a local gym for $10 dollars a month... 10! I'm so happy and I hope those stuck up ### lose their jobs.

I work for GoodLife Fitness and UNLIKE other competetor clubs we truly care about our members and their success.

Although the employee should tell you about the buy out fee, in the end it is your responsibilty to READ any legal documents you sign.

By the way, I dont see why you are complaining. If it is really a medical reason you needed to hold or cancel your memebership they do that FREE with a doctors note. If you had the proper documentation it wouldnt have been a problem! I think your story is a little mixed up!