Fitness First Malaysia, and their antics

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Fitness First Almost Sued Me and What I Learn From It-from Mun Fitness Blog

Read This from Mun Fitness Blog or go straight to www.munfitnessblog.com.

I copied everything from the link above as I'm compiling complains from all over the internet to this blog.

Here it goes....read well and remember well. The indians in FF are good, they're friends of lawyers etc etc.. but well here's the story.

____________________________from munfitness blog___________________________________
I have been using the word of “censor” in place of the real name of a fitness center in Malaysia in my defunct old blog. Not hard to guess which gym I am talking about. This fitness center has the most number of outlets in Malaysia for now. In fact, it has a chain of about 500 health clubs in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

The fiasco took place two years ago in year 2005. To cut the story short. I called one of the outlets to ask about the membership price. But, the sales lady insisted me to drop by at the outlet before she disclosed the information. Having joined Clark Hatch for 2 years, I knew what I wanted and therefore decline the offer yet persistent in getting the pricing information. The sales lady then raised her voice and ended the conversation in a very unfriendly manner.

I was mad at that time. So, I wrote about that experience in my old blog which is now defunct. The next day, someone has alerted the management of Fitness First. After reading that post, the fitness center Managing Director called (I left my number to the sales lady) and he wanted to discuss the matter with me. Initially, thought that the gentleman really wanted to hear my complain, but later was told that he was meeting up with his legal team to pursue the matter further. In other words, the message was simple - “Take down the post. Otherwise, see you in court.”

I wanted to sleep well at night. Never was my intention to be a hero fighting for a battle that probably brings no meaning. After all, I was not even a member with the fitness center.

So, I bit the bullet. Swallowed the ego. Replaced the fitness center name with the word of “censor” in my articles in the previous blog.

Come to think about the incident, though I had a bad experience dealing with the sales person, it was really a small matter.

Given a chance, will I still write about it?

Probably yes. But, it will be in a different way, in a subtle manner.

Classifying everyone is bad is not fair just because of one bad apple. Everyone deserves a second chance.

The incident would have a good ending if the Managing Director wanted to sincerely talk about it. Not that I asked for apology, but don’t you think the willingness in listening a potential customer’s feedback is better than the use of legal channel?

Fitness First = Fitness comes first, but how about Customer? Shouldn’t Customer First in this case?

I still received e-mails from blog readers asking my opinion about the gym. Never in any of my advice discouraging them for joining the club. I shared with them the good and the bad. Show them the basic guidelines in choosing a gym. Tell them the truth. Let them make an informed decision.

Fitness First still has its strength. Being one of the pioneers, it managed to capture huge market shares in this competitive industry. Excellent fitness class instructors and accessibility in different International locations are some of its key selling points.

No matter what, the case is long closed. Since then, I signed up with another gym. Not one or two years contract, but a 5-year package which later upgraded to lifetime membership. Not because Fitness First is bad, but others are catching up with better total package and give me what I want.

If you are a member with Fitness First, I welcome your comments. Share with me your experience.

Did you like this post? Subscribe to MunFitnessBlog.com today. It is free.
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Complain on Menara Axis

*The crowds waiting to go into the exercise studio are sometimes huge and very noisy + very sweaty that it’s almost impossible to walk through at times without getting everyone’s sweat on you

*The weirdos who hook up their MP3 players and dance/gyrate by themselves all alone in the corner

*The indian man who bounces his butt for a good few minutes on the Swiss Ball (exercise ball). What is he trying to achieve?

*There’s a particular Personal Trainer that smells like a walking cigarette stick. Not being a good impression now, is he?

*The worker/cleaner at the male locker room is dodgy - I swear he looks at the men with LUST

Where is it?
Fitness First, Menara Axis
Concourse Level, Menara Axis,
No 2, Jalan 51A/223
Petaling Jaya, SELANGOR
www.fitnessfirst.com.my

More below!

Alex Says:

August 9th, 2006 at 1:14 am
really that good meh? i have just recently sign up for the trial package 1 month in fitness first there..

I train every morning there and frankly speaking this gym is the worst gym i ever been compared to those that i have been..

Problems..

1) No towel service ( other gyms gives u towel to use 1)
2) The free weights facilities abit not very well, especially the bars, the max is only 50 pounds..very not enough… so is the barbell curls, i think they should have some curl bar there where ppl can slot in how much weight they want.
3) the Dip machine is not very good over there
4) abdomen machine very few
5) the benches just look weird for bench press.

I guess i complain a lot, but well i will change gym once i am done with the trial. So far i think celeb fitness is quite well equipped, at least services wis is good and also quite a range of equipments they have.

oh yeah, fitness first doesn’t even have the proper mats..
dissapointed..i think i am not so happy with the menara axis branch..

In the stupid name of Charity?!

Cmon...stop giving charity such a bad reflection on your service. Some said...Miracle 08 was a pure failure while others thought that it had nothing to do with charity..but a publicity stint by the management.

If you ask me, I say that Fitness First has hit this event right on target by having a charity event intertwined with what we fitness enthusiasts love - exercise!

And if there’s ever a way to get people interested in exercise - I can’t think of any better way than to have an open workout event smack in the middle of where we Malaysians just love to waste time - a shopping complex.

Fund-raising coupons are available at RM50 each at any Fitness First health club. If you need more information, head over to www.fitnessfirst.com.my.

This is the fun part, when you register..its mandatory to leave your cell number...where by an annoying sales agent will call you every other day. Whats more, you're encourage to dump your friend's name as well, their numbers, their privacy.

This is a trick, Miracle 08 was a gimmick in the name of charity. Move aside...Miracle 09 might beheading your way...it might not be called Miracle....Salvation 09 perhaps?

http://fitnessfirstsucks.com/

Check out.... the following website. I've sent a note to their webmaster. This is the first result what you type "fitness first suck". First result are tempting, and with their smacking forum, it can only serve as a vesel of complains!

http://www.fitnessfirstsucks.com/ obviously..there is an ongoing problem all over.

This is Fitness First Uk's problem I think....

For any cancellation after the expiry of the minimum term you must give us 4 weeks/1 calendar month's written notice (counted from the next direct debit date). Any cancellation must be notified on the required form supplied by us. At the time of lodgement of the cancellation form, your membership fees must be paid up to date. Your cancellation will not take effect until we give you a copy of your cancellation notice and receipt for payment of all required fees both of which we will provide promptly. So there can be no mistake, for your membership cancellation to be effective, all your membership fees must be paid up to date on the date you give notice AND you must pay or make satisfactory arrangements to pay all membership fees for the period from the date of notice until the date it takes effect. Should you have outstanding fees, your cancellation will not be processed and you will have to reapply to cancel in writing once payment is up to date. NOTE: Time Freeze periods do not count in any period of notice required to be given to cancel/terminate your membership.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Anyone here has a gripe about Fitness First Malaysia?

The complain

Anyone here has a gripe about Fitness First Malaysia?

I do! I've written to the Country Manager a week ago lodging a complaint about the Club Manager but have not heard a word since. Any thoughts on what I should do next?
In answer to The Bear:Hmmm good suggestion about writing to the UK. However, I'm probably going to write to the regional office first. You're right about their trainers/instructors: not all are certified ... what's worse, I'm not even sure if they're able to perform CPR should anyone collapse. Uh oh!

The Answers
Wow, I can't believe this...We had a problem with them and never ever got an answer from the manager. We even went to the counter several times to speak to her/him but he was always hiding. And we would see her/him walk around seconds earlier. It's her/him cos there was a change of manager at one point, same problem though, must be twin brother and sister... The staff, with a few exceptions, is rediculous and monopolizes the lat machine competing with eachother, ignoring the customers. Whenever there is a problem, they just wait to see if it goes away by itself. By the way, that's a Malaysian solution for everything......I quit membership at one point. Rubbish gym....

Just quit, many other gym's around.

wow, that is bad service... thanks for sharing it here. My girlfriend used to work for fitness first as a receptionist. She said many cutomers are unhappy and the club didnt do anything about it which is unprofessional. She quit due to stress. Talk about fitness huh... resulting in mentally

unfit is more like it.ps: i love my fats :)

forget about it, they just want the business and I hate that gym, I joined for a year membership and they really sucks compared to true fitness.

ahh... i hate those gyms.. i rather jog at the park during evenings.. nice weather nice sun, the most important thing is i dont have to pay!

Good advise.... I'm juz thinking to have membership on Fitness First.... Since I've read all this, I don't interested anymore....

I don't quite understand the rationale of going to the gym.Can't we get a workout by doing activities like jogging or cycling?Or how bout swimming if you live in a condo?Those aren't just free but they bring you outside.

I agree with jf_fryIt is free anyway (to do it outside). Always better with natural light to check out those girls.

Source: Travel Info Malaysia, Yahoo Questions?