Free 1 Month True Fitness Membership For RM30
Posted by Chan Kelwin in Personal, tags: fitness, joke, PersonalA few months ago when I started working in PJ, I had a strong urge to go to the gym. My body is really out of shape (was it ever in shape anyway?) and I really had to do something about it. I must have looked like I am a couple of months pregnant with my belly sticking out. I need a solution quick before my “water breaks”.
The True Fitness center at Jaya 33 Petaling Jaya is nearby where I work and the place looked really amazing from the outside. I was very much tempted to have a peak at the inside. One day after work, I drop by the fitness centre to have a look at their facilities and what packages they have to offer. The place is truly amazing. They even have an open air swimming pool on the forth floor. There is also a spa there. However, Homo sapiens with scrotums are not allowed in it. Damn it.
After the tour, I sat down together with the counselor and discussed about the packages. I was offered quite an affordable deal but I still wasn’t sure if I really needed/wanted it. I do not want to tie myself down with a contract and end up not fully utilizing the gym. I told him I will think about it and left.
A few weeks later, I was fortunate enough to be able to get my hands on a coupon with a 1 month “free” full-membership access trial. I bought it from a friend for RM30. I wonder why they call it FREE. KNN.
Moving on…
I packed my bag and headed to the gym happily knowing that I will be able to try it out for one month before signing anything. Little did I know what was waiting for me.
I was served by a different counselor this time. After showing me around the fitness centre (again — it is their procedure), I told her I did not want to sign up yet and wanted to try it out for a month before deciding. She excused herself and went into the office, only to return with a more senior employee. That was when I started feeling extremely uncomfortable — very much like having something stuck up in my arse.
This guy was very pushy. “Shooting” me with all the sales talk he must have learnt from the “Sales Talk Boot Camp”. Even after 10 to 15 minutes of saying NO, I was still getting no where with my membership trial. It felt very much like being cheated into thinking I was getting a free shag but only to be told to sign a commitment letter while having to pay for the service monthly. Well, at least I am guaranteed of several humping sessions per week for the next 12 months, right? F…
After deep consideration between tearing the free 1 month True Fitness membership coupon and signing up for a 12 months package, I decided on the latter. I really needed and wanted to workout. The bitterness I felt was simply due to how I was coaxed into signing up.
After getting home, I didn’t feel any better after finding out numerous complaints about True Fitness over the Internet. I felt miserable. I then called one of my best butt friends whom have been a gym-goer for the past 3 years or so. I told him about my experience at True Fitness and this was (more or less) what he said.
The tactics used by the sales people is common. They will try their best to push their customers to sign up. Since you had a 1 month free pass, they will be multiple times more pushy on you.
The tsunami feeling I had in me suddenly disappeared. I was enlightened. “No wonder that fella was so damn blardy pushy lah!”, I told him. After that conversation, I no longer have the bitterness I had earlier on.
It is now over one and a half months since I started working out at True Fitness. I have to say that apart from not being able to save a little more each month, I have no regrets in joining this fitness centre. There aren’t any hard feelings between me and the “pushy guy”. In fact, he is a pretty nice guy whom I have had a few good chats with in the past few weeks. I even thanked him for being pushy on me.
I wouldn’t completely write off the complaints targeted at True Fitness though. When there is smoke, there must be fire. To be fair to them, I am sure other fitness centers such as Fitness First, California Fitness etc do have their critics and complaints as well.
Some of the things I learnt from this experience include, read and understand the damn contract before signing it, never tell them that you have a credit card (if you do not want to sign up) and just be thick skin and tell them straight in the face that you are just there for the free trial, nothing more.
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Check out my Open Letter to True Fitness at http://www.matthewmok.com
@Matthew
I’ve seen one of their sales staff who screwed up during the “tour” with a potential customer. He brought the customer to a machine and tried to explain how it works. After a while trying, he gave up and moved to another machine. He was actually operating the machine “backwards”. That is why it wasn’t working. I’d expected them to have briefed their staffs beforehand.
i like your style… direct..
may u plz send to my email how much does it cost n does it work for u…??
I am paying RM160 per month on a 12 months contract. I can only go to that particular outlet. My package allows me to go to the gym only four days per week:
a) Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, or
b) Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
The other package I was offered is RM175 per month, but 24 months contract. This package allows me to go 7 days a week, no restrictions. However, I don’t remember if I can go to other outlets.
There will be a 5% government tax. So the total I am paying is RM168 per month.
Yes, I do notice changes in my physical appearance. Every month, they will provide one free physical assessment where they measure my body fat, muscle, water, BMI, etc. So far, there are improvements on each test.
Of course, signing up for a gym membership is one thing. To really lose weight / gain better physic, one need to be serious and consistant in working out. I would say at least 2 or 3 days per week.
[...] now onwards, any real walking and exercise will be done on the treadmill at the True Fitness gym. I have been skipping gym a lot recently. If I allow myself to procrastinate any further, I can [...]
True Fitness is also cheating its members of money owed to them!
They have a promotion whereby we introduce 1 fren we get RM50.00 and 2 frens RM100.00 and so on and so forth. I was introduced by my fren in Sept’08, and until today (Feb’09) they still have not paid my fren the RM50. We called up and each time they gave an excuse. Just today the operation person says they have no funds to pay out! What!!!
this is the 2nd time im reading nasty stuff about TF today..damn..i should have got into this before yesterday when I decided to switch from California Fitness(CF) to TF! I have bee with CF for a few years and no qualms about them. Great environment(sunway outlet that is) and great layout of equipments. TF is like dark and very cramp inside ( the one at Taipan Subang). I switched basically becos TF is just opposite my house and makes it convenient.
When one of the staff showed me around first time yesterday..she seems like in a rush and probable thinks I have a robotic memory. I said that cos its a maze in that building!
Then, came 2 free training session…nobody bothered to follow up with me until I told one of the manager and suddenly I get 5-6 calls from different trainers asking me for time!
Kelwin Chan, You are paying way too much. CF can offer better deals!
Oh plus…TF TAIPAN doesn’t offer FREE USAGE of towel facilities, no cotton buds, no plastic bags, no hand cream, no tissue, no gel ( unless other TF outlets have lah). CF has it all! ..( no, i don’t get loyalty fee from CF for promoting it but it is just my personal viewpoint and preference).
Have fun scouting for those new to this
@Jaclyn: If that is true, they truly suck. It is really bad not to fulfil promises made.
@Angel: I’ve heard other gyms providing cheaper packages too. No, the True Fitness gym center at Section 13 does not provide free towel and all the other things you’ve mentioned. I didn’t really try out the other fitness centers because True Fitness is the nearest and most convenient for me. It’s between my house and working place.
I do agree and feel that I am paying way too much. My 12 months contract ends in June. I may consider to stop then. See if the sales guy throw in some special discount or something to get me to stay on. I doubt it though.
I totally agrred with Jaclyn. I have referred a few.. I repreat FEW memebrs to True Fitness. They have yet to compliment me with the Referred Friend Gift. They keep saying.. checking..checking… seriously damn irritating and after complaining and complaining… guess what.. THEY NEVER IMPROVED!!
Moreover, they treat new memebrs way better than the old memebrs. You have more priviledges when you are a new member. The new Bikram classes for yoga, if you are new member, you have access to the facility. Old members, they make you pay additional if you want to attend. Seriously, I sometimes wonder whether I have logic thinking or they are a bunch of careless money minded bunch??
i have TrueFitness Gym membership to sell/transfer, due to i have to move. I will offer good price at 110 pm.. for 3 yrs. free joining/processing fees.. Its platinum membership.. u can go to any branch and use all the facilities inc. swimming pool (jaya33) Its a bargain! Free bag, towel and water bottle. Do contact me if u r interested at su3nn@yahoo.com. Thanks!
[...] you are thinking of losing weight by joining a gym, here is some good news for you. True Fitness is having a crazy promotion through MyStyle that will be ending on the 30th April 2009. I only got [...]
I totally agrred with Jaclyn. True Fitness is really cheating its members of money. Before you sign up everthing is OK, after join as a member everthing is changes! Exspecially one of the sales consultant, NAT****, she is damn rude person, I ask for the refund of my money, she told that only can transfer to others person. When I ask any other than transfer, her answer is : “unless you die!” Hey, is this the training that TF given to all the staff !!!