California Wow - Lifetime Member

[AndyFarang]

Went to California Wow this week, and after much haggling best price was given was around 30,000 for "lifetime" Diamond member (all locations, all times) - which in effect was 30,000 for the first 12 months, but with renew option @ 100 baht per year after that (indefinitely).

Have heard much about dubious sales tactics, so wondered if anyone esle had purchased this "lifetime" membership thing, and if they have been able to renew as mentioned by sales and in the contract.

Cheers

[TAWP]

I'm going to guess this has nothing to do with neither California nor World of Warcraft...

Edited June 30, 2007 by TAWP

[jetjock]

Went to California Wow this week, and after much haggling best price was given was around 30,000 for "lifetime" Diamond member (all locations, all times) - which in effect was 30,000 for the first 12 months, but with renew option @ 100 baht per year after that (indefinitely).

Have heard much about dubious sales tactics, so wondered if anyone esle had purchased this "lifetime" membership thing, and if they have been able to renew as mentioned by sales and in the contract.

Cheers

I have had several short term memberships at the California Wow on Sukhumvit in Bangkok when I am in town for a few months. It is a beautiful club with great equipment and my workout experience was very pleasant. The problem is that from my experience and contact with them and what I know about the management and ownership of the club, they are a very shady operation.

I have been working out at health clubs regularly for over 50 years and health clubs are notorious for draining the money from their corporation and then declaring bankruptcy and leaving their memberhips out in the cold. Because of what I know about California Wow, I personally would never even consider paying for a lifetime membership. In fact every club I have ever known that began offering lifetime memberships went out of business in a short time afterwords. Any type of membership, even short term with California Wow should be carefully negotiated as there are several prices available !!

This is just my opinion however if you like to gamble, good luck. Hope this info helps you.

[nick2k]

Went to California Wow this week, and after much haggling best price was given was around 30,000 for "lifetime" Diamond member (all locations, all times) - which in effect was 30,000 for the first 12 months, but with renew option @ 100 baht per year after that (indefinitely).

Have heard much about dubious sales tactics, so wondered if anyone esle had purchased this "lifetime" membership thing, and if they have been able to renew as mentioned by sales and in the contract.

Cheers

I am a charter member of California Wow. been with them since day one. in the beginning they only had a gold 1 year membership. later they added platinum, and then, diamond. I upgraded each time. during the last what 7 or 8 years, I traveled around southeast asia, and back in the usa, and haven't had any problems using my gym card at other california fitness clubs, or affiliated like 24 hour fitness.

when I initially negotiated my diamond contract with California Fitness, I accepted a 5,000 baht per year renewal rate after my diamond plan expired.

during the course of the membership, I learned that one of my caucasian friends was able to negotiate a 1,000 baht per year renewal rate after his diamond plan expired.

when my diamond plan expired recently, I wanted to get the same, and went in with my bargaining hat. didn't get the 1,000 baht per year. got better. they said that if I renewed at 15,000 baht the first year, I could get successive years at 100 baht per year. I asked for another 10 years. so, I got 11 years for 16,000 thai baht. to top it off, they even gave me a FREE 1 year gold membership with which I could give to a friend.

get this. if I happen to decide to move back to the states for whatever reason, I will be able to transfer my membership to 24 hour fitness with no added cost. (that is why I paid for another 10 years up front - just in case.)

I just gave my free 1 year membership to my friend.

do I have any doubt of their legitimacy? will they honor the contract, you ask? ..after all the years I have been with them, in a word - no.

people, I believe them to be legit.

the only thing is - you need to know how to bargain. my suggestion is that you go in negotiating with someone who has membership already.

30,000 baht for a diamond membership with 100 baht renewal rates? if you are a new member, I think you just got offered a great deal. consider paying another 1,000 baht and get another 10 years. for 31,000 baht, you can't beat it.

if you are a young guy, pay for another 20 years. pay the 2,000 baht. if you are planning on being anywhere where there is a california fitness or a 24 hour fitness in the world in the next 30 years, what do you have to lose?

imagine paying 30 dollars a year for a gym membership? ..here or in the united states? better yet, what do you think the thai baht will be like in 20 years - still at 34 to 1?

PS. I am not getting any commissions for this.

[AndyFarang]

jetjock - thks for the words of caution. i was wondering how their business model might actually work, though they have at least 2 more gyms coming in bkk (ekamai and asoke/suk corner, where apparently they will move the suk 23 gym to when completed). They are on the Thai Stock Exchange, and have been operating in US and other places for many years, so I guess they rely on the upcoming younger generation to get new subs and keep their shareholders happy. If so, should be no major problem with them folding...i hope!

nick - thks for the note, and good idea about pre-paying for another 10/20 yrs, was thinking the same. That way at least if it is written somewhere that I have pre-paid for 11/21 yrs, they cant blow me off when its time to renew (or if i forget before the 30 days prior to expiry!) Will try to get a freebie 1 yr (did try but was getting tired) ...or at least a free gym bag (not pink, i hope! lol ). Just hope they give me the additions when I show my face there again (will be the 3rd time, they may just get fed up of me!)

cheers!

[Vampyros Lesbos]

Its the good deal you could have got the HOT Yoga and 1 year free membership to give away for 39 000 but 29 900 is the "i know somone" working in CWOW deal. Normal price they hit you with is like 54 :

I bought mine for 27 000 got a free one year card and then sold it for 15 But that was 3 years ago.

[SiamSquare123]

i paid 20K baht for 2 years, so looks like you are getting a good deal, then again, i really only use the weight sets... they dont have a swimming pool and i dont like running machines, so sometimes i think id be better off just using the tiny equipment in my condominium.

[Jimjim]

It's like when my dad bought a big Jurassic Park popcorn container at the movie theater while going to see that movie. The person who sold it to him said the could come in "forever" and get that container filled up with popcorn for free. I believe he did it a couple of times in the next couple of months. He asked them repeatedly if he could always get popcorn for free with the container and they alway said he could, for life. A few months later he took it in there and they wouldn't fill it up for free anymore. In one of the few times he's ever been really mad in public, he threw the plastic container behind the counter (not at anyone) and told them they could have the stupid thing and he would never go back there again. He never has. It's now a cheap theater that shows movies that have already been released for a month or more.

Now, this is related in the sense they promised a service for life, but just be prepared that it could happen with that gym, although maybe not likely.

[SiamSquare123]

good thing it wasnt unlimited bullets at a gun store.

[jetjock]

After my original post to you, I took some time to look into CAWOW's financial reports and have revised some my thoughts on this issue. The stock is still selling about the same price it was when it was initially offered in 1995. They lost money according to their last reported quarter however it appears from my analysis that they will most likely be around for at least a long enough time for you to get more than your moneys worth out of the club. Do I think they will be around for your lifetime?--I will have to stay with my original answer of no on that since health clubs cannot sustain themselves on the type of deal they are offering you. In the past history of health clubs, selling lifetime memberships has usually been the last unsuccessful attempt to keep the club going. In your case however, even if they stay open for more than 2 years ( which it looks like they will at this point) you will wind up ahead of the game. One of the University's just released a study and found that people that weight train regularly stay younger longer . Keep pumping iron !!!

[Jimjim]

good thing it wasnt unlimited bullets at a gun store.

I'd consider that California Wow. Do they have saunas?

[ProThaiExpat]

I am glad someone mentioned "business model" as that is the key element to this thread, not how good a "deal" your are getting on the membership price.

In the U.S., the leader in this field, the statistics show that most members start up very enthusiastic and with time stop using the facilities or only rarely. That is what most health clubs are counting on. Your mind is on how many times you will be using the club for the rest of your life and they are thinking about how few continue to come in over the years. Getting the most money out of you up front is their goal.

Rather than worry about them going out of business, worry about how many patrons will be there on similar "deals" clogging the machines and making the experience difficult, due to over crowding. If you are blessed with "early morning itis" you are probably safe, but popular times can be problematic in most over sold clubs.

[AndyFarang]

thanks for the feedback, all.

and yes, to get a true deal, one has to make use of the place - luckily i'm able to do at times outside of peak.

just need to haggle them down on the trainer prices, buying blocks of 24 sessions @ 1,000+ a pop (ie each 1 hr training session) is a bit much, seeing as those guys are in the place already. one trainer i spoke with was even named bruce lee...! not sure i could take them seriously after that, lol.

[bangkokrick]

I doubt that any business can see this far in front so that they can guarantee a lifetime membership. I am sure that there are many more legitimate gyms in the world. why take the chance.

[frenchFARANGbkk]

You can get lifetime all clubs anytime for 20000 THB

Nobody mentioned that Major Cineplex owns 49-per-cent stake in California Fitness, so how could they ever close?

But be careful, they still cheat people by not saying to new members that they will close at 11pm starting from august, so please protest:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...ifornia+fitness