Avoid California Fitness

[aroydee]

I am a member of California Fitness/Silom in Bangkok, and really have liked the place. Great facilities, good staff, not pushy, no hassle environment. So when I was in Pattaya, I was really excited about using their facility there. Wow, what a mistake.

First, the would not honor my Silom membership and made me pay a very high one day fee. But I really wanted a work-out so I figured why not and paid. Then the fun began. From the moment I entered the club, I was hounded by hordes of "fitness trainers" trying to get me to buy overpriced sessions. That started before I even got to change clothes in the locker room. When I proceeded to the upper level gym floor, they literally were standing at the head of the escalator and blocked my access to the floor. One particularly aggressive one (who had started to hassle me in the locker room), shadowed me and blabbered on non-stop about how good he was. I am an easy going guy and wanted a thorough work-out so I finally agreed to a one-time with him. He insisted on two hours. This is what I got: he stood there and watched me on a treadmill for 20 minutes. Then he gave me a perfunctory sequence of exercises to do (on machines, not free weights -- I always do free-weight workout). And to add insult to injury, he actually had other clients arriving during "my" time with him. At the end, he even dissed his other clients to give me yet another aggressive sales push.

This place is a nightmare and should be avoided by all. I plan on seeking redress against them and will publicize my experiences widely.

Bottom line: stay away from this place. Do not even go near it -- you will regret it!

[jonniebkk]

I was hounded by hordes of "fitness trainers" trying to get me to buy overpriced sessions. That started before I even got to change clothes in the locker room. When I proceeded to the upper level gym floor, they literally were standing at the head of the escalator and blocked my access to the floor. One particularly aggressive one (who had started to hassle me in the locker room), shadowed me and blabbered on non-stop about how good he was. I am an easy going guy and wanted a thorough work-out so I finally agreed to a one-time with him.

That's the whole business stradegy of Cal Fitness...sell memberships at just about any price (high or low...whatever you can) and then sell more silly services to Charles Atlas wannabees or 1 month (usually after the Christmas/New Years binge eating holidays) fitness wannabees It's based on the old 24-Hours Fitness chain in California from 20 years ago!!

They have some decent facilities but the noise (loud music) and Artic aircon is not to my taste. The hard sell I can ignore.

[naka]

I was hounded by hordes of "fitness trainers" trying to get me to buy overpriced sessions. That started before I even got to change clothes in the locker room. When I proceeded to the upper level gym floor, they literally were standing at the head of the escalator and blocked my access to the floor. One particularly aggressive one (who had started to hassle me in the locker room), shadowed me and blabbered on non-stop about how good he was. I am an easy going guy and wanted a thorough work-out so I finally agreed to a one-time with him.

That's the whole business stradegy of Cal Fitness...sell memberships at just about any price (high or low...whatever you can) and then sell more silly services to Charles Atlas wannabees or 1 month (usually after the Christmas/New Years binge eating holidays) fitness wannabees It's based on the old 24-Hours Fitness chain in California from 20 years ago!!

They have some decent facilities but the noise (loud music) and Artic aircon is not to my taste. The hard sell I can ignore.

I just discuss their heritage with them in gutter Russian !

Naka.

[naka]

I was hounded by hordes of "fitness trainers" trying to get me to buy overpriced sessions. That started before I even got to change clothes in the locker room. When I proceeded to the upper level gym floor, they literally were standing at the head of the escalator and blocked my access to the floor. One particularly aggressive one (who had started to hassle me in the locker room), shadowed me and blabbered on non-stop about how good he was. I am an easy going guy and wanted a thorough work-out so I finally agreed to a one-time with him.

That's the whole business stradegy of Cal Fitness...sell memberships at just about any price (high or low...whatever you can) and then sell more silly services to Charles Atlas wannabees or 1 month (usually after the Christmas/New Years binge eating holidays) fitness wannabees It's based on the old 24-Hours Fitness chain in California from 20 years ago!!

They have some decent facilities but the noise (loud music) and Artic aircon is not to my taste. The hard sell I can ignore.

I just discuss their heritage with them in gutter Russian !

Naka.

[tropo]

I was hounded by hordes of "fitness trainers" trying to get me to buy overpriced sessions. That started before I even got to change clothes in the locker room. When I proceeded to the upper level gym floor, they literally were standing at the head of the escalator and blocked my access to the floor. One particularly aggressive one (who had started to hassle me in the locker room), shadowed me and blabbered on non-stop about how good he was. I am an easy going guy and wanted a thorough work-out so I finally agreed to a one-time with him.

That's the whole business stradegy of Cal Fitness...sell memberships at just about any price (high or low...whatever you can) and then sell more silly services to Charles Atlas wannabees or 1 month (usually after the Christmas/New Years binge eating holidays) fitness wannabees It's based on the old 24-Hours Fitness chain in California from 20 years ago!!

They have some decent facilities but the noise (loud music) and Artic aircon is not to my taste. The hard sell I can ignore.

A lot of people are making comments about price. Would anyone be able to offer some information as to how much they are usually asking for a memberships?

[Pdaz]

When I first went in to enquire it was several Months before the opening.. at that time they were charging around 18,000 baht for a 2 year membership ( though a Thai friend said she'd been offered 3 years for 20,000) then as it got closer to opening the prices went up My neighbor paid 22,000 for 2 years and another guy I know paid 30,000 for a lifetime deal.. From what I could see you could bargain a deal depending on your wants and how much they could pressure you into.. As has been said they have a good location and great equipment.. Unfortunately the music is deafening to the point of distraction, the staff appear sullen and unhelpful and the shortarse smarmy looking boss comes across as a right smug <deleted>... Most people go to a gym to train, relax and de-stress.. they don't want to be pursued by salespeople or have to deal with rat faced expats on the make...

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Tony's Europa Gym just off Walking Street is as cheap as chips. It's open 24 hours.

It has all of the facilities that one would need. 99 baht per visit. 1290 baht for a month. 12k for two years and lots of other variations in between.

[tattoodrob]

When I first went in to enquire it was several Months before the opening.. at that time they were charging around 18,000 baht for a 2 year membership ( though a Thai friend said she'd been offered 3 years for 20,000) then as it got closer to opening the prices went up My neighbor paid 22,000 for 2 years and another guy I know paid 30,000 for a lifetime deal.. From what I could see you could bargain a deal depending on your wants and how much they could pressure you into.. As has been said they have a good location and great equipment.. Unfortunately the music is deafening to the point of distraction, the staff appear sullen and unhelpful and the shortarse smarmy looking boss comes across as a right smug <deleted>... Most people go to a gym to train, relax and de-stress.. they don't want to be pursued by salespeople or have to deal with rat faced expats on the make...

couldnt agree more

[DonTron]

Wow California is NOT so Wow, especially not in doing business.

I promised my entire Thai staff a fitness membership, so we went to scope out the new Wow California.

We step in the door a whole flock, and is greeted by the front desk girl. I told her we would like to see the gym and perhaps buy memberships for the entire company. She made us wait 20 MINUTES! for some short American gay dude by the name of "Neo" and judging from his size he definitely took both the red and the blue pill

He wanted all of us to sit down by the sales-pusher tables and fill out a lot of information or we would not be allowed to see the gym!!. The reason was to protect Wow California against law suits in case we got injured, so I reminded him that he was in Thailand and NOT USA hahaha

I explained to him that all we wanted to do was to view the gym before making a decision and that neither Tonys nor Fairtex required us to fill out information just to look. Eventually I gave up and we left the gym and we will NOT be doing business with them!

Perfect 10? - In my book they are a perfect 0!

[Kerryd]

I chuckle every time I see their adverts on TV. "The World's #1 Fitness Center". Meanwhile they note that the Pattaya branch is their 10th location. Wow.

I'll stick to my nightly work-out routine (8 oz curls, neck twists, #2 Road crossing sprints, horizontal mambo, etc).

[champee]

Wow California is NOT so Wow, especially not in doing business.

I promised my entire Thai staff a fitness membership, so we went to scope out the new Wow California.

We step in the door a whole flock, and is greeted by the front desk girl. I told her we would like to see the gym and perhaps buy memberships for the entire company. She made us wait 20 MINUTES! for some short American gay dude by the name of "Neo" and judging from his size he definitely took both the red and the blue pill

He wanted all of us to sit down by the sales-pusher tables and fill out a lot of information or we would not be allowed to see the gym!!. The reason was to protect Wow California against law suits in case we got injured, so I reminded him that he was in Thailand and NOT USA hahaha

I explained to him that all we wanted to do was to view the gym before making a decision and that neither Tonys nor Fairtex required us to fill out information just to look. Eventually I gave up and we left the gym and we will NOT be doing business with them!

Perfect 10? - In my book they are a perfect 0!

My current Fairtex membership is set to expire this month so I took the WOW tour Wednesday...The place is quite impressive in terms of the vast number of machines available. I was offered a 5 year membership for 38k bt, with a 49 bt per year rate each year after...that included a one yr membership to give to a friend. Though at that price I was told the Yoga classes would not be included.

While WOW is a bit more competative price wise than FairTex...I wouldn't be able to exercise in an enviroment wreaking havic with the loud and continues head thumping music...When I mentioned this to Greg, I believe the WOW manager, he suggested I invest in ear plugs...not a very good closing line.

I renewed at Fairtex for another year.

[Pdaz]

When I mentioned this to Greg, I believe the WOW manager, he suggested I invest in ear plugs..

Yes I had a similar reply from him.. The cynic in me tends to think that they don't really want customers to use the gym at all.. They want you to sign up and then they make it so unbearable that after a few sessions you never return..

The first day I went I asked the stout gay guy (that's fat fudgepacker to you non-PC types) if it was posible to lower the volume.. He gave me a 'customer request' form to fill out <deleted> ?

There were only two other guys training at the time (one in his fifties and one with earplugs) so turning the music down wouldn't have caused any problems.. But no.. not a chance.. as a paying customer I thought it was very poor.. especially being used to Thailand where requests to staff are usually delt with quickly.

The poofs response, (imagine a simpering accent) was, '' we want to provide a 'club' atmosphere ''

Again <deleted> is a 'club atmosphere' I thought the place was meant to be a fitness center/gym ..

Guess I'm confused.. Okay I can see that if all his punters were in the 18 to 20 yr old bracket or if they were entirely made up of wealthy 18 yr old Thai girls who just want to jog or use the cross trainer maybe the music would be appropriate.. But judging by what I have seen the demographics just don't add up.. The majority of his customers will be in the 40+ bracket and IMHO opinion most people of that age HATE LOUD FIRE ALARM MUSIC.......

Anyhow as I have said before the manager/boss comes across as a right smarmy <deleted>..

if you haven't bought a memebership .. DON'T

and if you have.. How about a petition to get them to the lower the volume so we can train in peace ?