Complaint Review: Private Workout

In this case, Mark's real complaint is that he decided to move to Allen, and we have not opened there yet! He writes about our Plano location, where he apparently was happy to workout until he decided to move to Allen. While we do plan to open in Allen sometime, we are not sure when, and actually, we have many customers who drive from Allen to work out with us at Preston and Park!

Since "Mark" has chosen not to identify himself, it's hard for us to comment on his case, however, I will attempt to explain our memberships. We offer a number of programs but we have two primary ones. First is the REWARD program, where a customer pays a $199 membership fee, then $33 per month, and can cancel with a 30 day written notice. Then we offer something no other gym in the world offers: we ask the customer to set a body fat goal, in the range from 15% to 25% body fat; if the customer achieves the goal while a member with us, we REFUND THE MEMBERSHIP FEE! Then we drop your rate to $13 per month to maintain your fitness! We do that so you have an incentive to reach your goal!

The counterpart membership to this is the PUNISHMENT plan. It has the same $199 membership fee and $33 per month, but instead of paying it up front, we LOAN it to you! If you reach your goal, we will WAIVE it and drop your rate to just $13 per month! If you quit before reaching the goal, you have to pay it when you cancel... We offer this so that you can set up a "punishment" for yourself so that you stay working out until you reach your goal! After all, don't you join a gym to get in shape?

Both plans are popular, since few other gyms besides Private Workout even seem to care if you get fit after they get your money.... About half our members choose the REWARD plan and half the PUNISHMENT plan.

It appears that Mark chose the Punishment plan. Apparently he wants to quit, not because we did anything wrong, but because he is mad that we are no longer convenient! He must like us! He apparently does not want to drive to our location, nor does he want to pay the membership fee we loaned him.
We have never had a complaint like this from a member who purchased the REWARD plan, where they pay the membership up front! In fact, most of our PUNISHMENT PLAN members who do not reach their goal realize it is because they did not come and do their workout, not because we did something wrong. The few that cancel cheerfully pay the fee, being glad they had not had to pay it in the beginning! But we offer this plan because we want you to stay and actually reach your goal!

By the way, he owes $199, not $1500, that was a gross distortion!

That place is a ripoff. I successfully got my bank to pull back most of what I paid those shysters. Then, I went to my doctor who prescribed an appetite suppressant for me. After that, I started a very restrictive diet and went to the gym 4 days a week at 6am. I have lost 30 pounds in a lot less time than what Private Work out could have helped me lose. Their cookie cutter approach is worthless and deceptive.

I am a member of Private Workout and have been for 2 years. I do think the presentation that was given me originally was a little too mechanical but after I joined as a goal member my experience has been very good. Using their method I have lost 60 pounds and I am much fitter. The man that said it was too tough for an unconditioned person did not know evidently to start slowly with the weight that he was using. That what they told me to do from the beginning. I was out of shape and overweight and now I am much stronger and have a lot more energy while being much lighter. I would recommend this club to anyone.

Private Workout has agreed to resolve this dispute to my satisfaction. I no longer wish to have this complaint posted.