Private Workout Sells memberships based on deceptive advertising, cares nothing about their customers. Plano Texas
I have seen this company's ads in one of the local Dallas news magazines and I thought it would be interesting to give their program a try. The idea of a 6 week program to reduce body fat seemed great. My only issue was that I really wanted a location closer to my home. The website for Private Workout showed that a new location would be open near my home some time in the Fall of 2007. I mentioned this when I signed up for a membership and I made it clear that for this program to be really successful for me, I needed a location that is closer and more convenient. I was assured by Sharon that the Addison location would be open soon so, I signed up. Soon after I started my membership, my work schedule started to prevent me from being able to come in and do my exercise routine. The hours are from 8am to 8pm (very inconvenient for someone who works a lot). I was worried that I was spending money for nothing so, I checked the website again to see if there was an update on the promised Addison location. To my utter annoyance, I saw that someone had updated the site to show an opening date of Fall 2008!!! I haven't been to Private Workout since mid November 2007. No one seems to notice or care. They just happily draft my bank account on the 5th of every month with no concern whatsoever for whether I have been coming in or not. To cancel, I would have to accept a $199 cancelation fee. Today, I instructed my bank to decline all transactions coming from Private Workout. I am about to file a lawsuit too. If you need to get in shape, eat right, get exercise, join a gym (a real gym) and get some discipline. If you work hard, you will succeed. Don't be pulled in by shysters like Private Workout. Once they have your money and a signed contract, they couldn't care less about you after that.
Howie
Dallas, Texas
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Edith
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Howie admitted he owes us money
#7UPDATE Employee
Wed, September 28, 2011
Howie admitted that he owes us money, and stopped payment on his monthly bills, so his complaint here is suspect. We have a 99.4% customer satisfaction ratio. It's hard to really understand the real complaint here. First Howie complains that we do not have a location convenient to him, which seems to indicate he likes us and our workout. Notice his original complaint never said he did not like our workout, he only complained our location and hours were not convenient for him. He seems to indicate that the only reason he enrolled with us was the promise of a future location to be built years in the future. Does that seem reasonable? We never promised any location or opening time and we never have. Then in his rebuttal, he now says a general, and unsupported comment about our workout and tells the reader he likes 24 hour fitness (which offers similar equipment but NO workout routine). Our workout is similar to those done by the Dallas Cowboys, Stars, Mavericks, and every other professional sports team in the country so we and they would disagree with his new claims about our workout. Our membership can be canceled with a 30 day advance notice just like 24 hour Fitness, but whether he cancels here or there or at any gym, we all would require that he pay all the dues he owed. We have no cancellation fees, only a membership fee that Howie never paid when he enrolled, but promised to pay before he cancelled, which in fact, he never has.
Howie
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Your program is crap
#7Author of original report
Sat, June 27, 2009
Edith, you're full of sh*t. I recently dropped 40 pounds using a simple formula: eating less, and exercising more. The only reason why I didn't sue you was because I just didn't have the time to do so. Your program is crap. If it is so great, why do you require the commitment that you do? My 24 hour fitness membership can be cancelled ANY TIME with absolutely no penalty of any kind. I can go there any time I want, and I can listen to MY OWN music instead of the crap you play in your facility. One of these days, someone will have the time to take you to court. When they do, I will happily serve as a witness to your shyster business practices.
Edith
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Just because we didn't open in Addison and are not open 24 hours does not make us bad!
#7UPDATE Employee
Wed, January 14, 2009
In this case, Howie's real complaint is that we were not open long enough or did not build a facility in Addison! He must have liked us!
He writes about our Plano location, where he apparently was happy to workout until his work schedule increased. We are open there from 8am to 9pm Mon-Fri and 8am to 2 pm on Saturday, which fits into over 98% of our customers' schedules.
Since "Howie" 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 Howie 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 during the thirteen hours we are open each day, 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!
Howie, there is no need to slander us because you want us to build one near you, we have a lot of demand to open in all cities, and we will be there as soon as possible!
Please check our web site www. privateworkout.com to see our innovative program!
Edith
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Just because we didn't open in Addison and are not open 24 hours does not make us bad!
#7UPDATE Employee
Wed, January 14, 2009
In this case, Howie's real complaint is that we were not open long enough or did not build a facility in Addison! He must have liked us!
He writes about our Plano location, where he apparently was happy to workout until his work schedule increased. We are open there from 8am to 9pm Mon-Fri and 8am to 2 pm on Saturday, which fits into over 98% of our customers' schedules.
Since "Howie" 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 Howie 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 during the thirteen hours we are open each day, 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!
Howie, there is no need to slander us because you want us to build one near you, we have a lot of demand to open in all cities, and we will be there as soon as possible!
Please check our web site www. privateworkout.com to see our innovative program!
Edith
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Just because we didn't open in Addison and are not open 24 hours does not make us bad!
#7UPDATE Employee
Wed, January 14, 2009
In this case, Howie's real complaint is that we were not open long enough or did not build a facility in Addison! He must have liked us!
He writes about our Plano location, where he apparently was happy to workout until his work schedule increased. We are open there from 8am to 9pm Mon-Fri and 8am to 2 pm on Saturday, which fits into over 98% of our customers' schedules.
Since "Howie" 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 Howie 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 during the thirteen hours we are open each day, 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!
Howie, there is no need to slander us because you want us to build one near you, we have a lot of demand to open in all cities, and we will be there as soon as possible!
Please check our web site www. privateworkout.com to see our innovative program!
Edith
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Just because we didn't open in Addison and are not open 24 hours does not make us bad!
#7UPDATE Employee
Wed, January 14, 2009
In this case, Howie's real complaint is that we were not open long enough or did not build a facility in Addison! He must have liked us!
He writes about our Plano location, where he apparently was happy to workout until his work schedule increased. We are open there from 8am to 9pm Mon-Fri and 8am to 2 pm on Saturday, which fits into over 98% of our customers' schedules.
Since "Howie" 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 Howie 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 during the thirteen hours we are open each day, 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!
Howie, there is no need to slander us because you want us to build one near you, we have a lot of demand to open in all cities, and we will be there as soon as possible!
Please check our web site www. privateworkout.com to see our innovative program!