- Report: #979288
Complaint Review: great expectations - palo alto California
Reported By:
Lorenzo -
Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
great expectations
palo alto, California, United States of America
Phone:
Web:
greatexpectations.com
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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great expectations Lies, Deceptive Practices, Overpriced Membership Fees, Bad Customer Service! palo alto, California
First of all let me describe my past experience with Great Expectations of N. California.
I was a member in the pre-internet, pre-cellular phone age from 1989-90. And back then GE did not conduct background checks on new applicants. I had a one year membership for which I made a down payment with an Amex card and monthly
payments. The service also charged new members for the photo and video services as well. Because these two factors were mandatory to get the membership rolling.
I shot a quick ten minutes video on vhs (pre-dvd era) describing myself and what I was looking for in regards to meeting single women from the GE dating pool. Well of course like any other new member I was excited and it was an entirely new
experience. Well after several weeks passed and not meeting anybody I became frustrated and met with the then director of membership name of Peter. He was concerned and told me how he wanted all of their members especially new ones
like me to have a truly positive experience. Peter suggested that I change some words in my written profile. Member profiles were kept in black binders alphabetized by members last names. And he also suggested I wear a different outfit and have
new photos taken and that I would not be charged. Remember since this was the late 80's and before the internet then profiles were not in any database and were kept in the members library. Which was available every day for members to browse
through as well as to view the members videotapes in private. If a male member saw a female member that interested him then he only had to contact her by way of the front desk staff. And you had to wait for any reply which I found downright
frustrating. There were some members who did not even reply or some replied "try me later" which Peter the director of this center told me was not a no response.
Btw after two more weeks passed I contacted the office and asked for Peter and was told that he had transferred to a different center. I called over there and the receptionist told me that he no longer worked for Great Expectations! Boy was I
so frustrated to hear this since Peter was my one and only ally at the office. At this time the center where I joined was located in Mt. View, CA and over the years had relocated to nearby Palo Alto. And to sum up my overall experience
I never, ever met any single women and did not get any phone numbers nor went on any dates with any of the ladies of this Great Expectations center during the course of my original one year membership. And I must add that during this time period there were no less than five different membership directors employed at this center. The front office staff remained unchanged
for the most part with an occassional new hire. However since after Peter had left I counted four more general managers in charge for a total of five membership directors. Something was definitely very wrong if any business has had that many different individuals in charge over the course of 12 months!
The years passed and in 2003 I did go to the Palo Alto center and inquired about membership. Only to be told it was $1500.00 for one year and upwards of $3000.00 for three years. UNBELIEVABLE, now whom did they think they were kidding at the time!? And since this time the office has closed for good and the phone number still listed on GE's website is long disconnected. Since they are a primarily franchise operation then there is no central office or headquarters for GE. This is what I have been told in previous phone calls to various centers which are still in business today. So twenty-two years after my very awful experience with Great Expectations I am still single, never been married or engaged and no children of my own. GE is imho a huge scam and during my original membership period I experienced lies, deceipt and inattentive customer
service from both the office staff and the various membership directors!!! If any current or former employee, general manager or member would care to shed any light on my comments then please do so and I will read any rebuttal. I have moved recently from Arizona to Florida and have no intention of joining GE today!
I was a member in the pre-internet, pre-cellular phone age from 1989-90. And back then GE did not conduct background checks on new applicants. I had a one year membership for which I made a down payment with an Amex card and monthly
payments. The service also charged new members for the photo and video services as well. Because these two factors were mandatory to get the membership rolling.
I shot a quick ten minutes video on vhs (pre-dvd era) describing myself and what I was looking for in regards to meeting single women from the GE dating pool. Well of course like any other new member I was excited and it was an entirely new
experience. Well after several weeks passed and not meeting anybody I became frustrated and met with the then director of membership name of Peter. He was concerned and told me how he wanted all of their members especially new ones
like me to have a truly positive experience. Peter suggested that I change some words in my written profile. Member profiles were kept in black binders alphabetized by members last names. And he also suggested I wear a different outfit and have
new photos taken and that I would not be charged. Remember since this was the late 80's and before the internet then profiles were not in any database and were kept in the members library. Which was available every day for members to browse
through as well as to view the members videotapes in private. If a male member saw a female member that interested him then he only had to contact her by way of the front desk staff. And you had to wait for any reply which I found downright
frustrating. There were some members who did not even reply or some replied "try me later" which Peter the director of this center told me was not a no response.
Btw after two more weeks passed I contacted the office and asked for Peter and was told that he had transferred to a different center. I called over there and the receptionist told me that he no longer worked for Great Expectations! Boy was I
so frustrated to hear this since Peter was my one and only ally at the office. At this time the center where I joined was located in Mt. View, CA and over the years had relocated to nearby Palo Alto. And to sum up my overall experience
I never, ever met any single women and did not get any phone numbers nor went on any dates with any of the ladies of this Great Expectations center during the course of my original one year membership. And I must add that during this time period there were no less than five different membership directors employed at this center. The front office staff remained unchanged
for the most part with an occassional new hire. However since after Peter had left I counted four more general managers in charge for a total of five membership directors. Something was definitely very wrong if any business has had that many different individuals in charge over the course of 12 months!
The years passed and in 2003 I did go to the Palo Alto center and inquired about membership. Only to be told it was $1500.00 for one year and upwards of $3000.00 for three years. UNBELIEVABLE, now whom did they think they were kidding at the time!? And since this time the office has closed for good and the phone number still listed on GE's website is long disconnected. Since they are a primarily franchise operation then there is no central office or headquarters for GE. This is what I have been told in previous phone calls to various centers which are still in business today. So twenty-two years after my very awful experience with Great Expectations I am still single, never been married or engaged and no children of my own. GE is imho a huge scam and during my original membership period I experienced lies, deceipt and inattentive customer
service from both the office staff and the various membership directors!!! If any current or former employee, general manager or member would care to shed any light on my comments then please do so and I will read any rebuttal. I have moved recently from Arizona to Florida and have no intention of joining GE today!
