Westwood Gym

Hi all, I'm looking a gym/pool in the north dublin area and considered westwood, called into it tonight. After reading all the horrifying reports on boards, I actually didnt believe they could exist and how such a hard sell could exist! I am still shocked at how close the boards members reports bare reality. Firstly, I couldnt even get into the carpark, had to wait at entrance until security gaurd lets you through when a space is available. This place looks old and not ultra-modern from the outside like the prices might lead you to believe. A huge flow of traffic of people were entering and leaving and I am just baffled at it all, is westwood a status symbol or something?? Anyways, I inquired about pricing and was told to take a seat and someone would come over to me. A girl then came over and (a very bubbly friendly person who was very good at her job) offered me a tour. This place is deceptively massive. I could tell the subject of price was being avoided. After the tour, I was brought into one of many offices and eventually offered a price list. Anyone who wants prices, DM me, but lets just say, I thought the joining fee was the actual annual membership. Then the girl went off and left me for a few mins and came back, slashing the joining fee by over €300 as this was a May offer and I could have it until 10 o clock tonight. All I had to give was 50e and bank details. I made my excuses and left. Nothing new in my experience but I just wanted to state that any other shocking posts are EXACTLY true. A total hard sell and well over priced. I think I actually seen the famous manager parading across the leisure centre at one point-she looks like a nun out of sister act! I then went on and looked at ben dunne northwood. Complete opposite experience, girl at reception actually couldn't give two f**ks. I had to ask could I have a look around and whilst she played on her phone, she just sent me on to look on my own.

Anyone recommend a leisure centre in north dublin? Not pushed on either westwood or northwood

It's the oldest sale tactic in the world. "This is e10 but for you it is e5".

The line given to myself and a friend who were using a 3-day trial was that some random couple were cancelling their membership and we could split the joining fee with them. This was Leopardstown. I'm still not 100% sure what the pricing was but needless to say I told them I wasn't interested. Still didn't stop them from ringing me every few weeks asking if I changed my mind yet.

Had the most surreal experience in Westwood Leopardstown . My boyfriend and I recently moved to the area and while I'm so happy with Ben Dunne Sandyford we said we'd look at the pool area and use the free 4 day trial. Well, weird is not the word. We were brought into one of many offices it was ridiculously uncomfortable. Given the tour, the topic of price avoided until we were brought back into the office. 75pm with a 500euro joining fee! After much mumbling and excuses he popped out to his manager whoagreed to slash it to 75euro but we would have to sign up before 12! We honestly just looked at him in disbelief ! When we told him we would need time to think about it he literally got up and left and wasn't interested anymore! Absolutely surreal. Relaxation area was lovely but gym changing rooms etc very dated. It was like an old folks home there were so many old people there. Needless to say we will not be joining. It was like a weird cult

Woodbrook80 wrote: »

Thank god I've seen this thread was going to look into joining the leopardstown one as liked the sound of the classes and facilities!
But after seeing this think il be going to Ben dunnes
Can I ask cherrywood vs sandyford Ben dunnes anyone have experience of either thanks

I go to Ben Dunne Sandyford and I love it. I do 3 or 4 classes a week and one personal training session. It can be packed in early morning and after work but not too over crowded from my experience. Queues begin up to 20 mins before the class so bear that in mind. The one big pitfall is there is no pool but the showers changing rooms etc are spotless. I have friends who go to cherry wood and like it. It's great value, no frills but very clean and classes are top notch

Mellor wrote: »

I think surreal is a word that as really lost its meaning.


Sales person shocks all with unexpected sales attempt at during sales promotion.

Mellor I work in sales & this guy had no social skills never mind sales skills. Surreal is the only word that describes it. Rambling nervously on about an event they had the previous weekend where, and I quote 'we had sandwiches' and how I might be lucky enough to backdate this bargain even though his manager suddenly had to 'nip out' and we had 20 mins to close the deal. Bear in mind we were there looking at each other while this guy rambles on about sandwiches for a good 30 seconds Asking us the same questions over and over and going around in circles then just walking away from us when we wouldn't commit? We walked out of there asking 'did that really just happen?!'. SURREAL

Vet Thrower wrote: »

I'm a big fan of Westwood, the Clontarf branch anyway, and have been a member for over 12 years. I think it is the best gym of its type in the country.

There are a lot of mediocre gyms around that charge 50 a month. WW is 50% more expensive than these, but offers a lot more than 50% extra.

Of course it's not for everyone, and if the extra facilities aren't any good to you, then there is no point in paying extra for them - just like if all you want is a bed to crash in for the night, then a 4 / 5 star hotel is going to seem like a pointless rip off to you.

I wouldn't call Westwood a 4 or 5 star. It's got small dingy rooms that werenoy purpose built . A 4 or 5 star would have well laid out rooms.

Mellor wrote: »

I think surreal is a word that as really lost its meaning.


Sales person shocks all with unexpected sales attempt at during sales promotion.

Not sure what you're trying to get at here. The thing is, there never seem to be any sales promotion. No solid pricing plans are in place. They want you to call in, they assess your income and offer you a package. You reject it because it's a ripoff, so they come up with some weird excuse about how they can reduce it.

When I went there, I was with a mate who is a more experienced gym-goer and much higher earner than me, so the sales guy ignored me and focused on my mate and was kinda forced to offer us both the same price plan. I told him outright that it was too expensive for me. He rang a month later, asking if I thought about it, and I politely repeated that it was too much for me and I had joined a different gym for a year. Again, a month later, and again I politely declined. Again, two months later, and I told him to remove my name and number from his list. That's not sales. That's pestering and IMO, it's verging on cold-calling.

I got the multiple phone calls after calling in for a tour also. I was quoted 300 joining fee which dropped to 100 after declining. This was in leopardstown

Nicolas Cage wrote: »

Not sure what you're trying to get at here. The thing is, there never seem to be any sales promotion. No solid pricing plans are in place. They want you to call in, they assess your income and offer you a package. You reject it because it's a ripoff, so they come up with some weird excuse about how they can reduce it.

When I went there, I was with a mate who is a more experienced gym-goer and much higher earner than me, so the sales guy ignored me and focused on my mate and was kinda forced to offer us both the same price plan. I told him outright that it was too expensive for me. He rang a month later, asking if I thought about it, and I politely repeated that it was too much for me and I had joined a different gym for a year. Again, a month later, and again I politely declined. Again, two months later, and I told him to remove my name and number from his list. That's not sales. That's pestering and IMO, it's verging on cold-calling.

My point is that these are all pretty standard sales techniques.
An sign-up fee and subsequent waving of the fee is almost expected. Follow up pestering, is again still standard sales process.

It's annoying, sure. And its clearly the lowest level tactics. I hardly consider it surreal. Sounds like the guy just isn't great at his job.

Did anyone ever actually pay for just 3 months membership i.e upfront.