Westwood Fitness Club

tonythompson

I’m a member in Westwood Clontarf for many a year now, I know, I know, ‘it’s too expensive’ I heard you say, but I do think it’s worth it. I mainly use the Gym, but do indulge myself by going to the spa area now and again But I mainly enjoy going to the gym, there is a fantastic array of machinery, and the staff they have in the gym are great, in my opinion the gym staff are 2nd to none, very friendly and helpful and outgoing there’s always a good vibe in the place.

But just before Christmas I heard that all the personal trainers were been let go, and rightly enough along came the new year and the staff were gone. Fair enough it’s a business move etc but they haven’t been replace, there no option for getting the odd training session.

And then yesterday I arrived into the club and it was like turning up at a funeral, all the staff, managers, alot members were all crying and upset, everywhere you turned there was someone crying and cursing Westwood including members.

I bravely enquired as to what was going on, and apparently the higher management in Westwood have decided to pull the middle management team, this includes all gym managers across all three clubs! All gym managers are redundant. The people on the ground that make the experience of going to the Club feel good are gone. I’m also really in shock as some of these people do make the club good. Its like they’ve just cut all the good/high paid staff to save money, and give the members a lesser Westwood experience.

In this current economical climate they should be trying to keep a good team on board and keep us members happy. But judging by what went on yesterday there were a lot of very unhappy people about the place, and a very bad vibe around.

I'm wondering did any body hear anything or was unfortunate enough to witness peoples grief in the club yesterday?

Transform

It was mainly all of the personal trainers deal with the gym terminated. They were paying the gym a set fee for doing personal training there - so not made redundant as they were not employed by the gym in the first place.

Most have moved on to greener pastures so just ask around and you can STILL get the odd session and use the program in westwood.

Its business and we all have to cut our cloth so the good ones will still just move onwards and upwards to their own facilities - maybe it was the push they needed?

I totally agree its very sad for the members as a high standard of instruction is missing but i am sure this will change over time and if not then just go to private training facilities instead.

ciaranmul

It wasn't only the personal trainers let go, but also managment and assistant management. One of the trainers wasn't even in the country and was let know by email that all his clients were going to be emailed the next day and let know, and also contacted to arrange training with another staff member.

The problem lies in that the Personal Trainers were contracted, and were of a much more vast knowledge and experience of training than the in-house fitness instructors. So i can imagine the members and clients will not be too happy.

Two of the Personal Trainers are opening up their own gym in the Clontarf area, along the Seafront beside Bay Restaurant where the Dollymount House used to be. The gym will be up and running in the next 2 weeks, if anyone wants contact details for David or James PM me.

theturnofthe

] " But just before Christmas I heard that all the personal trainers were been let go, and rightly enough along came the new year and the staff were gone. Fair enough it’s a business move etc but they haven’t been replace, there no option for getting the odd training session.

And then yesterday I arrived into the club and it was like turning up at a funeral, all the staff, managers, alot members were all crying and upset, everywhere you turned there was someone crying and cursing Westwood including members."


I completely agree.

Westwood have pushed their best trainers and staff out the door. These trainers are some of the most qualified and commited in the country- I can't see how this is good for business. The clients who trained with these guys were not even informed by WW that their trainers were no longer available- they were left high and dry by the gym, and of all times in Jan!! Clients didn't even receive a courtesy phone call! Is this good customer care?

The trainers that are left in the gym are not qualified to the same standard as the guys that left, so 'picking up the odd session' with one of them is not really going to compare to having your weekly sessions with a trainer who you've had for years, knows your training abilities and has already brought you soo far. ..
It's disgraceful the way WW treated these trainers, the gym were lucky to have them.
It's also disgraceful how they treated their so -called valued customers.

the-lad

theturnofthe wrote: »

]

The trainers that are left in the gym are not qualified to the same standard as the guys that left, so 'picking up the odd session' with one of them is not really going to compare to having your weekly sessions with a trainer who you've had for years, knows your training abilities and has already brought you soo far. ..
It's disgraceful the way WW treated these trainers, the gym were lucky to have them.... and their so -called valued customers.

I completely agree! It is a disgrace the way WW is treating its clients and staff.
The people they let go should have been locked into contracts not cast aside.

WW however probably realise that most of us that used the PTs won't leave as we are highly motivated regarding our training, i unfortunately won't be leaving as its handy for both home and work. I will off course remain loyal to my excellent PT and can't wait to train in his new place up the road.
However what WW don't seem to realise is that its not just the small percentage of clients that used these one to one sessions that will be affected.
The classes given by the PTs and the ex-Clontarf gym floor manager (don't want to name names ;-))were always the best classes available in the gym .To the team left behind i wish you the best of luck but ye have very large boots left to fill and in the current poor climate in there I think ye will need it.

I for one joined WW on the recommendation of a member - I ACTUALLY only joined to train with one of the newly ejected trainers, David Mulqueen -and have recommended WW and David to friends.....

I will NOT be recommending WW again.
I will ,however ,be recommending David

ciaranmul

ciaranmul wrote: »

Two of the Personal Trainers are opening up their own gym in the Clontarf area, along the Seafront beside Bay Restaurant where the Dollymount House used to be. The gym will be up and running in the next 2 weeks, if anyone wants contact details for David or James PM me.

Fair play to them. That's what I want to be hearing. Don't let the system beat you. I hope they do well.

Transform

Exactly, fair play and move on.

If you want to do regualar or occasional sessions then go see these guys - nothing has changed just the location. Yes i know westwood is possibly handy for most and you can get inspired by just training around these guys but thats life.

Finally, i have no idea how westwood think this is a good business idea - kick all your best trainers out! However, i think this is just the start of people who want proper training and training programs going to private personal training facilities using the trainer there and then doing the pogram in their own gym. Whats your other option - get the same crappy program everyone gets i.e.

(do 15mins on bike, 10mins rower, 10mins cross trainer, 15mins on weights machines and then 10mins doing mickey mouse stomach exercises!!PLease tell me this is not your current program)

The big gyms can't seem to handle the best trainers purely because they do not manage their talents and possibly the BIGGEST REASON IS THAT THEY can't stand the fact that the best trainers are making more money than the top manager in the club.

Frank Bullitt

Iv been a member for 3 years and this is completely out of the blue,i go to one of the trainers and he told me on friday going into the gym,i was shocked to say the least,glad he is setting up his own gym up the road though,best thing to do is move on.

As for how this will affect the club,only time will tell,but already im getting vides from people that they want to leave or at least have something done about this,i think this will only be a bad thing for WW clubs.

the-lad

Transform wrote: »

Exactly, fair play and move on.


"The big gyms can't seem to handle the best trainers purely because they do not manage their talents and possibly the BIGGEST REASON IS THAT THEY can't stand the fact that the best trainers are making more money than the top manager in the club.

"

Interesting point, never thought of that angle ! The phrase ' cutting off your nose to spite your face' comes to mind! WWs nose is well and truly gone then ! WW has made a serious error in judgement on this one, and if it is purely motivated by money/ pettiness then it's clear that they neither have their members or staffs best interest in mind.

I too cannot wait to train up the road in the new gym.
The atmosphere in ww is terrible at the moment- what do they expect tho

the-lad

the-lad wrote: »

"

The phrase ' cutting off your nose to spite your face' comes to mind! WWs nose is well and truly gone then ! WW has made a serious error in judgement on this one, and if it is purely motivated by money/ pettiness then it's clear that they neither have their members or staffs best interest in mind.

I too cannot wait to train up the road in the new gym.
The atmosphere in ww is terrible at the moment- what do they expect tho

Look it's very unfortunate. I don't like to see anybody not have a job or not make a living but you need to understand sometimes this has to be done. Sometimes good can come out of this; the two lads are already going to set up their own gym and you said you will be going up there to train with them so that's good. That's positive. This is typical of a recession and unfortunately the gyms don't get excluded.

WW is first and foremost a business. It is not a not for profit organisation or a charity. It needs to make money like any other business. That's the priority because if they are not making money, they can not offer their services.

Secondly, it more than likely is motivated by money because as I said, it's a business!!!!!!!!!! What do you expect? Keep their great staff on and then have to close the entire gym down in the next 6 - 12 months because they can't even afford to run? What good will that do? That means nobody will have a gym then and more people will be affected - not just the people who go to personal trainers in these gyms.

I'm not saying Westwood are in the right because I don't know how well run or how badly run there gyms are but from the outside looking in, they can't be doing too badly. They have been one of the main gyms for the last 10 years.

Suey101

Dearest Tony and Posters,
I’m a previous employee of Westwood Leopardstown, I’ve work their for good time in the higher management team as you call it. I left for reasons that I cannot disclose in this post, I now use the Clontarf club closer to home and that, the club is great or possible was great. I also have heard what happened yesterday and I believe it wasn’t very nice.

Its not only the one2one trainers that have been affected, the whole management team are gone and so the style and talent they bring to the table is also gone. You could have the best trainers/team/people in the world working for you, but there no good if they are not managed correctly.

I still have a friend on the higher management team and he’s telling me snippets of what’s fully going on, and from what I can work out its a three phase plan, 1st one2one trainers out, 2nd mangers gone and the 3rd phase has yet to come.
But if you discuss this from a business point of view, it appears they are cutting staff to reduce costs, reduce the out goings and improve the incomings, hold onto the money in the bank and on company books the company looks more profitable and then up goes the for sale sign, Mr Smith (the owner) sells to the highest bidder, Mr Dunne? Westwood becomes a WestPoint? Interesting…

An increase in the monthly fee may also be on the cards and the reasons are due to higher operational costs, they really have no idea what they are doing to their members in the long run.

Frank Bullitt

If the costs go up then i will cancel my membership straight away.

the-lad

I'm well aware its a business but the PT were sole traders paying ww per person they trained so I don't see the logic in getting rid of them.

theturnofthe

Deleted User wrote: »

Look it's very unfortunate. I don't like to see anybody not have a job or not make a living but you need to understand sometimes this has to be done. Sometimes good can come out of this; the two lads are already going to set up their own gym and you said you will be going up there to train with them so that's good. That's positive. This is typical of a recession and unfortunately the gyms don't get excluded.

WW is first and foremost a business. It is not a not for profit organisation or a charity. It needs to make money like any other business. That's the priority because if they are not making money, they can not offer their services.

Secondly, it more than likely is motivated by money because as I said, it's a business!!!!!!!!!! What do you expect? Keep their great staff on and then have to close the entire gym down in the next 6 - 12 months because they can't even afford to run? What good will that do? That means nobody will have a gym then and more people will be affected - not just the people who go to personal trainers in these gyms.

I'm not saying Westwood are in the right because I don't know how well run or how badly run there gyms are but from the outside looking in, they can't be doing too badly. They have been one of the main gyms for the last 10 years.

WW didn't pay the PTs that left, the clients did. The trainers actually paid westwood a rental fee for using their club.....now how is that COSTING WW money? And you're right, they can't be doing too badly- their monthly fees are double that of most gyms, yet they drastically lag behind when it comes to upkeep/renovations- all you need to do is have a look around the grubby sauna "spa" area to see what improvements are overdue....

Frank Bullitt

Ill be heading down there this evening,a good friend of mine works there so if i hear of any more news ill post it up here.

Hanley

Have to say, I was REALLY surprised when I heard about this.

Considering how high fees already are, and how the personal trainers were effectively paying WW to work there, I'd be seriously concerned about the financial health of the club.

David Mulqueen's brother is a good friend of mine and I've met Dave several times. Any time I've ever talked training I was very impressed with his knowledge. I remember being in their house maybe 2 years ago now (during my cynical "all PT's are ****" phase) and saw lots of Charles Poliquin stuff and other below the radar coaches who you wouldn't know about or understand unless you'd done a lot of research already and thought to myself "jesus, he really does work hard and know his stuff".

I'd have had no hesitation in telling people to go to him if they were members of WW already (and have done so in the past), and after hearing people come on here and mention him by name, and knowing how well he's recommended by those who've used him, I really do wish him the best of luck with his new place. I know he can make a success of it!!

Frank Bullitt

Well said Hanley.

theturnofthe

theturnofthe wrote: »

WW didn't pay the PTs that left, the clients did. The trainers actually paid westwood a rental fee for using their club.....now how is that COSTING WW money? And you're right, they can't be doing too badly- their monthly fees are double that of most gyms, yet they drastically lag behind when it comes to upkeep/renovations- all you need to do is have a look around the grubby sauna "spa" area to see what improvements are overdue....

Insurance. Probably the biggest expense of any gym.

Hanley

Deleted User wrote: »

Insurance. Probably the biggest expense of any gym.

I would have expected the PT's to have to have their own insurance tbh. You're still gonna have the same footfall (ish), so you would expect them to have to pay the same premium.

That is of course unless there was some extra provision in place for people being trained by outside contractors (but again, I would expect the contractor to have to cover it).

Tbh what I see happening is a new group of PT's being brought in, employed by the club, paid less than Dave, James and the others, and thus creating a bigger margin for WW.

I'm not 100% sure on this so maybe Mickk/Transform can clarify but because the actual personal training occurs on the premises of Westwood, it is effectively their (WW)responsibility, right?

I know PT's need their own insurance but doesn't PT insurance just "legally" allow personal trainers to prescribe exercises and protect them against being sued by a client etc?

Either way, I can't see how they would let people go unless it was saving them money so they were obviously draining some expense.

Roper

Hmmm, didn't WW pay for all the guys to get their Chuckles Polloquin certs? My mate used to work there and the PTS were held up as GODS! ALL HAIL THE METROSEXUALS! AFAIK there were other financial arrangements that aren't being discussed here but basically, WW paid their PTs. At least to some extent. I'm being vague because my memory of the conversation is just that, vague so don't take the above as fact, it's just what I heard/can remember of what I heard.

I don't mean to get off the conspiracy theory buzz that abounds here but could it not just be that in a changing economic environment, Westwood have looked at their projected membership figures and said uh oh. Faced with a decrease in their bottom line they've decided to act. Remember it was the top gym in Dublin but it also had the top fee, and it was a major status boost to say your gym was Westwood while you were having your Mochafrappachunkacino with your fellow .com bubble buddies or your colleagues at Citibank. It could be now that recession is in full swing the cheaper gyms are making inroads into their membership renewals, if people are renewing at all.

In other words I wouldn't take it as a personal affront from Westwood if you don't think the place is what you signed up for. Just cancel and go elsewhere.

Well said Roper (that's a first )

Transform

Exactly, if you don't like it go to the gym others have set up.

The tipping point of people going to the experts and using their program in the gym rather than the crappy ones new unexperienced trainers give out.

colinun

True enough what people are saying. I was down in the gym yesterday evening and there’s such a bad atmosphere. I usual spend around 2hours training but most of that time was spend talking to other people about what’s gong on and people are distraught.
People will miss all PT trainers I’ve done sessions with Matt and Rachel in the past and both were class. I'll now go to John Connor in Drumcondra its very near westwood and I hear people are getting good results with him. The two girls that run the gym are also gone so I’d say things will fall apart quickly when there not running it. It maybe time to start looking for another gym.

chancer_007

seems WW is in a bad way

if anyone is interested some friends of mine have opned a new gym before xmas between camden st & portobello in town.

It has the largest collection of free weights than any other gym in dublin.
also olympic rings,climbing ropes,kegs,tyre flipping etc..not your usual gym!
they have cardio equipment but are mainly focused on core conditioning.

If anyone wants to PM I can point them in the right direction

Frank Bullitt

Was talking to a few people last night,the general atmosphere(as it has already been said)was very bad,gym goers and gym workers are all very unhappy with the changes,more so because they were sudden and unexpected,but i also heard that a large number of people have canceled their membership as well.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks,very interesting.

Roper

I reckon that what will happen with Westwood is:

a) the people who have left will be either replaced or not replaced
b) most members won't notice
c) The new PTs gym down the road will do a roaring trade, although I'M SURE that this thread wasn't an advertisement for them in any way

It's a big business with big business ideals. It'd be like me saying "ooh they've replaced that bloke on the tills in Spar. That place will fall apart without him". Like it or not, the next staff member will probably be as good as the last one.

Killme00

Roper wrote: »

Remember it was the top gym in Dublin but it also had the top fee, and it was a major status boost to say your gym was Westwood while you were having your Mochafrappachunkacino with your fellow .com bubble buddies or your colleagues at Citibank.

lol

It should be noted that one of your members works in Citibank.

theturnofthe

Roper wrote: »

It'd be like me saying "ooh they've replaced that bloke on the tills in Spar. That place will fall apart without him". Like it or not, the next staff member will probably be as good as the last one.

Don't know what you do for a living roper, but do you think eveyone who does your job does it to the same standard?
Don't you think there are huge variables as regards the standards different peolple are trained to and levels of commitment different people have for their jobs?
I find it difficult to believe that someone can walk in the door of WW today and better manage a gym that was running perfectly due to management that was in place there from day one... if it aint broke dont't fix it !And I HAVE to say, comparing highly skilled and experienced trainers and gym managers to people scanning barcodes in spar is, frankly, ridiculous. . (No offence to anyone working in Spar). It shows you have the same lack of understanding as to the value of experienced staff in a company.....

theturnofthe

theturnofthe wrote: »

I find it difficult to believe that someone can walk in the door of WW today and better manage a gym that was running perfectly due to management that was in place there from day one... if it aint broke dont't fix it !And I HAVE to say, comparing highly skilled and experienced trainers and gym managers to people scanning barcodes in spar is, frankly, ridiculous. . (No offence to anyone working in Spar). It shows you have the same lack of understanding as to the value of experienced staff in a company.....

First of all it clearly was not running perfectly otherwise they would not have let go of the staff now would they or be contemplating letting more people go so don't be so silly, you're losing the run of yourself. It may have been running perfectly on a consumer level but the books don't lie, the financial controller and senior management of the place obviously made a serious balls of something. OBVIOUSLY.

colinun

I totally agree with you ‘theturnofthe’ these managers and trainers know what they are doing and know the westwood clients.
Some for them have trained for many years to get where they are today and it will be hard to find replacements with their skills and knowledge. Plus it will be very hard for these people who are going out on their own to match WW facilities. And what have you got against people who work in spar?

Big deal guys, the fitness industry does not get excluded from recessions. Just get over it and move on.

theturnofthe

Deleted User wrote: »

First of all it clearly was not running perfectly otherwise they would not have let go of the staff now would they or be contemplating letting more people go so don't be so silly, you're losing the run of yourself. It may have been running perfectly on a consumer level but the books don't lie, the financial controller and senior management of the place obviously made a serious balls of something. OBVIOUSLY.

Yes, perhaps the financial controller and senior management DID make a balls of it- so let THEM go instead .... OBVIOUSLY!!!!!! Your argument wasn't that bad until the last line- who's silly now-you just proved my point. Silly.

theturnofthe

theturnofthe wrote: »

Yes, perhaps the financial controller and senior management DID make a balls of it- so let THEM go .... OBVIOUSLY!!!!!!

Perhaps is not a fact. Maybe they are just being incredibly selfish, maybe they are just being unethical, maybe they are just doing it because they can? Nobody knows unless we get some inside info which will probably be over-exaggerated and inaccurate anyway.

colinun

Theentrepreneur, wouldn’t the world be a much better place if everyone adopted your message. The financial controller and senior management had to make a choice, but they’ve obviously have made a wrong choice which the paying members are feeling the affects of this choice, well only the ones who stay will. Why don’t they get rid of the high paying senior management? nows there's an idea! :P

I reckon 3/4 of the paying members don't even realise and if they do will decide one of two things; 1) stay or 2) go up the road to the two boys or off to Mr Dunne or whatever.

The world would be a better place if everyone adopted my message. It's called getting over it. That's a fact. I understand it's hard but the fitness industry is not alone. Millions of brilliant skilled individuals have lost their jobs worldwide and equally as many idiots have lost their job too (Anglo Irish Boss, FAS chief exec etc) but the best thing people can do is apply the principles of fitness in general (hard work, determination and focus and eating nutritionally well) and I'm sure they will be ok in the long run.

Relevant

sorry to hear that they are letting go all these people. However the fact of the matter is that the gym doesn't make the money off the people who go every week. the money is made off the people who join and never go which is about 90% of westwood members.

bodybyjohn

ehhhh.... has anybody read the paper or watched the news lately. Credit crunch. Global recession. Wage cuts. Negative equity. 2,000 jobs gone at dell. Wake up and smell the coffee. People are losing their jobs. Health clubs are not immune. From what I know, these people did not work for West Wood. They had access to their clients... to charge them €80 an hour.

colinun

oh yes the recession, if there is one thing that the people of this country are good at it is talking ourselves into things, we talked ourselves in and out of a property boom and now into a recession. But the fact of the matter is the managment, owner or whoever has the last say has removed the heart and soul from our club. there are plenty of other ways the club could have cut costs or boosted the income, cutting staff is the easy option, cutting the good staff is a mistake, its good staff that makes any company. And the management of westwood have just turned our club into one big choclate tea pot!

Chris89

Roper wrote: »

I reckon that what will happen with Westwood is:

a) the people who have left will be either replaced or not replaced
b) most members won't notice
c) The new PTs gym down the road will do a roaring trade, although I'M SURE that this thread wasn't an advertisement for them in any way

It's a big business with big business ideals. It'd be like me saying "ooh they've replaced that bloke on the tills in Spar. That place will fall apart without him". Like it or not, the next staff member will probably be as good as the last one.

I certainly didn't.
the girl who tells me to put my shoes back on when i deadlift is still there though. so im happy.

psitsasecret

Westwood decided, based on the current economic climate that they were getting rid of all gym managers across all 3 clubs. Keep in mind all 4 managers have a minimum of 8 years excellent service with the club.
They were all told on Tuesday and they have to leave with in the month. It is all very upsetting as most of the staff in all clubs have worked along side these people for years.

Obviously we all know things are bad, However only last month westwood in leopardstown paid almost €1000 for a company to come in and decorate the christmas tree that was in reception.On top of that they have had posters up for the last 4 months advertising the massive refurbishment they are doing of leopardstown, including a new 3rd floor extension, new spa area and new pool, Brand new bar area, new flooring throughout the entire gym floors, both cardio and weights,A whole new reception area, brand new paint job, new sales offices , refurb (yet again) of the changing rooms and new furniture in the spa areaand it is still not finished, but this is all at a cost of €3,000,000. They also are hiring new General Manager & PT co-ordinator - a role which the gym mamanger used to be responsible for.

I know there is up roar in leopardstown as the guy the let go has been there for over 10 years and is excellent at what he does. The have organised a petition and are having a meeting tomorrow to discuss, at least 45 people are attending it with others already sending in emails. in Clontarf I know that the Sunday independent rang looking to find out how it can justify it.

Also the company has just recently bought and done up Sachs Hotel in DonnyBrook and invested money in a hotel in Bosnia,

Moves like this, letting long term members of staff go don't seem logical when the company is making money. I know I will be cancelling my membership.

Johnny Storm

psitsasecret wrote: »

. westwood in leopardstown paid almost €1000 for a company to come in and decorate the christmas tree that was in reception.On top of that they have had posters up for the last 4 months advertising the massive refurbishment they are doing of leopardstown..at a cost of €3,000,000. ....
Also the company has just recently bought and done up Sachs Hotel in DonnyBrook and invested money in a hotel in Bosnia,

Moves like this, letting long term members of staff go don't seem logical when the company is making money. I know I will be cancelling my membership.

Very very strange.
Also if the guy they are letting go in Leopardstown is the guy I am thinking of he seems very competent and personable.

EDITed to add: On mature reflection, they may have decided to do the refurb, buy the hotels etc a year or two ago when the future looked a lot more rosy.

Suey101

I've heard about the meeting in westwood and hopefully will be attending, but they'll just say that theres a recession on and thats it, yet the club is spending money left right and centre explain that?, and just recently new machinery was installed in Clontraf. Philip Smith has plenty of money but his henchmen have no idea the impact of their changes will have on all the clubs, i feel someones ego has gotten in the way of their decision....

Frederick

I am cancelling my membership aswell, and have moved to another gym in the city centre.

Called memberships manager there and he reminded me of a clause in the 'rolling' contract where you have to make a payment within the notice period. They already took a payment out for January so I have to pay for Feb aswell. Its a slick way of getting those last euros out before someone leaves. I guess I should have read all of the small print. The atmosphere in there sucks at the moment aswell. Screw them.

I guess i'll hit the spinning classes to get some return for the money

theturnofthe

"[quote=Relevant; the fact of the matter is that the gym doesn't make the money off the people who go every week. the money is made off the people who join and never go which is about 90% of westwood members.[/quote]""

Not completely true- the people 'who go every week' are all the people who paid for PT lessons in the gym previously and on a lesser scale are patrons of the O'Briens coffee shop as well as the other two shops on site, who pay rent to WW....

I'm SICK of hearing that the 'people who go every week' aren't important-
we're the ones that consistantly give the club money over a period of years, as opposed to january-joiners who leave after a few months...
Letting go the staff that made the club what it was will affect everyone, newcomers and oldtimers alike

Relevant

theturnofthe wrote: »

"""

Not completely true- the people 'who go every week' are all the people who paid for PT lessons in the gym previously and on a lesser scale are patrons of the O'Briens coffee shop as well as the other two shops on site, who pay rent to WW....

I'm SICK of hearing that the 'people who go every week' aren't important-
we're the ones that consistantly give the club money over a period of years, as opposed to january-joiners who leave after a few months...
Letting go the staff that made the club what it was will affect everyone, newcomers and oldtimers alike

All the money comes from the January joiners. Sad as it is to say all Philip Smith cares about is the income for the year.

theturnofthe

well , with the bad press and word of mouth WWs receiving I wonder will there be as many jan-joiners as usual.....

Relevant

theturnofthe wrote: »

well , with the bad press and word of mouth WWs receiving I wonder will there be as many jan-joiners as usual.....

I'm certainly thinking of cancelling my menbership. It could be time to buy a power rack and olympic set and work out from home. Probably cheaper too!

Roper

Jeeebus!!!!!!!

It's BUSINESS. They can call you "club members" all they want but you are not, you are CUSTOMERS. Therefore you pays your money, you takes your chances. If this were a football or rugby club and your subs went towards the running of the club only and you were associates of the club, then you would have a say and some sort of petition would have sway, but you're not, you're a customer, so if they decide to up the price of a bottle of water, or raise their fees, or sack all of their staff, then that's their business and there's nothing you can do about it. Except of course, take your business elsewhere.

To me, and probably to many others who keep an interest in the way the fitness industry operates, is no surprise. It's the logical conclusion of the big-box, high concept gym. People like those involved in crossfit and others like myself have said for years how the big box gym was, in general, a bad thing. Westwood by all accounts was among the better gyms but when you exist to serve a luxury and you don't offer personal service to people, then this is what happens in a recession.

doshin

Roper wrote: »

when you exist to serve a luxury and you don't offer personal service to people, then this is what happens in a recession.

Yes they exist to supply a luxury but the personat trainers and middle management staff let go did supply the personal touch. That is why so many people are upset and disappointed by the 'club'

colinun

If your paying for a service and the service has just become crap, you have a right to complain!. The westwood clubs were great, but now they are been cut back and the memebers are getting a cheap service when paying a premium price! Members are been screwed! :mad: