Total Fitness has closed down *MOD note post 1* Please Read

Dotcomdolly

Supposedly staff arrived & couldn't get in etc

http://www.totalfitness.ie/

Mod Note
Discussion about the closing of Total fitness is acceptable however if this turns into an attack on the staff infractions and Bans will be handed out. We have already had to close two threads on the matter this week and will not have another one.

Thanks

D

copacetic

rumours were true I guess. Makes a bit more sense about why they stopped taking a years money up front..

CLUB CLOSURE / COMPANY WIND-UP

It is with deep regret that we have to announce the closure of Centre Operators Limited with effect from midnight on 16th March 2011.

The closure of Centre Operators Limited effects Total Fitness Castleknock, Malahide and Sandyford.

A liquidator will be appointed in due course and will deal with all queries in relation to outstanding memberships.

The company is loss making, a major factor in this is that the rents are significantly higher than market value. We have attempted unsuccessfully to re-negotiate the rents.

We very much regret the closure, that it has become necessary to make redundancies and that members have been affected.

Shmee

Yep, gone into liquidation. All employees got calls last night or this morning.

mwrf

Just went up for my morning routine. Bunch of people standing outside and this
notice on the doors :

http://a.yfrog.com/img620/3052/7zkoz.jpg

Can't say I'm surprised, as we all know of the strange goings on to do with not allowing people pay a year up front recently etc.
At least the owners didn't take the money and run.

Cancel those direct debits ASAP.

mwrf

Woah,wait, It's all total fitness gyms in Ireland. Is it the UK too?

Dotcomdolly

mwrf wrote: »

Woah,wait, It's all total fitness gyms in Ireland. Is it the UK too?

seems to be just the Irish one, though the uk is having diffulties too report from oct 10

pebbles21

Thats the three gone in Ireland,was wondering why they weren't chasing me for renewal like they were last year

The Davestator

Bad form for anyone who joined and paid for a year upfront in Jan or Feb - at least they look like they will make an effort to pay members, but members will be last on the creditors list infortunatley.

d'Oracle

At least that will put a stop to the moan "about total fitness" threads.

I hope....

Glowing

Such a shame, that place could have been a goldmine if they had any sort of decent management or customer service ..... wonder will the premises be taken over by another outfit?

gaherne

Yeah bad form considering full membership was taken for the year up until 2weeks ago.

Feel bad for the trainers and staff.

Hopefully Ben dunne will behaving a look

CrackisWhack

Feck! Just paid a €100 join up fee 2 weeks ago, was enjoying it so far too:mad:

CrackisWhack

Anyone know of another good gym, with good weights section, sauna(with a bucket of ice cold water beside it) and a good hydrotherapy pool?

The Guvnor

I remember when it was set up or first open.
From what I understood at the time was that TF actually owned the land and commissioned the cost of the building. Obviously with borrowings.

I know the club was sold by the original owner but did the buildings get sold separately to the running of the club?

With a club of this size being closed down along with the other two clubs what happens to the equipment?

This may be the start of smaller more manageable clubs like there was back in the 80's.

TF UK are not affected at all by this?

SanoVitae

Spare a thought for the personal trainers who are now not only without a job, a location from which to train people, but also have to refund the money to their clients.

Neither nice nor deserved - some very good personal trainers at the Sandyford branch.

SanoVitae

The Guvnor wrote: »

This may be the start of smaller more manageable clubs like there was back in the 80's.

I've been long predicting that will be the way forward for the fitness industry.

As in the 80's, fitness enthusiasts (and not rich businessmen) will start up their own clubs, starting small and building from there via word of mouth. You can already see it happening with the likes of Crossfit.

Big gyms will probably always be around but there is a definite gap in the market for smaller clubs who attract new members by getting fantastic results and offering an outstanding service rather than using expensive radio campaigns ("Are you listening Jackie Skelly?" etc).

Nate--IRL--

Renewed 2 weeks ago, €500 down the drain. :mad:

Edit:- I feel for the staff too, I've been made redundant before, it's a horrible horrible experience.

Nate

dario28

Thats my day ruined

What's likely hood of Ben dunne snappin it up ?

Where am I gonna go tomorrow ahhhhhhhhhh

Marco85

is coolock and castleknock going as well???

dario28

Marco85 wrote: »

is coolock and castleknock going as well???

Gone

copacetic

Marco85 wrote: »

is coolock and castleknock going as well???

Yep, that was original thread title, appears to have been edited to say sandyford, but it's total fitness Ireland that has closed, not just sandyford.

st_jimmy

Marco85 wrote: »

is coolock and castleknock going as well???

Yeah Coolock is gone. I am/was a member there. I don't have a car so this kind of screws me.

I'm so angry that the staff has been treated by a closed door :mad:

dammitjanet

Would someone not want to buy the gym off of TF? I don't know the other 2 but Sandyford is a good facility (all the bad press it gets here aside), its open, airy, bright and has a lot of good equipment.
I hope the members get their refund okay and I feel awful for the staff, it sucks being made redundant. Wouldn't ever wish it on anyone.

d'Oracle

copacetic wrote: »

Yep, that was original thread title, appears to have been edited to say sandyford, but it's total fitness Ireland that has closed, not just sandyford.

It hasn't, the two threads about the same topic were merged.

copacetic

d'Oracle wrote: »

It hasn't, the two threads about the same topic were merged.

It has, this thread was originally called 'total fitness has closed'. It was the first thread, merging them correctly doesn't rename the earlier thread.

Handsome Bob

SanoVitae wrote: »

I've been long predicting that will be the way forward for the fitness industry.

As in the 80's, fitness enthusiasts (and not rich businessmen) will start up their own clubs, starting small and building from there via word of mouth. You can already see it happening with the likes of Crossfit.

Big gyms will probably always be around but there is a definite gap in the market for smaller clubs who attract new members by getting fantastic results and offering an outstanding service rather than using expensive radio campaigns ("Are you listening Jackie Skelly?" etc).

I'm a member of a small gym myself, the idea of going to a big one doesn't appeal to me at all.

What a shocker though, gotta feel for the staff.

TeddyTedson

Never heard the rumors so I'm just finding out now. Just paid 2 months ago for renewal:mad::(. Always thought it was a great gym. RIP

the drifter

copacetic wrote: »

It has, this thread was originally called 'total fitness has closed'. It was the first thread, merging them correctly doesn't rename the earlier thread.

It hasn't it was early and my coffee hadnt kicked in...give a man a break!!!

I'll change it now.

SanoVitae

dammitjanet wrote: »

Sandyford is a good facility (all the bad press it gets here aside), its open, airy, bright and has a lot of good equipment.

Absolutely - the facilities themselves are fantastic - so much potential.

TeddyTedson

So what's going to happen? It will surely be taken over by someone, I won't just be left there closed....will it. Maybe knock it down and build some apartments:rolleyes:

Hanley

Who wants to buy Sandyford with me?

SanoVitae

Hanley wrote: »

Who wants to buy Sandyford with me?

Lets get a southside branch of Informed Performance going there!!!

scuba chick

Its a shame! Total Fitness was a great Gym. Feel awful for the staff and personal trainers.......no notice and doors just closed.....Their entire livelihood gone! :-( they were a good bunch....hope they all get (better) jobs soon!

Cole

I know all the indications were that this was going to happen, but I'm still a bit surprised......particularly with the Sandyford branch.

I've been very critical of Sandyford, but credit where credits due, they did seem to be making a genuine effort to improve things lately, lots of signs and announcements about replacing weights, parking correctly etc. Only yesterday evening, the staff were walking around the floor replacing weights.

Things were looking more positive (maybe not financially)......and then gone!

Tefral

I was a member of the Sandyford gym and I used to love the fact that the running track was there and all the equipment, I never had to wait for a machine.

Im a member of the Sanovitae in the IFSC now, and I have to say I much prefer that soley because the staff say hello to you. Im wondering is the fact that the Sandyford gym was a little impersonal part of the problem? I feel really bad for the staff, show up for work to get a shock like that?!

jamesbrond

I saw yer man who owns crunch in there the other night. He looked like he was examining the place and taking notes. Now I know why. He might be stepping in there.

scuba chick

jamesbrond wrote: »

I saw yer man who owns crunch in there the other night. He looked like he was examining the place and taking notes. Now I know why. He might be stepping in there.

Was that in the Malahide Rd branch.... perfect place for a gym...

FOGOFUNK

I hope crunch buy it, I just joined TF castleknock in feb, paid upfront.

I used to be a member of crunch westmanstown, much cleaner gym but it had less equipment and no mirrors in the weights area.

TF would be great if they just cleaned it up a bit and put some weights markers on the dumbells.

Feel so bad for the trainers.

SanoVitae

jamesbrond wrote: »

I saw yer man who owns crunch in there the other night. He looked like he was examining the place and taking notes. Now I know why. He might be stepping in there.

If you're taking about the Sandyford branch, then it makes perfect sense. They were due to open in another area in Sandyford but it never happened. He might be able to negotiate a much better rent at the Total Fitness location. That would be fantastic.

jamesbrond

FOGOFUNK wrote: »

I hope crunch buy it, I just joined TF castleknock in feb, paid upfront.

I used to be a member of crunch westmanstown, much cleaner gym but it had less equipment and no mirrors in the weights area.

TF would be great if they just cleaned it up a bit and put some weights markers on the dumbells.

Feel so bad for the trainers.

Remember, usually when these places are taken over membership of the old one doesnt count. Sometimes they might offer 25% off membership for members of the old club as a gesture. But members are unlikely to get a penny back.

jamesbrond

SanoVitae wrote: »

If you're taking about the Sandyford branch, then it makes perfect sense. They were due to open in another area in Sandyford but it never happened. He might be able to negotiate a much better rent at the Total Fitness location. That would be fantastic.

Yep. Thats the one. Ive met him at a few dos I was at before. Nice guy.
If I had any idea the other night I would have asked him about it.

ted1

they handled it very well with regards not taking pre payments. My card didn't work yesterday and they just buzzed me in. I checked my bank today and they never took a payment on monday. I'd be on for a members buy out :-)

Cole

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0317/breaking18.html

The Davestator

The problem us that gubay owns the land and if he didn't drop the rent for his own company, he won't drop it for someone else. The equipment can easily be sold or distributed amoungst the UK clubs.
Can't see crunch going in there- too much money needed to bring it in line with the rest of their clubs.

East Coast Barbell

I just heard this myself this morning. Gutted for the staff and people who may not get their money back.

The silver lining is that the former members might just join smaller places that pay an awful lot more individual attention to their members. This would be better for the home grown businesses, but also for the people who are desperate for results.

ted1

they handled it very well with regards not taking pre payments. My card didn't work yesterday and they just buzzed me in. I checked my bank today and they never took a payment on monday. I'd be on for a members buy out :-)

scuba chick

ted1 wrote: »

they handled it very well with regards not taking pre payments. My card didn't work yesterday and they just buzzed me in. I checked my bank today and they never took a payment on monday. I'd be on for a members buy out :-)

Maybe so...but didn't handle it so well with their staff...didn't even give them a phone call.

ted1

i've No knowledge of their staff dealings so won't speculate.

rockfist

my membership was up in may anyway was going to leave but this is a real shame. The place has gotten really bad over the last few months and the management just didn't seem to care. I feel sorry for the staff. Some of them were really good and knew their stuff very well but others just came and went and the management had no intention of building up customer relationships, we now know why! Anyone know what westwood is charging now?

McGrath5

I only joined up a month ago and was liking the place, ah well it was only a 3 month membership.

Jimmy_Rabbitte

The staff in Total Fitness Castleknock always found them helpful and genuine. When I was chatting to them renewing my membership they had said the club was bought over last year in a management buy out and the reason they wouldn't negotiate on price was that they were investing in the club buying new equipment doing up parts of the gym that needed doing up.

Anyways I renewed my membership just over a month ago for 2011 in Castleknock and being the genius I am paid in :pac:full 539 euro on my Visa.

So I guess I will never see any of that again.