I think gyms here don't have any issues in attracting customers. Also, why is it "best practice" to adopt such policies? Says who? This is nothing at all to do with HK and its business practices, its just business in general.
Now if gyms waive their stupid joining / admin fees and maybe offer a discount for x months to California Fitness members, that would probably be a nice gesture, but I don't think that's going to happen here. Also, this is probably going to result in me grabbing my tin hat, but generally I'm not sure if other gyms in HK want the sort of clientèle California Fitness was attracting....
Standard business practice in the US and a simplistic, yet effective, marketing strategy to acquire new customers or clients. Another business or gym in this case negotiates terms, which may entail an "earn-out" and acquires the previous business clientele or customers.
They did check if my ID was permanent (and calif member card) before thy signed me up for the 1 Year + free 6 Months plan. However I regret getting it as the club is extremely crowded and dirty (TST). There are several posts in the Calif Facebook groups blaming this situation on the recent influx of South Asian members from California and are requesting Physical to restrict the deal or end it.
I did find it rather odd that they now have the ability to check validity of the California memberships. California member cards have no expiry dates marked on them but Phy is able to confirm if the card/membership has expired.
Last edited by JaredHK; 19-07-2016 at 03:13 PM.
I suspect he has in mind something like my plan, where I pay 538 a month. So I would now pay 538 a month to a new gym, they would get a new customer (and new money) and I would get a new gym at the same price.
Unfortunately, I think a large number of CF members prepaid (quite why escapes me entirely!) - in which case the above is not as attractive.
So I agree with his sentiment - applied to monthly paying people only though.
Because they've all gone out of business as they could not make their rent checks.I don't know of many (actually I can't think of any right now) HK consumer businesses that would do something based on such a premise.
Sounds like a surefire way for a company to piss off its existing customers. The new gym gets a massive influx of people competing for equipment, and unless the gym is Physical, then the new arrivals get a cheaper deal than existing members.
Of course, the one chain that's cheaper, Physical, has already done something along these lines with the six month free membership.
So I don't know what biffski is complaining about. Oh, right, about not being given the deal because of PR requirements. Sounds like an entitled whine to me.
Last edited by jgl; 19-07-2016 at 05:21 PM.