LA Fitness

[Hoofy]

A few fitness professionals on here so thought I'd ask. Anyone worked there? What's it like?

I read that they sacked all PTers and made them go contract. I also found a site which suggests they are hardcore sales and "hard-sell" all the time to their customers. Sounds like they don't treat their employees well?

Various links, from PT and customer advisor perspectives:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/fitness-consultants/la...
http://www.indeed.com/forum/cmp/LA-Fitness/LA-Fitn...
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=107...

All US-based so maybe different in UK?

[mattikake]

Heh, I was nearly naively roped into being a PT at LA fitness a looong time ago...

Basically the PT's there are self-employed through a company/agent called Club Training, who charge the PT's a stonking £750 upfront per month, for the privaledge of working there, termed "gym rent". The PT's then go on the hard sell because they have no other choice and need to acquire several clients in their first month.

I heard DW gyms are the worst of all for this and the persistent PT hard sell is even turning members away.

It's a sad fact that it's the sign of the times, people are giving up gyms due to the cost. Many people are also becoming self-employed PT's because they have no other choice (government lowering unemployment figures are misleading of course). Gyms have got wise to this and in an effort to make up for a lack of members or a lack of members using in-house PT's, they new turn to freelance PT's. Not for the benefit of their member, but to scam the PT's out of money.

Most PT's only last a few months, so I heard, and I'm not surprised. Very high turnover.

The situation can't last and it won't last. It's only really come about in the last few years. Like all things, they evolve with the times and the times are changing faster than anyone would like. Members, PTs, gyms - someone will get wise to it.

Besides which, being trained in a gym IS NOT PERSONAL TRAINING. It's just gym instruction - gym-based training with no nutritional guidance. And training without diet plans is a waste of time... and again, a scam or social stigma at best.

[stew-S160]

Nice to see, especially for newbie PT's like myself... avoid LA Fitness etc.

[Hoofy]

Thanks - so it's going on in the UK, too. Seems like the gyms are cashing in on peoples' dreams. Nothing new in this respect. McDonalds is a very good "real estate" business.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Probably not the case for all LA gyms, but the one here is tiny and it got to the point whereby it was clearly over subscribed. At peak times you would often find yourself waiting to use any piece of equipment, even floor space. For the monthly outlay the facilities really weren't up to snuff. Getting into an exercise class meant going to play the lottery afterwards, because if you managed it then surely luck was on your side. I got into a spinning class once.... And it was awful. Most boring thing I have ever done. No imagination.

So, even from just a users perspective, they were lacking.

[Halb]

Friend of mine was a PT at Bristol LA Fitness.
He hated it, hates them.

[Hoofy]

Was just speaking to a friend who said she (as a member) got the hard sell every time she went in. That said, in the last couple of months, she says they've toned it down. Anyone else experienced similar?

[mattikake]

I tell you, the future of "gyms" is the home gym + a few PT sessions. It's cheaper, longer lasting and better for you. This is what I promote to people. No negatives so far...

The only downside to this is that there is no totty and usually a distinct lack of mirrors.

[Hoofy]

mattikake said:

I tell you, the future of "gyms" is the home gym + a few PT sessions. It's cheaper, longer lasting and better for you. This is what I promote to people. No negatives so far...

The only downside to this is that there is no totty and usually a distinct lack of mirrors.

Certainly, that's how I prefer to train. Problem is many don't have space or can't afford the right kit. It depends on what kind of training you want to do.

And some people need the kind of motivation you get in a class.

[mattikake]

Hoofy said:

mattikake said:

I tell you, the future of "gyms" is the home gym + a few PT sessions. It's cheaper, longer lasting and better for you. This is what I promote to people. No negatives so far...

The only downside to this is that there is no totty and usually a distinct lack of mirrors.

Certainly, that's how I prefer to train. Problem is many don't have space or can't afford the right kit. It depends on what kind of training you want to do.

And some people need the kind of motivation you get in a class.

The right kit can cost you as little as £200 and £80 will suit most people.

Believe me, for the average gym user, spend £80 on equipment and I can make every muscle in their body ache for days and twice as many more they never knew existed.

Like everything in life, it's not about what you can get. It's about how you use what you have.

Edited by mattikake on Wednesday 19th December 00:35

[Hoofy]

mattikake said:

The right kit can cost you as little as £200 and £80 will suit most people.

Believe me, for the average gym user, spend £80 on equipment and I can make every muscle in their body ache for days and twice as many more they never knew existed.

Like everything in life, it's not about what you can get. It's about how you use what you have.

Edited by mattikake on Wednesday 19th December 00:35

Sure. That's my thinking for my specific requirements.

But that only assumes they want to achieve what you want them to achieve. What if they want to lift heavy, for instance. £200 isn't enough - well, it won't last that long.

Besides, I can make every muscle in their body ache for days without any equipment whatsoever. And I have had zero training.

Edited by Hoofy on Wednesday 19th December 00:43

[mattikake]

Hoofy said:

mattikake said:

The right kit can cost you as little as £200 and £80 will suit most people.

Believe me, for the average gym user, spend £80 on equipment and I can make every muscle in their body ache for days and twice as many more they never knew existed.

Like everything in life, it's not about what you can get. It's about how you use what you have.

Edited by mattikake on Wednesday 19th December 00:35

Sure. That's my thinking for my specific requirements.

But that only assumes they want to achieve what you want them to achieve. What if they want to lift heavy, for instance. £200 isn't enough - well, it won't last that long.

Besides, I can make every muscle in their body ache for days without any equipment whatsoever. And I have had zero training.

Edited by Hoofy on Wednesday 19th December 00:43

They go to a gym with Smiths machines, squat stations, decent racks and a spotter or two. You'd be doing well to set that lot up in your home, period, much less that willing Eunochs are hard to come by these days.

Everyone I train is about what I want them to achieve and how to achieve it. The average user hasn't the foggiest. Like any customer - they rarely ever really know what they want. Those that do, never ask for your help.

[BenM77]

Hoofy said:

Besides, I can make every muscle in their body ache for days without any equipment whatsoever. And I have had zero training.

Edited by Hoofy on Wednesday 19th December 00:43

Beating your customers up is not good for business

[Halb]

BenM77 said:

Hoofy said:

Besides, I can make every muscle in their body ache for days without any equipment whatsoever. And I have had zero training.

Edited by Hoofy on Wednesday 19th December 00:43

Beating your customers up is not good for business

Oh he meant beating, it was beating....

[Hoofy]

mattikake said:

They go to a gym with Smiths machines, squat stations, decent racks and a spotter or two. You'd be doing well to set that lot up in your home, period, much less that willing Eunochs are hard to come by these days.

Everyone I train is about what I want them to achieve and how to achieve it. The average user hasn't the foggiest. Like any customer - they rarely ever really know what they want. Those that do, never ask for your help.

P1) That's my point.
P2) Ah, well, if they don't know then it's easy enough. I guess most people whom you encounter don't know what they want so you can tell them what they want. Great business!

Anyway, what is it like to work at LA Fitness in other roles not as a PT/FI?

[Hoofy]

BenM77 said:

Hoofy said:

Besides, I can make every muscle in their body ache for days without any equipment whatsoever. And I have had zero training.

Edited by Hoofy on Wednesday 19th December 00:43

Beating your customers up is not good for business

Well, I suppose if I were to only attack the muscles then it's possible.

But there are plenty of exercises that can completely knacker you out without requiring any equipment.

[BenM77]

Halb said:

BenM77 said:

Hoofy said:

Besides, I can make every muscle in their body ache for days without any equipment whatsoever. And I have had zero training.

Edited by Hoofy on Wednesday 19th December 00:43

Beating your customers up is not good for business

Oh he meant beating, it was beating....

Did I miss an s

[Halb]

BenM77 said:

Did I miss an s

Merry Christmas ya filthy animal!!!

[Hoofy]

I must be more innocent than I thought because I don't get it.