markj Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 I'm a member of Virgin Gym, i have the diamond membership so pay £41 per month on a fixed 12 month contract. The gym has excellent facilities but i am getting more and more annoyed recently. Here are my most recent gripes, does anyone else get peed off by this or anything else: 1. Membership cap - ever go down on a Monday evening - you must do because it seems like all of sheffield is there - no parking spaces at all. Surely they have to cap the membership at some point like most reputable gyms do. 2. Lockers. I can only speak for the mens changing room but i generally try to go down at quiet times like early sunday morning etc, and although the place is empty i am amazed to find that there are usually about 3 available lockers in the whole bloody changing room. There are notes around telling people not to leave there things but obviously the staff never do anything about this as it as people seem to keep lockers permenantly. 3. GRAVITY - the new equipment in the gym. Can i use this equipment - only after an induction - how much - £45!!! so i pay to use the equipment in the gym but then they bring in new equipment and charge the earth to use it! Does that sound like a con to anyone else? Apparently the gym has a members committe but i dont know who they are and im sure the members comments box is used for a laugh for the employees. Remember i dont hate the place, the staff are nice and the facilities are great, it is just let down by these stupid things. Ok, Rant over - comments please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipine Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 I've been a member since it opened and I'm now on the 12 month contract thing for £39 a month. I would generally recommend it, its way better than all the other gyms in Sheffield I've been to (esporta, livingwell, greens). BUT.. it is rather busy on a monday... I tend to go tues and thurs and at the weekend. The gravity thing is just plain wrong - why should we have to pay to use equipment in a gym we're already paying to go to? (if you'll notice tho, hardly anyone is using them so I reckon they'll get rid of them soon.) Its quite rare for there to be no lockers in the girls changing room... maybe we're better at taking our stuff home! If you've got issues you should tell them in person, I know people who've complained about various things and if you ask to see the manager he does seem to be very helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
go4it Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 Every single gym is heaving on a Monday and Tuesday. Generally people start the week well with good intentions, and they fade as the week goes on! Also, if people are working out 3 times a week, most will choose Monday to work out on, it helps to burn off Sunday lunch, weekend splurges!! The Gravity thing is wrong. You pay a joining fee (which is wrong, and may in a few years in my opinion be proved illegal), and then pay a membership fee, to then pay an induction fee to use some 'special' equipment. You won't be surprised to know that every department has targets, and they get into trouble if they don't hit them. The only way is which a joining fee is justified is if you are actually joining a club, a club in the sense that their are lots of things going on. Your £41 a month pays for the gym, what is your £20-80 you paid on 'joining' gone to? Are there members parties? Social events? Disco nights? Are you actually part of a friendly social club, or have you just got use of the facilities and that's it? The kids bit of Virgin Active recently ran a disco for the kids, but charged £5 each. That's is just wrong, if the adults have paid the joining fee it should be free of charge! When Virgin Active opened years ago, it prided itself on no tying people down to contracts. Now they have gone back on that, and offer this Diamond Membership, with benefits that aren't that special. As for a members committee, never heard of one. The members comments box does little good, more than likely to get a letter saying 'thank you for your concern, will consider it, many thanks'. What do you do? You need to voice your concerns to the manager, face to face. Don't let a pushy wannabe manager from Front of House pass on messages for you. You can't do a lot about lockers and Monday nights, but certainly the Gravity thing. If you are not happy with the response get in contact with the Head Office at Milton Keynes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey55 Posted October 8, 2006 Share Posted October 8, 2006 Im a member of the virgin gym, and your right on the monday night thing when you cant shift for the crowd there. As for the membership capping, i dont think that will happen. Its a part of Richard Branson's empire & its all about profit. The management would'nt care if we were queing for an hour to use a certain machine as long as their memberships went up. Their always advertising in the press to get new people to join, bring a mate ect!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
go4it Posted October 8, 2006 Share Posted October 8, 2006 Very true Davey55, the gym is all about making money. There is a sign on the front saying something like your health and fitness is it's number one priority, but in reality you are all a number (member 1-10,000) and they aim to get as much money from each member as possible. If you are unhappy about anything, fill out a comment card. If that response is no good, ask to speak to the manager. With regards to the gym being busy, you could argue that they should remove the fee paying Gravity machines and install more 'free to use' machines. If you are still unhappy, tell them that you will send a letter of concern to Frank Reed at Milton Keynes Head Office. He's big chums with Branson. Someone has to make a stand against them. They are taking the mick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fudbeer Posted October 8, 2006 Share Posted October 8, 2006 this is one of the reasons I stay with Esporta 1,Never cant get a parking space. 2,Never have to wait for a machine 3,Never uncomfortably busy usually quiet was in earlier this evening 4 people in the gym Those benefits woth more than the newer machines and extra facilitties you get at virgin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
go4it Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 this is one of the reasons I stay with Esporta 1,Never cant get a parking space. 2,Never have to wait for a machine 3,Never uncomfortably busy usually quiet was in earlier this evening 4 people in the gym Those benefits woth more than the newer machines and extra facilitties you get at virgin. The idea behind going 'private' for anything is that you getting a better service quicker. There are 'private' gyms and community gyms (leisure centres), in the same way as there are private hospitals and the NHS. Esporta is the only gym to really acknowledge this, and they have created a private health club which is laid back, where you can walk in and get on the treadmill straight away (no fancy machines or anything). Although I disagree with the ethics of most private gyms, in particular the one run by the big man with the big beard, I have respect for Esporta. If you don't mind queuing up for equipment then join a community gym or join Fitness Unlimited, the money you pay is invested back into it. If you want luxury and want to walk into a gym and get on equipment straight away, join Esporta. The kids facilities are free at Esporta, so by paying for your luxury some kid is getting some free fitness. If you have lots of money you want to get rid of, in my opinion join Virgin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzybmzoo Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 Totally agree. I'm a member at Greens and they seem to have the balance just right. Admittedly, I go in my lunch hour & weekends when it is less busy than 5pm+ but I still feel that there services, cleanliness, lack of di*k-heads & facilities is spot on. There are a couple of gripes I would make if it were a perfect world, but it ain't. At the end of the day, I want to be able to go, train & get out with the minimum of fuss, which I feel Greens does superbly. I have been down to Virgin and that is what struck me - it's just too busy. A fantastic place but over subscribed. My mother is off work this week and told me she went down this Monday at 10am & it was rammed! If that's the case what's it gonna be like @ 5pm+?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markj Posted October 10, 2006 Author Share Posted October 10, 2006 It's good to know that other people feel the same way as i do about the gym. I have friends who are members who say the same things. The thing i love about Virgin is all the facilities, i dont think i'd be able to find somewhere else with all the same facilities, also my years membership is far from over so i suppose im stuck for now - if i was posh i'd look for a country club I think i am going to have a word with the manager if i get chance - i like ruffling feathers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnysingh Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 im a member of greens and was thinking of joining Virgin but starting to think twice now. At green you dont really have to wait for machines and because its not over packed and its got some really friendly people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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