[Grungerock]

well kind of too late..i bought the gym membership

[grandcider]

I joined California today...the hard selling was quite an experience. First I popped into the Wanchai branch and this guy insisted that I had to fill in a form about my fitness objectives and take a blood pressure test before he could tell me their prices (he said there was 50% off today for first time guests, so I had to do all that stuff first to become a guest). He exclaimed that my heart rate was too high, which got me a bit worried (later I checked and found it within a normal range). Finally, he gave me this long pitch and said they could waive the various enrollment fees and give me a $398 deal, with 1 year commitment, good for all branches. I asked about the $199/6 weeks trial advertised in their window and also if there were any month-to-month plans; he said the trial was only good for weekday mornings and joining for a month would cost $1500. He started getting pushy and vocal, so I thanked him and left.

Later, I visited the branch in Causeway Bay and went straight to enrollment. The salesman there started explaining different entry fees...then acted as though I'd jogged his memory when I said that his colleague in Wanchai offered to waive them. I asked if there was a lower-priced plan if I only wanted to visit one location, or only on certain days--he said there wasn't. I signed up and was given a "Platinum" membership card, but strangely was never informed of any Gold, Silver or Bronze options. Right afterwards, a fitness trainer, who looked about 19, came over and started another sales pitch, saying I needed a 24 session plan @ $450 a session with him to meet my fitness goals.

So yes it's true, the sales people at California are as pushy as everyone says, but the equipment is good and the locations are great. Locker rooms are a bit crowded, but otherwise no complaints so far.

[Baron]

To be honest grandcider, i'm surprised you joined after the initial games they played!

[grandcider]

I really wanted not to join, but their locations are just too convenient and the price is pretty low.

[JaredHK]

I do not recommend Cal fitness as eventually they will find a way to screw you. The sales people are a bunch of cheap con men even worse than the fake rolex guys on the street.

As for the clubs..I use the one in TST and there is no proper drinking water for months. Thee chillers are broken and the staff claim that they cannot afford new chillers. The water out of the dispensers is milky at times. There is also a stench of raw sewage on the 1st level cardio area. the staff insist it is the smell of Yum Cha.

Last week a woman fell down the stairs outside the locker rooms. The staff took a while to contact the ambulance, refused to cover her while she was out cold and when the ambulance guys arrived the staff were joking around with them while the walked up four floors to the woman. This is the second incident I have witnessed in 2 months and the staff have no First aid training. I questioned the manager about this and she informed me that this was not part of the membership.

IMO fitness is the last thing these guys care about. A few years ago I recall reading over 200 posts on Icered all mostly complaints from members.

If you have a choice go to FF or Pure or even Physical.

[grandcider]

That sounds horrible! I must say, I'd never seen so many "trainers" milling around inside a gym before. I had trouble figuring out how to adjust the seat on one of the machines...there were five of these trainers standing nearby and not one offered any help. I don't expect to get a lot of care and attention from this place--i'm just looking for somewhere cheap and convenient for a quick workout on my own.

[JCT]

Staff at Cal fitness are really a bunch of creeps. I went there once to ask about prices and got the same stupid act as grandcider. I have never returned and very happy with my membership at Pure.

[JaredHK]

If any of the trainers do help you you can be rest assured that he will start harassing you to sign up for personal training sooner or later.

Another common scam is where they rudely inform you at the check in desk that your membership has expired and you can no longer use the facilities.

The only reason I continue to use them is because I only pay $88 a year and the location in TST is great. I work out in the mornings so its not too crowded. If I had to work out after 2pm I would sign up elsewhere as the male locker rooms can get pretty dangerous. Several of my buddies have had men entering their shower cubicles offering to help or share and that is very creepy.

[andy8002001]

Does anyone know whether any of the gyms in Central offer an indoor swimming pool ??

[Kimmi]

Im a member of the central branch, I inititaly signed up on a corporate membership for 6 months but now I have cancelled it. I find the place just to huge and the trainers wont even give you a program to follow or show you how to use the equipment. They want you to sign on the dotted line for expensive personal training. Im not against personal training, but this is expensive!. I just felt too pressured by them.