However, this time, I'm not blogging about any from the above mentioned. I would like to share about a case which happened last Tuesday on one friend of mine.
I usually go to the gym (FYI, I'm no longer going to Fitness First but California Fitness instead, beginning October) with Rudy, a coursemate of mine to the branch in Sunway Pyramid and Isaac and Edwin to the Mid-Valley Megamall branch. And as usual, I headed to the gym in Pyramid last Friday (Oct 26th, 2007) as I had spare time while waiting for Christine to finish her work in the afternoon. As I secured the locker (California Fitness required the customers to bring their own padlock to secure their lockers) after I had changed to my workout gear before heading out for the exercises, the security guard (I wondered what're the security guards role in the changing room...) who was stationed in the changing room stopped me. He warned me that I shouldn't use the combination padlock which I'm currently using to secure the locker as there was a case which happened on the previous day where the locker was broken into and the combination padlock was in used. All things were stolen. I was thinking that it was bad to happen on someone in the gym and what popped into my mind was how did the management react to the matter...
During the night on the same day, I was at home surfing around and I found a bulletin post in the Friendster which sounded like this "NEED SOME HELP Here, Regarding California Fitness!". And I looked at the poster, it was Rudy! I clicked on the bulletin post, this is what I've found:
"Tuesday night i went to california fitness gym at sunway pyramid. AS usual i used the combination padlock to secure my locker room. After 2 hours, when i came back, i was shocked that my belongings are gone, juz left my t-shirt and towel. I reported to the gym, n they blaimed me for not using the KEY padlock, and there is a notice sticked at the locker room , n it is written in the agreement that i have signed. I refered back to the agreement(which normally ppl dun care to read- or maybe they purposely make it so long so that ppl wont read)- YEs it does mention that any losses or stolen, they are not responsible for it. BUt, it s stated that COMBINATION PADLOCK is not RECOMMENDED....
NOT RECOMMENDED i honestly believe that means it is not Suggested, and whcih means it is allowed! and we can use it! Dont u agree?? And I believe it is their responsibility to ensure that they provide a SAFE and SECURED environment for GymGoers to workout. BEsides that, it is very inconvenient for us to bring the key along, esp when ur jogging on the treadmill, and the sauna room restricted metal stuffs. How m i supposed to use a KEY Padlock???? anywa y, i requested to view at the cctv, and they said i need to lodge a police report 1st. I DID that, n they asked me to wait,coz they need to seek approval from HONG KONG HQ thru E-MAIL! i was pissed off... it seems like they are not taking any responsibilities and taking this matter lightly. They also claim that there is no point of me viewing the CCTV, coz the angle of the CCTV is focusing on their workers itself.
HEY!!! What's the point of u having CCTV then?? To check whether ur workers are touching each others at the Front Desk?? I admit, i might have neglected the notice, but still.... i strongly believe that they should take responsibility of us consumers. We paid for such environment afterall...
I suffered an estimated RM2000 loss. Wallet- IC, credit card, ATM card (The Thief managed to withdraw all my money), Student ID, Cash RM100) Hand Phone. A book i borrowed from the library(AUS200) and brand new Pants i've juz bought. misc.
From what i've told, there are many cases like this b4, but none of them made a police report, n i assume they dun care bout this matter.
Do i have the right to blame the gym?
I need some advice from those who have read this and some support.
Thanks,
RUDD"
The contents above are in its original and have not been changed. I was wondering, what the heck the management of California Fitness is doing? That's a bad and poor management of customer care. I just feel that the gyms in Malaysia thought that the Malaysian consumers are blind or stupid. We have mouths and words of mouth are very powerful tool to determine whether one business will succeed or fail in time to come. I wonder how could a company which is based in capitalist countries like Hong Kong or US where consumers are king, provide such services to the customers. A customer like Rudy has already been so upset on the loss of his belongings, the management was giving even much more headache to him for the procedures which he had to go through. I understand that procedures are procedures but there are definitely better ways to handle the situation than ordering him around and giving him troubles. The management and staff of California Fitness need training on how to handle customers in times of trouble, seriously.
For consumers, better fight for your rights. We consumers, do not want to be bullied and be treated like idiots. I' just so sick that over and over again, the companies are taking advantage of Malaysian consumers. Exemption clauses like bla..bla..bla...not responsible for the loss...death..bla..bla...bla..? No way. Better work on how to give the best to the customers.
