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Post by cheryl on Oct 9, 2017 1:50:00 GMT
john, you claim that fitpass is loved by all but a handful of "disengaged" owners. So here's a challenge for you...
Make it an opt in program for 2 months, lets say November and December and see just how many clubs opt OUT. Make it a home-club only program (this prevents a low volume club from impacting a high volume club) Make sure this option is listed in the featured news and snap blog, oh wait, you call that one a forum (even though it's censored like crazy). This forum you refer to as a blog, even though the website if freeFORUMS.
So how about it john. Let's see how many owners decide they want to opt-in. And let's not count the corporate stores. C'mon this'll be fun.
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Post by determined1 on Oct 15, 2017 18:33:28 GMT
I for one would opt out in an instant. Giving things away for free (but paying corporate) isn't much of a game plan (unless you're corporate). I don't see corporate giving anything away for free.
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Post by greenergrass on Oct 16, 2017 2:14:21 GMT
Yeah - I would opt out. But regardless of I do, we will still those members who stop in to join and then seem shocked to hear that our monthly rate is not ~$10. It happened to me recently.
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Post by cheryl on Oct 18, 2017 13:37:26 GMT
I don't see what opting out has to do with the $10 clubs. We have a couple $10 clubs and even a $5/month club (Free if you work out 3 days or more per week). We explain why we're a better value. Some see it, some don't. Those that don't, walk. Some walk back. We typically have 2 or 3 people per month switch over to us from PF. Also, the $5/month club just went out of business 3 weeks ago.
You have to be able to explain what makes your club better than those $10/month clubs. If you're club isn't better then you've gotta figure out what will.
Until you stop letting people use your club for 30 days for $8.95 it'll be tough to make your point. They paid $8.95, that's now the value established by corporate. That's not the value we set. The Ritz Carlton isn't letting me stay at their hotel for 2 days at $20/night. If they did I'd snag it, but think the chain must be having financial hardships. That's the question I field by my members, and it's coming from letting people use the club for 30 days for $8.95. I wanna open my bank account and ask, "Does this look like struggling?", but then we'd be getting into boasting. I really just want to avoid the subject.
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Post by firecrackergirl on Oct 19, 2017 3:58:00 GMT
Would love to show them my bank account. I think they'd be in shock at my non-profit business
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Post by cheryl on Nov 8, 2017 3:55:50 GMT
<crickets> JV knows about 90% of the clubs would opt out of the "very popular" program. It's why it's only being crammed down the throats of those in the US and Canada. Oh, unless you count 9round. Not offered in any of those clubs regardless of what country. Hmmmmm.... wonder why that is. If their login holds true for Snap in the US then why not 9round?
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Post by escapeclause on Nov 18, 2017 2:56:15 GMT
Is anyone else bugged by how easy it is to get multiple Fit Passes? Open a new gmail account and get yet another Fit Pass. Pretty easy for previous members too. Think about how much revenue corporate gets for giving away 30 day freebies to our clubs? Using a smart phone to access clubs would be a great option. Think anyone would lend their phone to a buddy? They are making too much money on $5 HID cards to give us a much better option. Cell phone wifi systems can sell access for an certain time period per day (like non-peak times), an hour, a day, week or a month. Not much motivation to do anything corporate can't make great margin on. Not much effort in improving my margin!
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Post by snaplongtimer on Nov 18, 2017 15:38:20 GMT
It's a losing battle. I believe if a previous member from however long ago tries to purchase a fitpass, corp may consider them a new member and allow them to do it. I recently had one from a few years ago buy a fitpass. Same exact name, birthdate, address everything.
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Post by determined1 on Nov 18, 2017 20:38:26 GMT
When you receive an email that they've purchased a fitpass you'll need to call them up and let them know that the fitpass is only for new members. I advise them to contact their credit card company and dispute the charge, stating they weren't aware it's for new members only because it's hidden on the snap web site. I also change their access card number to one of the dead cards we have (yes, there's a use for those dead cards). When I'm able to cancel the membership I do so. I also email my BPS that the fitpass is invalid.
Did they go over this process at the convention? No? Oh, well this is something I'm sure all attendees in 2018 will be glad to know about, making their forced attendance worth it.
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Post by cheryl on Dec 10, 2017 21:16:21 GMT
Funny, john doesn't want to make it an opt-in program because he knows that almost no one wants this program in their club and that's it's only beneficiary is corporate. This is why it's not offered in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, etc. Only the US where there are more clubs and they've given up on roping in new franchisees. In those other countries they know it wouldn't be well received. Once they get the numbers up and feel they're closer to full saturation it'll be a different story.
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Post by determined1 on Jan 27, 2018 0:32:27 GMT
*** crickets ***
They are fully aware that over 90% of clubs would opt out the second they're given the chance. I'd not only want to see it made an opt-in program, but I'd want to know what the statistics are for opt-outs.
In the forum the fat man tries to state how successful it is. However, here's a scenario we see play over and over again. Prospect comes into the club. Likes what they see and inquires about pricing. Checks out a couple other gyms and decides they like yours. They search online at sites like retailmenot.com, groupon.com, ibotta, etc. Eventually they discover they can save a month's worth of dues (less $8.95) by going no further than the snap site. Funny, what other company cuts their own throat to let you save money up front? After their trial is up they, of course, sign up, because this was their intent all along.
So now you've left money on the table and corporate points at this and says "look how successful this is". Sorry, you're reading data and coming to an invalid conclusion because you don't have all the facts. Oops, that's what happens when you have an "engaged" owner. Maybe you should pray for "disengaged" owners. It helps with your narrative.
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Post by iwishicoulddoitover on Jan 27, 2018 3:44:54 GMT
"After their trial is up they, of course, sign up, because this was their intent all along"...If this would only happen.... In my world, I get the "Hi, I have a shitpass and I just got my notice about canceling so I did, but I'm still going to use your gym for then next X number of days!"
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Post by determined1 on Jan 27, 2018 4:49:24 GMT
Yes, that's the other scenario. However, at this point I think the majority of those that do that have been caught(by us) trying to do another shitpass and get denied. However, we did have one that signed up and then terminated almost immediately after he signed up, because of course he was home on break and needed a club to use. Other members in the gym mentioned that to us and we let him know his shitpass was null and void because he's not a year round resident.
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Post by cheryl on Feb 8, 2018 23:08:37 GMT
Bumping, to make sure jv sees it.
Make this theft by corporate an opt-in program.
Kinda like roadside thieves giving their victims an opt-out.
"Good day fine sir, we're here to rob you. However, we're also giving you the ability to opt-out"
Is it any wonder he ignores this?
Franchisees first my ass
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Post by isthisheaven on Feb 9, 2018 1:37:23 GMT
Okay here is another doozie I guess I wasn't informed about. Member signed up online on a Sunday, emails us and corporate on Monday that they acted too quickly and really just can afford it at this time. Corporate issues a refund. I touched nothing for money exchange...and wait for it........I got charged 15$ for finders fee and a new member fee for this person. And I just realized by beginning memberships + new in fit ware = total. Corporate is not only charging me a new member fee but they are adding those in to the "maintenance fees" as well!!!!! The total = the member + new (I did the math). WTFFFFFFFFFFFFF. This can't be right!!!!! Double charged???
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