GKR Karate Advertising

PIBlogger

I recently had a home visit from a membership consultant from a local karate club, the club was GKR Karate. I've always been interested in martial arts, so i let him go through the presentation.

The thing which caught my interest was the promotional offer. He was offering a Gold registration reduced from £98 to £49, if i bought a trail membership on the night he could offer a 4 month trail membership for £24.50

So, i thought this sounded all like a good offer, but i didn't buy anything on the night and i wanted to think about it. He said it was a 'one night only offer' but when i talked to some friends and family members that live close to me, they said that the club comes around regularly and keeps saying the same thing to get people buy a 4 month trail membership on the night.

If there is no or has never been any original price sold for £98, can they keep advertising like this? It doesn't seem like there is any offer. This has been going on for many years now by this club.

bod1467

"One night only" types of offers are almost ALWAYS bovine excrement. And even if you did take it up you'd still have a 7 day cooling off period in which you could cancel. If they don't advise you of such cancellation rights then (I think) they are breaking the law.

unholyangel

Also this (if it isnt a genuine "offer" and is merely a sales tactic to get you to sign on the night, kind of similar to when the furniture stores got in trouble for their never ending sales):

(7) Falsely stating that a product will only be available for
a very limited time, or that it will only be available on
particular terms for a very limited time, in order to elicit an
immediate decision and deprive consumers of sufficient
opportunity or time to make an informed choice.

A trader falsely tells a consumer that prices for new houses
will be increased in 7 days time, in order to pressurise him
into making an immediate decision to buy.

Listed under Banned Practices: http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/cpregs/oft1008.pdf

bod1467

That's also what I was thinking of, but couldn't think of the relevant term.

societys_child

ronart you're breaking forum rules. You must obtain permission to post on behalf of a company or business and your signature should indicate this.

artbaron

PIBlogger wrote: »

I recently had a home visit from a membership consultant from a local karate club, the club was GKR Karate. I've always been interested in martial arts, so i let him go through the presentation.

Somehow I'm imagining a scene from Ip Man. I hope you moved the furniture.

gb12345

societys_child wrote: »

ronart you're breaking forum rules. You must obtain permission to post on behalf of a company or business and your signature should indicate this.

Since this is the third time that a "representative" of the "business" has broken forum rules doing this I don't think they will care. Rather sums up their attitude doesn't it.

I would never consider using a company like GKR - my kids have both done martial arts and we have always used a small local club - a lot less sales orientated and more interested in the sport and their members.

gb12345

ronart wrote: »

Nearly 40,000 students tells you we are doing something right.

Or that you spent a couple of hundred quid buying likes.

Slowhand

ronart wrote: »

@ Societies Child. If some one can make a statement about GKR and I train and teach with GKR how is it I am not allowed to respond to their post. I am not trying to break the rules I just dont understand how I cant reply to their concerns. And also confirm that some of the statements made are not true. Am I not allowed to have my say and confirm people do pay full price. Again if I have broken the rules I apologise.

You contact MSE towers and ask to be permitted to reply and once they've checked you are who you claim to be you can post on behalf of your company.

wealdroam

Ronart, this specific part of the forum rules may help you...

How do I get a right of reply on what's been said about my company?

dacouch

The problem with Karate Instructors is their charges will always go...
higher