Gym membership - false advertising!?

DontWorryAboutItPal

I recently signed up for an off peak gym membership where the breakdown of conditions is advertised as follows (far left):



The hyperlink for "limited hours" specifies "Use gym any time except M-F 15H30-20H30". No problem, very clear.

However, the hyperlink for "Classes included with membership" says "unlimited classes included with membership" if you click on it. The word "unlimited" suggests no limits - e.g. time-wise, availability-wise, fitness-wise - nothing about "off peak" or "limited" hours is specified.

My question is: if the class hours and the gym hours are exactly the same, why doesn't it just say "Limited hours" under both subheadings (i.e. "Classes" and "gym")?

I feel like this is false advertising. The big tick symbol AND lack of timetable specified for the classes subheading give the impression that classes are available any time, which is why I signed up - but now I'm told this isn't the case.

Why not specify that they're BOTH on the same timetable so that people are clear BEFORE they confirm their membership? Surely that's an easy fix? Or is it deliberate to lure people in (and therefore false advertising)?

I've asked for the detailed T&Cs where this is INDEED actually made clear, but the company seem reticent to send them over to me.... hmmmm...

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

elsien

I would have read it opposite to you. 

If my cheaper membership says I have access only  between 330 and 830 pm then I would presume that I also only have access to the classes running within that time.
Of course, any lack of clarity with the contract should be checked before signing on the dotted line? 

MeteredOut

I'd read that page as meaning that classes will be limited to the hours allowed within the membership package you choose.

Based on what you've said, it does sound like their wording is not as tight as it should be, but, you've not shared the full wording behind the "Limited hours" and "Classes included with membership" links so I'm not sure how others can suggest whether they find it misleading or class it as false advertising.

Just because the classes and gym hours are currently the same, it does not mean they always were, or always will be.

Are you still within the cooling off period?

la531983

How did you think you would get in the gym to do the classes without being allowed on any of the equipment whilst in there?

The restriction is done by blocking your access to the building (the building the classes are also in) between the times specified. 

HampshireH

I think it's really obvious from the pricing page that everything in the column below the option is related to the limited hours.

It's specified when you click the price and it highlights everything in the column. With limited hours being really clear from the offset

The below is what you get when you click on the i icon. (I've picked a random location to see it - whilst the times may vary I've assumed the format doesn't?)

DontWorryAboutItPal

@elsien - totally agree, that's why I've asked for the final sign-up T&Cs again - they've disappeared and aren't on my online portal, but needed to be acknowledged and accepted pre-finalising the membership. It's possible I've missed something and that this is perfectly explained within them, but I didn't see it first time. Hopefully they send them over and prove me wrong!

DontWorryAboutItPal

@MeteredOut - still in the cooling-off period yes, that's my fall-back. As for full wording, here it is for "Use the gym anytime" (very clear, no issues with this):



For the classes, it's this (where my issue is):

DontWorryAboutItPal

@HampshireH - you say it's "specified when you click the price and it highlights everything in the column", but what you have highlighted is still only the part under "Use the gym anytime", and it unfortunately does not say, as you've suggested, that the entire membership operates under those time restrictions.

Further to my point, if you click the "classes" part, whether you've highlighted the entire column or not, there are no restrictions on hours laid out, as I've shown in the screenshots reply above to @MeteredOut.

@la531983 - to your point on access, bear with me.

Why would I, as a new customer, assume that the classes only take place in the gym? Or that I had to go through it to get to the classes and that this implies the same time restrictions? Or that I had to access "the building" and undoubtedly use the equipment from the gym to do a class and therefore I should obviously know that the classes and gym are on the same timetable restrictions under my plan? Why would it be implied and, in your opinion, obvious to a brand new customer? Why not just put "limited hours" under "classes"?

Stay with me: in leisure centres, spas, hotels and pre-season camps I've visited and worked at previously, classes and gyms have been separate with separate entry systems. Is it not feasible that in this gym, the classes take place somewhere completely separate with a separate entry system? Is it impossible that there is a way to access firstly the building, and then secondly the classes in a different part of the facility from the gym AND even access the gym if I'm there at the right time (which I understand as the hours have been clearly explained to me when I click on the "gym" part)?

Maybe you've been in more of these places than I have, but I take the information as it's presented - i.e. there are no specified time restrictions on classes, but there are on gym use. I will therefore conclude that I can go to a class whenever I want, but I cannot go to the gym whenever I want. Does that make sense?

It all leads back to my question: why not use the same "limited hours" hyperlink for the classes as they did the gym part? Then there's no confusion or ambiguity?

prowla

Are the classes in separate rooms to the main gym?

If so, it is possible that the gym access is limited but classes are not.

It's probably best to ask for clarification.

la531983

prowla said:

Are the classes in separate rooms to the main gym?

If so, it is possible that the gym access is limited but classes are not.

It's probably best to ask for clarification.

Its Pure Gym.

There is one way in and one way out. Access is via an 8 digit PIN. If you dont have access to the gym, you dont have access to the classes.

Every one of their premises is the same.

HampshireH

Stay with me: in leisure centres, spas, hotels and pre-season camps I've visited and worked at previously, classes and gyms have been separate with separate entry systems.

But this isn't a leisure centre spa hotel or pre season camp. It's a Gym (specifically PureGym)

I think you're clutching at straws. The website is pretty self explanatory.

The gym is the whole venue. Most people check out where they are signing up to before they sign up