We got a call - from the gym…..
By
on
September 15th, 2005
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This evening our gym called us. Our super duper gym actually called and asked why Sandra was not working out more. They were nice and polite but it made me laugh so much I had to sit down.
Sandra belongs to a very nice gym close to our house. She has been a member since January when we got back from our three month trip to Mexico. The gym got everything you can ever imagine. They even got free childcare!! Your can drop your kid off in the child care section of the club for an hour and a half. Of course without any charge. We asked if they could keep him the whole week if we gave them some cash but they politely declined. So Sandra has been using the gym less than we thought but she also plays tennis a couple of times a week and goes running. Anyway, lately she has not been visiting much because of our Mexican visitors, eye surgery, and summer vacations. So the gym called tonight to ask where she is and why she’s not at the gym. This is the second time they contact us, first time was a letter asking politely about her absence. I can imagine some people would find it very offensive and embarrassing that the gym called. But we’re just laughing about it.
I like that they pay attention to their members and I’m sure it’s kind of a carrot for many. Some people must be thinking, "I have to train more so they don’t call me at home" The phone call and the letter wouldn’t be so funny unless Sandra was in such awesome shape. I don’t mean "not fat", or that she can walk 2 miles without stopping. She is super fit. She can easily go for a 10k run and then play two hours of tennis without any problems. Or go for a long mountain-bike with her crazy husband and then hit the gym. And she’s not 20 any more, she’s 34.
Now every time the phone rings I ask her if it was the gym. She’s not amused any more and actually promised the gym to be there tomorrow. She felt so guilty. Daniel is now a kindergarten until 3 PM so she’s got plenty of time to take care of herself, and visit the gym….
I work for the YMCA. We do this too. Studies show if you don’t use it you will cancel it and we don’t want you to cancel it! Of course studies also show that those who sign up for automatice withdrawal from the checking account are too lazy to cancel and will keep paying long after they stop coming.