FACTS:
– After 8 years, Hollywood Fitness (formerly known as Family Gym) is closing in Coronado due to the ‘Current Economic Situation.’ As per a sheet of paper describing their move and reasons for closing, they are honoring memberships and transferring them to the new facility (meant to be 40,000 sq feet).
– Over this past summer, Family Gym transferred to new management and renamed themselves Hollywood Fitness. During this change, there was an influx of new members signing on to offers being promoted by the staff. According to an employee, they spent “up to $65,000 on equipment and upgrades” to the Orange Ave. facility.
– Less than 6 months later, the facility is moving. Those who have signed up for membership in the last 2 months, are eligible for a full refund. Those who signed up prior to 2 months ago, are meant to write an email (as seen on the red sheet) stating your case, however, there is a clause that states that so long as a new facility is within 10 miles of the current one, your membership stays and will be transferred. The new facility is 4 miles from its current one but requires members to drive.
– The new facility is located off the J St/94 E exit off 5 North but no specific address is given. The general location can be seen here.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:
My wife and I signed up for Hollywood Fitness in June of this year – we signed on for 3 years of membership as we were told that under new management, there would be new investments and that the facility would stay. We also got a great deal for signing up for that long. Due to their current rules, we are NOT eligible for a refund – which would be upwards of $900 prorated.
After talking to an owner of Hollywood Fitness about this move, they stated that the decision to move was made 2 weeks ago. Despite this, while at the gym two days ago, an employee was showing a couple around, inviting them to join.
Attached below is the sheet of paper Hollywood Fitness is handing out – on the back, you can see the clause that allows them to transfer your membership and fees to the new facility – and if you can’t read the fine print, they have conveniently circled the part that binds you to them if you signed up prior to 2 months ago.
The clause that binds you is conveniently circled on these sheets they are handing out.
I don’t know about you, but I feel misled. If they really spent $65,000 on equipment and upgrades, shouldn’t I be able to get my $900 refund? I feel like we signed up with inaccurate information, and now I am being held to a clause that says they are allowed to keep my money even if I would never get in my car to use the new gym. I should have seen it coming after they ran out of towels 2 days ago…
Are you a Hollywood Fitness member? What do YOU think?
If you have any ideas for stories, please contact Akshay at [email protected]
