This is one of those issues that you likely don’t care about. Unless you’re a Premier member — in which case, you care a lot. Like Garlon Ebanks, who has a great name and writes:
I attended the forum last night hosted by LTM in what was advertised as an opportunity to get questions answered and provide feedback. While the feedback was provided by current members, probably more than the LTM personnel had expected, very little was answered. I agree that people generally don’t like change, but it’s especially difficult when those changes aren’t defined.
From October 1st when personnel from LTM first showed up at Premier Club, current members have been continually disappointed with unanswered questions and patronizing conversation. All of these experiences have been extremely negative and have created an air of distrust between current Premier Club members and LTM. Simple questions such as what will happen to the pool, the basketball court, the racquetball court and daycare could not or would not be answered.
The LTM corporate team that lead last night’s forum expected the members to believe that a multi-million dollar corporation such as LTM would acquire an existing gym, having done months of due diligence and three weeks after taking over the management, still have no clue of the intentions and directions of the future club. Yet they took a lot of pride in their professionalism and held up their vast experience and success in operating health clubs. The general consensus among current members is that LTM prefers not to disclose its intentions at this point. One thing that is known is that our membership dues have increased. When the question was posed to LTM about future increases, the question was glossed over and not answered.
Premier Club is a community of long-term members whose lives overlap in many areas — business, family, church, etc… It’s more than just a place to work out. Its location is in a close knit community within Dallas as well. LTM should not discount the value of our local community. There are few areas in the country that share such a cohesive spirit.
I would pose the question to LTM about their normal mode of transitioning an existing facility to their model. LTM has stubbed their toe from day one, and continues to disappoint and anger current members. I think it’s time for us to get some answers to our questions before the flood gate of members opens. There’s a crack in the damn and LTM needs to address this quickly and definitively.
While I am sure the finished product LTM provides will be much nicer than our current amenities, its not about the wallpaper, the granite counter tops, or the ability to use other LTM locations. IT’S THE PEOPLE! A point thats clearly doesn’t fit the LTM corporate model.
LTM is in the business to provide customer service. It’s time they step up to the plate and do so.
I had lunch today with a hedge fund manager to talk shop. Turns out he’s a member at Premier, too. But not after the end of the month. We both agreed that the transition has been handled poorly and that we won’t stay with Life Time come October 31. Then he begged me not to say where he’s going (and where I’ll likely go). Doesn’t want it swamped with new business.
Feel free to comment.
8 comments
Garlon is right. The Premier Club is successful because it’s a neighborhood gym with a neighborhood gym atmosphere. Lifetime is doing everything they can to change that. A pox on them.
What are you requirements for a new gym, Tim? B-ball court? Lots of mirrors? Free Propecia?
I have been a member since May, 1987. I met my wife in 1988. Do the math. Okay, that wasn’t that hard. But my point is: I am sad. My dues would go up over 50 dollars a month. That is wine money. Premier was perfect. Basketball. Weights. Yoga classes. Free towels. LIfeTime says if I go with them I can have access to all their facilities in the metroplex. Thanks. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been in Flower Mound and wanted to drop in and take a pilates class. I’m going to the Downtown Y or the JCC and Lifetime can kiss my ass.
Dave Little and I have showered many times together. That’s what I’ll miss the most about Premier.
Also, I hear from someone close to the pool instructors that the pool is definitely going away. I hasten to add that this has not been confirmed. Life Time won’t confirm anything. But it makes sense. If I bought Premier, I’d get rid of the pool and basketball court, too. From a revenue standpoint, those amenities don’t make sense. Too much space used by too few members.
How can a company that just put on the US Open of triathlons in Dallas this past Sunday, and that has triathlon training programs, not have a pool at their Dallas location?
Let’s get the facts straight. Tim and I have showered at the Premier Club many times. I’m at a loss as to why Tim has to shower. He doesn’t play hard enough to sweat. And LifeTime fitness can still kiss my ass.
Dave, you crack me up! I will also be switching from the new “Lifetime” Fitness to a smaller gym closer to my house. I am leaving because my trainer is also leaving. I have enjoyed working out here for the past 3 years and I hope to stay in touch with the good friends that I have met through Premier.
I do not belong to the premier club and have my opinions about the members and staff there but what I do belong to is the ever growing club that dislikes lifetime fitness. If what I am saying isn’t obvious yet then I will say it like this, Lifetime fitness and everything related to them sucks really hard!