ExtremeFitnessForum

Clark Lonergan · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

Mr. Venet;

I know you have had continued talks with my wife, as I have been tied up with meetings today and I thank you for that continued dialogue.

However, that you are penalizing her for continuing to work-out at the gym, mostly Thornhill is a grave misjustice considering that she and I are PAYING to work out. We are unfortunately not working out together regularly as I am simply fed up with the unsafe conditions - smells, overcrowding, etc that she now goes by herself - this conditions continue see below!
Examining the frequency of my wifes work-outs does not show the entire picture, such as the number of times she has gone to Thornhill because I won't go work out with her in your facility, the number of times she has cut her work-outs short due to headaches from the smells in your club, the lack of adequate lighting on the second floor, the fear of weights falling on her due to the unsafe overcrowding of your gym, or the number of times she has come back from your gym frustated from dealing with your staff and the length of this continued greivance.

You have told us from the very beginning that you could not make decisions regarding cancellation of our memberships, noting that it was a head office decision and thus the reason I asked for the contact information of someone else I could speak with. I found the emails of certain individuals on my own, on a forum that is made up of dissatisfied members of your club and never did receive the information from you or Elliot (manager) over a period of several weeks, not days. However, upon my wife speaking with Katie Wagar of Extreme Fitness (who responded to our BBB 1169274 complaint) this afternoon, it has come to our attention that the GM of the club does have the power to cancel memberships and was shocked that your would say it was a head office concern - I am assuming that information was "unintentionally" ommitted in your discussions to us.

We have tried to meet you in the middle, asking that your offer of 2 or 3 free months be applied to our first year of use so that we can "minimize our time spent" at your facility. Our number one concern is that we get out of your unsafe facility as soon as possible, so adding 2 or 3 months (even though free of charge) at the end of the first year totally defeats that purpose.

Having the motivation to work out is hard enough without all the stresses of a unsafe environment and unresponsive staff.

We are totally not satisfied with the safety of the gym (welding in open areas, strong smells causing headaches, no water to drink, crowding to the point where people were lifting weights over my head and/or body) and my wife and I are planning on starting a family in the near future making the situation even more paramount.

It has now come to a point where we are no longer satisfied with any aspects of your gym and it is for that reason we are effective today giving you commercially reasonable notice of 1 month to the cancellation of our memberships. We will drop off cheques for the month of December to you attention.

This email has been sent to the Better Business Bureau and posted on the web-site forum.

I would appreciate your response by the end of business tomorrow, confirming this canacellation effective December 17th (as you noted your gym is closed Dec 17/07 to Jan 2/0 Cool

, while paying you for the full month of December.

.
Kind regards
Clark Lonergan

Director - Business Development
Magna International Inc.
337 Magna Drive
Aurora, Ontario, Canada L4G 7K1
Direct: (905) 726-7017
Fax: (905) 726-7177

See below for another example of a disatisfied member and it occured on Dec 4th, 2007.

chrismartelli

Joined: 05 Dec 2007
Posts: 2

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:04 pm Post subject: Extremely Toxic

Who knew that going to the gym could actually kill you? Not only did I find it disgustingly smelly in there last night (December 4th), I could feel my lungs closing up. The smell of burning plastic lingered in the air from all the welding taking place (around 5pm). I tolerated the moving of the equipment, no hot water, the disappearance of equipment,the cold temps in there, broken water fountains... but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

"Steve Venet" <SteveV@extremefitness.info>
12/05/2007 11:24 AM
To
<Clark_Lonergan@magna.on.ca>
cc
"Taso Pappas" <TasoP@extremefitness.info>
Subject
Memberships

Mr Lonergan,

I am sending you this email to reiterate our position on your memberships here at Extreme Fitness, we are willing to offer you both three months time credit do to the situation at the club, this will also include our shutdown of the facilities from Dec 17/07 to Jan 2/08. I will expect a response from you in order to facilitate this documentation.

Steve Venet
General Manager
Danforth

ExtremelyAngry · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 114 Location: Riverdale, Toronto

admin · Site Admin Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 132

You know, I keep shaking my head about these people. Why on earth would they not just give their unhappy members their money back and keep them satisfied. That way, they will have a snowball's chance in hell to get them back once the (toxic) dust settles.

If these guys had any business sense whatsoever, they would offer first a package, say 3 to 6 months free extended membership, to begin once the construction is finished. Then, if that is unsatisfactory, let them cancel their memberships and refund any balance. That would leave at least a trace of respect for this company in the mind of the cancelling member, and would encourage them to come back. This would make for good publicity and a good business reputation. But it seems instead, that once they have your money, you're SOL! It just doesn't make any sense. It's very suspicious.

ExtremelyAngry · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 114 Location: Riverdale, Toronto

That's because they're in the cash flow business, not the fitness business.

admin · Site Admin Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 132

A lot of companies are in the cash flow business. But they still do their best to satisfy an unhappy customer: to protect their reputation, and have return clients. Clearly, they are too immature as businessmen to realize this virtue. Think of the biggest companies, Walmart, Best Buy even, all these companies give cash back to unsatisfied customers. What this management is doing is nose-diving the company into the ground. All that Capital seed money will mean nothing, if they keep up this style of business.

I for one would close down this forum, if they just granted my two simple requests: membership cancellation, and my balance refunded. Instead, they risk all this bad press over what is to them a few bucks. It's just very suspicious.

chrismartelli · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 19

I'm rubbing my eyes to make sure I've read this correctly... the gym will be shutting down????
re: shutdown of the facilities from Dec 17/07 to Jan 2/08

This is clearly madness!!!

Clark Lonergan · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

I don't even want my 3 months refunded as I did use the gym sparingly - I just want to cancel my contract and they won't do it.... totally ridculous.

They keep offering 3 months extra after the year is over... why would I want to stay any longer at this gym. Steve has power to do a lot of things and he has chosen to ignore the problem for weeks and then offer something we don't want.

It is very said when you feel like a prisoner when you are paying to go to their gym.

I will update everyone with their response.

Antonia · Joined: 05 Nov 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Toronto

I just wanted to update everybody on my dealings with Steve Venet.

Today I went to Extreme after my very pleasant workout out at Riverdale Fitness which, by the way, is having a Christmas party next Saturday for members and their kids. Beer, wine, nibbles, live music, the works.

I was appalled when I walked into Extreme. The noise, the dust, the space that has shrunk even more ... well, I don't have to tell you.

The reception staff was very polite, but protective of Steve. They directed me instead to Elliot the assistant manager (I think) who was totally unfamiliar with my previous phone and in-person discussions with Steve.

Although it was cordial, my time with Elliot was a waste. When that became obvious, Steve became available. He was VERY friendly, VERY accommodating but unrelenting on the refund, as was clear through our previous discussions. His position is, as flawed as it strikes me legally, that I paid money to Oxygen and not to Extreme, and even though Extreme assumed my contract and all its obligations (and vice versa) when it bought the gym, it was impossible to give me a refund.

I am not one to bang my head against a brick wall forever.

Instead, we came to an arrangement we can both live with.

Essentially, my membership has been frozen retroactive to when the renovations began, and restarts on Feb. 1, which is when my contract was set to expire. By then, the renovations will have been completed. You'd think, anyway.

So I signed, shook hands with Steve and departed that place where all the staffers were dressed in outerwear because, presumably, the heat was off. I actually feel sorry for them in that noise and dust and cold. I hope Extreme pays them big Christmas bonuses.

Of course, this arrangement still leaves me with the problem of a dual club membership when my Extreme contract restarts in February. I am paid up at Riverdale for a year.

But I figure you can't get blood from a stone...unless you go to Small Claims Court.

http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/courts/scc/

At this point, I can't be bothered to make a claim but I can assure you that, based on my familiarity with contract law, I could have won for the lost use of gym services due to the overcrowding and other unsafe conditions, the price of the dual membership, as well as moral damages ... plus costs.

I can't say that I am completely happy with the outcome but I will say that I am satisfied with it.

I know that others here would not be content with the arrangement I made, and that they feel they have been shabbily treated. Believe me, I understand and sympathize.

The tools to resolve the situation are there for you. As a good lawyer would advise, conduct yourself accordingly.

Good luck.

P.S. Yes the gym is closing over Christmas, ostensibly to make a big last push on the renovations. After all, they don't want to miss the New Year's resolution rush!!!
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chrismartelli · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 19

I think you can sell the remaining months on your membership. I've seen postings on Craigslist to that effect. You should give it a try.

gabb88y · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 20

as i feel not only my rights as a memer of extreme fitness have been violated in so many ways , but also my rights to freedom of speech as a canadian citizen have been violated i will be very actively seeking legal council. we all have the right to quietly demonstrate on the sidewalks . i wasnt even within 100 feet of the gymn. i was intimidated and am being made a scapegoat now. i will not let this go as i have not done anything wrong . yet steve is offering deals to other people .
perhaps i hurt steves feelings by trying to get the truth out there. well i am hurt as well and i am seeking restitution. i have talked to a lawyer who is willing to see me for a free consultation. if there is anyone on this website who is interested in joining me for this consutultation please feel free to call me at 416-465-3880 . please leave a detailed message and i will get back to you .

thanks , deb.
p.s. i have never nor will i ever consider myself as part of a herd.

ExtremelyAngry · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 114 Location: Riverdale, Toronto