I cannot wait to cut ties with Gold's.
Update June 7, 2012: What was mainly an issue with how CORPORATE Gold's and FRANCHISE Gold's interact has now become an issue with Watsonville Gold's management/owner(?) Martina.
In the middle of TRYING to get my money back, the franchise rep spoke with Martina who told her that I wanted a membership for $28, and that no one gets it for that price, and*she* offered me a $34 a month membership, that I got angry and would not accept that.
Problem is: That is all a LIE. I NEVER spoke with Martina. A front desk person contacted her and said that Martina said she would waive the enrollment fee and apply the $39 to a monthly no contract fee. I was not angry, and thanked the front desk girl for her help, and left with Martina's phone number. I never called her, I choose to email Gold's corporate.
It is DISGUSTING how Gold's corp, and now Gold's Watsonville, has conducted themselves. The franchise manager had the gall, after allllll this, to tell me this morning that it was not their problem, that they were stepping in on my behalf, essentially doing me a favor, since I had done this through the Watsonville branch. I did not, and this has been clear from day one, my bank statement is billed to Gold's Corp TEXAS. Not Gold's Watsonville.
They also have the gall to say on my answering machine that if I cannot provide a confirmation number, then they can't do anything for me. I have BEEN SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOPS every time I talk to someone "I have my confirmation number, does that help? Can I give that to you?"
UNREAL this has been.
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I found out that through my AAA membership I could get a really good discount; $39 enrollment (instead of $100) and $28.80/month with no contract(vs. $39/month no contract) This sounded like a great deal so I went ahead and followed the instructions online. Watsonville showed up as a selectable option.
I paid $39 and went in two days later to activate my membership, I had my monthly dues, id and AAA card just in case. I also had printed out a SEVEN day pass for the Watsonville location for my husband to try it out, if he decided to join he would be paying full price.
First off, they wouldn't honor the seven day pass, they only give out three day passes. We were told to go ahead and workout and at the end to come back to the front desk to finish up the paperwork, since they weren't sure how to process this type of membership.
I had a pretty good workout, just using the weight room, which was a little worn down but clean. The lack of decent squat racks was a bummer.
I was happy and feeling good, only to find out that they won't honor the membership/discount I signed up for online....Uh, what? I wasn't trying to scam anyone, and had Watsonville not been one of the options no one would have heard a peep from me. But they were an option, and the process at no time gave any indication that I could be paying for a membership I couldn't use.
Apparently this information came from the manager, so I felt fine emailing Gold's corporate about this. Too bad I NEVER heard back from them.
I then posted on their FaceBook wall, since it seemed someone at Gold's corporate was keeping up on that. Sure enough, they apologized and gave me a number to call.
I called, was told to speak with the franchise director, who was not in her office. She said on her answering machine to give her THREE business days to get back to me. Left a message on Thursday May 30th in the morning. Nothing.
I called back on Monday the 4th, got a hold of her that time, and apologized since she did *technically* have another day to get back to me. She was minimally polite, said she needed to speak with the manager of Gold's Watsonville, who was not in so she left her a message, and said she would call me back THAT day either way. (And guess what? As of today, Wednesday June 6th, NOTHING.)
I ended up calling AAA on Tuesday the 5th, since I hadn't heard back from anyone at Gold's. They were wonderful as usual and are trying to help me.
This morning I decided, f this, I don't want to be involved with such an unethical business. Now it has become a total fiasco trying to get my $39 back. Call corporate, speak with THE SAME LADY WHO DID NOT RETURN MY CALLS, she tells me to go online and "cancel" the membership I never received, I go online, it says to contact the Gold's I am a member with. UGH. I am not a member anywhere, they WOULD NOT LET ME BE. So now I wait to speak with the manager at Gold's Watsonville and HOPE that this can be resolved in a timely manner.
Now I have to go and FAX in my confirmation paper, that they should already have, so they can send it to their billing dept, and HOPE that they refund my money in a timely manner.
And after speaking with AAA I have been informed that due to NUMEROUS complaints, they will be severing ties with Gold's Gym as of June 31st. Too late for me...... read more