Both of my kids (ages 8 & 10) took Rec classes at Platinum for YEARS...and for years, I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt. Not anymore. I am a business owner myself, and if I ran my business the way they do, I would be out of business. Their communication has ALWAYS been horrible, but because my kids enjoyed taking there we overlooked it. I do realize that their focus is on their "team" kids and I understand that, but when business ownership changes hands (as Platinum has a few times) you would think that ALL families would be notified. Not the case here. Nor are you notified when coaches turnover (which has happened a lot). My kids initially loved their coaches, and we knew who they were, but after they left it was never clear who was running the classes. When even the kids aren't crazy about their coaches, you know something is wrong. We watched others leave because they couldn't believe what they were getting for the money (or rather NOT getting). And while I have never been one to be "one of those moms" after a while I finally spoke up - because after SEVERAL years of classes, my kids should have known how to do far more than the elementary/beginner stuff that they were continually being taught. The last coach for my 10 year old was completely clueless and about as lively and in tune with kids as a cardboard cutout. The feedback from my daughter's coach was that she had some "fear issues". Um, really?!? Isn't that your JOB to help them overcome that? Apparently she wasn't very familiar with the concept of spotting. The lady at the front desk I took my issues to, if you're lucky enough to catch someone at the desk, did say that more of that "advanced" stuff was focused on when you are on "team". What a joke. My kids will never be, nor do they have the interest to be, at the competitive level, but after years of classes they surely should have mastered basic things such as a back bend, front walkover, etc. I took a SUMMER only gymnastics class at age 10 and mastered a back flip flop during that time....and yet they have taken for YEARS and can't even do lesser things than this? Ridiculous.
Regarding their policies, we have always taken a break over the summer and back in the spring when I notified them, we even had a discussion about the deposit. Not once did she mention I could/should use that for my last month's tuition but rather that they could just hold it until we figured out our plans for fall. The decent thing would have been to tell me to use the deposit then for that month's tuition, esp if we weren't sure of our fall plans...because come to find out today, if you don't re-enroll your deposit is non-refundable. I even asked if I could at least have that amount credited to another family member that is on team there, and they said no....that it could ONLY be a sibling. Very much a "too bad, so sad...it's our money now, you're out of luck" attitude. I wouldn't have an issue with the whole deposit thing had I not had a conversation about our enrollment with the receptionist ...but we did. Incredibly misleading to suggest we just leave our deposit on the books instead of using it right then, especially if you say you are unsure if you will be back when they knew good and well I would be forfeiting that money if we didn't re-enroll. What a rotten and shady way to do business. We have been longtime enrollees not only in their rec classes, but also with their Friday Fun Nights...but they'll never get another dime from us after this. To add insult to injury, over the summer break my 8 year old mastered the back bend and other basics with help from a 12 year friend who takes at another gym....WOW. Guess my concerns weren't so unfounded, were they?!? So glad we spent thousands in tuition and in a month's time she ends up learning the things Platinum should have taught her over YEARS of classes, but didn't. My advice? Save your money folks....unless of course high turnover, horrible communication, and sub-standard rec classes are your thing. read more