Private Workout Inc

I highly DON"T recommend this business. I had been curious and signed up on the e-mail list. I received notification that I 'won' a free boot camp. I made an appointment. When I came in to the Flower Mound center I was show several program options - none included my supposed free boot camp. The prices were ridiculous! No tour of the facilities or anything before the pitch. I signed up for a small package which I am sure upset the manage/saleswoman. I was taken through an initial workout out in the claustrophobic small rooms. What is up with as many reps as possible then run to the next room? I understand privacy but this is ridiculous! I have a weak core due some abdominal surgeries. The staff member actually made fun of the low amount of reps I could do - twice! I was almost in tears by the time I left. Then I am told I need to take in 60 gms of protein after my workout. Of course they have overpriced protein shakes available for purchase but our bodies don't absorb that large a quantity of protein in one sitting. Apparently from the information I received Private workout was started by the tanning salon folks mentioned in Kelli's review. Personal trainers??? Personal trainers rarely use machines they use free weights, cables etc. This is basically a bait and switch type of company - They will try to draw you in with a special and then hit you with huge packages. My experience was VERY disappointing. I was so upset and I couldn't workout again and give it a second chance before the 72 hours cancellation period since I cam in on Friday. I immediately sent a cancellation letter. I got charged again the following month because of course so one picks up the certified letters. I got the charge reversed. If this company wants to succeed they need to seriously work on customer service and staff training! The few positive reviews a partially from people that work for the company. The staff members I met were not trainers they were sales sharks!

Posted 09/29/09 | Report Abuse

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Incompetent! Pushy Sales People. Focused on you losing MONEY more than they are focused on you losing weight. And the manager in Plano is a disaster!

Posted 09/03/09 | Report Abuse

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This place is a rip off. They say they want you to keep coming back and they don't want to sell you anything but they lie. I joined online for the boot camp so I could see if their process really worked for me. I was thinking I would sign up after the boot camp was over. But when I went for a four day weekend and didn't make the 5 days, my membership was cancelled. There was no information on the web site that you had to go five days a week or else for the boot camp special. This is underhanded and stinky. I think the manager was just upset because on my first workout visit, he spent 90 minutes trying to sell me an expensive membership package. Now that I've read the other reviews, shame on me for not reading them sooner. I should have known. I'm sticking with Lifetime Fitness.

Posted 08/10/09 | Report Abuse

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This gym is outrageous! They tried to sell me a package the first time I came in! How dare they try to make money off me! The trainers are mean too! I was just trying to find a light weight that I was confortable with but they insisted on increasing the weight. The trainer spent nearly 45 minutes with me trying to convince me to increase my weights because apparantly my body "adapts" to handle the weight and after awhile it is no longer "effective". He wouldn't let me rest either! I had done 11 out of the 20 reps and my legs were burning, and he kept pushing me to finish. I have been sore for two days now. They should take a lesson in customer service too! I once yelled out from one of the rooms for a towel and NOBODY brought me one. I had to finish my workout and get one myself! By the time I was done I was almost in a full blown sweat!

Posted 07/10/09 | Report Abuse

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Although they acknowledge that most people quit by 13 weeks, most all of their "packages" require a commitment before the second session. I signed up for the 60 day gut buster but turned down the longer term commitment because I didn't expect to finish out 60 days. I actually enjoyed it and finished the 60 days but then they wouldn't let me sign up for any plans except for the $500 executive program. Gyms all over the city have $40 month to month plans and here is a satisfied customer and they turn me away. Yes, they told me all of that upfront pushing to get me to sign up for the long term. Oh well, their loss is another gym's gain.

Posted 05/11/09 | Report Abuse

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Private Workout is a gym designed and owned by personal trainers rather than membership salesmen. Like all health clubs, we offer memberships that grant customers Access to the facility. Health clubs have the duty to be open for the posted days each week, and have the majority of its equipment in good working order. We have done that without fail since opening in 2003. Customers that purchase an Access membership have the duty to pay the agreed membership fees and dues, so long as the health club is doing its part, being open for business, until they cancel their plan by email. Since its inception through 2008, Private Workout, Inc. has sold 6,785 Access memberships. We have never had a complaint regarding our being open for business, nor about our equipment not working properly. In fact, our customer satisfaction rating is 99.42%. Private Workout, Inc. offers four types of Access memberships. The Executive Plan is $499 down and $11 per month. The Month-to-Month Plan is $66 down and $66 per month. The Reward Plan is $199 down and $33 per month, and the Punishment Plan is $199 down and $33 per month, where we offer to Loan the $199 initiation fee until the member cancels. Studies show that 97% of gym members stop working out within 13 weeks of enrolling, even though they keep paying, and less than 1% workout for a full year, yet they are committed to 1-4 year agreements. We dont require term agreements like that because we feel a 1 to 4 year commitment has nothing to do with fitness, so all of our memberships can be cancelled with a 30 to 90 day notice, depending on the plan chosen. Unlike any other health club in the world, we even offer to waive the $199 initiation fee if a member achieves the fitness goal they choose, stated in terms of body fat, or even if they dont achieve it, we will still waive the fee if the member simply completes 100 to 300 workouts as instructed, depending on the plan they choose. As personal trainers, our goal is to incentivize our customers to work out until they reach the goal they choose, which is why they came here in the first place. Our members often choose this plan in order to set up a "PUNISHMENT" for themselves so they won't quit before reaching their goals. Those who do not reach the goals have agreed to repay the membership fee when they cancel with at least a 30 day advance notice. It a great incentive to reach your goal, is it not?
We are obligated to be open the hours posted, and we have. We have had NO COMPLAINTS from members who paid their membership fee when they enrolled, all complaints have come from those who still owe the fee, or somehow feel that they should have it waived, even though they did not earn it by reaching their goal or by simply completing the required number of workouts. Please visit our website at www.privateworkout.com to hear more. . .

Gene
Regional Manager
214-708-7330

Posted 03/25/09 | Report Abuse

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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This was absolutely the worst experience ever. I was wanting to cancel my membership because frankly the people there are absolutely unhelpful and getting a return call when you have a question about training is like pulling teeth. Heaven forbid anyone actually being there if you have a question about form/technique. Turns out the fees that I was quoted upfront are not the truth. Instead of getting a returned phone call about canceling my membership, I got a debit for 270.63. Again, no one called. Not sure what that was for since I was told what I paid initially was the first and last months fees plus administration fees. How much in administrative fees do they need anyway?

So when I tried to find out who is over all the Private Workouts I was told that person was out of town. No name given whatsoever. Fishy???? More complaints to the better business bureau need to be made about this company.

Posted 03/19/09 | Report Abuse

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Either that, or he is as unethical and unprofessional as they are.It should come as no surprise that Private Workout doesn't belong to the BBB. And it's evident from my experience with them that they would rather spend money litigating their unethical contracts on the back end than on re-assuring potential clients that they are above-board on the front end. This is a huge red flag and a common issue with many similar fitness clubs.There are hundreds of better alternatives to Private Workout. But for the uninitiated, I can't stress enough how important it is to be skeptical of any health/fitness club that doesn't seriously evaluate your health and physical condition before you sign the dotted line. Private Workout is not interested in helping you attain reasonable fitness goals. They are a highly deceptive scam operation that is only interested in taking your money. Frankly, I'm surprised the world-renowned, not-for-profit, Cooper Institute hasn't sued them for using their name in their advertisments.

Posted 02/15/09 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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No offense, but I find it very suspicious that the stellar reviews given to this place were all typed on the same day. Could be a coincidence, but what are the odds?

Posted 12/01/08 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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I am a 45 year old attorney that had been sitting at a desk for 15 years without working out and I had gained 80 pounds mostly fat. I can not tell you how I gained it because it seemed like I just woke up one day and there it was on the scale 260 lbs. I had picked up the Quick paper in downtown Dallas to read on the train and saw Private Workouts add and called. The trainer at Mockingbird set me up with an appointment the next day and I want in and joined. I love the private nature of the club and following their program has worked wonder for me. In 10 months I have lost 90 pounds.I have and will continue to recommend this club to all my family and friends!

Posted 11/07/08 | Report Abuse

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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Finally a club where I could park in front and start my workout in 5 minutes after entering the front door. I really like the 30 minute nature of their program because I have a very busy life and I do not have time to spend 90 minutes to get in shape. The 30 minute program has enabled me to lose 20 pounds of fat while finally getting my arms and my backside to look good. I hope they build some more of these in other states so I can use them when I am traveling. Do not wait to join this club just go do it!

Posted 11/07/08 | Report Abuse

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After sitting on the couch for 10 years I decided to get in better shape and join a health club. I visited 4 clubs in the Plano area and then happened upon Private Workout on Preston and Park. They took me on a tour of the club and I was very impressed by how private the workout was and the set up of the cardio area. It was like being in a fine home gym outfitted with the best health club quality equipment that money could buy and with a TV, which for me of course for me was the most important thing in that room. I had not lifted any weights for years so the staff told me to start slow but NOW I am as strong as I ever! I have working out there for about 1 year and I now have my whole family there. Do yourself a favor and join this club.

Posted 11/07/08 | Report Abuse

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I worked out at the Private Workout at Mockingbird and Central and the staff was very helpful! I followed the program like they said and I lost 40 pounds in 5 months! I have recommended them to 5 of my fellow workers and they are all very happy with their progress. I highly recommend their club.

Posted 11/07/08 | Report Abuse

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I am a former US Marine who currently works in Iraq for a private security firm. This is the best though-out workout I have ever had including my seven years in the Corps. Good job guys! Best of all, it only takes 30 minutes!

Posted 11/07/08 | Report Abuse

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This place is a total joke! Awful experience- do not go there. I got suckered into the "internet special" and went for a workout. The manager Calli was pressuring me to sign up before I even saw the place or had a chance to work out. I went through the workout and afterward she told me the only way I could get the special rate was to sign up that day. She seemed nice and I was already running late to get my day started (because they don't even open until 10am) so I rushed into the decision to join and signed without reading the fine print- BIG MISTAKE!
On one of my next visits my workout chart (you have to track your workout- it affects the price you pay!) was lost (looked through the disorganized mess of charts for 30 minutes!) and the "nice" manager Calli was now rude and dismissive!
A few months went by and I could not get in there as much as I would have liked because of their limited hours of operation. I sent an email and asked them to cancel my membership. The very next day there was a charge on my account for over $300. When I inquired, they told me it was three months of membership dues (they require 3 months notice to cancel!) plus a fee of $199. For a few worthless workouts- ouch!

Posted 10/15/08 | Report Abuse

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Absolutely the worst rip-off I've ever experienced. I signed up on what seemed like a great plan, worked out briefly with the personal trainer (required) who was the only person in the facility and had to keep leaving to answer the phone, so I basically finished on my own. As I was leaving I saw who I assumed to be the boss berating the personal trainer in front of everyone. Came back the next day and another guy was there. My workout sheet was missing (you have to track everything, it's part of the program). He was clueless - his first day (go figure, I'd have quit to after that disrespectful treatment). Waited 45 MINUTES, his boss never returned from lunch. Left without working out, came back the next day and there was no one there who worked there. Someone on a machine told me that he went to lunch and referred me to the tanning salon next door. (I know, right?) I went next door and they were clueless, didn't know that anyone had left for lunch or what to do. Said lunch was 30 minutes so it wouldn't be long. Great. Waited another 45 minutes. Actually went through every file in the place and could not find my work out sheet. Didn't have a clue as to the settings, etc. because the first trainer set and recorded everything. Left again without working out. Came on a Saturday to work out, they had closed early (like 2:00 on a Saturday isn't early enough). Called in and told the "new guy" I wanted to cancel my membership. There is a clause in the contract stating that you can cancel risk free after the first workout. He said no problem, he would take care of it. FOUR months later I got a voicemail from the location saying that I owed for 4 months and was being referred to a collection agency. Told her my whole story, she said to bad, so sad. Pay up. Told her I was calling the corporate office and she said, so what. You still have to pay. Spoke with corporate who actually acused me of lying and said I was just trying to get out of paying for my membership. I let her know that if she could find one instance of me working out after the initial trial I would gladly pay. She said it didn't matter, I had to pay. Told them to put it on my credit. I'll have a bad mark before I will be extorted for the worst lack of service I have ever received.

Posted 03/10/08 | Report Abuse

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If you want a small gym, with an extremely knowledgeable staff this is your place. I went in for a consultation and sign up for their 60 day Gut buster boot camp. They were running a special if you paid in advance instead of $66.00 it was $33.00.

Posted 12/05/07 | Report Abuse

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