Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Sales People...

Sorry Dad...I don't mean get down on your profession but.....

After my swim today, I stopped by at The Rush, a new gym that is opening up here in Burlington. Now, this could be great news because I had heard that they might put a pool in. Since we moved here the pool situation has been slim. Is was great in Raleigh but you know, the options just aren't the same in a small town. To top it off, HPU has a pool that has extremely limited hours and they don't put in lane lines or anything.

Then I thought I could use our community pool this summer...brand new 25meters, but you know what, they don't put lane lines in either, and with a neighborhood of a bunch of kids, you can go do a workout. So once a week or every other week I pay to go use the aquatic center here. It isn't terrible, but like today they had ONE lane line in, ONE! And hardly anyone else in the pool. When I asked if they could put in another lane, the guy (who I know does triathlons) tells me that they can't because swim lessons are coming in. So WTF...what is my $3 getting me??? More swimming without lane lines, I can do that in my pool I pay my HOA dues for.

Turns out as I am getting ready to do my main set, the ONE guy using the ONE lane (yes old guy doing breastroke on his back) tells me he is getting out so I can use it, yeah! So at least I felt I got something out of my $3.

So why is this all about Sales people???? OK, since I am so mad after leaving the aquatic center, I stop by The Rush Gym to see if they are going to have a pool. And yes they will!!! An actually lap pool not for kids! And what is great is that they have a few gyms out by where I work and HPU has some deal with them that you can use any of the gyms you want! So yeah, I think to myself, this could be great. So I tell the guy I just want to know when the gym/pool will open. He beats around the bush to tell me how much I would have to pay for this membership and that. And again, I tell him, I am not going to get a membership today, what do I need it for?? I have a gym where I live that my HOA dues are paying for. And yet again, well I can offer you this rate for this many months....

Again, I tell him I am not going to buy a membership of any kind because YOUR POOL IS NOT OPEN YET. All you have is a small room with some cardio and weight equipment which is what my clubhouse has in my neighborhood. And yet again, well this is what HPU can offer you (because I tell him HPU has some sort of deal with The Rush-and that I would like to look into it a little further). OK, at this point, I am mad. I haven't eaten breakfast and I did a hard swim workout and need to get home to eat and this guy is trying to sell me a membership I DON'T WANT! I just tell him I am leaving. :)

This reminds me of Marty's post on his blog a few weeks ago about the car...

Now I am home, full with food and getting ready to lay on the couch and read...and much happier after venting about this guy at the gym.

3 comments:

Alili said...

Hey-thanks for 'stopping by' my blog. I was skimming through yours and came across the Moomer's post-I LOVE THEIR ICE CREAM!!! I grew up 'Up North' and can't wait to eat some Moomers:)

Anonymous said...

Ah, yes...this is like car shopping. When we were buying the tri truck a while back, I perfected a look reserved for such smarmy sales behavior that clearly communicated to said sales idiot that if you don't SFU in 2 seconds I am turning around and walking away. I had Gary with me in case I needed a taller, imposing male figure to help with the cause, but I'm not sure it was even necessary. As Gary said after the process was finally at a close, "I enjoyed watching you work." I guess sometimes it's good to have the ability to be intimidating.

Bummer that it's so hard to find a good place to swim in Burlington! Any good open water swim holes?

Tyler Jorgenson said...

There is a big difference between a true salesman and this guy at the gym. A true salesman matches clients with products that meet their needs, this guy just wanted a quick commission.

sorry, I'm a salesman, so I had to fight back for all the ethical salesman out there, like your Dad. :)