Personal Trainer advice.

nz_deevaa

I've been working on weightloss for the past year.

Over this year, I've had three different Personal Trainers.

The first two trainers just suddenly left the gym and I didnt know anything about it until I turned up to a training session and my PT wasn't there.

I've been seeing my most recent trainer for about 7mths. 2mths ago he didn't show up for a session and when I asked at the front desk I was told he didn't work at the gym any more. I had pre-paid for my sessions and had 4 left.

Later that week, I heard from him and he said he would be back working at he gym the next week, we made a 'make-up' session. He didn't show up for the session, and the gym owner hooked me up with a random trainer to do the session. I really enjoyed the session with the random trainer and asked for his card.

Two days later I heard from my PT and he promised he'd show up next session. He turned up but didn't tell me what the issue was. I finished up my 4 paid for sessions and he was fine. He's young (20), but I do like training with him.

I gave him a deposit for more sessions. But yesterday he didn't show up again.

I've sent the random trainer an email asking him to make an appointment to see if he'd be a good match for me with training.

Two questions. Should I contact the trainer who keeps standing me up and tell him I'm going to start training with someone else? Or just leave it?

And, what questions should I ask the new guy to make sure I get a good trainer?

Doesntplaynice82

I would just tell your old trainer "I'm sorry but you are unreliable and I am going to need someone who I can count on to train me"

I don't know what to ask your new trainer, maybe see if he has any prior clients you can talk to, (references) and just ask him his basic plan of action.

nz_deevaa

Yeah, my husband said the same thing, I guess I just want to avoid the confrontation.

AZackery

Are these trainers supposed to be employed by the gym? I would ask to speak to a manager to find out what's going on and let them know you aren't happy with the old trainer's behavior. Gyms should hire responsible people. I wouldn't keep the old trainer because he's not reliable. If he becomes serious about his job and reliable, then maybe in the future you can use him. You might need to give the new trainer a shot. Don't be afraid to ask the new trainers questions that will help you understand where he stands. Your money is worth a job. You might need to type up an agreement and ask him if you doesn't mind reading over it and if he agrees for him to sign and date. If the new trainer can't be reliable, then you might need to leave the personal training at that gym alone. It's not going to be worth it.

dad106

Your story kind of sounds like mine.. My first trainer was young(24) and brand new to training. In august of last year, he stopped training in the afternoon because he was helping coach high school golf, K, fine sounded legit. He then told me that he would be back in October once the season ended, so silly little me decided to pay for the rest of my sessions and just wait for him. Well that date came and went, and when he wasn't back, I asked my mom's trainer at the time what happened and he told me, Oh he's not coming back.. why? Did he tell you he was? I said Yes, he told me Oct 16th and he'd be back... and My mom's trainer goes, well let me see what I have and I'll take you on because he's most likely not coming back. I said Ok, and when I texted my old trainer to let him know what I was doing, I got a sorry, who is this? I explained who I was and got a pathetic, Oh thats fine.. I'm sorry. Me, being the ***** I am, reamed his *kitten* out.. and never heard from him again. I now heard from my current trainer, that my first trainer was stealing money from the gym by saying that he trained clients who weren't even there or weren't even his clients!

As far as questions to ask the new guy, What sort of certifications do you have? Do you have a degree in fitness or does he have some random degree? How long as he been training? Are his clients generally satisfied with him? Can you watch him train another person?

Those questions were all questions I asked my current trainer... and he had no problem answering them. My current trainer has been in the business for 5 years, has at least 3 certifications and I think is going for number 4, and has clients still with him from when he started.. so that told me that he is reliable and won't be trying to dip out anytime soon.

nz_deevaa

Just as a follow up, I rang the gym and asked about my PT and got put onto his manager.

He's offered me 2 free sessions (ie, the two that I'm owed), I asked about the guy who I'd had a free session with, and he said that he'll talk to him and see if he'd be willing to do a couple of free sessions with me.

He was a bit 'mysterious' about my PT originally saying that he'd 'finished up' at my gym, but then changed that to say that he'd not been able to contact him for the last week.

Very odd.

AZackery

Just as a follow up, I rang the gym and asked about my PT and got put onto his manager.

He's offered me 2 free sessions (ie, the two that I'm owed), I asked about the guy who I'd had a free session with, and he said that he'll talk to him and see if he'd be willing to do a couple of free sessions with me.

He was a bit 'mysterious' about my PT originally saying that he'd 'finished up' at my gym, but then changed that to say that he'd not been able to contact him for the last week.

Very odd.

Your old PT might have another job. Go with the new trainer if he's available.

ATLMel

I think I'd also start looking into other gyms. It seems this one has a high turn over of unreliable trainers and, to further worsen things, is cagey and not up front with clients. you should be given notice if your trainer is leaving the gym. All these broken appts with no notice would have me fed up in general....definitely poor management.