WorldGym - Xindian

Life Health & Fitness
1

I am a victim of Alexander’s demise. I was waiting to see if the new company would offer a decent program for former members, but was still shopping for an alternative.

California doesn’t work for me because of location and lack of parking. I live in Xindian and get around by car or scooter. One thing for sure, if your gym isn’t convenient, you won’t use it. I also despise their sales techniques.

I looked at Taipei Gym, across from the entrance to TaiDa. Although they have one of the best equipped weight rooms, they have no amenities. Parking is also an issue in that area. The price is right, though; less than NT$8,000 per year. And, they don’t play games like Cali and most other gyms. It is what it is.

I looked at a gym in Xindian called Energym. The facilities were not bad, but they were priced too high and just not realistic in negotiating. They have a new owner now, who converted it to a WorldGym franchise. They brought their pricing to a more realistic level and added some equipment. The owner brought in people from the US to manage it. The jury is still out on whether that will be a good thing or a bad thing.

I finally joined WorldGym. The price was fair, it’s the closest decent gym to my home and they provide free parking. So far, it seems clean, has a good selection of weight equipment and a decent locker room and spa area. You can also get travel passes for any WorldGym, which comes in handy when I visit family in the US.

There are a couple issues, however, that have come up in the sales process that I’m waiting for them to work out. The conflict comes from information on their web site, www.worldgymtaiwan.com , that the people at the gym either don’t know about or don’t want YOU to know about.

The first issue was about pricing. If you click the link to join online, you get a fairly decent price, however the site is not set up yet to process the membership. I printed the page and took it to the gym, and they first claimed to know nothing about it, then claimed it was for the Taichung location only. Nowhere does it say that on the site. Fortunately, he found another deal that netted my friend and me roughly the same total price, so I didn’t press the issue.

The second, and as of yet unresolved, issue concerns a special offer for Alexander members. Nothing was mentioned when we joined. I only stumbled across it afterward while exploring the web site. It’s an offer for up to 12 months free, depending on your time remaining at Alexander. When I called on it, I was told first that they knew nothing about it, and then after some phone calls, that in order to qualify one needed to join at a higher monthly rate. WTF! How special can an offer be if it costs more in the end??? I should know this afternoon what they plan to do about it.

Ultimately, though, if you live around Xindian, WorldGym seems to be a good choice. Although you sign a year or 2 year contract, you pay monthly and if the gym closes you are out nothing. They have decent weight equipment, a fair selection of group classes, nice locker rooms and decent spa. Just beware of the sales process and know before you go!

I’ll update on the problem resolution.

2

Good to know. So roughly how much is it to go there? And no pictures! Do they have many weights?

3

Thank you for posting on this regard, Craig. I was a bit curious about this recently opened gym.

By the way, have you checked Casamia? It is close to Tapinglin MRT. One price, swimming pool, compact facilities.

4

I’ve also been looking into the relative merits of Energym and the Dapinglin Casamia, so I’ll be very interested to find out any additional details about either - especially the actual cost of membership (which is all but impossible to find out clearly from their websites).

For the past four and a half years, I’ve been using the gym, pool, and spa in my apartment building - the lure of which was the main reason why I bought my home here. But because it has not been able to attract enough members and has been losing money heavily, it is going to close down on the 17th of this month, so I’ll be needing to look for somewhere else to go, and those two are the nearest to home.

I’ve long been astonished that such excellent facilities as those in my building (completed less than five years ago), and the very low membership fee of just NT$12,000 a year, haven’t been able to attract more members in an area where there are a lot of new or newish apartment buildings and no competition from other gyms or pools. Last month, when the fitness club announced what a critical situation it was in, they gave all members the choice of (a) closure on March 17, with full refund for the remaining term of membership, or (b) staying open with reduced hours (afternoons and evenings only), closing every Monday, and each member paying an extra cleaning fee of NT$400 per month. Needless to say, I opted for the latter as better than losing the facility altogether, and hoped enough of the other members would too. But alas, only 70~80 were willing to shell out those few hundred extra dollars per month, so these splendid facilities will now be shut up and left unused - what a terrible waste!

5

“Cost” is a very fluid subject at a gym. Seems to change daily, and with whomever you talk to.

They (most gyms) come at you with some price list with astronomical figures. Then they give you some “deal”. My room mate and I joined together. There was an application fee of NT$3800 for the first member and then half that for a “family add-on”. Then the monthly rate for the first person was NT$1200 and for the second person was NT$999. All of this is on a 2-year contract, single club only, but with travel passes according to WorldGym’s global policy.

The weight room is better than average. I’m a certified trainer and am pretty picky. I’ll give them credit for having equipment for a thorough workout of major muscle groups. The equipment is not clustered, however, by muscle groups so you have to do some poking around, nor would it compete with a serious body-builder gym, but it is more complete than any Alexander I went to. Everything is clean, modern and in good condition.

Yes, I went to CasaMia. The pool and sun deck are beautiful but the weight room is almost non-existent. They wouldn’t let us tour the locker room. The price (as presented) was considerably higher than World, but I don’t remember the exact amount.

I am going there this afternoon to see how they resolve the dispute.

6

[quote=“CraigTPE”]

Yes, I went to CasaMia. The pool and sun deck are beautiful but the weight room is almost non-existent. They wouldn’t let us tour the locker room. The price (as presented) was considerably higher than World, but I don’t remember the exact amount.

I am going there this afternoon to see how they resolve the dispute.[/quote]

I used to go there when it first opened a number of years ago, and I too was shocked at how few weights they have. It certainly is a waste having all that space and nowhere near enough weights. The pool is nice, although not properly guarded all the time, and there is no training available unless things have changed. There used to be some classes such as water aerobics, but none on actual swimming techniques, nor could you hire a personal trainer if you needed to.
It’s a nice gym to lounge in, or else I would spend my money else where for a proper workout and instruction. I don’t really recommend it.

7

OK, they came through. They made some concession for time left on our Alexander memberships. I am happy with the outcome. So although the sales process is as frustrating as most gyms, They did finally stand behind their product.

One other thing worth mentioning is that the dues are monthly and must be paid by automatic debit to a credit card. That can present a problem for foreigners like me who can’t seem to get a local credit card. You could use an overseas card, but then you usually get hit with a foreign currency transaction fee. They might let you pay it up-front in cash. I don’t know.

They have still earned the CraigTPE seal-of-approval. If you go to take a look, tell Nick (the manager from the US) that Craig sent you. :slight_smile:

8

Great news, Craig. Congrats. I received a flyer yesterday stating a special offer “only 88 nts!” , which has made me curious enough to have a look, but mostly because it described their facilities very well. Keep us posted on how you like it.

Sulavaca, the trainers can design a plan for you, just ask. The weights were chosen according to this “cycle plan”. I have also complained about the relaxed pool safety issues, and they have always been receptive…though may slack occassionally. They only have swimming lessons during the summer, and at that time it is completely full, it’s almost impossible to get use of the pool for a few laps. They also have recently built the speeding room. I do agree it is mostly plagued with little old ladies, and not serious bodybuilders, though I’ve seen a few huge atogas. And yes, I concede it is mostly a relaxing kind of place.

9

Oh dear, I was worried that it might be so.

My soon-to-close-down place has been the same these last few years. When it first opened, few of the oldies ventured in and the atmosphere was really good, with plenty of fit young women using it. But after a couple of years, the old crones started to take over the place (taking advantage of the “silver hair” discount, I presume), ruining the atmosphere and driving away most of the youngies. Their presence has really put a damper on my use of the pool and gym, which I’d cut to less than half of what it used to be.

Maybe I’d better just forget about signing up somewhere else if I’ll just find more of the same thing there. The alternative is to just step up outdoor exercise (swimming in rivers, hiking, cycling, etc.), and maybe that’s the best thing to do.

What is a speeding room?

10

Actually, Omni, the old ladies at Casamia are quite active, and beat the youngsters hands down in using the treadmill and swimming, instead of just doing a class or two and hanging round around.

There is this middle aged woman from MOFA, I’d kill for her thighs. Of course, whenever she gets on the ellipsis machine next to me, I would leave promptly…really embarrassing for me.

I also support your idea of taking advantage of the outdoors, weather allowing. Alas, what can we do about the swimming?

Spinning. I meant spinning. Speeding, spinning… As my Accounting instructor used to say: Close enough for government work. :blush: :stuck_out_tongue:

11

You have to decide what your priorities are.

For swimming, aren’t there swimming clubs all over? Taipei city also has a fitness center with a huge pool right by CKS Memorial hall.

Weather and air quality permitting, biking and jogging would be good alternatives. That bike path along the river is awesome.

For me, the priorities are weights, cardio and yoga (in that order). California is too flashy and cruisy, Taipei Gym is a bit grungy and has no group classes, CasaMia has no weight room and I got tired of waiting for the company who bought Alexander to come out with a program.

WorldGym has a very good selection of weights, group classes (incl yoga), well equipped locker room and is modern and clean. Their personal trainers are very professional and attentive. Compared to comparably equipped gyms, their cost is very competitive. They offer free parking and are just a couple minute walk from Qizhang MRT station. Another plus is no small kids running around in the gym and locker room, like there was at Alexander. They have a play room outside the entrance. There just is no pool for you swimmers.