Comments on: Curves For Women Franchise: 20% of Curves Franchises Closed in MA

By: Rita

Rita — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:49:02 +0000

I belong to Curves since 2002 and I pay $29 a month. Silver Sneakers is with Curves and I am an AARP member, also with their Supplement. I am in PA and I would like to know—-why do I still have to pay every month. Please give me an answer.
Thank You

November 10, 2009

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:57:13 +0000

You can’t continue to see results when there isn’t any more resistance. You’re just going throught the motions. With the short period that you are on a ‘machine’ isn’t enough time to amount to anything. Curves is a joke!

By: unhappy

unhappy — Fri, 29 May 2009 00:40:15 +0000

To all curves owners who have had problems with curves International and Gary Howie Havein please send your complaints to the BBB of your city and Waco TX. As well as the attorney general of your state and TX. And the federal trade commission. Below are web links where you can file the complaints on line.

http://www.bbb.org/

http://waco.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.aspx?site=40&id=ab5100aa-4c5a-4314-8e1b-f5996973f10c

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/index.shtml

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/index.shtml

By: phil

phil — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:43:54 +0000

Did anyone see the fireside chat with Gary? He tells us that half of his clubs closed due to bad management..he wont tell you that he got greedy and oversold..why would be be honest?? Hes a salesmen..

5000 clubs nationwide ALL closing due to bad management? You cant modify what cant be changed! A curves is a curves..its not a traditional gym and after 6-8 weeks people stop seeing results because there is no overload of the muscles!

the resistance is what it is..it doesnt get heavier or anything..
it IS a fad and he will continue to loose clubs

By: W

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:42:00 +0000

I too am a former owner of a Curves. We opened in summer of 2005 and had to shut out doors in Winter of 2007. Prior to purchasing, I had managed a club for a year, so I thought I knew all the “ins” and “outs” of the business. Boy, was I wrong. Long story short, club was doing great in the beginning- 300 members, who slowly but surely dropped by the wayside once the newness wore off. I worked my tail off! I tried all the “curves” way to do things as far as marketing and retaining members. Didn’t work! I totally understand what the previous poster mentioned about when she tried to do local advertising and it came back to bite her! Old members who hadn’t been in for a while suddenly remembered and cancelled! I had tried all kinds of incentives to get them to use their memberships while they had them. Bent over backwards for them on holds, would have stood on my head if I thought it would have helped. I did not try to trick anyone into keeping memberships or anything like that. It’s so frustrating to know that I have over $80,000 I am trying to pay off by myself. I realize I got myself in this situation, but c’mon! It’s hard to pay my own living expenses- which are very modest- I drive a 1993 corolla. Doesn’t even have power windows! Definatly did not see any riches from this venture. All the revenue taken in was barely covering expenses. A prospective owner should really do their homework. You need to investigate all the money you will be paying to Curves each month for starters. I’m just glad I was able to stop the bleeding and now I am doing my part- still working my tail off- probably will till I’m 60 to pay the stupid bank off. Oh well, I definately learned a lesson! Buyer BEWARE!!! P.S. Since everyone else gets a “bailout” where’s mine???

By: Owner

Owner — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:29:30 +0000

I don’t know what the big problem is here. I love my club. It’s small, has committed members – I work there full time (okay, a little bit more than full time) but I seriously enjoy my job. I like the freedom of working for myself and I think that the clubs do best when the owners are present daily (this also saves a ton on staffing costs). I think Curves do best when they are small and focus on giving personal service to it’s members making sure they are happy and satisfied with their experience. I’m not rich by any means, but it’s so much better than working in an office pushing paper! And the members just love coming in: they get a great workout and have some fun conversation with friends – if the walls could have ears! I’m sure that my Curves will keep growing, but the work to get and retain members never stops – nor should it! It’s my job!

By: Sean Kelly

Sean Kelly — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:41:37 +0000

Curves is named AAFD’s Total Quality Franchising Franchisor of the Year.
Comments invited:
http://www.bizzia.com/franchisepick/curves-is-franchisor-of-year-say-what/

By: CURVES: Franchise Overview & Links | Unhappy Franchisee

CURVES: Franchise Overview & Links | Unhappy Franchisee — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:49:12 +0000

[...] Dreams Becoming Nightmares for Many Fitness Club Owners September 25, 2007 (60+ comments) Curves For Women Franchise: 20% of Curves Franchises Closed in MA February 4, 2008 (40+ comments) CURVES DISCUSSION: Benefits of a Franchisee Lawsuit? August 18, [...]

By: Prior Curves Owner

Prior Curves Owner — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:30:14 +0000

Yeah I would have to agree with most of the owners here.
I owned 2 locations for over 5 years and never saw a regional rep. As for national adverstising there should of been enough money to run adverstisement during the Superbowl if needed. Where is all that money going???

I sold both of my locations in the Spring of 2008. Corporate I think cares only for its royalities and advertisement royalties. Just wait until you try and sell them to somebody. They want you to fork over another $5,000 a piece for them..

By: unhappy

unhappy — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:48:46 +0000

PAST AND PRESENT OWNERS,
Don’t forget to send your complaint letters to the BBB in your area as well as waco Tx. and your states attorney general as well as TX. and the FTC. Here are the links that you can go to to file the complaints.

http://www.bbb.org/

http://waco.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.aspx?site=40&id=ab5100aa-4c5a-4314-8e1b-f5996973f10c

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/index.shtml

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/index.shtml