Comments on: "They Lie": 1-2-3 Fit Franchise Owners Sound Off

By: Maria

Maria — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:05:40 +0000

Interesting article about 123 Fit … I saw the writing on the wall when I started working for them. Corporate completely miss the target with a well thought out concept. I understand the Ray Wilson gave them the concept. I worked for Ray during the building of his empire Family Fitness Center, and before that I worked for the man who gave Fitness Clubs their start, (Jack La Lanne) the 123 Fit concept was a gold mine in itself, but the execution of it was handed down to people who new nothing of fitness but had some business sense, bad mistake. I watched how corporate marketed to the wrong demographics over and over, promotions were expensive with no return on the franchiser dollars, the hours were inconsistence from state to state, most employees were not train properly and had little health and fitness background. One specific club fail to pay their employees knowing they were going to close their doors .. underhanded and shady job ethics. Lots contributed to the dimise of 123 Fit, and the franchisers were left holding the bag. The concept is still one of the best I’ve seen in years since Family Fitness days, executing it will take the best of the best … with our dwindling economy stress is the number one factor, people are loking for a a release without the high price tags and long lines..I have the knowledge and experience to make it work. There’s no bad ideas, just poor execution.

By: 1-2-3 FIT Acquired by Diversified Health | Unhappy Franchisee

1-2-3 FIT Acquired by Diversified Health | Unhappy Franchisee — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:33:24 +0000

[...] “They Lie”: 1-2-3 Fit Franchise Owners Sound Off [...]

By: Sean Kelly

Sean Kelly — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:30:21 +0000

Quiznos franchisee Rich Piotrowski and his wife Ellen Blickman have just won a two-year battle with Quiznos. Interesting story. Check it out: QUIZNOS: Quiznos Franchisees Celebrate Legal Victory

Judge Hoffman’s Ruling Against Quiznos Franchising II LLC (PDF)

By: 1-2-3 Fit Owner

1-2-3 Fit Owner — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:13:56 +0000

Dave:

You are correct. Most businesses evolve over time to accomodate what works and what doesnt. Any business which does not embrace change is doomed to failure. It is a far better system than when they started, and that is because they have changed.

In fact the towel program you mentioned now just rolled back into the monthly pricing in most clubs.

Charging for water bottles through a vending machine is a great idea with extra earnings potential.

The personal training you refer to is for a one on one 1/2 hour session and is a big profit center for those choosing to adapt it.

They have also added a nutritional progam which consists of two parts. First is a supplement program which quite frankly is bombing and is going away. Second is an online nutrional guidance program called iEatRight. This program is great.

In addition to all this, corporate has changed the number of pieces of equipment needed from 30 down to 20, which makes the breakeven point even easier to achieve.

In all acuality Dave, some of the original zees have changed along with corporate and are profitable, including the original franchise. It just goes to show that clubs from the start have been able to change and become profitable.

There are many reasons for club failures. It is usually a combination of the franchisor and the club owner. Both sides share a responsibility when a club fails, and it all begins when the prospective franchise owner fails to perfrom an adequate investigation before signing a franchise agreement. If all owners had done that, people like Barb would have never signed a franchise agreement with 1-2-3 Fit and she would never have gotten hurt emotionally and financially.

It is a shame, and my heart goes out to anybody who has gone through this experience.

Best of luck!!!

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:39:53 +0000

It seems like everthing has to change in order to make 123 fit work. Used to be you got everything for one price, now you pay extra for towels, water, and personal trainer. It proves that they didn’t have a proven system. If it works now, it will be because it was perfected(?) at the cost of the first generation zees and their wallets.

By: 1-2-3 Fit Owner

1-2-3 Fit Owner — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:04:27 +0000

I know it is on their website, i already told you that in my previous post. Call them and ask about buying it for a small fitness circuit only club. When they began carrying it, I did just that and they said they would not sell to small clubs under a certain number of square feet because that was their agreement with 1-2-3 Fit. Maybe it was only for a year or so. I would encourage you to check it out.

Besides, 1-2-3 Fit only claims “Simbio” as the exclusive equipment, which is technically correct. It is all semantics at this point.

I can gaurantee the fact that the franchise agreement people signed two years ago is far diffferent than now. The system now, works. There are clubs proving that. No clubs opening under the revised club structure with nutrition and personal training has yet to close to my knowledge. It is these clubs who are making it work. For people like yourselfs, it is too bad you didnt have that. I feel for those who failed.

Perhaps Brooksys’ new career will be as a franchise attorney to attone for his past.

Best of luck!!!

By: Barb

Barb — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:47:53 +0000

I just went to Life Fitness and saw a manual and the exact equipment we have. In fact I set up my own circuit in my basement. Where in the hell did you get strength, cardio, strength recovery? Life Fitness is selling the circuit as a circuit to anyone who wants to buy it. Go to Life Fitness yourself and I would love you to comment on that. It is so obvious. The first time a zee goes to this Life Fitness site we are shocked. Exact equipment and selling to anyone who wants it. It even tells you how to start your own business.
Again stop misleading the public. Google Life Fitness Equipment go to Circuit and people there is all our so called exclusive equipment. The Truth Will Set You Free!!!

By: 1-2-3 Fit Owner

1-2-3 Fit Owner — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:21:00 +0000

You can disagree, but the fact is that the branded name Simbio is exclusive and the entire line of circuit equipment is only available to larger clubs. Check it out with a phone call. Yes, you saw them peel off the stickers because your club was one of the first to get the new equipment and it shipped before the labeling went on. It now ships with Simbio already on it.

No misleading people here, those are the facts. You can verify with Life Fitness if you chose. I did as soon as the new equipment was listed on their website some time ago. Unless they have changed their policy.

Good luck on your search. I hope you search out the truth.

The Truth Shall Set You Free!!!

Palin or Biden? That is the question. I heard Biden is buying a franchise and choose Palin to be the model for selling memberships??? What do you think. This could all be hear say.

Best of luck!!!

By: Barb

Barb — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:08:17 +0000

I disagree. However I am not wanting to write my opinions anymore. You are convinced the equipment is exclusive. The only thing exclusive is the name Simbio. We saw them peel off the Life Fitness stickers and replace them with Simbio and 123 Fit. Life Fitness is selling the circuit to people who want to open a fitness business. Again you are misleading people.
Good Luck!
Go 49er’s and Sea Hawks! I have two favorite teams.

By: 1-2-3 Fit Owner

1-2-3 Fit Owner — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:16:42 +0000

Barb:

Exlusivity on the equipment is for their branded “Simbio” which is made by LifeFitness.

LifeFitenss will not sell their circuit series to any small club making it exclusive to our market and demographic. However, a YMCA etc… can purchase it under the name LifeFitness but circuits dont work in these large scale clubs despite their attempts. This is a whole other conversation.

As to the corporate claim of having the world’s best workout? The have removed that language. It is interesting though that you can go to many restaurants etc… that all claim to be the worlds best this or that. I was visiting Seattle recently. If you go down to Pike Place Market you will see that there are four vendors all in a row claiming to have the worlds best chowder. I strongly doubt there have been tests of every chowder in the world. Are they all lying and misrepresenting themselves, or is the “worlds best” title a subjective one?

It is however, proven to be more efficient than other workouts based upon the scientific Swedish Hospital Study.

As to Ray Wilson, yes he left and sold his stake in 1-2-3 Fit back to corporate as he did not like giving up control of how the business is run. He has been very successful in the fitness business, but found out he did not like giving up the reigns of power, and decided to bow out. He did however, endorse the workout and knows the circuit concept works great, which is why he founded it in the first place.

You nailed it by saying people need to investigate before signing anything. I could not agree with you more. It is as you said, better to spend $4500 in attorney fees than to loose far more by entering into an agreement later regretted.

It is not the franchisor responsibility to babysit all potential franchisees during the investigation period. If you come to the table ready to sign, they will vett you and sign an agreement. They do not need to make sure you spoke to your attorney and worked in a franchise and researched on the internet etc…

According to your thought process, anybody who buys a product they dont like should blame the seller for not doing proper investigation before buying. That is not the sellersresponsibility. If you are buying a house and choose not to get an inspection, ignore the disclosure docs and buy it anyways, and have problems, it is not the sellers fault.

I certainly hope that you don’t base your vote for President based soley on the ads of the candidates without investigating deeper. If you did and the winning candidate does a lousy job, is it the candidates fault? Hardly, but many people do just that.

Obamba, the Messiah, McCain, the Maverick or Brooksy, the Used Car Salesman? Choose carefully as the country hangs in the balance.

Go Patriots!!!

Best of luck!!!