The Scorned Ex-Trainer
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007I once broke off a budding relationship with a complete idiot who, even after I explained as kindly as possible why I wouldn’t continue to date him anymore, exploded into a chasm of anger and pathetic excuses along with finger-pointing towards my flaws. A few months ago, I broke off a potential relationship with a man who manipulated my words, painting an eloquent story of how I was the insensitive and insecure one in the matter. He did such a good job of it that, for a moment, I had re-thought what I had said questioning my actions – but I recovered quickly from that notion concluding that he was another idiot.
Well when I “broke it off” with my now EX trainer, it was almost as if he was an embattled and scorned lover of mine. I laugh at it now, but as I was reading his email it wasn’t so much of a laughing matter. More like a WTF moment in time, one where you are so dumbfounded by a person’s arrogance and/or ignorance you are left speechless. As my understanding was, personal training is just like any other business wherein the core and most important item being the relationship that the client shares with the trainer. Customer service is paramount, and respect is undeniably key to a successful relationship.
I kind of relate it to switching my cell phone services from Sprint to Verizon Wireless or leaving one car insurance company for the more attractive deal/customer service offered by another. He wasn’t meeting my expectations with his services, and I had sought out the services of another. Simple as that, no harm done right? It’s a business and as a client I just wasn’t satisfied.
Apparently, he missed that memo.
In short (regarding the situation w/him) he wasn’t being attentive enough towards my training; I dare say that he was basically milking me for the $ and brushing my concerns off with short vague answers. When he loosely joked about my apparent overtraining, I flipped. Enough was enough. I attempted to call him, to no avail; that’s another peeve of mine he’s VERY difficult to get a hold of. So I slept on it then the next day constructed a detailed email, along with examples, supporting my perspective. I told him that I was going to get another trainer. I did it in a calm professional matter - as routine as say, dropping one insurance company for another.
No answer. Next day no answer. Following day after that, no answer.
I called him. Again, no answer. W…T…F??? I left him a message for him to confirm receipt of my email.
Well this morning I awoke to an interesting message. I won’t go and post it up here but in short, it was a long message filled with drivel. Him complaining about my volume of emails (again, my ‘volume’ contained my logs, questions about his comments to them, and any questions I had asked for clarification regarding his nutrition and workout programs. No more, no less) his workload with all the clients he has to tend to, his arduous journey towards obtaining his pro card, his long 12-16-18 hour workdays, having to worry about his mortgage payment, and it was all written with just a hint of sarcasm towards my ‘concerns’.
But the best part was when he pulled the “you’ll never find…” spill. You’ll never find…another trainer who can get you in tip-top shape and on point for the stage….you’ll never find…a trainer with a rate as good as mine. Then came the “you’ll never…” spill. You’ll never… be ready for the stage, you need at LEAST 1-2 yrs of prep. You’ll never… get your posing routine down.
I scowled at the screen when I read it. But a few hours later, I’m laughing at it. He can not be serious? Oh but he are serious indeed. Just like some of my romantic relationships it all started out with so much promise and glee, but ended with a huge rash of bitterness. At least on his end. He took it WAAAYYY too personally.
I saw it as business. You are no longer providing me with a high-quality service, so I’m going to go to another who will. Chill out homie, go have a protein shake and lax out a bit.
This time around, I went ahead and sought out a number of CLIENT referrals, with one trainer referral. When I went with my now ex-trainer it was through two trainer referrals from my gym, no client referrals. Big difference I’m finding out, between a perceived service (as the trainers PERCEIVED the service to be great, blah blah) and then the actual received service (they RECEIVED great service because etc etc).
With that, I gave him a calm respectful reply that summed it all up in one paragraph: I was not assaulting you personally, this is business, I’m going with another trainer, I’m paying for my last one-on-one session, now please close my account. Thanks. Good luck! (have a nice life).
View all comments | Leave Comment