Changing Trainers? - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[Fitness_Geek]

Has anyone here ever had a situation where their clients were trying to change trainers? If so, how did you handle the situation? Just started a new job at a gym and so far, both clients I've picked up wanted to change trainers. The first change-up was because they felt I was refusing information (which I wasn't). The second gave no specific reason. Any thoughts? Could another trainer be pulling my clients away?

[Christina]

I haven't been in this situation per se but I had a consultation with a potential client the other day and I think she is going to go with someone else instead. A blow to the ego but I'll get over it.

What does "refusing information" mean?

Christina

[Fitness_Geek]

A couple bought a group session with me. I talked to them for a while, did a few assessments. Since they bought only one session I tried talking to them about what they wanted to accomplish by working with me. They were gung-ho and had very specific goals in mind until I showed them pricing. They acted surprised and suggested to buy one session every two weeks and get an updated workout. They kept asking for a workout that day, which I didn't have cause that was the first time I had talked with them. They asked for a quick workout before they left, since they did buy a whole hour. The following week, they called the gym and claimed i had shut down and stopped telling them things when I found out they weren't buying that many sessions. The kicker of this whole story....they bought a package up front with the other trainer and take turns working with the trainer each week.
It is a blow to the ego, but since it's happened twice so quickly, I was concerned there may be something else going on. I'm officially making no money at this job and have to start looking at other avenues for cash flow.

[Christina]

Well, here's the deal: There are a lot of odd people out there. I have never had anyone want to train with me once every 2 weeks. I HAVE had people call me and ask me to design a program for them and show them how to do it. That other trainer could be doing something underhanded or maybe he/she is a more experienced salesperson. It's hard to say. Hang in there. There have been 3 situations over the past couple of years where I was not able to convert a free home consultation into a paying client. It happens to everyone. Don't throw in the towel yet! Does the gym not pay you unless you have a client?

Christina

[Fitness_Geek]

They're definately a more experienced salesperson, I've only been doing this for the last year. And to answer your question yeah, that's exactly what the gym does. I'm paid for time training. I asked my boss if there was any office/floor work I could do to make some extra cash and he just pointed out that it would take a while to myself started with clientele. I took it as a "no". They did bring up regular hours before, so I don't know what changed.

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

Hey Fitness Geek (great name by the way!). This has happened to me occasionally when I was working in a gym. I take it in stride. nobody can be all things to all people and sometimes personalities just don't mesh. Im curious what they meant when they said you were "refusing information". see if you can get them to elaborate on that so it can help you in the future.

If you are just starting out as a trainer dont worry about this. stuff like this is going to happen. Dont take it personally.

One thing you might want to try to get more clients is start taking blood pressure readings. sit yourself at the front door and start doing them. everybody likes to know this and soon youll be percieved as the smartest person in the gym - and that will help you get more clients than you can handle
Joe

[Fitness_Geek]

Hello Joe,

Thanks for the advice, I'll definately keep it in mind in my future endeavors. As for the "refusing information" incident, I would go back and ask them to elaborate, but I was actually "let go" from that job, about 2 weeks ago. Never really gave me a straight answer, just said that people weren't responding to me, so they felt it was better to just end it than let it drag on. During the phone call, I did ask if they could elaborate on one of the incidents, but my supervisor claimed he didn't hear anything as to the reasons why they wanted to switch. I know it's a headache, it kind of came out of left field. It took me a few days to process it myself.