Fitness First Review - Consplant

Located just beside Subang Parade, this branch is the nearest to my home. Now the review :-

• Parking is terrible. You can either park at the basement, per entry is RM 2 after 5 PM, or park around BCB or in front of Wisma Tractor. However don't be surprised if you get a ticket.
• 2 floors. I hate 2 floor concept. However the place is more or less the same size as DU. Lighting wise is good. There is also a glass window around the gym, so you can get a view of Subang while working out.
• Stretching area is so small. But they have 2 TV hooked up to ASTRO. So while you are crunching your abs and knocking into someone's butt, you get to watch silence movie of animals jumping around.
• Free weight area, much better than DU. Machine wise... OK lah.
• Shower room, not bad. Clean and OK.
• Crowd - mix crowd of professionals and students. Beautiful people and huge muscle heads. Look out for a certain crowd of machine hoggers. But this place has abit too much crowd to my liking.

Ratings?

Review on FF DU .

Fitness First Review - DU

Now armed with my FF Passport membership, I am making full use of it by visiting as many FF branches of as possible. Following are the few reviews I have on some of the FF branches I have visited.

FF Damansara Utama

For years I have worshipped this place thinking WOW! Can't blame me who has only HOME membership and the last gym I visited was no bigger than my living room with rusty weights.

After comparing, this gotta be the worst gym within the FF branches. You will immediately doze off after stepping in. Such poor lighthing. The receptionists..... don't bother.

The gym is terribly small. Only 1 bench press machine and only 3 benches to share among the crowd. The cardio machines are getting old. Used to be 2 studio for classes, but they torn one down to make more space for machines and streching area. Machines is limited.

Plus point is the shower room is slight bigger than other branches.

However eventhough the size is small, it serves as a small knit community where you general will know one another.

Ratings?

The hunt for a Fitness Center - The End

Last Stop : Fitness First
In short:-

• I reviewed The Curve and Uptown 5.
• 10 clubs in Malaysia
• Operation hours - 6.30 AM - 10 PM. I heard from the lady starting January extending to 11 PM.
• Parking: Varies according to location. Uptown - MPPJ parking and private car park. The curve its about RM 1 per entry i think.

Reviews:-

• I do agree with some of you that FF has the worst customer service. Celebrity Fitness had much more better tour guide and explanation given. Well, they can afford to be snobbish since they have 10 clubs around Malaysia.
• Facility wise, Uptown 5 is in an aging state. The other branches have better, newer equipments and bigger space area. I like the The Curve free weight area, alot of benches to use. After looking at the rest of the spanking new gyms - Uptown is such a sad place to work out.
• Free flow of drinks and VCD rentals.
• Tissue and plastic bag provided - very useful for me!
• Exercise machines, OK lah.... I am more to free weights anyway.
• The shower room in The Curve is smaller than Uptown 5. But no curtain! Glass doors - hooray!
• Locker room -don't need to bring your own padlock.
• Standard classes - body pump, body combat, yadda yadda.... no Capoeira though. :(

Price:-

Home
Joining Fee - RM 500 (Can bargain)
Admin Fee - RM 95
Monthly - RM 147 per month

Passport
Joining Fee - RM 500 (Can bargain)
Admin Fee - RM 95
Monthly - RM 175

FF fees are pretty standard. I checked out about 3 different location. Just a note, don't expect the sales ppl to negotiate terms/bargain with you or throw is further discounts to intice, if you don't like it, you can "belah"! Ohh well.........

Final Review:-
I decided to signup with FF because

1. Its the nearest to my office. Much practical for a lazy me. No parking hassle.
2. It has about 10 branches I can hop around. Somehow I kindda regret taking passport... sigh.
3. Free flow of drinks.
4. Most of my friends are in FF.

So thats it folks. I have decided to contract myself to FF for the next 12 months. Yes, I can hear you ppl crying aloud - "NOOOOOOOO!!", but I kindda used to FF and I don't really have much of a choice in terms of location. So wish me luck!

For those folks who ain't as lazy as me, you should really give Celebrity Fitness a try. Looks cool.

The hunt for a Fitness Center

As for every new year, there is a new new year resolution to be made. This year, for me, there is one

START LOSING WEIGHT AND BULK UP YOU FAT MORON!

I have been a Fitness First member for few years now and my shape has stayed pretty much the same. In fact I am about 3 months pregnant now... and I ain't no female. To cut the long story short, I am in a freaking bad shape and I have terminated my FF account.

So, the quest for a Fitness Centre begins! For full comparison of fitness center, please click to http://xfile007.blogspot.com. He has done a fantastic job on trying out all the gyms in Malaysia and I do not want to recreate the wheel. I just wish to complement his reviews.

The reviews on the gyms in my blog are purely for my own record keeping and I guess it might help a few of you to decide.

First Stop : Celebrity Fitness (24th December 2005)

In Short:-

• Location : 1-Utama (Petaling Jaya)
• Parking : RM 1 for first 6 hours, subsequent hours is RM 2. It kindda difficult to get parking during weekends and public holidays.
• Operation hours : 6 AM - 12 AM.
• Other branches : Indonesia, Subang Parade and Gurney Plaza (Penang).
  

Reviews:-

• Upon filling up a survey form, a sales lady brought my wife and me around for a tour.
• The place is huge, kindda have a disco feel to it. Pictures? please refer to http://xfile007.blogspot.com/2005/09/free-trial-at-celebrity-fitness.html .
• Changing room is spacious but the shower room is small than the one I was used to. Bring your own padlock.
• Upon coming in you get 2 towels! I think it was the gym and shower towels.
• Plenty of cardio equipments.
• Can't remember whether there is free flow of drinks.
• No VCD rental, who uses it anyway?
• A huge place for classes. They have one interesting classes - Capoeira!
• Free weight area - Kindda disappointing - the lowest dumbbell they had is 17.5 kg. Arghh..! They have about 5 benches, 2 Smith machines, I think 1 bench press and few other stuffs. I felt the area could use a bigger space.
• Alots of exercise machine, the lady claims that all machine are customed for Asian.

PRICE:-

Home
RM 199 - Joining Fee
RM 99 - Processing Fee
RM 149 - Monthly Fee
3 years contract - RM 26XX. This translate to no joining fee and processing fee, and the monthly comes up to RM 70-75 per month.

Passport
RM 199 - Joining Fee
RM 99 - Processing Fee
RM 188 - Monthly Fee
3 years contract - RM 3141. This translate to no joining fee and processing fee, and the monthly comes up to RM 80-90 per month.

The promotion ends 31th December 2005. I guess you can cut the fees here and there, depends on your negotiation skills.

Final Review
The place looks good, clean and nice. The only thing troubling me is the location from my work and home, the parking and also the pricing. The free weight area looks abit off and there is where I will be most of the time. Kindda worried about the shower since your door is an unlock curtain. I like the operation hours and classes.

Next review - Fitness First. (Since Mun almost got sued, I guess I have to keep it either very positive or used the word "Censored").

Maybank Bill Payment Blunder Part 3

Its finally solved. My payment has been updated. I gotta thank TMNET for their help in solving my problem.

I am quite sad to say that Maybank E-channel did very little to help. They did call me to inform that all transaction to Telekom on 8-11 October had problems. Either than that, they can't confirm when they can solve my issue. At least finally its done and over with. The whole fiasco took about 2 weeks to solve after much harassment.

Adjustment done!

My next war is with Courts Mammoth. I have purchased a funiture for Raya, guess what till todate no delivery. Will blog further.

Maybank Bill Payment Blunder Part 2

I need to address this to all. Your online Maybank2u.com receipt is USELESS. It is not a proof of receipt.

As you know that I had problem with TMNET bill update (http://ganee.blogspot.com/2005/11/maybank2u-bill-payment-blunder.html), TMNET emailed me today asking me to FAX my BANK STATEMENT to verify my payment! Isn't my bank statement is confidential? Why can't they accept my Maybank2u.com receipt?

What is Maybank E-channel has to say to this? I called them on 24th November 2005 at 9.50 PM. The customer service lady (Zaleha, she was very polite) said that the report has been assigned to the officer but its still under investigation. However she will file another report. How many reports do I need to make before someone do their job?

How can anyone promote online transactions if a simple bill payment can get lost? How about providing quality customer support?

Sigh..... Malaysia Boleh!

A1 Grand Prix

I got a free ticket to A1 Grand Prix yesterday. Being a typical Malaysian, a group of us ended up late to the event. We showed up around 12 ++. There was a crowd but definately not as huge as F1. Parking was easy to find.

F1 entrance

I was a first timer in Sepang F1 Circuit. One note, prepare to walk alot. The race started according to time. 1.30 pm. First thing you will notice is the sound. Its very noisy. You can go deaf with this kindda prolong exposure.

Race begins...

By 3 PM, I was bored. Racing isn't my cup of tea. All you get to do is, watch the cars go by and wait for few minutes, and the cycle repeats again.

Crowds... yellow t-shirts are given free

Malaysian won 5th placing at the Main Race. The crowd was very supportive of Alex Yoong. I had my experience, it was nice but not my taste.

Alex Yoong.. Malaysia Boleh!

Maybank2u Bill Payment Blunder

I have been one of the earliest Maybank2u.com registrant. Have been using this system for more than few years now. I never had problem with their bill payment till now.

Blunder number #1

• I have made payment to 2 ASTRO bill. Each of them separate accounts. What happened? One bill have 2 payment credited and the second bill had zero payment. I have checked my payment receipt. 2 payment, 2 different account number. How did the payment end up into a single bill?

Blunder number #2

• I have made payment to TMNET bill for the amount RM 88 on 8 October 2005. Today is 18th November 2005. No payment is reflected and TMNET is saying I owe them money.
• I have called Maybank2u customer support to logged a report on 7th November 2005. Each time they promised their E-Channel support will get back to me. No such luck. Each time I had to call them to follow up and the customer support will call back saying they have launched a report, forwarded to TMNET and now its TMNET turn to update the system.
• Maybank2u.com has washed their hands. Now its my turn to chase TMNET to update the system. How convenient?. Maybank2u.com gets commission out of me and when there is an error, I need to spend money calling all this jokers?

Paid on 8th October.

Where is it?

Building a trusted brand is tough, its even worse when its an online brand. Thats its from me. No more paying via Maybank2u.com. Its back to the conventional way. Its a hassle, but my bills get paid.

gstockphoto.com

I have launched a new website called gstockphoto.com . This is a high res royalty free stock photo which focus mainly on asian photos. For the time being its focus on Malaysian pictures. All pictures are priced between USD $ 1 - 2 only.

Payment can be made via paypal or maybank2u.com . All the pictures in this blog are available at gstockphoto or email me for more info.

gstockphoto.com

Raya in Penang

This is my second time celabrating Raya up north in Penang. Penang is the usual boring, jam packed and choke with tourists. Raya this year must be one of my most boring Raya, I am been kept mostly in my room reading up the "Da Vince Code", sleeping or dreaming. Luckily some of my friends are around. I am able to access internet here, thanks for to my neighbour "free" wireless service.

I went around taking alot of photos in Penang. Here is some....

Finally in Penang...

Jam and a queue cutter

Jam Jam Penang drivers are mad fellows..

This is the famous Penang Bridge.

All this photo are available at gstockphoto.com. Drop me an email if you need any of this photo in high res.