Joseph Bezenek
October 29, 2019 13:36
Just this week my girlfriend and I moved to Minneapolis together to start a new journey in the city we love so dearly. I have lived here before but she has not had the pleasure. All month before our move I raved about all of the exciting things Minneapolis was going to offer - and most notably - One Yoga. "We HAVE to try One Yoga to see if it's still as amazing as it was before - because if it is - we're going to have to get a membership together and go all the time"
I thought there was no way I was hyping it up too much.
But today was the day. We parked a block away & walked through the new Minnesota cold with our yoga mats in hand. Just before the One Yoga doors, my GF says to me "Alright - here it is! Hopefully this is everything you've made it to be!" - I said "Oh honey, we got nothin' to worry about" - and proceeded to open the doors.
We were greeted by a lovely lady. I briefed her on the aforementioned intentions, and asked if we could quickly fill out the necessary paperwork, hop into Shira's "Gentle" class & try One Yoga together for a month before we commit to $85/month contract.
$85 is a hefty monthly bill - higher than any monthly bill I have - aside from Student Loans, Rent, and electricity - so - although I am confident this place is worth it - I can't really be sure that after 2 1/2 years - nearly 1000 days - One Yoga's staff hasn't changed, members haven't changed, and the entire energy of the place hasn't taken a whole new form. In fact - I hope it has changed quite a bit - I know I have! This new form could CERTAINLY be a perfect fit for my GF and I, but we really can't know unless we try.
The lady at the front desk says "Oh, I'm sure you are eligible for a trial period. I think it renews after 2 years."
After checking the computer "I found you - but for some reason - even though you haven't been here since 2017 the computer doesn't recognize that you're eligible."
She then calls over one of the instructors at the studio, and asks her how long it takes to become eligible for the trial again. She says "Two years - maybe it's two and half? If the computer isn't pulling up that you are eligible, I don't really know"
The lady at the front desk then proceeds to show me the other options I can do with my Girlfriend instead of a $30 for 30 day trial:
1. $85/month Contract Commitment Membership = $1020/yr
2. 30 Day Pass = $125
I let her know that I was very aware of all of the options. She then saw another instructor, and called her over so I could explain my situation to her to see if she could override whatever the computer isn't pulling up as "eligible".
I, again, explain the aforementioned situation to her. She responds with "We don't have a timeframe on eligibility. You are only eligible once. We are a nonprofit. You can apply for our sliding scale pricing and find out in two weeks if you qualify. I'm sure you would qualify."
I am not interested in a sliding scale. I'm interested in making sure that this place is everything I promised Amy it was. A place for us to find peace, solitude, and community.
"I am aware of your sliding scale application. I'm not asking about what I already read on your website. I am asking you to let me re-try this place with my girlfriend. If you do, I'm sure we will find that it is everything it was before - and more - so she and I will then proceed to get a membership - $170/month from there on out. But if you don't let me trial this place after 2 1/2 years and instead make me pay over 400% more at $125/month... I guess I already have my answer about the character of this place.
One Yoga, If you had more understanding today - you would be adding $2040.00/year to your revenue. So hungry for the RIGHT NOW $95 - you lost out on possibly 30-40 YEARS of $2040.00 a year. That's $81,600.
Yoga is a vulnerable process. From choosing a studio to falling down in front of strangers. It's the principle of the matter. You didn't listen to me as a human being - you saw me as a number - a LOW number who "surely would qualify" for sliding scale.