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Gyms, misleading signs and your rights

A dubious offer gives a fitness fan something to work out.

**I was driving past my local gym last week and noticed a sign saying, “Join our gym this month – half price.” But when I went in, they told me that the gym fees were the same – only the joining fee was half price. This meant very little saving overall. When I told them I thought their sign was misleading, they said they would pass my concerns on to the owners of the gym, but nothing has happened. Do you think such a sign is misleading and what can I do about it?

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**

Absolutely, I think the sign is misleading. I hope you told the gym their passive attitude wasn’t good enough. They need to get that sign down or risk facing prosecution under the Sale of Goods Act. If you want to take the matter further, you could ring or email the Commerce Commission, which administers

the Act. I’m assuming you paid over no money, but had you done so and the gym refused to refund, I would recommend you take them to the Disputes Tribunal. While the gym may argue that it is indeed half price to join, membership of the gym is not half price – and I think, like you do, that is what the sign indicates.

As I am in a good mood, I’m prepared to accept that maybe the owners acted innocently when they worded the sign. But you would think that prudent owners would remove the sign immediately, once any confusion was pointed out. Go on. Call up the Commerce Commission and give those gym bunnies something they will really sweat over.

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Do you have a consumer question for Kevin? Email [email protected], or post to Weekly Consumer, PO Box 90119, Victoria St West, Auckland 1142.

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