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Message to Park Slope from the owner of S Clubs — Brooklynian

Message to Park Slope from the owner of S Clubs

nkotsonis
nkotsonis
edited November -1 in Park Slope

To the neighborhood,

My name is Nick Kotsonis, I am the owner of S Clubs located at 808 Union Street.

I would first like to thank the loyal members of my facility who have stayed with us in these unprecedented turbulent economic times.

I am proud to say that the club will be doing some very exciting events and I want everyone to join us for this very exciting period.

As the club enjoys it's 11th year anniversary, we will be offering many events that will not only delight you, but shows the diversity and richness that is Park Slope.

We will be having further social mixers, where the members can relax and enjoy themselves.

By popular demand, our SKYDIVING TRIP is returning where members can feel the thrill of jumping out at 13,000 feet and experiencing the adenaline rush of freefalling.

We will be organizing a wine tasting in collaberation with our newest merchant rewards member Red, White, and Bubbly.

To view the full list of members in the program, please visit our website.

This program allows our members to receive discounts at the many excellent establishments in our community, and promotes our local business community.

We will be continuing our very successful relationship with Dancewave. Our participation with this wonderful organization has allowed our children to go to Scotland, and a wonderful time was had by all. This wonderful participation led the New York City Council to give the Club a Proclamation of Good Citizenship.

We will be doing food drives that remind me of my Grandfather when he opened the Purity Diner in 1929 and donated food to the community during the Depression.

We will be continuing our Breast Cancer awareness drives, and the Save the Rain Forest Drive, which has currently resulted in over 2,000,000 sq. ft. of Rain Forest being saved from destruction and development.

We have upgraded our administratives systems, thus eliminating many mishaps and errors which have occurred in the past.

We have added new spin bikes so that the enjoyment of our members is uninterrupted.

Our washroom facilities will be undergoing modernization and renovation.

We will also make sure that our qualified staff makes the members experience and enjoyable one, and we will never hire individuals who are publicly registered deviants. Unlike our bankrupt prone corporate, faceless competition.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to personally apologize to the community for any and all past mistakes and errors of judgement. As with any business, mistakes will be made, and the community has, quite rightly, revealed those errors to me.

I take full responsibilty for these errors, amd I take full blame for any policy judgements that did not work. I would hope that people would not take out their angst against my General Manager and executive staff. They were merely following policies set by this office.

As we move forward, I hope that we can all learn from these errors, I know that I have and I hope that the community will allow us to prove it.

Thank you.

«1

Comments

  • pastoralia
    pastoralia

    This raises more questions than it answers.

  • puckbrooklyn
    puckbrooklyn

    pastoralia- you're absolutely right, this is quite a paragraph...

    nkotsonis said:

    We will also make sure that our qualified staff makes the members experience and enjoyable one, and we will never hire individuals who are publicly registered deviants. Unlike our bankrupt prone corporate, faceless competition.

  • nkotsonis
    nkotsonis

    http://www.familywatchdog.us/ShowMap.asp?frm=0

  • nkotsonis
    nkotsonis

    http://www.familywatchdog.us/ShowMap.asp?frm=0

  • pastoralia
    pastoralia

    Um...OK. Does that map mean your competition hires sex offenders and then makes them live at their gym?

    I don't think you're helping yourself sir.

  • pastoralia
    pastoralia

    Um...OK. Does that map mean your competition hires sex offenders and then makes them live at their gym?

    I don't think you're helping yourself sir.

  • peanuts
    peanuts

    :D Love that Pastorialia...I was thinking the same thing.

  • peanuts
    peanuts

    :D Love that Pastorialia...I was thinking the same thing.

  • guest111
    guest111

    Hi Nick,

    I am a disappointed costumer.

    You guys were charging me for many extra months and then when I asked for a refund, did not return my calls or emails.

    If you'd like to move forward I suggest you solve this sort of past issues.

  • nkotsonis
    nkotsonis

    Dear guest111,

    I am terribly sorry for your experience.

    To rectify these situations, we have converted to a new management software and faster computers that will eliminate these mishaps.

    We have also a more efficient system for cancellations and membership freezes, that can be easily handled by email so that the required paperwork can now be more easily taken care of.

    I am committed to raising the bar of the performance for the club.

    Thank you for your feedback.

  • guest111
    guest111

    Nick,

    Thanks for your response.

    I would love to give it another shot. Please let me know what is your email address so I can forward you my correspondence with your team about a $500 overcharge.

    Hopefully, you'll be able to get it right and issue the refund.

    Thanks

    Zack

  • nkotsonis
    nkotsonis

    Hi Zack,

    My email address is [email protected]

    Sorry for the delay.

    I try to spend my weekends BC (before computer).

    Please send over your documentation so that I can review them.

    Thank you.

    Nick.

  • petitchou
    petitchou

    If, as you acknowledge, these are "turbulent economic times", why did you raise the monthly fees to $100? The one improvement that would be meaningful would be to return that fee to something more reasonable for those who have been "loyal members".

  • nkotsonis
    nkotsonis

    Dear Petitchou,

    I do not want to get into a tit for tat discussion for the economic reasons of the increased fees.

    However, please bear in mind that utility fees increased over the previous couple of years, water rates have increased over the previous years. Insurance premiums, Real estate taxes, etc.

    The cost of living index has increased over the past couple of years.

    These are issues that are beyond my control, and unfortunately resulted in fees being increased.

    Please bear in mind, that those members that pay $99.00 a month is below the current membership fee that we are forced to charge.

    Please also bear in mind that we did not increase the fees for over 6 years and we tried to hold the line, but our expenses dictated the increases.

    The high cost of doing business in NYC forced those increaes.

    If it makes you feel any better, we have not had a profitable year in over 4 years.

  • nkotsonis
    nkotsonis

    Hello everyone,

    For transparency, please be informed that Zack sent me his paperwork last night.

    In reading the material, I remembered a situation that happened to me over 20 years ago. Yes, I am an old fart at 45 years old.

    I was just out of college, and I weighed 250 pounds.

    Face it, I was fat.

    My doctor stated that I was headed for a stroke at a very young age, and given my family history of high blood pressure, that scared the hell out of me.

    I joined Health & Racquet on 76 and york avenue.

    For 2 years I worked out 4 days a week and lost 90 pounds.

    As usually happens, I began to lose my drive, and was going less and less, until finally I wasn't going at all.

    Meanwhile, my credit card was being charged for the monthly dues, even though I wasn't going.

    I called them up, and wanted to cancel my membership, I don't remember the exactdetails now, but after months of going back and forth, and with no where to turn to, I went to my family to explain the situation, and to help me.

    My father looked me straight in the eye, and said that I was stupid.

    He said, that when I sign a legally binding contract, I am obligated to adhere to the provisions of that contract.

    I remember saying that it wasn't fair, and that they should not be charging me.

    He said, and this I remember, that when I signed the contract, I gave them that right.

    He stated that I am now over 21 years old, and an adult, and to start acting like one.

    He stated that you never sign a contract without reading it thouroughly, and fully understanding the legal obligations under the law.

    He said that I have to take responsibility for my own actions, and to stop blaming others when things don't work to my advantage.

    He then read the contract, and said that the cancellation policy was clear, and why didn't I follow it.

    After much yelling back and forth, and me calling him an a-hole, in english and greek, I read it again.

    The next day, I went into the club, not being very happy about it, signed the paperwork, had copies made of the paperwork, and that officially concluded my adventure with Health & Racquet.

    After many years and after receiving my master's degree from NYU, I have learned the importance of reading things fully before signing anything. Be it a rental lease, a mtge note, a car finance agreement, etc.

    I have also learned to take responsibility for my own actions.

    When I now read over documents, I can only go by what the law says in regard to them. What my rights are, and the rights of the other party.

    I will be advising Zack of my decision after I carefully review all of the materials, and make inquiries of my staff about the situation.

    Again, thank you for listening.

  • scottb2k
    scottb2k

    This is one of the oddest threads I have ever read on this forum...

  • belzjm
    belzjm

    The other gyms in the neighborhood...NYSC, Crunch and the y are all cheaper, cleaner and better run. Not sure why people even consider this gym.

    BTW, have you yet rented the two empty spaces in your building, one of which has been sitting there with a "for rent" sign for over a year?

  • belzjm
    belzjm

    And check out this lovely review by a "Nick K" on insiderpages. Must be a coincidence, eh?

    ***

    great gym

    User: nick k.

    I've gone to this gym off and on for years.

    The place has always been clean, and has good staff and great machines.

    This is a family run business and not an impersonal mega corporation

  • nkotsonis
    nkotsonis

    Not me bucky, sorry.

    BYW check out the comments for NYSC in this forum.

  • belzjm
    belzjm

    You're like the Donald Trump of Park Slope real estate.

    Wind bag.

  • nkotsonis
    nkotsonis

    There is never jealousy where there is not strong regard.

    Washington Irving, 1783-1859

  • scottb2k
    scottb2k

    I never apologize.I'm sorry, but that's just the way I am.

    -Homer Simpson

  • scottb2k
    scottb2k

    I actually like S Club. I've been going there for close to 5 years; I think it's a nice, clean well run gym.

    However, I find the posts by the owner in this thread to be f-ing bizarre and (unintentionally)quite funny

    My favorites:"We will also make sure that our qualified staff makes the members experience and enjoyable one, and we will never hire individuals who are publicly registered deviants."

    "After many years and after receiving my master's degree from NYU, I have learned the importance of reading things fully before signing anything."

  • nkotsonis
    nkotsonis

    Hi Scott,It's actually amazing how many people do not actually properly read legal contracts. I was merely pointing out how long it took for me to properly understand it's importance.I'm very happy that you enjoy my club, and I thank you for being a member.

    I was referring to the fact that Crunch on Flatbush has hired an individual that is a registered sex offender. I gave the website earlier in this thread.I've also since found out, via the NYC building dept. website that Crunch may not have a valid C/O to be operating a health club at that location. Nor do they have a temporary C/O.So, now I find it distasteful that not only are their hiring practices suspect, but they may not even be legal.Please refer to apllication # 300740072 at 330 Flatbush Avenue.

    By the way, love the Homer Simpson quote.

  • puckbrooklyn
    puckbrooklyn

    I agree with scott, this is a really weird thread. It speaks to me as a sad man who is slowly losing his business from underneath him. Taking pot-shots at his competitors on a public forum seems like a last ditch effort to save face. I can guarantee that this gym, whatever it's called, will not be in business much longer. Sorry for being so honest. Let's re-visit this in 6 months and see where where things are.

  • disneyhattan
    disneyhattan

    Does this mean you are getting rid of the same management, and I use that term loosely, who fired with no reason or forced so many of your instructors and employees to quit? For a while there, you must have had a new person working at the front desk every day.

  • peanuts
    peanuts

    Yes, this post is very odd.I am a NYSC member and while I know the NYSC in PS has gone downhill- based on these posts I would never join this gym. I never like businesses that feel the need to put their competitors down to build theirs up - a big turn off for me. And if I was to leave NYSC it would be to join the Y - no way would I go to this club - all of the owner's posts are too bizarre for me.

  • scottb2k
    scottb2k

    PuckBrooklyn said:I agree with scott, this is a really weird thread. It speaks to me as a sad man who is slowly losing his business from underneath him. Taking pot-shots at his competitors on a public forum seems like a last ditch effort to save face. I can guarantee that this gym, whatever it's called, will not be in business much longer. Sorry for being so honest. Let's re-visit this in 6 months and see where where things are.

    Weirdness of this thread aside, I do think it's a good gym; at least for my purposes. I can't speak to the quality of trainers or classes because I have never used them. I'm a free weights and elipitcal guy and from that perspective I have always found the gym to be clean, not overcrowded and with working equipment and the 530am open on weekdays is perfect for me whenn I want to workout before work. Obviously everyone has different needs so YMMV.

  • nkotsonis
    nkotsonis

    http://weblogs.wpix.com/news/local/morningnews/blogs/2011/05/free_friday_73.html#more

  • dailyheights
    dailyheights

    The only thing worse than being talked about in a weird thread is not being talked about in a weird thread. -- Oscar Wilde

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