Gym's in China are not like they are in the US, and I found out that there are even more ways than first meet the eye. Different people go to the gym in China than in the US. In the states the usual gym rat is already in good shape and looking to get stronger, buffer, or keep his already chiseled abs, or she is trying to keep her slim form. Chinese gyms have these types, but in very small numbers - they are looked upon as "weird" in society. The majority of people who go to the gym are overweight men and sometimes women. None of them know how to use the equipment and I rarely see the same faces more than twice.
Going to the gym in China is not a social activity - it is a personal problem that you have to get over, a stage in life to be passed when the pounds drop. While China did happen to win the most weight lifting events in the Olympics, most people in China are thin, lacking excesses in either fat or muscle. This is slowly changing, but for the time being the average Chinese man cannot lift the desk he works at, and he doesn't want to be able to.
Chinese gyms are cheap - about 100 USD for a year long pass (at least that's what I paid). That's quite a deal and sure beats the outrageous prices for US gym memberships. There are a boat load of cool free classes that you can go to, including yoga, pilates, hip-hop dance, and Latin dance. They are quite clean, especially compared to most public places.
The first time I came to the gym I didn't bring a water bottle - I assumed that there would be water fountains like there are at every gym in the US. I was wrong. I was told that the only water available was sold at the little shop. I later found out that if you sneak into the personal trainers' office there is a water dispenser - but they are quite hush hush about that.
The first time I had to use the restroom I went in and noticed in horror that there was no toilet paper. I proceeded to ask the front desk if they could refill the toilet paper only to get a response "you have to bring your own, you can buy it at the shop." Bring my own toilet paper... are you kidding? I have to carry a roll of toilet paper with me during my daily workout?
That's when I realized what they were on to - a new level of consumer deception sales. They get you wherever they can - every yuan counts. If they have 100 customers that need to use the restroom a day, that's an extra 100 yuan. They must sell hundreds of water bottles a week - and at top price. It continues; to use the pool you have to have one of those rubber hats to get in - they also conveniently sell those at the shop. Good luck swimming in the highly chlorinated pool without goggles - they sell those too. Need a lock for your locker? They've got that!
This isn't isolated to gyms - it's in the way Chinese do business. They love to hit you with small charges left and right to boost their income in any way they can. Ever hear of free-to-play video games? That's a crock - they get you hooked on the game (pay for that gym membership), and then you realize down the line that you can't play (can't poop) without paying. It's too late though - you've already put down countless hours into the game (already bought the on sale gym membership).
Restaurants now wrap their dishes in sealed plastic as a set that costs 1 yuan to use - but when you ask some restaurants don't have anything else. You've already sat down and ordered, too bad you didn't think of that before. You COULD leave, but is the 2 yuan really worth the hassle? How about the 1 yuan chopsticks + hand sanitizer napkin? That gets a lot of people too.
I wonder if this was how it was in America 30-50 years ago. I'm guessing it was very similar - the system is too immature to protect consumers. And yet... free-to-play is growing in popularity in the west. Is this how America will be in the next 30 years? Hard to tell.
Just in case: Don't forget your toilet paper.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment