I am thinking of joining a local boxing gym. I hear there are a few in the area. Does anyone know how I can find out more about these gyms other than what they want to tell/sell me? For example; if they have insurance, appropriate permits, liscenses, etc.? Is there any formal education/certificates these people need to teach/train, CPR, first Aid certified, etc.? Is there a website that supplies this info?

I want to make sure these gyms are legal, will not take my money and close overnight, and that they are educated professionals that know what they are doing and will not hurt me. Also if there is any special certifications, permits, etc. required to work with children. I have a young son that may want to join with me.

I appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

The "reality check" is that you are showing your general ignorance regarding business licenses issued in Philadelphia let alone business in general. You have a greater chance of being poisoned by bad food at wawa, yet something tells me that you are not questioning to see the health inspection license everytime you walk in(let alone the on shift food service manager approved by the health dept., which no restaurant or minutmart ever has on staff).

Quite frankly, if someone came in asking me every nuance of my business I'd realistically turn them away because I'd perceive them to be lawsuit happy. From your few unfiltered questions, you have covered local, state, and federal questions ranging in departments from L&I to OSHA to the better business bureau, and there is not a single company-big or small-that can comply with every new rule placed on the books. For example, federal mandates have placed a new law stating that sidewalks leading to businesses must have certain angles of incidence and be railed and have a certain type of cement for gripping for handicapped individuals. No business in the world can comply with it-are you going to make sure this is in compliance as well? I'll give you a hint-even where you work probably violates more laws than it upholds, as it is impossible to keep up with ever changing guidelines.

If you want your questions answered, sure-there are websites:
osha
the better business bureau
philadelphia's government website
and many more.

And no, I don't think someone invested 10's of thousands of dollars just to take your $100 and close up shop in the middle of the night just to produce a conspiracy against you.

Additionally, you are not even asking the proper questions that could actually affect you or your little kid. What's the number 1 disease being spread through sports facilities? MRSA look that up to fill your paranoia. Any gym I've joined, I've asked what their cleaning regimen is in order to prevent a debilitating infection.

__________________
Peter Cetera:
Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying

Gotta love it - someone comes on asking for a little bit of help, and right away, someone is ready to jump all over them!

I've seen enough stories on the news about gyms that are there one day, and gone the next and then customers are left with no way to get their money back - this is a definite concern for people these days.

And RealityCheck isn't asking the right questions? Obviously, safety is a big issue, as well it should be, especially when there is a child involved! What gives YOU, Alesis, the right to say someone else's question is not the right question?

Amazing .... absolutely amazing! What ever happened to "reaching out and helping someone" - oh, wait ..... we would have to find out their cleaning regimen first before reaching out, wouldn't we?

Yes. Gyms that aren't even set up yet, and representatives claiming to be gyms. As with the others, get the facts straight before making assumptions. The last incident of "gym jumping" in philadelphia was by an outfit signing people up in a completely vacant room saying "with your membership we're going to build a great area for the community!" Bridge salesmen looking for a sucker. The places around the area are already up and running.
While you are blowing hot air, I know the statistics-and people are far more likely to contract mrsa or even an STD from a gym before dying from improper CPR training. While you are showboating I'm looking at realistic scenarios that parents ought to be worried about-and it wasn't even guaranteed that the kid was tagging along, "realitycheck" was searching more for themselves.
I did- with a reality check rather than your perception.

__________________
Peter Cetera:
Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying

ALESIS..... First of all, pardon my ignorance. I guess we all can't be super informed like you!!! If I knew about general business licenses I wouldn't have asked the question. But I don't and I was looking for some general direction & feedback - not an attack like I got from you!

You don't know me, but you called me ignorant and paranoid all because I asked a few questions! This is rude, disrespectful & unecessary! If you didn't have helpful feedback why write at all? Move on to the next thread. Unless your goal is to spread general nastiness - than you were very successful.

As for being paranoid..... I am not, I am speaking from experience. I joined a local gym only to receive a letter 4 weeks into my membership that they were closing in a month!!! I also had a friend that got hurt at a gym only find out they defaulted on the liability insurance. So am I paranoid or just being careful?

Finally, don't tell me whether I am asking the proper questions or not! I'll ask whatever questions I want whether you think they are proper or not! You have your concerns I have mine! Who do you think you are??? You behave like a condescending, miserable, dictator!

It is easy to check on large fitness chains, but not so easy for small mom & pop, corner gyms. I was merely looking for some direction. Not to be put down for not proceeding the way Alesis feels I should, or asking the questions Alesis feels I should. If you can't help me, please do not respond at all. I am not interested in such negativity.

WHY would you even bother coming on here to answer a question?

No one wants to be spoken to that way. Your first sentence was negative! That's just not right. RealityCheck didn't come on here to fight a battle, yet that's what people like you feel the need to do. They have genuine concerns and questions. So, they aren't up to your standards? SO WHAT!

People come on here looking for help, advice, referrals - they shouldn't have to worry about being attacked by the likes of you. It's ashame to see that.

The places around the area are already up and running.

------------

Actually Alesis, I never mentioned the places I was looking at! One of the placing I was looking at isn't already up and running. It is in the works. YOU are the one making assumptions! MY concerns are MINE! If I care more about the education of the trainer and insurance liability coverage over the cleanliness of the place - that is my right! I asked for direction on how to find information NOT for your opinion on what you think is most important!

I thought this was a nice forum. A place where you can ask questions and get positive feedback. Not a place to be critcized by somebody who insults you and then proceeds to tell you what you should be concerned about and the questions you should be answering. I will surely hesitate using this site next time I have a question - especially if people like Alesis frequents it.

Wrong again. It is much easier to check on local businesses than it is to check on a corporate business.

Did you ever think to go in, ask for the owner, and say "hey, can I see your information", which is probably already posted on the wall as it is in many other businesses? Sometimes the only way you save dollars is with common sense-which far outweighs being "super informed".

__________________
Peter Cetera:
Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying

And you claimed to have already been mislead by a gym shutting down on you-and now your going to give money to a place you can't yet inspect because it isn't even open? I guess a sucker is born everyday. Over and over again.

And how can you even ask the "clenliness" of the place, or first aid expertise, or cpr expertise, or teaching expertise, or insurance availability if they are not even open? How is any department on any government level to have paperwork for a business that isn't even open yet? Yeah, I'm the one making assumptions

This is a nice forum-but when people ask detailed questions about businesses that aren't even open yet you are doing nothing more than showing your general ignorance.

__________________
Peter Cetera:
Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying

BTW-you might as well save your money on the boxing gym. If you can't take two quips on an internet forum, boxing isn't going to make you any tougher.

__________________
Peter Cetera:
Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying