Aggressive and intimidating staff.

I recently joined Viva Gym at Montana Crossing. I was initially impressed by the kind and helpful staff and after looking at many gyms in the area we decided to join Viva.

Yesterday around 13:00 24/02 my wife and I attended the gym. I proceeded to the squat rack that was in a messy state when I got there with multiple weights lying on the floor beside it. I continued to do my exercise and made use of the weights that was already lying on the ground. Afterwards I did not feel compelled to pick up all the weights and clean up the rack as that was the state in which I found it. I moved on to the stepper machine with my wife and as I started I was interrupted by a staff member called Edwin. Edwin immediately interrupted by saying “Hey ou, is dit jou weights wat daar le”. I would expect a member of staff not to address your clients as “ou”. Edwin also did not try to communicate with me in my language(English) making me have to respond in his. I responded with by saying in Afrikaans yes I used to the machine but its not my weights. He then rep**** with “Ek sal dit vir jou vandag optel maar ek sal nie weer nie. Ek word nie betaal om mense se weights vir hulle op te tel nie.” He then proceeded to walk away. When leaving the gym the sarcastically said “Jy moet nou n lekker dag he”. Regardless of who is right and who is wrong regarding the packing of the weights. If Viva train their staff to approach their clients with an intimidating and disrespectful stance and tone, I would advise you revise your policy as it is not received well. If he had approached me kindly manner and with genuine concern I would have not had an issue at all. I felt that Edwin was approaching me out of anger, without concern and with the complete lack of professionalism. The fact that he tried to cause a scene in front of other members and my wife as well as being aggressive and trying to intimidate me was a huge sock to me. I have been a member of many gyms before and never have I ever had or seen any staff member speak to me or another member this way. If you intend to let your members know you do not pay them to pack away weights, please do make sure your signs are clearly visible. Please also advise me of the gyms policy on what process must be followed when a weight rack is already in a messy and unpacked state as I now fear to use a machine that is unpacked in case I am aggressively confronted by your staff again. I have only been a member of your gym for a week and already I feel compelled to write a review and advise any family and friends not to attend your gym as it is run by staff who are there to flex their muscles only.

Regards Byron