Me vs a Pushy Receptionist

[Reepicheep]

So that’s the thing…why in the world do I have to submit to a picture so I can work out?

My obligation is to pay for the class, work out unobtrusively, and go home.

Nothing more and nothing less.

Perhaps so. Clearly the management does not agree with that statement.

The receptionist does not have the authority to give you an exemption, so why are you fighting her instead of talking to someone who does have that authority?

At the beginning of this thread you offered no reason to refuse other than ‘don’t wanna.’ But anyone could say that about any rule, however reasonable or needed.
‘Children, keep your rooms clean.’ ‘Don’t wanna’. ‘Drivers, respect the traffic lights.’ ‘Don’t wanna’. ‘Patrons, be quiet while the movie is being shown.’ ‘Don’t wanna’.

Since then I’ve seen good reasons offered for not wanting your photo taken; but then why do you not take up the issue with someone who has the authority to give you the exemption?

 

[Reepicheep]

I pay for classes. I get to work out.

As I said earlier, if they make some weird demand that says, for example, “All women who have birthed children must not wear leggings” I’d shrug, and ignore that rule.

At this point it seems to me you’re making up things to make them out to be unreasonable.
I’m confident they haven’t asked that mothers should refrain from wearing leggings, and that they have not asked that all female patrons work out braless. The only ‘demand’ being put on you is to let them take a photo.

In any case the issue is not your refusal to submit to the demand, the issue is that you put the receptionist on the spot instead of talking to her boss.

 

[WilliamE]

This has to be the most bizarre threads I’ve read in a long long time - and about something so trivial. I don’t know why I kept reading - it’s clear that the OP is proud of her behavior, and it is equally clear that nothing anyone says is going to make a bit of difference.

It’s kind of like biting down on a toothache. You know it’s going to hurt, but you just can’t help yourself.

 

[Reepicheep]

Mainly for this reason: why in the heck do I have to give my picture so I can work out?

I’m assuming it’s for security.

But if I don’t wish to comply, what are they going to do? Not let me work out?

Really?

My point is still this: even if they need it so they know I’m who I say I am, so what??? I paid my money to work out. Why do I need to prove I’m who I say I am to sweat?

Does the Gym have no right to protect themselves from theft or fraud? And again, why not talk to the management instead of making things unpleasant for the receptionist?

So you’re just making her look bad at work instead of dealing with your problem, why? Does it make you feel good to pick on low wage workers?

LOL!

Why is this funny? You are making things difficult for someone who has no authority to give you the exemption and no authority to just quit asking. For all you know she’s being punished for failing to get you to comply.
Why will you not just talk to the manager?

 

[Reepicheep]

That’s wonderful, BTW, that you refer to your unborn baby as “he”. That indicates that you understand it’s a totally distinct human person from you.

That’s probably the strangest and most condescending thing I’ve ever had someone say to me on CAF.

And I’m still going to default to masculine pronouns even if the person I’m unclear about is an owner or a boss.

(snipped) Logic is condescending to you?

How peculiar.

You went out of your way to ‘congratulate’ Blue Eyed Lady on knowing that an unborn infant is a person. Which implies that you think it’s something special that she knows this.
Have you ever had an atheist ‘congratulate’ you on your awareness that the Earth is not flat and that the Sun does not circle the Earth? ‘Condescending’ looks like the right word to me.

 

[Reepicheep]

Let’s make this very clear: I didn’t call her pushy.

I think she is.

But if you’re under the misapprehension that I called her this, and this instigated some sort of war between us, please let go of that idea.

She has no idea whatsoever, unless she comes to this forum and reads this thread, that I consider her anything negative.

You used the word ‘pushy’ in the thread title. How does that not qualify as calling her pushy?

I’m leaving the thread for now. In the event you reply to any of my posts I’ll read your replies later.

 

[Patavium]

This person is paying per visit–the visits have been paid for–if someone else was to use the punch card the business is not out any money. It has been pointed out that if that is really the concern–they could request that anyone they think is cheating–show a photo id–like the drivers license we already carry–but really it would only need to apply to those purchasing a membership that allowed them unlimited access for a period of time–you really can’t steal from them, in the way you suggest, if you’re paying per visit.

It seems the situation has been greatly exaggerated by all involved–I mean I get the feeling the receptionist is being beaten by a scrooge like boss for failing to get all the photo id’s before the next terrorist attack, that the ultimatum has come down from on high–get that photo id or you’re out of here. As one who has worked these type of jobs and who now employs people, and has children that work in them–I doubt anything so dramatic is going on–I’d guess it’s all a lot more low key than reading this thread would lead one to believe. I also get the feeling the OP is going in daily and berating this lowly receptionist, is just simply picking on and terrorizing her–but yet I read the OP is simply saying–“Oh, I forgot about that picture thing. How about next time?” In my time working these type of lower wage jobs–this would have been pretty low on the list, if even on the list, of things that bothered me. I’m guessing this would be low on the list of things that would bother our current front office staff. We’ve had a couple of clients that we’ve had to let go because they were actually verbally abusive to our staff–and our staff lets us know when clients get out of line–nothing like what’s been described on this thread comes up.

It seems all involved have blown this up into way more than it is.

The peace of Christ,
Mark

I agree. It’s all a fixed number of visits prepaid or pay per visit, why do they need to make a special photo ID? They already have the money.

Some businesses just want more personal information than what they actually need.

 

[jlc2k2]

I agree. It’s all a fixed number of visits prepaid or pay per visit, why do they need to make a special photo ID? They already have the money.

Some businesses just want more personal information than what they actually need.

It actually can protect the company if summertime pays with a credit or debit card and then tries to claim fraud. Whether that’s the actual reason for the rule, I don’t know. But it does happen.

 

[Rico_S]

This is bizzare.
I mean this with all sincerity. Are you ok? Is there something wrong?

Not so bizarre if you look at posting history. It’s quite common for the most staunch CAF defenders of the faith to interact poorly with those with whom they disagree. Just so happens you don’t agree here, so you noticed it.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Not so bizarre if you look at posting history. It’s quite common for the most staunch CAF defenders of the faith to interact poorly with those with whom they disagree. Just so happens you don’t agree here, so you noticed it.

e
Nope.
And that is an unfair characterization you have made.

I’m quite familiar with the posting history which is why this stood out.
We are dealing with a logical rational capable poster. Whom I disagree with sometimes but this was obviously uncharacteristic and several posters have noticed.

 

[pianistclare]

e
Nope.
And that is an unfair characterization you have made.

I’m quite familiar with the posting history which is why this stood out.
We are dealing with a logical rational capable poster. Whom I disagree with sometimes but this was obviously uncharacteristic and several posters have noticed.

Thank you Hoosier.

 

[ConfusedLucy]

I agree. It’s all a fixed number of visits prepaid or pay per visit, why do they need to make a special photo ID? They already have the money.

Some businesses just want more personal information than what they actually need.

This, it’s over the top and we really should be questioning what happens to our personal information.

 

[Elena321]

Yep. Perhaps.

But what a shame, no?

I have to have my picture taken in order to take a class I’ve paid for, just to sweat.

Fortunately or unfortunately,each gym or other business decides their own rules.
That’s their prerogative.Sometimes we may perceive those rules as stupid (and sometimes they are!) but it’s our prerogative then to take our business elsewhere.

It is a shame that you would have to do that,but if it wasn’t stated in the contract when you originally signed up that you would need to/agree to have your photo taken,then perhaps you could talk to the manager about getting a partial refund as if you are on a contract they should have disclosed this before asking you to sign.

Is the issue more about the photo or is it the receptionist?
Is she just doing her job as has been required by her manager or is she being “control like” in her personality?

Ie:if a different receptionist asked the same thing of you would you still be as affected?

 

[WingsOfEagles]

This, it’s over the top and we really should be questioning what happens to our personal information.

It’s really not “over the top”. It’s extremely common for gyms to do this.

 

[ConfusedLucy]

It’s really not “over the top”. It’s extremely common for gyms to do this.

It would put me of personally but as long as the policy is clear from the start people can choose to go elsewhere.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

It would put me of personally but as long as the policy is clear from the start people can choose to go elsewhere.

Certainly your choice.