Other than the one trial class, parents are not allowed to watch the class until the last 15 minutes. There is no way to watch to ensure the safety of your children during that time. If this isn't an issue for you, I think you'll like it here. For our family, this is a red flag, especially for a sport trying to address children's safety after years of abuse.
First week (free) went well. Air conditioning barely works but it was good! Coaches seemed to truly care. Parents were sitting on the far end of the gym watching.
Second week also went well. At least four other parents also watching. We paid $110 (including a $40 registration fee) for the month of classes.
The third week, though, we were informed parents couldn't be in the gym during class and that we had to leave the gym. I get not wanting parents coaching from the sidelines, but there is no area to watch or know what's going on. This was the first time anyone told us about this. There is an 8.5x11" piece of paper on the top left of the outside door stating parents can't be in the class until the last 15 minutes. I noticed it for the first time before this particular class.
So before our son has joined the class for the day, we ask to speak to one of the coaches. Another parent whose child is having her first, free class is telling one of the coaches she doesn't think leaving the children out of parents' sights is safe.
After she speaks to the coach, I ask about if we can be refunded because I don't feel safe leaving my five year old with people that I don't know. The main coach, Frank, tells my wife and me that they'll refund us. I tell him I don't even want a full refund because our son did attend a paid class. So he says they will prorate it. Perfect. Wife leaves her name and number, and we leave.
Fast forward to the phone call with the office manager. She informs my wife that we won't be refunded at all. She tells us that we were informed about parents not being in the gym (we weren't) and that we signed a contract which mentions the policy (it doesn't). The waiver and the registration do not mention the policy. The only thing we saw was the piece of paper taped to the window. This policy was clearly not upheld the first two classes we attended.
So she and my wife went back and forth, and things were heated. I did not hear the conversation, but the office manager made it seem as if my wife threatened her - which I absolutely know did not happen. Afterward, I called, and she explained again that we wouldn't be refunded. And that the problem is with us for not being okay leaving our children with people we don't know - that no gym would let us watch. I informed her of a gymnastics gym our son attended for months that did allow us to watch. And she said, "well, go back there." We came here because he wanted to learn tumbling.
Despite what Coach Frank said, she told us there would be no refund of any sort. She said we could attend the last two classes and sit in on them and then not come back. If she had led with this, I would have considered the option. However, she was extremely antagonistic. I would not feel comfortable going back.
I calmly explained why we would not have signed up in the first place if they had been up front with the situation, and she told me I'm unreasonable for leaving my child at school but not at their gym. I said I would do a chargeback, and she said, "well then we'll just go back and forth and we will win, and that's just going to cost you a whole lot more money in the long run."
Everyone else was so nice. I hate that the experience ended this way. I want this business to do well because it is local, family owned, and the coaches do seem to care. However, having an office manager speak the way she spoke to me and not even consider a partial refund is...
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