Wow No More
As more accounts emerge of the underhand methods used by California Wow staff to drum up business, disgruntled members are wondering how this slickly promoted club managed to fool so many for so long
- Published: 25 Sep 2012 at 00.00
- Newspaper section: Life
Deciding to make a long-term commitment to regular exercise, office worker Yaowapa Chamrassomboon bought a year's subscription at a fitness centre in her neighbourhood. But instead of getting her trim and toned, the time she's spent at California Wow Xperience (CaWow) has left her stressed out, as well as severely out of pocket.
Earlier this year the 48-year-old went one step further and became a lifetime member at CaWow's Pin Klao branch, forking out in the region of 300,000 baht for membership fees and courses with a personal trainer.
A few months later, Yaowapa and thousands of other CaWow members were abruptly left in limbo when the company suspended services at 7 of its 8 branches in Bangkok. The firm is apparently in major financial difficulties and, in an attempt to stave off the receivers, has submitted a business-rehabilitation plan to the Central Bankruptcy Court for approval.
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