Issues Procuring Equipment

[kuri]

This is a bit of a vent so apologies in advance.

I'm seeking input from you trainers/gym owners out there in regards to strategies in convincing management to purchase needed equipment.

In particular myself and other trainers at my present employer have repeatedly requested simple equipment such as a kicking shield for kickboxing, bands etc... nothing expensive. It's obvious management isn't responsive, and when I brought the matter up again at a PT meeting the PTM responded that he's been given zero budget.

Not 5 minutes later the operations director proudly announced that this month the gym purchased $400,000 worth of treadmills and bikes.

Now I understand that cardio equipment/shiny worthless machines attract the usual resolutioners, but I seem to be just banging my head against the wall in talking with management (who know jack shit about training) about what clients want/need.

Any ideas (other than leaving)?

[Jean-Paul]

Buy them yourself, keep them in a bin that you keep in a storage closet, and break them out when you train your clients. The people being curious and watching the results in your clients will pressure the owners to listen to you.

Or you could just move to LR!

[Jean-Paul]

Did I mention that I just put in a new sprint track for my band drills, tire flipping etc, and I just purchased a new Ultra-Slide board.

[kuri]

I saw - looks great JP!

I do bring my own bands, rings, etc... to train clients. Thankfully management leaves me alone on that.

Guess if nothing changes I may start moving some clients to another gym I train myself at: 3 Oly platforms, glute ham raise, track w/ sleds, slide boards, power racks galore etc... no tires however.

[Brian A.]

Where do you work Gold's (AKA Meathead's)? I agree w/JP buy your own stuff and keep it where only you can use it. Once everyone else's clients start asking why they aren't using it, then the manager will have a mutiny on his hands. Save the recipts, then you can either have the manager reemburse you for what you bought, or at the very least you can write it off on your taxes at the end of the year.

[Tom@foresight]

As said above other gym members will notice you using bits of your own kit and hopefully ask the managment to provide it, or even better take up your PT product in order to train using your gear!

Another option is what do the other PT's think, if you went to the management with a wish list of new kit and the whole PT team was behind you they maight take more notice.

TOM