Have I been a twit? Problem with gym

[Liebkuchen]

Okay- so the other day I went along to a gym I'd seen on the internet. I'd arranged to see the only English speaking staff member. I was shown around and the place is good, clean, modern so no problems with the facilities and I was ready and happy with the cash to pay for my 1 year's membership (1580rmb).

Now, the fitness guy took my cash and came back with the contract slips to sign, only the contract slip just had my member ship down as for 3 months with the corresponding fee paid (970 rmb). I challenged him about this and he said its not a problem, he'd extend my membership when it expires, and I'd also get my membership by a few months if I went back to the UK in the summer. I saw this as reasonable, but still wanted a receipt for the full and actual amount paid. He said he'd get me one in a couple of days if I bring my copy of the slip back because the office lady only works after 5pm...Anyhow, against my better judgement, I signed. I'm heading back to the gym tonight to nab him and try and get my receipt.

Does this seem odd to anyone else? Am I over reacting? If I can get a full receipt, I'll be happy. What happens if there's any 'problems' getting the receipt tonight? Is there any point in being a shouty foreigner and trying to get them to sort it out less they lose face? I don't want to cause any unnecessary trouble if everything's actually in hand but my gut instinct is throwing up a big red flag. What to do?

[jasoninchina]

I think it is a red flag. As you suspected, it was probably a hasty decision to sign and pay without a proper contract and receipt. Now that its done, I would just make sure he holds to his word. It sounds like the gym is a fairly reputable place, so perhaps nothing nefarious is going on. If he denies your previous conversation, I would certainly stick to your guns.

[abcdefg]

It raises a red flag for me too. What is written down means more than what was said, especially by a "fittness guy" who probably will change jobs in a month or less. A full receipt is not enough; you need a proper contract.

I would talk it over with a Chinese friend at your university, preferably a faculty member colleague. It will take some "native style" finesse to get it straightened out. It would also help if the faculty friend can go back with you this evening as a spokesman and advocate. Try to not structure the meeting as a "confrontation over an attempt to cheat me" but rather as an "I'm not sure I understood this right" session, complete with apologies for bothering them about it.

[xiaoxiaocao]

I agree with the above two posts. Gym staff work on commission and try to get as much as they can. Make sure you get a receipt for the full amount you paid and confirmation that it is indeed for 12 months.

Last week I renewed my membership. I know for a fact that the fee is 400 RMB for 3 months. There was a new staff member at the front desk who hadn't seen me before and quoted me 750 RMB. I told him to not waste my time otherwise I'll head off to a different gym down the road. He smiled (knowingly) and took the 400.

[gato]

Yes, be ready to make a scene and do a sit-in at the gym if they tried to cheat you.

First preference as a customer is always to pay as late as possible. Once you've paid, you lose your leverage.

[Liebkuchen]

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately, my translator friends are all busy so I'll try and sort it out directly with the guy. Only if that doesn't work, I'll bring a written out statement of the facts if I have to demand to go above him. And act naive and stupid to begin with. Hoping I'm just being a bit paranoid. I'll report back afterwards

[Liebkuchen]

All is well! I arrived all prepped for problems but he had my receipt for the full amount ready and waiting

I also got the schedule (in chinese and English) of classes so I'm all set. Panic over.

[roddy]

It's ok, they'll close down and run off with your money next week anyway

[jbradfor]

I'm glad it all worked out -- and now that it has, I'd like to ask my off-topic question.

Your use of "twit" here surprised me. I think of "twit" as a British-English word, I don't hear it too often here. But to me, I think of it more as used to describe someone that is stupid or silly in general, not to someone that has (potentially) made a single mistake. Am I just wrong?

[roddy]

Ah, but it's in the present perfect simple - something that has happened in the past and is relevant now, but not an ongoing or permanent situation.

[jbradfor]

Wouldn't the present perfect simple tense be "Was I a twit?"? "Have I been" implies to me on-going. But then again, I'm a product of the American public[1] education system, so what do I know about grammar?

[1] for those of you across the pond, here "public" means funded by the government; our opposite is "private". IIRC, you use a totally weird naming system.

[gato]

Wouldn't the present perfect simple tense be "Was I a twit?"?

That's past simple, I think. Ha.

here "public" means funded by the government;

Their "public" is more like the "public" of "public company". Ha.

[Demonic_Duck]

Wouldn't the present perfect simple tense be "Was I a twit?"? "Have I been" implies to me on-going. But then again, I'm a product of the American public[1] education system, so what do I know about grammar?

"Have I been", in this case, is present perfect. "Was I" is past simple.

"Have I been" could be used as present perfect continuous as well, which is what I think you're getting at, if "been" was used with another verb in the "ing" form. For example, "have I been sleeping for a whole ten hours?" However, in the example of "have I been a twit?", there is no "ing" verb, and as such it's just present perfect.

Correct me if I'm wrong on any of this as I'm far from an expert.

[1] for those of you across the pond, here "public" means funded by the government; our opposite is "private". IIRC, you use a totally weird naming system.

We'd still understand "public education" to mean government-funded education. I think what you're thinking of is the term "public school", which for some reason means the same thing over here as "private school".

[elliott50]

In defence of the british-english term "public school", it has been in use since long before government-funded education existed. For example the "public school" that I attended as a boy was established in 1619, by an actor contemporary of William Shakespeare. They are actually charitable trusts, rather than being run for "private" profit, and mine was originally set up to educate twelve poor scholars. Shakespeare himself, whose parents were illiterate, was educated at this kind of school. In those times these schools were "public" in the sense that anyone could attend them and, this being England, we have never got round to changing the name...

Sorry for going so off-topic. Perhaps we should start another thread to see if anyone knows of similarly long-established Chinese charitable institutions that were not swept away during the turbulent last 100 years in China.

[bunny87]

my god. i can only imagine roddy, jbradfor, gato, and the demonic duck just duking it out in an ESL class. Lol! if it gets that intense, maybe i myself wouldn't pass their english final.

[rezaf]

Have I been a twit?

Most laowais (including me) who are beginning to learn the tricks of living in China are overcautious when they shouldn't be and idiots when they should be cautious.

[jbradfor]

i can only imagine roddy, jbradfor, gato, and the demonic duck just duking it out in an ESL class.

Too true! If I tried to teach an ESL course the students would get so confused they'd never dare speak English again.

[skylee]

Sorry for going so off-topic. Perhaps we should start another thread to see if anyone knows of similarly long-established Chinese charitable institutions that were not swept away during the turbulent last 100 years in China.

I can't think of any that was established in the 17th century. I know of two that were established in the 19th century - Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and Po Leung Kuk. They are based in Hong Kong. Tung Wah runs both hospitals and schools, and still provides free medical service (贈醫施藥).

[anonymoose]

I think of it more as used to describe someone that is stupid or silly in general, not to someone that has (potentially) made a single mistake

Since noone actually addressed the (second) original question, I thought I'd throw my hat it.

To me, whether the word is used to describe a person in general or as a result of an isolated event depends on the context. If you make a simple statement, "She's a twit", especially without providing a reason, or the reason is clearly one of a general or ongoing nature, then "twit" could be understood as a general description. On the other hand, if an explanation is provided, and this explanation relates to an individual event, then calling someone a "twit" could be understood to be a result of that particular event. In such a case, it would also be common to say "She's a twit for (doing whatever...)". A similar rationale applies to many words of this nature, such as "stupid" or "silly".