P.I.T.A.

If you know me, or have been visiting this here blog for a little while, you know that I Jazzercise for exercise, and that I am a Class Manager at my Jazzercise center.  That means that in exchange for registering new customers and logging existing ones into the computer for each class, I get free Jazzercise.  It's pretty cool.

Anyway, a few months ago, we ran a special where you paid one fee for April and May and didn't have to pay the one-time joining fee of $75, just as long as you signed up for the automatic monthly payments for classes for at least 3 months (June, July, August).  Basically, it was a great deal, and we had many people take advantage of it.  Especially a woman whom I will call PITA (Pain In The Ass) here on this blog.  She is THE only customer we have that I think of this way.

PITA came in 5 minutes before class was to start back on a Monday or Wednesday in April to sign up with the deal.  She already seemed put out that I couldn't process the registration in less than 2 minutes flat, and that she had to fill out all kinds of information before I could even let her start the class.  Anyway, she already had an issue with the automatic payments starting in June -- said she she would be out of the country until September, could she push it off until then?  I said I didn't think it would be a problem, but that I would check and let her know the next time she came in.  After class, and after finishing the remainder of the sign-up process, the last thing I needed was a voided check or credit card number for the automatic payments... neither of which she had with her.  It's not generally a problem, since we already have their address, etc., and people are looking to start a new exercise habit, so they show up.  I just told her that she could bring the voided check to the next class she attends and that would finish out the sign-up process.

Fast-forward about one or two weeks.  I checked, and it was OK that her account would be put on hold for the months of June, July, and August, and her automatic payments would start in September -- I told her this a day or two after she signed up.  At this point, we had yet to receive the voided check or CC # for those automatic payments, and I gently reminded her that we still needed one or the other.  She insisted that she gave a voided check to another Class Manager the weekend before, and that she (the CM) was really busy.  I told PITA that I'd check on it ASAP.

Long story, short: She never gave a voided check and she never gave a CC #... so the Jazzercise center owner called PITA at home and explained the situation -- that NONE of us Class Managers received any of the requested information and that we needed it ASAP.  Well, PITA lost her shit on the owner, and I don't know exactly how that ended, but PITA was still coming to class... I think that somewhere along the way, she also lost her shit on some of the morning CM's, especially since she was suddenly showing up in June (when she had said she couldn't).  She knew she was then responsible for paying for June (I told her so when she initially signed up -- that if she came to any class during any of the summer months that she would have to pay for that month).  Anyway, what it boils down to is that she was trying to get away without having to pay -- hoping that she could blame us for 'losing' her info or that we would forget to get that info and not notice that she wasn't paying.

THEN, other shit started to happen.  Individually, it all seems so damn petty, but within the big picture, it really adds up.  First, it was the mats that we use during class for when we do routines on the floor (for abs, inner thighs, etc.).  We have 3 or 4 spare mats at the center for new customers to use until they can get their own mat within a few days, or if a regular customer has forgotten hers here or there... not for daily use by a regular customer.  The center owner put them 'away' under the instructor's stage (there is fabric hiding what is under there), and told us CM's to get one for NEW customers only.  Well, PITA helped herself to a mat from under there.  That was bold -- but then she got bolder.  

After that class, I moved the mats to the utility room in the back -- you know, where only 'employees' go -- and the next time she came in, she had the chutzpah to go back there and get herself a mat -- without asking.  

Now, I have to tell you, PITA modifies EVERY move we do, because she claims she has/had blood clots in her legs.  I get that, but I really think that was an excuse for her to do WHATever she wants WHENever she wants within our routines.  We constantly modify moves (like marching instead of jogging or skipping), but we're still doing the same basic moves and working the same basic muscles, but not PITA.  She's doing her own damn thing and distracting many of our customers, especially those who don't have what it takes to ignore her.  Many of our customers have complained that PITA is distracting them because she varies so greatly from the actual routine.

Due to this modifying issue she has, it also means that she doesn't move forward / backward / left / right when the routine calls for it, thus causing some collisions because she's not doing what everyone else is doing.  This is a serious problem.  

She also doesn't give much personal space.  For example, she was crawling up my ass today.  My philosophy on that is that you can see me because you're behind me, therefore, you will need to move or get hit or run into.  I'm not going to continually look behind me to monitor whether or not someone is in my personal space.  You violate it, you get hit.  There was PLENTY of space in the room that meant that it was not necessary for her to crawl up my ass.

PITA has also been making other regular customers feel unwelcome at class by glaring at them.  I've not seen it, but an instructor and several other CM's and customers have verified it.  She glares at them when she steps into THEIR spaces that they are working out in -- because of that personal space issue I mentioned above.  See how childish this all seems? 

Oh, and THEN?  She decided that one set of hand-held weights wasn't enough.  Oh no, 5 or 6 pounds in each hand wasn't gonna get the job done.  Today, she decided to use a set of 5-pound weights AND a set of 6-pound weights.  Together.  At the same time.  Two weights in each hand, for a total of 11 lbs. in each hand.  THAT?  Is dangerous and beyond the ideal weight for strength training within the Jazzercise concept.  After class today, I told her that I noticed what she had done, and that it was against our insurance regulations, that she needs to use just ONE weight in each hand.  She balked at that.  HOW is that against your [insert mocking voice here] 'insurance' regulations???  I'm thinking, Do I really need to explain this to you???  (She's also a teacher... but I digress...)  I stated that if she dropped one of them on her foot, she could injure herself, or if it dropped and rolled and someone else stepped on it and rolled or broke their ankle.... etc....  Her [snotty] reply?  Well, then I'll just bring my own weights too.   Good idea, sis.

I've yet to see this woman smile or laugh in the 3 months she has been coming to class.  Everyone else at least tries to be pleasant, even if they're having a shitty day.  We're just happy that we each made the effort to come to class and hey, we might as well make it fun and release some of that stress.  How does she survive day in and day out in life???  Her students must HATE her, if she's anything like we've seen here.  I guess I just don't understand how one can go through life so bitter and cantankerous.  I realize that I don't know much about her life, other than what I've mentioned here (OK, well, I do know that she is the mother of one of my brother's close friends back in high school -- but she doesn't know who I am, and I like it that way -- and that she is divorced), but damn, woman!  Lighten up a little and just be responsible!  Pay your fees and use some damn common sense.  Oh, wait... maybe she was absent on the day when that was handed out.

And I'm sure the story will continue..... stay tuned!