GuCycle Closes Overnight, Rides Off With Everyone's Money
It appears that the Beijing-based fitness company GuCyle has closed all six of their China branches unannounced, leaving both members of the gym and its staff thousands of yuan out of pocket.
Members in Shanghai first reported that branches of GuCyle were closed last week, according to NetEase (sh.news.163.com). Now all six venues, including two in Beijing, are closed and the company cannot be reached for comment.
The Beijing branches show as closed on Dazhong Dianping
With this, GuCycle appears to have joined a long list of Chinese companies, especially gyms, to have taken the money and run. GuCycle has fled with an estimated RMB 1.2 million in membership fees, and owes each member of staff RMB 25,000 on average.
News of the closure may not have come as a surprise to everyone, with Shanghai staff reporting salary problems as early as last November, with payments being issued late or incomplete. Many of the gym's experienced trainers had reportedly suspected trouble and already resigned. The company's WeChat account had been inactive since December.
Considered the first high-end indoor bicycle gym in mainland China, and heavily inspired by America’s cult-like Soul Cycle, GuCyle began operations in January 2016, opening its first branch in CBD's Fraser Suites at the end of the same year. They later opened a second branch in Tuanjiehu's Yingke Center.
The company advertised its 45-minute spin classes as a “party on a bike,” with everchanging playlists and a funky black-lit studio. The business attracted many of its members with large, though discounted, membership packages to be paid up front, such as the popular RMB 8,800 for 80 classes deal.
Upon trying to call GuCyle's number listed on Dazhong Dianping, we received the below message:
See you on a bike? More like see you in court.
Images: GuCycle, itsnothouitsme.com
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