GuavaPass is a fitness pass that one can apply for online.

It was a pass that allowed members to take classes from any of GuavaPass' partnered studios and gyms, or even use one of those class credits as a gym pass.

Prices started at S$99 for 4 classes a month, to S$169 per month for a 6-month Unlimited Membership package.

Bought over

On Jan.7, GuavaPass published a post on their Facebook page, announcing "exciting news".

The news turned out to be that they would be "joining forces" with rival company ClassPass - in other words, an acquisition.

 

Checking the links provided in the website, GuavaPass explains that members have their current membership cancelled at 11:59 pm on Jan. 14.

Members who have unused Unlimited Membership classes can let GuavaPass know if they would like to get a refund or a ClassPass gift card.

Those who didn't inform GuavaPass by Jan 13 would receive a gift card by default.

Members who have a class package through GuavaPass instead won't be able to get a refund, but they will have a ClassPass account created, with a number of credits that will be carried forward from their unused GuavaPass membership.

Complaints

Some unhappy members have started writing to GuavaPass on Facebook, with various complaints.

A few highlighted that they were notified about the acquisition on such short notice, leaving them with only a short amount of time to utilise their remaining GuavaPass classes.

Others mentioned they had no official word on when they'll get their refunds.

Several highlighted that ClassPass operated on an entirely different system that would make the transition to ClassPass more expensive.

More expensive

This is because on ClassPass, different classes require a different amount of credits.

As pricing is dynamic, more popular classes will require more credits.

So while GuavaPass can get you 6 months of unlimited classes for S$169,  S$185 would only be able to get you at most 13 classes a month at best, and 8 classes a month at worst.

This meant that members were essentially getting fewer classes, while still having to pay more.

As the acquisition is likely to be completed this month, GuavaPass will cease operations in countries where ClassPass is available, including 11 cities in Asia such as Hong Kong and Bangkok.

Several employees, along with GuavaPass founders Jeffrey Liu and Rob Pachter will also be joining ClassPass.

Allegedly owes money

In a report by Channel NewsAsia (CNA), the company allegedly owes several exercise studios payment from November last year, though payment delays started in October.

ClassPass has told CNA that they will be working to ensure that payments owed through December to January will be fulfilled.

One of these studio owners has also told CNA that they are owed a four-figure sum, which excludes S$300 for workshops that were conducted.

Top image via GuavaPass' Facebook page