This is a story about Gold’s Gym.

As most of you know I just moved to Boston.  One of my goals is to get super-fit while I’m working here and that means joining a gym.

Today I drive to Gold’s Gym.  It’s a 15 minute drive.  I get out of the car and I have credit card in hand.  I am ready to pay.  This means that I’m pretty much their dream customer — I was locked, loaded and ready to rumble.  Does it get any better than that?

I walk in and say “I want to buy a membership.”  I’m literally pointing my credit card at the swiper.  I’m serious about this, man.

The woman at the register gets the deer-in-the-headlights look and says “I can’t do that.  The membership director isn’t here.”

My thought process at this point is already thinking up one-liners having to do with bureaucrats and whatnot, but I hold back. 

Then I offer to pay for a one-time visit. 

“No, you can’t do that.  You have to wait until tomorrow.”

WHAT?  I had MY CREDIT CARD IN MY HAND. 

If my business is ever operated like this — turning away ready-and-willing customers because some person isn’t there to let them in — I will literally shoot myself in the foot, because that’s what this was. 

OK, I’m finished now.