During a recent out-of-town conference trip, I found myself with two of my cohorts at a full-service fitness center in the greater Atlanta area.

The two-story structure had everything an exercise aficionado could dream of: an indoor rock climbing wall, a hair salon, a full-size swimming pool complete with slides, a massage/spa area, indoor basketball courts, restaurant, supplements shop, carpeted weight room, and carpeted locker rooms complete with stone showers, and a sauna.

The price tag for a one-time visitor such as myself: $30.

Admittedly, the fee was hard to stomach, and even harder to justify as a monthly gym membership in my hometown is only nine dollars more. Nevertheless, we elected to stay, and I elected to pay despite my disappointment with one glaring void.

As one of my traveling companions and I walked down one of the facility’s corridors following our workout, he asked with an air of awe, “Is there anything this place doesn’t have?”

The words no more left his mouth than an answer left mine, “Customer service.”

Upon entering the gym earlier that evening we were greeted by an employee with a hand extended for our membership passes which we did not possess. He then pointed us across the room to a representative who would collect ninety total dollars, in exchange for our two hour workout.

We approached the young woman who leaned against a counter top in conversation with another woman. We stood in silent expectation. No response. Moments passed, still she did not acknowledge our presence.

Only after I interrupted her using her tag’s name did she respond.

The death blow to my first impression of this playground of fitness equipment came after the aforementioned corridor comment as we all walked out the main doors.

Quizzically, I asked the front desk attendant if there was a company brochure on-site that I could review during the drive home. I thought possibly I could read something that would reassure me of the funds that I had invested.

His response drew a disappointed and audible laugh from within me after he said, “You can go online. I think you might find something there.” He didn’t even know.

Suddenly, it seemed a company that had everything, and yet lacked genuine customer service, had nothing.

What bogus customer service experiences can you share?