Weight Watchers Review #69 by salsa432 on September 15th, 2010 at 6:14 PM CDT

Name

It's difficult to rate Weight Watchers. I have been on the program for two years. I believe (I do not know for sure because I have not seen any studies) that it's program promotes good health overall. I know that the program works for some people some of the time, ie they lose weight and keep it off for a period of time (again I've not seen any studies of it's effectiveness overall). However, I have concerns about how WW handles the financial end of things. 1) The program is expensive. 2) WW pushes their food products at meetings; members are surrounded by piles of WW food products in the meeting room and are offered free samples. Most of these samples are junk-food type products. A conflict of interest for sure. 3) A number of plans are offered with complicated rules, which are confusing to members and to staff alike. I've asked meeting staff and also phone staff the same question and received different answers. WW changes these payment plans from time to time making it even more confusing. I've been told joining would cost a certain amount in one meeting and then told the next meeting (when I came to pay) that it was much more expensive, by the same staff. 4) Recently, WW started a new monthly payment plan which requires members to sign up by credit card and then validate by internet. This was the least expensive way to join. Members who a) have no credit card, b) don't want to use a credit card c) don't have or use a computer (ie. older or poorer people), can not take advantage of the least expensive way to join. 5) If you cancel the monthly payment plan after paying for the first month, but before validating on the internet, you are in "no-man's land". You are told you are not yet a member and therefore must pay for each meeting until you validate. If you choose not to attend meetings until you validate, you are charged for missed meetings as if you were a full member -- this is contradictory and makes no sense. 6) WW charges people $5 for refunds,regardless of the reason for the refund, ie if a WW product is defective. 7) Furthermore, to obtain a refund, one must fill out a form and then wait several weeks for a cheque to arrive from WW in the mail, regardless of how you paid (ie by credit card). Until WW does better on the financial end of things, I will not be rejoining. I am not giving up on losing weight, but I don't need WW to do it.

It's difficult to rate Weight Watchers. I have been on the program for two years. I believe (I do not know for sure because I have not seen any studies) that it's program promotes good health overall. I know that the program works for some people some of the time, ie they lose weight and keep it off for a period of time (again I've not seen any studies of it's effectiveness overall).

However, I have concerns about how WW handles the financial end of things.

1) The program is expensive.

2) WW pushes their food products at meetings; members are surrounded by piles of WW food products in the meeting room and are offered free samples. Most of these samples are junk-food type products. A conflict of interest for sure.

3) A number of plans are offered with complicated rules, which are confusing to members and to staff alike. I've asked meeting staff and also phone staff the same question and received different answers.

WW changes these payment plans from time to time making it even more confusing. I've been told joining would cost a certain amount in one meeting and then told the next meeting (when I came to pay) that it was much more expensive, by the same staff.

4) Recently, WW started a new monthly payment plan which requires members to sign up by credit card and then validate by internet. This was the least expensive way to join. Members who

a) have no credit card,

b) don't want to use a credit card

c) don't have or use a computer (ie. older or poorer people),

can not take advantage of the least expensive way to join.

5) If you cancel the monthly payment plan after paying for the first month, but before validating on the internet, you are in "no-man's land". You are told you are not yet a member and therefore must pay for each meeting until you validate. If you choose not to attend meetings until you validate, you are charged for missed meetings as if you were a full member -- this is contradictory and makes no sense.

6) WW charges people $5 for refunds,regardless of the reason for the refund, ie if a WW product is defective.

7) Furthermore, to obtain a refund, one must fill out a form and then wait several weeks for a cheque to arrive from WW in the mail, regardless of how you paid (ie by credit card).

Until WW does better on the financial end of things, I will not be rejoining. I am not giving up on losing weight, but I don't need WW to do it.

Weight Watchers Review #68 by Denise Smith on August 10th, 2010 at 2:09 PM CDT

Name

I am very disappointed with some of the comments about ww due to the fact that they are not a fast fix for fatties wanting to eat their own way and not exercise. You shouldn't be successful with a negative attitude and a low desire to follow the plan. Count the ponts and SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You need to be fully committed to succeed in anything in life. You need to hold yourselves accountable and not ww.

I am very disappointed with some of the comments about ww due to the fact that they are not a fast fix for fatties wanting to eat their own way and not exercise. You shouldn't be successful with a negative attitude and a low desire to follow the plan. Count the ponts and SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You need to be fully committed to succeed in anything in life. You need to hold yourselves accountable and not ww.

Weight Watchers Review #67 by Kathy on July 29th, 2010 at 8:19 AM CDT

Name

I was on Weight Watchers years ago when the diet was more structured. I lost my weight and felt wonderful. We moved to a small town without a WW group and I gained all my weight back and then some. Eventually I went back to WW but they had changed to a point system that didn't work for me at all.

I was on Weight Watchers years ago when the diet was more structured. I lost my weight and felt wonderful. We moved to a small town without a WW group and I gained all my weight back and then some. Eventually I went back to WW but they had changed to a point system that didn't work for me at all.