When it comes to dealing with a business, a little critical thinking and go a long way in avoiding scams.
Now I do not think this challenge is a scam. The founder certainly takes his work seriously and the people I have met seem rather sincere in wanting to help us walk away from the challenge for the better. If I stick to the challenge I will see a significant improvement, tho no guarantee I will meet my goal. That said, my critical thinking has been in overdrive since tonight’s nutritional consultation. There was a bit of a sell vibe on the topic of supplements (Prestige Labs). They were not pushing them, but it’s framed as something that helps. I’m truly not sure if supplement use reflects the fitness culture at the KMA, or as the saying goes, “that’s how they get you.”
The only reason I am pondering this topic so much is because of one thing really – the story behind the discount. The discount is true, and it’s a good discount: 40% off + buy 4 and you only pay for 3. This is legit. A little research and I see that the 40% is the discount some affiliates can offer and the buy 4 and one is free is a coupon option. However, what we were told is that they of giving us their wholesale price plus their employee discount so we can save as much as possible. Maybe that really is true, but it looks more like it’s the deal they worked out with Prestige labs as an affiliate.
Look, it’s cool if you are an affiliate. You are a business after all, not a charity. I just want to be confident that you are not putting profit over safety. My gut says you are seeking a balance there, but when your pitch includes what feels like an inaccuracy about the discount, it does not sit well with those who notice it, especially when you do encourage (not push) them.
Fact is, I can’t fault them for monetizing what they can. After all, if I were to post a link here to a book, product, or service, you can be sure I would try to make it an affiliate link when I can. However, I would only recommend items I was truly excited about and wanted to share, not just toss items on to make a few affiliate bucks. So while I am not crying foul, this does not help with the sell vibe and I would encourage more transparency in that sell. If you really think they help and are worth it, that’s cool, just don’t talk about wholesale prices and employee discounts when I can see the same discounts with other affiliates.
I’ve always been wary of high-performance supplements. They are not simply vitamins and can really mess with the body, plus prices can get insane. The only supplement I would normally be interested in is something that helps with recovery since there will be quite a few painful days ahead. Still, I am going all in on this, and I want to break the mold and try new approaches, so here it is. I ordered some (4) of the supplements because normally I would not! I’ll share which when they arrive.
Giving Credit where Credit is Due
Despite some uneasiness above, I want to close with this: no one has pushed gear and clothing at all so far, which is why this supplement thing is more a raised eyebrow than a red flag. If this challenge was just an upsell gig then they would have pulled out the merch and pushed private lessons. You can even rent gloves for just $2 if you are not ready to get your own, and any comfortable workout clothes will do, so there is no need for a major investment… outside of the cost for healthier groceries. Props to KMA to keeping things focused on the fitness.