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Post by finreporter on Jul 30, 2018 18:21:12 GMT
I agree that if they want to make meetings obsolete they need to move some of that saved money over to app improvements and stop dicking around with the tech. You want to be hip and with it, Mindy? You want to actually be able to compete with the low cost or free and much better apps? Like mike said, choose your direction and go with it. Stop half assing it.
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Post by finreporter on Jul 30, 2018 18:25:14 GMT
And unfortunately yes the people not wanting to use technology will have to use it if they want to stay on the program or they'll have to figure something else out. Meetings are old fashioned. A handful of younger adults may still attend but I'm certain this is rare. Heather's meetings of 50% or more of 80 year olds and retirees is likely most common.
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Post by hpeterson1951 on Jul 30, 2018 18:35:32 GMT
Heather's meetings of 50% or more of 80 year olds and retirees is likely most common. I agree, I think this is pretty common. WW management doesn't like it, but maybe they should try to embrace it. I think the direction the company is going in is kind of sad. I believe in the original purpose of community, healthy eating, portion size, not depriving yourself but learning how to have small indulgences. Somehow I think we are getting away from that and moving more to "how much product can you sell and how much we can do through technology without paying rent, utilities and service providers".
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wildcat
Transcendent Member
Posts: 952
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Post by wildcat on Jul 30, 2018 19:19:24 GMT
Meeting length is also changing. It is to stick to exactly 30 minutes for weigh in and 30 minutes for meeting. My leader actually got in trouble for running 10 minutes over, but having a great discussion with everyone. They are cracking down on this. This change sounds great to me. My leader was a sticker for starting on time thankfully, but I often had to walk out on meetings because they routinely ran over and I always felt rude doing it (especially since the seats by the door always filled up first so there was no way to make a discreet exit). It's like when meetings at work run over - it can throw the rest of your schedule out of whack for the entire day.
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Post by zazzles on Jul 30, 2018 20:26:34 GMT
vicki, itsrad, DebDoesWW, hpeterson1951, 100gone, lavonmI'm laughing at the comment about the virtual finger being given to older, non-tech-addicted members. Today's meeting went like this: 1) I didn't stop at the desk because I weighed in yesterday. So I didn't have a name tag or weekly. 2) Leader started meeting with two announcements: a) no more Bravos b) no more weigh-in labels because occasional inaccuracy can only be fixed by discontinuing their use, NOT by hiring competent IT people to fix the problem. 3) We were forced to sit through or participate in that new Headspace breathign exercixe. 4) Leader says, "Now that you're relaxed, I have one more announcement: this meeting is beng closed. We have two more weeks." (Virtual finger beame literal finger.) 5) Leader informed us that she eads the Wednesday meeting (8:15 vs. Monday @ 9 AM). The meeting consisted of the "group of five" (me and my friends), two members who started attending about two months ago, and a poor woman who joined today. The "group of five" immediately started talking about what to do. A couple of us who have always said we'll just meet at Starbucks feel that it would be a good solution. Several others want us all to switch to Wednesday (forget the inconvenience of rescheduling your week to accommoidate WW), I find it interesting that the three who are pressing hardest for the group to stay together in a meeting are: a) lifetime; b) at goal; and, c) three of them got back to goal using LoseIt to count calories—the have nothing to do with SmartPoints, Freestyle, or WW technology in any way. So my head says, "Why the hell do you care if they cancel the meeting and the group meets at Starbucks." It will be interesting to see what takes place ultimately. I am pretty convinced that I'm done paying my $40 a month for less and less service targeted at my demographic. And if all my group of friends switch to a meeting that is CONVENIENT for me (no way I'm going to fight commute traffic to try to get to a meeting that starts at 8:15—especially if the meeting is REQUIRED to end at 30 minutes), then I'll pop in from time to time as a Lifetime member and pay the weekly fee. Now, based on what hpeterson1951 has reported, I am wondering if the initial improvement to financial statements, the run-up in membership, etc. has run its course and numbers are dropping causing desperate acts of money conservation to take place. And, by the way, where the hell is Oprah? Have they locked in a closet somewhere? Haven't seen or heard anything from her in relation to WW in many months. (I don't watch TV ads, so if she's there I'm not seeing it.)
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Post by itsrad on Jul 30, 2018 20:33:41 GMT
zazzles , I'm sorry about your meeting. I know you've been braced for this but it still is hard when you feel like you have a good camaraderie going. Also, the stock price (which climbed astronomically this year) is dropping again. It will be interesting to see what Q3 looks like.
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vicki
Transcendent Member
Posts: 1,274
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Post by vicki on Jul 30, 2018 20:40:26 GMT
zazzlesSorry about your meeting. Vicki
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Post by lavonm on Jul 30, 2018 20:44:11 GMT
zazzles Sorry to hear your meeting was cancelled.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2018 21:31:36 GMT
I think if ww does away with all meetings they will be the losers. Meeting members can get together most anywhere. Remember Jean Neidich started her first group in her house. Just an informal get together is how it all started. Weigh in, discuss your week, and save your money. To sit down with a group of people once a week has a closeness about it.It's about more than weight loss. It's about support and friendship. Nothing WW does surprises me anymore. Things change, that's true. But change is not always for the better.
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Post by diva49 on Jul 30, 2018 21:56:46 GMT
My leader's FB page has been suspiciously quiet since Saturday (I missed the meeting; I was out early playing DitchWitch at The Plantation). With the "shoes or socks" notice, she announced on Friday for Saturday so perhaps that's what she'll do for this one.
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Post by finreporter on Jul 30, 2018 22:00:26 GMT
But they have to change. Meetings are not what will keep them profitable with the competition of free or low cost apps. Keeping meetings going would equal clinging to a sinking ship. Mindy must operate this business in a manner that maximizes shareholder wealth, not from a place of emotion.
Personally if I was CEO I'd have closed down meetings ages ago, and channeled my energy and resources on being on par with the better free apps.
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Post by linda72 on Jul 30, 2018 23:40:14 GMT
Yes, things always change but not always for the better. If I think how things could happen in the future: more meetings will be consolidated and then all will be closed. Money will be saved on rents, utilities, and salaries. All of that will help their bottom line. But, where will that leave the consumer? WW is pushing everyone to use the app, as if it is the best thing going. But, it's not. I can use MFP, lose it and numerous other FREE apps that can count calories, nutrients, carbs, proteins, etc. that are more user friendly and give me more information I need to lose weight and be healthier. So, why stick with WW? Connect is not that helpful when I need information about nutrition, using points and a million other things that can be discussed in a face-to-face meeting or on these boards. These boards mimic how WW started with Jean N: people talking and discussing what works and what doesn't work when losing or maintaining weight. The weekly meetings used to cover topics that help people make better choices. That has gone by the wayside and in its place are meetings about self-acceptance, going on maintenance modes, celebrating NSV, etc. I am not sure that is helping someone who needs to lose a lot of weight.
I am not sure any of this matters to WW . They now have their "Manifesto" to do good. That's admirable and relevant to today's culture but I'm still trying to see how that helps the individual who is struggling to lose weight. Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth. Time will tell if young people gravitate to this new and improved WW.
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Post by zazzles on Jul 30, 2018 23:50:28 GMT
But they have to change. Meetings are not what will keep them profitable with the competition of free or low cost apps. Keeping meetings going would equal clinging to a sinking ship. Mindy must operate this business in a manner that maximizes shareholder wealth, not from a place of emotion. Personally if I was CEO I'd have closed down meetings ages ago, and channeled my energy and resources on being on par with the better free apps. True...BUT... Use new, slick, DEBUGGED WW app(s) (like that's ever going to happen) for $20 a month or more... OR Use already, slick, debugged apps that aren't WW for FREE. HMMM...tough decision. If WW can't make it in the physical meeting business, I have serious doubts that they can continue to survive as a virtual business. Time will tell.
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Post by zazzles on Jul 30, 2018 23:57:42 GMT
The weekly meetings used to cover topics that help people make better choices. That has gone by the wayside and in its place are meetings about self-acceptance, going on maintenance modes, celebrating NSV, etc. I am not sure that is helping someone who needs to lose a lot of weight. Well said, Linda.
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Post by itsrad on Jul 31, 2018 0:06:40 GMT
The problem with this approach is there is absolutely nothing that sets WW aside from the rest of the field without the meetings.
I signed up for online. I see absolutely nothing about it that is of any use to me that I can't get from one of the free or low cost websites/apps. MFP/Loseit/etc. All of which have more powerful and better technology. I can even follow any of the WW programs using a free app. I can get my WW recipes (with points) from one of the websites with good recipes. Connect is a waste of bandwidth. So what is it they are selling that is worth the monthly online fee?
They had a giant surge this year because of the "eat as much chicken as you want" program, but that is only going to carry them so far.
The next six months will be fascinating.
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