Why the battle over Tracey Staehle workouts?

C

Carolyn B

Cathlete
I got Tracey's High Intensity Step Mix 2 in a trade and did it yesterday. It was my first Tracey workout and I really enjoyed it. I thought it was well choreographed and very intense. The quality wasn't great - they filmed too far away so Tracey was "fuzzy" and her voice volume was too low. But I think it's a good workout and a keeper.

Out of curiosity I went over to Collage Video to read the reviews and was amazed to see a war going on over Tracey's workouts!

All of her workouts have a series of glowing, 5-star reviews, followed by extremely harsh reviews with 1 or fewer stars and lots of comments about how she hypes her workouts and never delivers.

One person wrote in the Circuit Zone review that she "swore," "blew kisses at her breasts" etc.!

Now in their Forums, there are lots of posts about how the glowing reviews were posted by Tracey's friends and the negative reviews were posted by people who are angry with her - but no reasons are given.

I am amazed at this kind of emotion over a few workouts! But I am curious enough to ask - Does anyone know they story behind all of this?
 
This is a 'Readers Digest' version of the story.

People were very excited to received Tracey's latest release - the kickboxing cardio workout 'Strike Zone.' It is a 'staff' favorite over at Collage.com, and it sounded and looked promising. Before it shipped, clips were posted on Tracey's site and some people were put off by the set, the lighting, and, according to some, Tracey and crew being 'off the beat' from the music. After the workout shipped, people voiced their concerns regarding the aforementioned issues over at videofitness.com and at Tracey's website. Tracey's producer said she'd be online to chat about Tracey's latest series. People posted their concerns about the latest series; some of the posts were downright nasty. Well, Tracey's producer bit back and it got quite heated. I think the 'one star' reviews posted at Collage are fallout from the flamewar. People began to bash other Tracey workouts, too, because of the Strikezone hubbub.

I know not every workout is for every individual, and people should be allowed to voice their opinions, but I also believe in respect and common courtesy. Personally, I think people took this issue a bit too seriously. It is, after all, a workout DVD.
 
I saw similar reviews on collage for Tracey's Circuit workout. A few complained about offensive statements Tracey made during the workout.
Others had commented on how they have wasted too much money on her workouts and how they keep going downhill.

I sort of skimmed over the thread on VF forum. Honestly, the clips of Tracey do not click with me so I decided to pass.
 
Wow that sounds like quite a brawl! It also sounds like Tracey needs to get someone new to represent her in discussions with customers on her website!

I had heard about her workouts and thought they looked interesting, but I had no idea they were so controversial!

Thanks for the explanation. As you said - they are just DVDs!
 
I believe her producer is strictly 'behind the scenes' now.

I'm glad you like HISM2. I enjoy that workout as well. Do you have HISM? That is one of my favorite step workouts of all time. I also really enjoy Glute Camp and Cardio Sweatfest.
 
I saw the comments and for the most part didn't think of them as horrific. I could understand being annoyed with having spent hard earned money of something subpar--that's why it's nice to buy through Collage who can hook one up with another DVD. There are movie critics, restaurant critics, and apparently fitness DVD critics. Sometimes they are crass, but for the most part serve their function well. If anything, Tracey is shrewd enough to consider her both her fans AND her critics when developing the next workout. I recall Amy Bento being slammed on her first run out. Now people can't seem to get enough of the NRGizer bunny.
 
I read bits and pieces of the Strike Zone thread on VF and it was pretty nasty. Quite frankly, that thread was a real turn off and made me reconsider, once again, the amount of time I'm willing to spend on VF. I mostly limit my posts there to CC threads and a few other random threads here and there. Sheesh, and they talk about the drama on the Cathe boards!
 
Miss Lee said:
Sheesh, and they talk about the drama on the Cathe boards!
Click to expand...


Michele, you took the words right out of my mouth!! And I wanted to post it over at VF, but I figured what was the point of subjecting myself to that. So I left it alone.

Quit frankly I love Strike Zone!! The dvd quality isn't the best and yes they are off beat. But heck I can't stay on beat either :p I can not wait for SZ2
 
Michele - I agree. It started off benign enough, but I just think it became an all out Tracey bash-fest (and for the poor people who previewed her workouts). I felt SO bad for her. If it had been me, I would have really been really hurt. There is definitely a place for constructive criticism, but man, the poor girl couldn't even breath right. I personally love Tracey's workouts. Yeah, she's not Cathe, who cares? She's different and some days, I need different. I love her style and her laid back personality. The jokes don't bother me either. She makes you feel like you are right there working out with her. Can you tell I'm a little passionate about this subject??? ;)
 
Liann said:
She's different and some days, I need different. I love her style and her laid back personality. The jokes don't bother me either. She makes you feel like you are right there working out with her. Can you tell I'm a little passionate about this subject??? ;)
Click to expand...


ITA. I preordered HLMB and SSS. I can not wait for those. Of course the HLMB clips have already been critizied to death. Give it a break will ya:mad:
 
Catherine, you were right to leave it alone. It doesn't do any good to say anything -- it only stirs the pot. They like to bash Cathe forum members but maybe they need to take a nice long look in the mirror.

It started off benign enough, but I just think it became an all out Tracey bash-fest (and for the poor people who previewed her workouts).
Click to expand...
Liann, I couldn't agree more, especially the part about the poor people who previewed her work, one of whom I happen to adore. She's a real asset to any forum she posts on.
 
Last edited:
Beavs said:
I saw the comments and for the most part didn't think of them as horrific. I could understand being annoyed with having spent hard earned money of something subpar--that's why it's nice to buy through Collage who can hook one up with another DVD. There are movie critics, restaurant critics, and apparently fitness DVD critics. Sometimes they are crass, but for the most part serve their function well. If anything, Tracey is shrewd enough to consider her both her fans AND her critics when developing the next workout. I recall Amy Bento being slammed on her first run out. Now people can't seem to get enough of the NRGizer bunny.
Click to expand...


ITA. I can tell as much from the negative comments as well as positive if a workout is for me.
I've read many negative comments about Tony Horton, but I knew I was going to like him. OTH, my husband....goodness, I wouldn't encourage him to write an online review of Tony:eek:
 
Miss Lee said:
I read bits and pieces of the Strike Zone thread on VF and it was pretty nasty. Quite frankly, that thread was a real turn off and made me reconsider, once again, the amount of time I'm willing to spend on VF. I mostly limit my posts there to CC threads and a few other random threads here and there. Sheesh, and they talk about the drama on the Cathe boards!
Click to expand...

I skimmed over that thread. It was mostly off topic wasn't it?
I don't have patience to read through a long thread like that.
That thread had no bearing on my decision not to purchase Strike Zone.
I like more dancy type workouts like Tj.
 
I think the original poster was talking about Collage Video reviews which for the most part were tame. I haven't read the VF and have no interest. :D
 
Beavs said:
I think the original poster was talking about Collage Video reviews which for the most part were tame. I haven't read the VF and have no interest. :D
Click to expand...
Beavs, you're a wise woman. ;)

Cynthia, yeah -- it went OT after about page 100. :p
 
One of the reasons I like this forum is that if a thread gets too out of hand, they will shut it down.
 
I followed the thread over on VF as it unraveled (I was stuck in a hotel room that weekend :p) and Carol (Tracey's producer) was so incredibly off-putting (the thread has since been edited to remove her original comments) that as long as she is working with Tracey, I have no interest in her DVD's. That being said, I haven't really clicked with Tracey that much anyway, but I was trying to like her based on the rave reviews she receives. I have HISM2 and Core Blast and find myself reaching for anything of Cathe's before hers.

As far as Collage reviews, I think anything that you read on Tracey's videos before June 30 are fair and not just out to attack her based on the VF discussion.
 
Thanks for clearing that up. I had noticed the swings between extremely positive and really negative reviews.

I have one TS workout which is OK for a less full-on day. I'm not fussed about buying anymore but there's plenty of choice out there. I like Tracey as a presenter, just not sure about the quality. But I'm not going to try and stop anyone else enjoying her workouts! :)
 
beccajanern said:
I followed the thread over on VF as it unraveled (I was stuck in a hotel room that weekend :p) and Carol (Tracey's producer) was so incredibly off-putting (the thread has since been edited to remove her original comments) that as long as she is working with Tracey, I have no interest in her DVD's. That being said, I haven't really clicked with Tracey that much anyway, but I was trying to like her based on the rave reviews she receives. .
Click to expand...

I agree. Carol sent threatening private messages to VFers and also Tracey or someone on her own forum chose to delete some of Carol's messages after they were posted without explanation, but left others so that the threads made no sense anymore. I thought this situation was handled very poorly and unprofessionally.

Erica
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top