AS A FORMER EMPLOYEE, I BEG YOU... STAY AWAY!
I'm one of the girls that used to work at front desk not too long ago. This means I have access to all your information, I know what you're getting charged, when you're getting charged and why you're getting charged. I've seen you sign contracts with the sales reps and I know how the manipulate you into buying the most expensive kind.
I've seen it all with my own eyes and it disgusted me so much that I couldn't stay there longer.
First off... let me say that this "5 star" review on yelp... Not real. The managers came and "unrecommended" all the real reviews so you wouldn't be able to see them unless you scrolled down and clicked on the faded writing.
Another thing... While I was working there, all the staff was emailed and requested to "make a fake yelp account and post something nice about the gym so that the rating can come up". I did not do that.
So let me break it down for you...
1) You walk in, you want information about the gym (pricing... contracts... etc). As front desk, we are not allowed to give that to you. We are required to take your name and phone number and add it to our system. Now you are our "lead" ... In case you ever get away, we can contact you and continue to persuade you... This is not so bad. Every business and club that I have worked for has been this way and it's just the "circle of life" in the business world. Not a problem.
2) The sales representative or the manager will take you into the gym and give you a tour, he will talk to you for over 45 minutes (even if you say that you're in a rush... it will definitely be an over 45 minute talk). By the end of it, even if you say you're not interested, they won't let go. EVENTUALLY, you will be manipulating into signing a contract. From what I have witnessed and what I am aware of and what I have noticed myself when signing a member up... You are never actually given the opportunity to read the contract... For example, I will be on one side of the front desk with the computer screen, and you will be behind it. All I tell you to do is sign the pad right infront of you which will electronically transfer onto the contract. You are not physically given the contract until you sign it, make your first payment, THEN i print it out to you and give it to you.
This is NOT right.
3) Initial membership fee can be anywhere between $0 and $299. What is this fee? Well... nothing really. It's just meant for you to pay when you first sign up with the club. Because it is "SOOO AMAZING" that you must pay $300 before you even consider about having a contract with them. If you ask them what it goes towards they will tell you "equipment maintenance" but if you ask anyone that has worked there or works out there, there is broken equipment for maybe 4 months straight... sometimes even longer. There's also a "yearly $50 enhancement fee" for every contract. It's supposed to "fix equipment" as well.
Back to the initial fee... All you have to do to waive that is tell the manager that you refuse to pay it. If you are too nice and you say "ok i'll pay it", they have no problem taking your money from you, when they didn't take it from someone else. How is that even fair?
4) If you decide to transfer your contract to someone else, that will cost you another $50 as a "Transfer fee" because it takes "so much work to transfer an account". It really does not... I've done it before and it takes 2 seconds. $50 is just a money grab.
5) Want to put your account on hold because you're going away for the summer? Well, tell them 30 days in advance or it won't happen! Oh, and pay a $25 initial hold fee, then $10 for every month that it is on hold. Wait what... but aren't you basically just continuing to pay for your monthly fees? Yea, another money grab.
6) Want to cancel your contract? Pay $299. Or have medical proof, move away more than 30km. Fair enough. Every place has been like that.
Oh, but don't forget to give your 30 day notice.
Everything within the "30 days" you will still get charged for.
7) Think after your contract expired after 1 year that it's over and you can't go back to the gym because your membership automatically shuts down after 1 year? FALSE. If you don't tell them 30 days in advance before your 1 year ends that you no longer want to work out there, they will continue to charge you. I have seen cases (multiple) where some members think that their contract has expired so they stop coming to the gym. After a few months they realize they are still getting charged. Do you get your money back? I mean... you didn't even check into the gym and the last time you checked in says on the system that it was so long ago! Nope, no refund. Too bad, you lose.
Oh, and its overpriced! There's more to say but not enough space. Just search ALL the reviews for yourself and read REAL member's experiences! read more