About two months ago, I joined SF Fitness because it's the only gym in my area with a swimming…read morepool. Even though the membership costs over $100 per month, and I knew I would only be able to use it a few times each month due to my schedule, I decided it was still worth joining so I could swim.
Overall, I would rate the facility about 2.5 out of 5 stars. The staff does make an effort to keep the gym clean, but because it gets so busy, some areas can still be messy at times.
The main reason I joined was for the swimming pool. Unfortunately, I found that the pool is almost always crowded. I tried visiting on different days and at different times, but most of the time all the lanes were occupied. Occasionally I could swim right away, but more often I had to wait anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes before a lane became available.
However, the biggest reason I'm giving this gym only 2 stars has nothing to do with the pool--it's because of security and parking.
My primary transportation is an electric scooter. I initially tried driving and parking in the garage, but I repeatedly experienced problems with the parking gate. On several occasions it took me 10-15 minutes just to leave because the security gate malfunctioned and someone from the Fillmore Center had to come reset it. It was frustrating, especially when I was in a hurry.
Because of that, I started riding my electric scooter instead. I used it only three times.
On my third visit, I locked my brand-new scooter with a $60 security lock to the bike rack directly in front of the main entrance, where people are constantly walking in and out. After my swim, I came back and my scooter was gone.
I immediately reported the theft to the front desk. They told me they were not responsible and that I needed to contact Fillmore Center Security. When I contacted them, they said they first needed a police report before they could assist me. I went to the police station, filed a report, and returned with the paperwork.
I then asked what they could do to help. They said they would review the security camera footage to try to identify the person who stole my scooter. Since it happened right at the main entrance, I believed the cameras would clearly capture the incident.
I was then told to come back the next day to speak with the security manager, Sean. Unfortunately, he wasn't available. After several unsuccessful attempts, I finally obtained his direct phone number from the security department.
I texted Sean multiple times explaining that my insurance company could not process my claim without the surveillance footage. He repeatedly told me he would send the footage to my insurance company. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Despite his assurances, my insurance company never received anything. Eventually, my messages went unanswered.
This was extremely disappointing because obtaining the footage should have been straightforward if the security cameras were functioning properly. Without that evidence, I couldn't complete my insurance claim for my stolen scooter.
At that point, I decided to cancel my membership. Because of my busy schedule, my scooter is my primary way of getting to the gym. If I don't feel confident that it will be safe--or that I'll receive meaningful assistance if something happens--it's simply not worth the risk.
After reading other online reviews, I realized I wasn't the only person who had experienced security-related issues at this location. That was even more discouraging.
I'm not writing this review to discourage everyone from joining SF Fitness. If you walk to the gym or have another reliable way to get there, you may have a completely different experience. My purpose is simply to warn those who rely on electric scooters or bicycles as their primary transportation. Be aware of the potential risks, and understand that if your property is stolen, you may find it difficult to get the assistance or documentation needed afterward.
I genuinely hope my experience helps others make an informed decision before joining.
