1-Star Review -- Rude Owner, Poor Communication, and Unprofessional Management…read more
I have been a loyal Anytime Fitness member since I was 18 years old. I've worked out at numerous locations across the country -- in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Kansas, and other states -- and I've always appreciated the friendly atmosphere, consistency, and flexibility that the brand is known for. Unfortunately, my experience at the Pineville, LA location has been one of the worst I've ever had with an Anytime Fitness facility.
A couple of weeks before this incident, I accidentally left my power bank plugged into a wall outlet at the Alexandria gym. I called right away and politely asked if they could set it aside so my wife could swing by to pick it up, since I work out of town and couldn't come by myself. I never received a single call back -- not even a simple confirmation about whether they found it. That lack of courtesy already made me question how the location is managed.
Then recently, I went to work out at the Pineville gym and brought my wife with me -- something we've done at other Anytime Fitness locations without any issues. Years ago, the manager at this same Alexandria location told us that as long as we filled out a waiver and left $10 under the door for a guest, it was perfectly fine. I've done this for years at multiple gyms across Louisiana, Texas, Florida, and Kansas -- always paying, following the rules, and respecting the facility.
There was no waiver form available this time, but I still did the right thing and left $20 under the door to make sure everything was covered. The next morning, I got a call from a woman who immediately spoke to me in a rude, condescending tone. From the way she spoke, it sounded like she was the owner. She asked if I went there on Sunday and left $20 under the door. I said yes, and before I could explain, she cut me off and said, "First of all, we do not allow that. This time I'll let you off with a warning."
Her tone was unnecessarily harsh and disrespectful. I wasn't trying to break any rule -- I was doing exactly what I was told was acceptable by her own staff years ago. Instead of calmly explaining that the policy had changed, she kept interrupting me, sounded irritated, and made no effort to communicate respectfully.
During the call, she also told me she owns both the Alexandria and Pineville locations, and that the policy is the same at each. If that's true, then either her staff gave wrong information in the past, or the policy wasn't enforced consistently. Either way, that's a management problem -- not a customer problem. Members should never be spoken to rudely for following what they were once told by the same organization.
I told her I would absolutely follow her current policy from now on, but I also mentioned that most successful gyms -- including those in West Monroe, Monroe, Houston, Dallas, Florida, and Kansas -- allow guests as long as waivers are signed and fees are paid. That's common sense and good business. She quickly dismissed that by saying, "Our policy works for us." Based on how she handled the conversation, it's not surprising their rating hovers around 3.5 stars.
If she truly is the owner, that makes her behavior even worse. Owners set the tone for their entire business. A professional owner listens, communicates clearly, and treats customers with respect. Her approach -- talking over me, using a harsh tone, and treating me like I'd done something wrong when I was trying to do everything right -- is not how an owner should act.
I've been a loyal Anytime Fitness member for years -- since I was 18 -- and I've always paid my dues on time, respected the facilities, and even gone above and beyond to pay extra when bringing guests. Many gyms charge $5-10 for a day pass; I've always paid $20 or more to show appreciation. Meanwhile, I've seen people sneak guests in without paying at all, yet I was the one treated disrespectfully for being honest.
To make matters worse, this isn't an isolated incident -- it reflects a broader issue with communication and accountability at this location. Failing to return calls about a simple lost item and then speaking rudely to a long-time paying member both show a serious lack of professionalism.
This is not how Anytime Fitness should be represented. Franchise owners are expected to uphold the company's values -- kindness, integrity, and community. When someone who represents the brand behaves this way, it damages the reputation of every hardworking, respectful Anytime Fitness location across the country. People like this should not be operating under the Anytime Fitness name.
I hope to not have to go to this location. Equipment and facilities can always be replaced, but respect and professionalism cannot. A business's success depends on how its leadership treats people -- and this location is a clear example of how poor management can ruin an otherwise good brand.
