merider1

Okay, I have to rant. I’m a member of 24 Hour Fitness Super Sport in Glendale where I have been for a little over 3 years (since starting at my company). I signed up as a corporate member, which basically means my company footed the $200 initiation fee, but my dues are at the highest level (i.e. I didn’t get any special rate like some of the other members. I was paying $64/month but after complaining forever about the condition of the gym, they brought it down to $49/month).

Well, tonight I walk in and I’m told my membership has been terminated. No warning, letter, nothing, nada. I immediately asked to speak to the Operations Manager. He walks over (this cocky, little ****) and immediately says, “Yup, says right here in our computer that you haven’t paid dues for several months.” - as if the woman at the counter saying it just two seconds prior had an exaggerated lisp and I hadn’t quite understood her. So, I try to explain to him that there is a glitch in their computer system, that it had been going on for awhile, and that both 24 Hour Fitness Corporate as well as two other managers at the Glendale Super Sport have taken copies of my bank account routing number and my ATM card info, and they have already twice reassured me that the glitch is being taken care of so that I don’t have to worry about it. I also pointed out that dues had in fact been taken from my account for the month prior. He looks at me blankly and repeats that the computer says that my account has been terminated and that I cannot work out – even if I had provided him with my credit card right then and there!

Now, normally, I would have been calmer, but tonight I was in no mood to be told this, so I’ll admit, I raised my voice and began urging him to check the notes in my account in the computer and to ask among his employees in the office if I was being truthful, as there were several of them who were aware of my situation and who could vouch that this was the gym’s error and not mine. Of course, he did none of what I requested and, instead, told me to lower my voice or else… To which, I raised my voice further (using no profanity, mind you), and asked him if he was threatening me. I stated that I just wanted go work out and would handle it in the morning – after all, I was a member of over three years on a corporate account with a company that was located in the same building as the gym! I really wasn’t trying to pull one over on him. And even though I informed him that I’m a corporate account holder (we’re supposed to get a little special treatment since we pay out the wazoo for our memberships, while others pay as little as $24/month), this apparently had no meaning to him. “I’m sorry, I can’t let you work out until this is resolved.” I said I would work out and that legally he couldn’t stop me. He then told me he would call the police if I tried to workout. At this point, to call his bluff, I began walking away from the desk not realizing that there was a member behind me, and I bumped right smack into her (not hurting her, just surprising her). The Operations Manager then shouted, “Look, you’re attacking a member!”

Okay, honestly, I have a healthy sense of humor, and personally, looking back, I actually find that funny as hell. But in the moment, if I had had a baseball bat, I wouldn’t have harmed him (I don’t think, anyway), but I would have smashed his ****ing computer to itty bitty pieces, I was that livid. So, I left the gym (shaking and telling him that I would report him in the morning and that he legally could not stop me from working out, etc., blah, blah) came upstairs to my desk, printed out the note to Corporate and account info and marched right back down to the gym to deal with him again. By the time I had gotten there, he did, in fact, check the notes in my account and realized that I was not lying and the mistake he had made (which I still find so unbelievably egregious!). He then immediately reinstated my membership and vows to fix it on Thursday. Oh, and he apologized profusely for the error and "misunderstanding."

So, this coupled with the constant lack of towels that we Super Sport members are supposed to get, messy bathroom, broken lockers, dirty, hair filled drains in the showers and broken hair dryers, I have had enough of 24 Hour Fitness Super Sport. I’m only staying there as I need a place to cross train to supplement my cycling, I love several of the spin classes (although the bikes are POS) and it’s in my building where I work (convenience). I thought I’d share this experience (and I’ve had others like it over the past three years, as I’m not one to hold my tongue – this is just the first time I’ve been threatened with the police due to a raised voice and accused of attacking a member I’ve accidentally bumped into. Perhaps I should practice a smirk for my future mug shot?) and if I can dissuade just one person from joining 24 Hour Fitness Super Sport in Glendale, I’ll feel so much better about the headache I just endured - as well all the other headaches over the past three years. Thus, I’ve posted…if you were considering joining, do so at your own risk.

voltman

Super Sport. Pssh. You're one of thoooose people!

(If I had hair, I'd toss it right now.)

Drew12

Gym, I don't need no stinkin' Gym!

<-----ME hitting 24hr fitness computer!

merider1

Yes, that would have been me if I had had a hammer. And, Volty, I only belong to that gym because of convenience. Super Sport just means that you PAY MORE.

voltman

Oops. I was thinking of Ultra Sport.

Here, I'll help.

Drew12

two of you, ganging up on the 24 Hr computer!!
it's probably a old IBM anyway, and would be doing them a favor....

ecnetsixe

lets face it you ARE a trouble maker!!! so i dont blame him for trying to get rid of you lol

How much do you pay********** sounds like wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much i get (for my $63AUD pcm) 50m indoor pool, spa, sauna, massive new gym, free personal trainers, physio, nutritionist, yoga, pilates, spin room with awesome bikes where you can bring your cleats. oh and hot chicks who work there.

sounds like you are getting ripped bad

Psydotek

Local YMCA FTW! Actually i only go there for the pool...

TrevorInSoCal

Wait a minute? Corporate membership means you pay *more*? Sounds like a raw deal.

My local 24hr fitness is pretty sad, but the reason I've kept my membership is because it's *cheap*. I pay $12/mo which is a deal I got through a previous employer, and is pretty much unheard of anywhere else. Apparently it doesn't expire if I'm not employed there any more (haven't been for over 3 years) and keep paying the bill every month. Or maybe they just don't check their records, in which case I hope no one at 24hr fitness corporate is reading this...

Admittedly, this isn't one of the fancy sport or super-sport clubs, but I mostly just go there a couple times per week during the off-season to push some (little tiny bits of) weight around. I don't really need anything that they don't have.

merider1

Even if I AM a trouble maker, I'm allowed to work out if I've paid my dues. And without dragging a wad of cash in there every month (or a pound of flesh!), all I can do is provide them with either a check or credit card for automatic withdrawal - which I DID! Ugh... OH, and I pay $49/month. I go at least 4 times a week, sometimes five - so I figure I'm paying for the convenience.

GP

24 Hour sucks. I just go because it's closest gym to my house. It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't train the employees to be such a$$holes.

They've warned me a few times about having a bag on the floor. I ask to see a manager and then complain about the cleanliness of the gym and restrooms and the broken cardio machines. If you invest 30 minutes doing this, they'll never bother you again.

I'm saving my "There's a guy masturbating in the locker room" until the sales desks are full and I feel cranky.

merider1

Now, why didn't I think of that! I think that would have shut him up at least long enough for me to run to the locker room and change. I missed my spin class The Bastards!

ecnetsixe

classic!!!!!!!!!

Brandy

Wow m.e. that sucks and I think that you have every right to be pissed. I'm glad that they realized their mistake, but damn...nice customer service.

ecnetsixe

Did you miss my " "?

Oleanshoebox

24 hour fitness is pretty crappy I must agree. I've been going to the one down the street from my work for a few months. It is pretty dirty and crowded and all that but I only pay 30 a month which I know isn't as good as some people have but is pretty cheap just the same.

I am not at all surprised that some crap like that happened at one-whatever happened to the customer is always right? Sorry to hear it, ME-and good job stickin it to him.

jsigone

I only belong to 24hr because my GF gets a banging discount. She pays $23 bucks per month for us to go to any gym in Socal. Can't turn that down.

I'm sorry to hear that you had a run in w/ a jackass w/ a big head. During tomorrow's workout, you should hit the boxin bag for a bit and work off some steam there

PS: yah their bikes are a JOKE

ronjon10

jsigone

nasty minds

dauphin

Having been a gym owner for over 18 years there are some givens that everyone should be aware of.
In most instances (especially in the large chain clubs) you are nothing more than a sales statistic and represent a commission check to a salesperson. Most gyms exist on bringing new people through the front door and not on keeping existing disgruntled customers from exiting the back door. It's purely a numbers game. Most of you are dedicated exercisers...most gym members are sporadic participants or even better for the gym...non-participants. Most instructors are there on an ego trip...most front desk staff are undertrained and underpaid. Once you sign a contract...you no longer really matter. If you use the facility on a regular basis...you are basically just a pain in the a$$ to 24hr or most gyms for that matter. Sales is always and will always be the focus with customer service...in most cases being at best, laughable....

DanteB

The 24 Hour I use in Bakersfield just had a renovation, they took out all the carpet now we have all concrete floors. They're so nice to get down on to do sit-ups and stretching on. They also had a major problem with lockers and cars being broken in to. Someone was breaking into the lockers, stealing the valuables and your car keys. Of course they wouldn't put security cameras, it was and invasion of privacy. One good thing about all of this is the gym isn't very busy now and you can get on any machine you want.

ronjon10

Sadly Dauphin is right. I've been a member at many different clubs and they're almost all the same. I'm actually pretty happy with the Spectrum Clubs, but I pay out the yinyang every month.

Oleanshoebox

i guess i already knew it but to hear it spelled out so nicely just made me weep a little. evil bastards.

Luwin1026

My garage is loaded w/ brand new white, 100% cotton towels if you need a good stash - or I can bring you a bunch next time I ride with you.

With that aside, man, I'm sorry to hear about that - looks like they owe you a big apology - perhaps you can negotiate for them to drop it down to like $29/month after all the hassle, embarassment, personal trauma they subjected you to!!

Mr. Beanz

$64 a month? Geeez, one month at your gym cost more than my entire cycling wardrobe! .........and I'm not kidding!