I was a member of Planet Fitness in Anchorage, Alaska for 2 days and will NEVER go back. The $19.99 monthly fee sure was enticing, the gym appeared clean, it's close to my house and other gyms in town are at least $50 a month. I signed up this past weekend.

My first day (yesterday) I joined with 2 co-workers. The 3 of us did an hour of cardio - no problems. The next day, we went back and one guy brought a free guest (free guest each day - what a deal! - or so I thought). Now, only one of us is an experienced weight lifter. Not Mr. Olympia by any means, but he's a buff guy who knows his way around a gym. The rest of us are average joes looking for some exercise.

Our guest was doing bicep curls when all of a sudden, a giant, flashing blue alarm right above us sounded - and this thing is INCREDIBELY LOUD. Everyone in the gym stops to stare. The "manager" (who had been eyeballing us the entire time because I could see him in the mirrors) sauntered over to my friend and told him that he had violated the "No Lunk" rule, which is a COMPANY POLICY that states that no one can drop a weight, grunt, or judge. Apparently my friend "grunted" too loud. I was probably 9 feet away from him, while the manager was at least 30 feet away behind a desk with insanely loud hip-hop music blaring in the gym. I could not hear my friend "grunt" at all. I run and lift with this guy all the time and while he may be noisier than me, he in no way is excessively loud. The manager walked away and again, proceeded to watch us like a hawk.

5 minutes later, my friend sounded the alarm again for apparently "grunting" (again, I was 9 feet away and could not hear him - his back was even to the manager who was again behind his desk 30 feet away). This time, the manager walked over and told my friend that if he grunted again, he would be asked to leave and not come back. Apparently that's how Planet Fitness treats their guests and members.

We finished our workout, and went back to work STEAMING MAD. After work, we all drove back to the gym and requested a refund and cancellation. The manager refused to waive the $58 cancellation fee, even though we had signed up 2 days ago. He told us that we needed to "breathe differently" and that if we or our friend couldn't control our breathing, we should find another gym. He also said that he has already kicked out 10 people for violating the Lunk Rule. He told us that one member asked for a fan, and because of that, he terminated membership (He TOLD US THAT HIMSELF). He said it was the manager's discretion what constitues the decibel volume of "grunting." He's lucky no one dropped a weight on themselves when that alarm sounded.

Other rules that, if broken, end in membership termination: wearing a bandanna, and bringing in a water bottle over 20 ounces. Of course, he told use we could complain to the corporate office, but if anyone Googles Planet Fitness, you'll find countless complaints about this idiotic policy and unbending, ridiculous rules. We discovered this after the fact. I'm sure it's completely futile to do so. So, I'm out $58, Planet Fitness earned $174 for providing 2 days of poor customer service to 3 guys and now we have to find another gym. It's a gym, not a library.

I have never been subjected to such horrible, unfair treatment and customer service. The manager did not care one bit if we cancelled our membership..and why should he? I counted 6 people who came in and signed up for membership while we stood there arguing with this guy.

Unless you were born without vocal chords, DO NOT JOIN PLANET FITNESS.

Recommended: No