So Far So Good, at Bally's
Written: Oct 12 '00 (Updated Nov 14 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Conveniently located; affordable pricing IF you insist on it
Cons: 3 year lock-in contract; hard sell
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| Tholian's Full Review: Bally Total Fitness |
I've been lifting weights since 1986, and I've belonged to every kind of gym imaginable. I've worked out at Y's, college facilities, expensive private clubs, and no-frills "dungeons," literally from coast to coast. But Bally's--never. The too-good-to-be-true membership "deals," the neon lights and the horror stories of ironclad contracts were enough to keep me far away.
Never say never, I guess. I just moved a month or two ago, and was having a terrible time finding an affordable and convenient place to work out. The gyms in Center City (Philadelphia) had decently affordable rates, but I knew I wouldn't go regularly because of the traffic and parking problems. Suburban gyms were simply too far away to be practical; Temple U. charges an onerous "guest" fee; and I couldn't even find a Y that worked for me. I had sworn I'd never set foot in a Bally's, but last month they opened a spanking new gym about a mile from my house...with ample free parking. The location could not be better.
Aware of their hard-sell tactics, I refused to take the tour until I was firmly told that "for insurance reasons" I would not be permitted to explore the club without an escort. Although I asked to see the free weights and machines, my tour guide automatically began by telling me how much weight I was going to lose by exercising on the latest high-tech bikes and elliptical trainers. I was very offended, because I had said nothing about losing weight. I guess she just assumed that since I don't look like one of the skinny babes in the Bally's ads, I was there to lose weight. (I'm not anywhere near skinny, and I never will be...but I don't worry about my weight. When I keep to my lifting routine, supplemented with cardio, my weight controls itself without any special effort. When I slack off on exercise, I put on a lot of fat, quickly. It's good motivation to keep going.)
Because I know my way around a gym, I had come prepared with a written list of the equipment I wanted the club to have, and deflected every question about my "fitness goals" with a detailed question of my own about the weight room. My "fitness consultant" could not answer my questions, and finally she stood at the weight room door while I looked at the equipment for myself. Finding most of what I wanted, I decided to sign up--if I could find a good deal.
I was led through presentations of two outrageously priced plans, costing more than I had paid at the premier health club in Baltimore, where the Orioles and Ravens worked out! When I shook my head and made motions to leave, the price suddenly dropped to $40/month, and I was asked, "Can't you afford $10 a week for yourself?" I could, but it was still more than I wanted to pay. This Bally's location offered no pool or whirlpool, no racquetball, and no basketball gym, and I had decided in advance that I would pay no more than $35/month no matter what (although I didn't tell them that). When I actually got up from the table, the price came down to $25/mo for the first three months, and $34 after that for the remainder of a 3 year agreement. I was willing to do this, although I'm not happy about the 3 year lock-in.
I made my "consultant" sit there and wait while I read every word of the contract, especially the cancellation clause--which allows me to cancel if I move more than 25 additional miles from this Bally's, and the new residence is more than five miles from any "comparable" club. The five-mile limit seems reasonable to me...I guess I'll see whether it is or not, if I have to move!
So far, I have had very pleasant and effective workouts. The free-weight room is clean and well maintained, with plenty of 45-pound bars and plates, and they also have a 25-pound straight bar as well as the more common 25-pound EZ-curl bars. The multi-use pulley system (featuring cable crossover) is the most intelligently designed that I have seen, allowing five other people to work at the same time in addition to whoever is doing the crossovers. Adjustable benches are plentiful, as well. They have two full sets of dumbbells, although they don't have 12- or 17-pounders, which are so helpful to women, and they have no plans to get any. They have one power cage, one squat rack, a Smith machine, hack squat sled, angled leg press and seated calf. Hammer Strength upper-body machines line the walls.
The main exercise room features a large variety of "Life Fitness" (a Bally brand) weight-stack machines--including an assisted chin-up/dip and a seated leg curl, as well as the more usual offerings. On the other side of the room, 80 cardio machines await--a mixture of elliptical trainers, stair steppers and treadmills. Occasionally one of the machines goes out of order, but so far there have always been plenty of others available.
I don't use the locker room or sauna--my membership allows me to, but I live so close that I just go home.
To date, I have had nothing but good workouts, and I've never had to wait for a machine or piece of equipment. However, my work schedule is very flexible, allowing me to go to the gym at uncrowded times.
So far, so good. But we shall see.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Tholian
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Reviews written: 10
Trusted by: 2 members
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