24 Hour Fitness

Pros: Closeby, seemed empty
Cons: smells bad, salesmen, insecure with personal data

I'm a member at the Y and it's coming up on my year end, so I thought I'd compare it to the 24 hour near my house. Co-ed sauna! Barely any classes, and none on the weekend and Friday (after a 9am class). No dance classes, one kick boxing, one boot camp, and a ton of yoga. Yoga in this neighborhood is a dime a dozen, and I doubt 24 hour gets good teachers.

They took my personal information 3 times, and balked at giving it back. They did not honor my trial coupon, which was the only chance I was willing to give the club. Equipment: 15 year old Cybex's, no Fitlynxx, and they *just* got sound hookups to (some) of the machines. Attracts a greased up muscle scene that seemed pathetic. So go here if you can bear the sales cycle, lie about your phone number and address, and get the rock bottom deal. Good for those in negotiation training! Also, it smelled odd.

They took a photo copy of my driver's license (that I got back). Now, why would they need that?

Pros: More locations nationwide, plus a few international locations.
Cons: Quality of gyms vary like the prices.

Trying to join 24 Hour Fitness was worse than trying to buy a used car. They'll never give you a straight answer and they use questionable sales techniques. I had one try to bribe me with baseball tickets, but the best price he said he could offer was about $100 bucks more expensive.

Cheapest price as of 1/23/04 was $853(plus tax) for 4 years and $49/year after that. Monthly price is $179 down and $27 or $29 a month (plus first & last month). If you know a current member, you can add on to their membership with $100 down and $22 a month (plus first & last month ). Prices can change on a daily basis and rate by location, even for the same nationwide membership.

Since I travel a lot joining 24 Hour Fitness was my best choice. But I noticed that the quality of the gyms vary. Active Clubs are tiny. Sport Clubs may or may not include a pool & basketball court. Ultimate/Mega Clubs which have everything, of course at an additional price & is not part of the all club access membership. So their terminology of all club access is technically false advertising.

Pros: I love the yoga classes and hours of operation.
Cons: Women's showers are often clogged and have no soap. Janitorial equipment is displayed but unused.

I bought my membership to stay in shape. I am doing that, but I think the managers of this gym need to pay more attention to sanitation of the equipment and the locker rooms. Who wants to see dust and sweat stains on the treadmills, then take a shower in an unclean place?

Also, the parking lot is poorly maintained. The same trash remains on the ground for days on end. I once saw 5 discarded disposable diapers in the same spot for a week. There was a discarded auto battery under a tree for a week or so. (I hauled it away finally.) Now I see broken automobile glass in a couple of the parking spaces, indicating that cars are being broken into. Does anyone read these reviews? Can we get some help here?

Pros: Nothing
Cons: Ripoff

I moved from Florida to Washington State I belonged to 24 hr fitness for awhile in Fla but then they raised there prices and I joined LA Fitness. When I moved I got a corporate discount from my company for 24hr fitness so I joined. I just moved to a different city about a month ago and they just build a new 24 hr fitness down the street from me which I thought was great. I went in and was told I could not come in and I would have to speak to someone. I was told that this gym was "Special" and if I wanted to go there I had to pay an extra $15.00 a month on to my member ship.WHAT!!!! Just because they have new equipment and a basketball court! LA fitness has that plus a raquet ball court and it is not extra. I am canceling my membership and joining LA Fitness this is unreal!What a ripoff!!! I also found out that they are going to start to do this in a lot more clubs so beware if you think you are paying to go to any club you are mistaken.

Pros: Lots of clubs, flexible hours.
Cons: Once they get your money customer service becomes non existent.

I was a member of 24 hour fitness (Long Beach Ca.) for ten years. I went to work out recently and was told my membership was terminated due to non-payment. When I called the corporate office I was told that they had stopped sending bills in 2006 and that it was up to the customer to know when his/her membership is due. I was told that it would be impossible to restore my membership but they would gladly reinstate my membership for 700 dollars and 200 dollar annual renewal. I regrettably have referred dozens of friends to 24 hr fitness most of whom have been put off and disappointed by the high pressure sales tactics, oversold memberships, crowded gyms etc..
I really got the distinct impression that there was a concerted corporate effort to implement business practices that drive off older members with lower renewal rates in order to get fresh unsuspecting (higher paying customers). Think Twice before purchasing 24 hr Fitness membership.

Pros:

Great local club, too bad I have to deal with greedy corporate crap!

Cons:

Lack of internal communication causes me to cancel my membership

I joined in Austin. When the local club made a mistake in billing, I was harassed daily by 'corporate' customer 'service'. They spent their time harassing me, wanting me to pay for something that I did not receive, instead of calling the local club who did not enter my information correctly. Way too much corporate harassment. I would receive two calls daily, and when I tried to explain that I had paperwork to prove I owed nothing to 24 hour fitness, they would hang up on me. I finally cancelled my membership, but then the corporate 'customer service' began to harass me again. Think twice before dealing with these folks, they just want money, even though you do not owe them any!

Eventually they removed me from their "phone call list" but after about a week, they began calling me again. They told me that the local club did not enter my information correctly, and that I needed to resolve their internal problem. If you like harassment, this is the club to join. If you want to deal with rational people, then choose another club.

Pros: Not a one
Cons: You name it, dirty, filthy, machines or pool equipment doesn't work. Stay away !!!!!

I have never been lied to as much as I have been at 24 hour Fitness AGASSI club in Henderson, NV. Andre should be Very Concerned that these kind of people are using his name.There is always something major broken and when I ask when it will be fixed I ALWAYS get “they have to buy a whole new thinga-ma-jig” literally, a thinga-ma-jig!. The Spa has been out of order for 3 weeks now and I’m sure it’s to save on the electrical bill. These people turn off the drinking water coolers and then say it’s better for you not to drink cool water. Very arrogant attitudes when asking about repairs. Recently I asked an employee about when the Spa would be repaired and he said he would find out and be right back. Never saw him again until I was leaving and asked him about it. He just said it was being repaired, (no kidding!) I really hope there is a real gym that will be opening up soon in my area. I'd flush my $800 membership in a NY minute. Don't buy, stay away.

Pros: ALOT of locations in ORANGE COUNTY, CA.  The people are pretty decent.
Cons: Some locker rooms can be very dirty.

I have visited several different gyms in Orange County.  The 24hr fitness in Huntington Beach at Bella Terra is one of the newest and nicest gym around.  Just be advised that there are a lot of Asians there.  The South Coast Metro location is very big, but it feels a little dark.  The Costa Mesa location on Adams has the stinkiest locker room of all - the floor is carpeted.  The one on Culver is small and convenient, but the floors are the dirtiest of all.

However, compared to Bally's, 24hr is a lot better.  The Bally's in Huntington Beach is really dirty.  The one by South Coast is clean, but it's just one large rectangular room.  And lastly, the one in Tustin is just old and dark.

I guess that if you are buying a 3 year prepaid membership, you need to figure out what locations are convenient for you.  Initially, I had bought a Bally's membership, but after moving, I realize how inconvenient Bally's was.  So I bought a 24hr membership.  Since then, although I have moved twice, I have still been able to find a convenient location.

Pros: NoCrowdsBetween7and8am, PlentyOfEmptyLockers, NiceHotWaterInShower, GoodSmellingSoap, Plenty of choices in resistance training
Cons: Broken cardio equipment; dirty and smelly facility; lazy staff; patronsAllowedToBreakRules leavingGymBagsOnTheFloor

My fitness goals are to bulk-up and belly-down in the next few months. After that, just more refining and strength building.

In support of my goals are the pros. Working against me are the cons. Here are my 2 biggest complaints:

Facility really makes me sick: Patrons work out with the cold and flu. Dripping, coughing, sneezing on us healthy people. Disgusting, selfish, and rude. Go home.

Big-Corp attitude: I asked attendent to refill paper towel dispenser. She only replied, "The night crew is supposed to do that." The men's locker room smells terrible and the floor is muddy... yes, I said muddy. The same old dirt and debris has been sitting there for days and days. I asked the front desk if they could clean it. Her response was, "We have a new cleaning guy." ... uhm... what?

Why I am staying: Overall, I can achieve my fitness goals with a few of my own tricks. For example, I politely tell sick people that I prefer not to catch what they've got. I also report broken equipment to the staff over and over until it gets attention.

Pros: Close to home.
Cons: Dirty, cramped, cluttered, low standards (see above).

Club is generally dirty, equipment is never cleaned, free weight area poorly designed, cramped and cluttered, water fountain is duct taped together (for more than a year), front desk attendent asleep when you arrive (on multiple occasions).  This place has to be a health hazard.  You are much better off going to the 24 hour in Ladera Ranch.     

Pros: Huge, unlimited activities
Cons: None that I can see

At least the Ultra Sport one in Irvine is totally worth it.  Can't imagine what else you would want.  Again, this one might be and perhaps is the largest one, but if the others are similar, you can immerse yourself in unlimited fitness activities.  Lots of machines and amenities and not over crowded... the benefit of Ultra as well as the extra activities available

Pros: Lost weight, steam room, pool, parking lot, friendly people.
Huge Locker rooms and clean showers.
Cons: I wish there were seperate steam rooms and sauna.

I lost weight, I can sleep better, there is a sauna and steam room, pool, classes, color coded equipment which is clean, child care, huge,HUGE parking lot, friendly staff, whole floor devoted to running and step/ bike machines, I've met a lot of friends, you get the point.

Pros: none
Cons: I have been trying to contact the manager for months and he is never avaliable.

Don`t ever do the same mistake I did.
It is inpossible to cancel the membership.
I canceled mine 3 months ago and they are still taking money from my account

Pros: Great Staff, New Equipment, Great Atmosphere, Great Trainers.
Cons: Only a 2 Lane Pool, Closed Thanksgiving and X-mas

This is the first gym I have went to that I felt comfortable with the person selling the membership. As a female I felt that I could be open with Cliff through the whole enrollment session. He is just one of the nicest people I have ever met. I thought these guys were supposed to be pressure salesmen? As far as the gym goes, I love the Spin class they have, and I love the trainers. A large part of the gym is used for cardio equipment and for weights, but they also have a pool and basketball court. I love this gym and its more affordable than those ones that have half the benefits! Ill stay here till I die.