LA Fitness Sucks

**soxmuscle** · 12-21-2009, 06:04 PM

So by now, I know the routine that is commercial gyms. They don't care about anything but milking you for every penny they can. That is their one and only goal.

With that said, over Thanksgiving break I talked to this guy who seemed more reasonable than any other guy I've spoken to at one of these places. Despite constant refusals to lock into anything long term (because I don't live here and would use the club only over Thanksgiving and winter break, $50-$100 dollars per session isn't something I can afford as a poor college student), he continued to state that "on this day and this day only" he can do this, then that, etc. Finally, he got the jist that I wasn't going to lock into anything (again, I couldn't, at the time I didn't even have the $149 initial fee in my bank account), so he cut me a deal. He gave me a free pass to work out once over Thanksgiving break, and then a weeks pass over winter break (which is ideal right now). In return, I told him that when I graduated in the summer, I would lock into a year. In all honesty, I felt like he scratched my back and thus I would return the favor down the road.

So for the last month, I didn't have a worry in the world in terms of my workout plan for break. I'll be at my dads, who has a club we go to for the majority of it and I'd be here working out at LA Fitness. Today, I got home, unpacked and went to get my work out in.

"Frank," the guy who I had talked to initially wasn't working, so the manager asked me to step into his "office." I explained my situation, thinking that I was going to talk to Frank tomorrow, to which he replied "sorry, all guest passes are the same and can only be used once every six months." I told him "everything was fine and that when I came in the following day, I would talk to Frank and work it out." I tried to walk to the locker room to get ready and he told me that "i wasn't allowed to workout today." I told him that that wasn't fair and that Frank and I had an agreement in place, something that was finalized over Thanksgiving break. He again proceeded to tell me I couldn't work out, so with this "are you fucking serious" look on my face, I asked him "so your telling me, that even though I worked out this deal with Frank, your not going to let me workout today?" He said "yes, if you want to sign up for a membership, I can help you out." I asked him "are you fucking serious?" He said "yea, it's club policy and there's nothing we can do about it." I told him: "there clearly is something you can do about it because Frank was very willing to do something about it." He said: "sorry, it's either a membership or you have to leave. I said: "are you fucking kidding me? i'm not paying for a membership when i don't even live here."

On my way out I mocked his manager position telling him that he clearly was a crap manager if his membership salesmen aren't on the same page as him. He responded with "I've been a manager here for four years, don't you dare tell me that I don't know how to do my job!" I laughed and called him "a fucking idiot," so that his other sales associates would hear and left the place.

On my walk out, I called the club and asked for the corporate number. The lady transferred me to the manager, which was this guy, I told him that I was going to file a formal complaint against him and asked for the number.

He gives me a bogus number.

I immediately come home, google search and find the correct number. File the complaint, explain that not only did this guy suck at his job but to have the audacity to give me a fake number is just retarded.

Searching the internet I've found tons of horror stories of LA Fitness, so I'm clearly not alone.

Moral of the story is that I will be starting up my own gym in the future that goes against everything that LA Fitness, Lifetime Fitness, etc. stand for; they've awaken a sleeping giant and I won't stop until my gym is the best in the... area.

**Fetusaurus Rex** · 12-21-2009, 06:18 PM

Moral of the story is that I will be starting up my own gym in the future that goes against everything that LA Fitness, Lifetime Fitness, etc. stand for; they've awaken a sleeping giant and I won't stop until my gym is the best in the... area.

**min0 lee** · 12-21-2009, 06:20 PM

I wish you the best of luck Sox.

You should call it Club Jeter or maybe Yankeeland.

**soxmuscle** · 12-21-2009, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I wish you the best of luck Sox.

You should call it Club Jeter or maybe Yankeeland.

The Mike Lowell Save Your Hips Gym?

**soxmuscle** · 12-21-2009, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by Fetusaurus Rex

Love it.

Me and a buddy of mine refer to the local community house gym we began working out it in high school Average Joes.

**maniclion** · 12-21-2009, 07:06 PM

Moral of the Story is, Frank the Rabbit wasn't real just a figment of your imagination. The number you called was real it was the fax number, the person you filed the complaint with entered everything on a form and sent it to that same fax number which is a lone fax machine in an empty 12,000 SqFt warehouse, the output tray goes straight to the floor which has thousands of papers scattered around at the base....

**soxmuscle** · 12-21-2009, 07:22 PM

Looking around the internet and reading about other peoples horror stories involving LA Fitness, I wouldn't be shocked if nothing comes from my formal complaint.

It's a company who's success, if you can even call it that, exists solely because of the immoral, unjust manner in which they conduct business.

Getting the word out there, even if its just Min0 and Fetus who take note makes this post worth it.

Why is it the older I get and the more I start to comprehend life, I hate it.

I'm not suicidal or anything but it's so demoralizing to me to think that everybody, from small crappy gym chains like LA Fitness to our national government is full of shit.

**Triple Threat** · 12-21-2009, 07:26 PM

That sucks. I've had only one dealing with an LA Fitness, but it was many years ago. I was on vacation and bought a 1 week pass. Price was reasonable and there were no problems. Again, it was many years ago so things could be much different now. With the crappy economy, you would think these places would be more than willing to work with you, not against you.

**soxmuscle** · 12-21-2009, 07:37 PM

Precisely.

I worked out there a couple of times with my friend who's a member and equipment wise, was pretty satisfied with the place.

Satisfied enough that I was planning on it being my "new gym" when I finish up school and move back home.

That is no longer the case.

I'm probably better suited at a hardcore gym than a commercial gym anyways. Now I just need to find one.. or create my own.

**soxmuscle** · 12-21-2009, 07:38 PM

Consumer complaints about LA fitness

I've read a bunch of these entries over the last half hour.

Boo LA Fitness!

**shiznit2169** · 12-21-2009, 08:43 PM

Haha, you're not the only one. It's the same shit with me.

There used to be a gym in my local area called "Rodman's". It was the best gym I've ever been to. The people there were extremely nice and understanding. There were no required down payments and members were given the option of signing up for 1, 3, 6 or 12 month memberships for 29.99/mo.

I was always lucky because i explained my situation about being home on thanksgiving/christmas break from college and the manager always cut me a deal by letting me pay $15 bucks for a special 2-week pass. He eventually started doing it for all college students who show proof of ID.

Then of course Gold's Gym bought them and took over and fucked everything up. Changed the entire interior design/setup of the gym and increased prices. When i went to check it out and explain about the "student pass" with the manager about how Rodman's did it he refused to hear about it and told me i have to sign a contract and make a $89 down payment. I told him that no college student is going to pay that much because we're broke and are only home for a few weeks so it makes no sense.

As pissed as i was, i cussed them out and took off. Found another local gym nearby and the manager was hesitant at first but cut me a deal for $40 bucks a month. A little more expensive but still better than Gold's.

**shiznit2169** · 12-21-2009, 08:49 PM

I will never understand what the big fucking deal is. I bet 90% of the people who go to the gym are regular members and they actually do sign up. If i was the manager of my gym, i would cut the college kids some slack and give them a special pass at a discount as long as they show proof that they're in college (school ID) and that they are 17-24 years old.

**danzik17** · 12-21-2009, 09:50 PM

Dunno, I love my gym - Edge Fitness. It's a smaller chain (5 gyms in the area). I pay about 23$ per month and they have damn near everything I could ask for. The only other thing I'd like to have is a racquetball court, but that's not worth like 40$ a month to me.

**I Are Baboon** · 12-22-2009, 05:54 AM

My only experience with a national chain has been Bally's. They suck. I would imagine LA Fitness is a similar style of suck.

I like my gym now. They have four locations. If I were in soxmuscle's shoes, my gym would be more than happy to work something out.

**min0 lee** · 12-22-2009, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

The Mike Lowell Save Your Hips Gym?

LOL

**GeorgeForemanRules** · 12-22-2009, 07:28 AM

I train at LA fitness and love it.

The bottom line is gyms don't kill people, Black people kill people.

**min0 lee** · 12-22-2009, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by Patrick Bateman

I train at LA fitness and love it.

The bottom line is gyms don't kill people, Black people kill people.

I'm sending you a positive, you included a moral to your post.,,awesome.

**largepkg** · 12-22-2009, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by Patrick Bateman

I train at LA fitness and love it.

The bottom line is gyms don't kill people, Black people kill people.

Same here. I've been a member for 3 years and have zero complaints toward the staff or gym. The douche clients on the other hand...

**soxmuscle** · 12-22-2009, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by largepkg

Same here. I've been a member for 3 years and have zero complaints toward the staff or gym. The douche clients on the other hand...

I had no problem with LA Fitness until I realized how much of a joke the whole membership process was.

If I wanted to play deal or no deal, I'd have watched re-runs on GSN. I don't need this guy calling "the banker" only to give me a "once in a lifetime, today only!" deal.

It's complete and utter bullshit.

To me, it's all about honesty and conducting your business morally. LA Fitness doesn't do this.

**Prince** · 12-22-2009, 10:39 AM

are you sure that you did not cop an attitude with this manager and this is why he reacted the way he did?

**min0 lee** · 12-22-2009, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

Why is it the older I get and the more I start to comprehend life, I hate it.

it's so demoralizing to me to think that everybody, from small crappy gym chains like LA Fitness to our national government is full of shit.

It doesn't end there, you have Lawyers, Politicians, Car salesmen, significant others.....the list goes on.
My friends father used to have a hard time with his landlord until he brought a book which told him of his rights as a tenant, ha! He never messed with him as long as he also went by the rules.

The more you know.

Always get it in righting when making a deal..heck if it's a the devil your dealing with use a tape recorder.
there are no handshake deals in this world anymore.

**min0 lee** · 12-22-2009, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by Robert D.

are you sure that you did not cop an attitude with this manager and this is why he reacted the way he did?

Knowing the hot head he is you may have a point!

**soxmuscle** · 12-22-2009, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Robert D.

are you sure that you did not cop an attitude with this manager and this is why he reacted the way he did?

100% positive, but thanks, stickler.

Coming from a guy who sucks the dick of customers (business 101: treat your customers like royalty) in order to sell as much as he possibly can, you clearly know how to manage a business; something this guy didn't have a clue about.

**Prince** · 12-22-2009, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Knowing the hot head he is you may have a point!

well, I can just see a cocky teenager basically telling the manager to leave him alone because he worked out a deal with mr. x sale person and he is allowed to work-out, the manager is going to be like fuck that kid, buy a membership or take a hike if you're gonna disrespect me.

**Prince** · 12-22-2009, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

100% positive, but thanks, stickler.

based on what I know of you I find it hard to believe.

**soxmuscle** · 12-22-2009, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Knowing the hot head he is you may have a point!

When have I ever been a hot head?

Sometimes, I think my persona on the board is completely different than that of real life.

I'm definitely passionate about issues I feel strongly about (no shit), but that's my "kill or be killed" attitude that works wonders in the gym and will most likely help me in the work force later in life.

**Prince** · 12-22-2009, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

When have I ever been a hot head?

Sometimes, I think my persona on the board is completely different than that of real life.

I'm definitely passionate about issues I feel strongly about (no shit), but that's my "kill or be killed" attitude that works wonders in the gym and will most likely help me in the work force later in life.

on this board you come across as a cocky teenager, or a cocky twenty year old. lol

**soxmuscle** · 12-22-2009, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Robert D.

well, I can just see a cocky teenager basically telling the manager to leave him alone because he worked out a deal with mr. x sale person and he is allowed to work-out, the manager is going to be like fuck that kid, buy a membership or take a hike if you're gonna disrespect me.

The manager was in his late twenties. I'm in my early twenties. While I'm sure Mr. LA Fitness Manager is an egotistical fuck, there was never any of this "cocky teenager" shenanigans that is spewing from your keyboard.

There was also no disrespect until seconds before I left.

**fufu** · 12-22-2009, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Robert D.

on this board you come across as a cocky teenager, or a cocky twenty year old. lol

I disagree.

**soxmuscle** · 12-22-2009, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Robert D.

on this board you come across as a cocky teenager, or a cocky twenty year old. lol

I don't see that.

Really the only aspect of my posting I can see cockiness in is regards to sports and in all honesty, I believe I know more about sports (in particular, baseball) than anybody who frequents this board.

That's not cockiness, that's just being a complete sports nerd that is obsessed with everything and anything sport. Same goes with P-funk in regards to training or Built in regards to diet; some people dislike their posts because it comes off as pompous to them, when in actuality, they simply know a shit ton about what their saying.

I find your constant berating of IM's youthful regulars to be hilarious. Why is it that everybody 18-25 who frequents this board with regularity finds you to be a pain in the ass?

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