Review: LA Fitness

I've been a member of LA fitness in Lake Grove, NY since November of 2008. I joined primarily to use the pool, and have found this facility to be one of the worst that I have ever used. There are problems with safety (lifeguards) and basic maintenance. Once when I was swimming (I was the only one in the pool), the lifeguard left in the middle of my swim. I wasn't looking and didn't realize until later that the guard had left and simply put up a sign that there was no guard on duty. Another time, I tried to talk with the lifeguard but he had his IPOD plugged in and couldn't hear me. The pool temperature is a mess as well. The temperature frequently gets up to 90 degrees, although when I joined, I was told it would be 80. I would not recommend this gym.

I have been a member of La Fitness in Lake Grove since August of 2008. I left Golds in Smithtown which I loved because my husband thought bigger would be better! Well I am not happy with the class schedules, the customer service is not good either if I wanted to be ignored I would go out in the street. There are stained parts in the ceiling from leaks which is scary because I feel that mold is brewing. In the past two months there is a horrible smell that comes from near the locker rooms so bad that it makes my stomach turn. I have asked what it is and get no answer it is disgusting! I can't believe I pay for this. I would not recomment this gym either.

I joined LAFitness in aug. of '08. I haven't been to a gym in a long time so i was excited to go workout. I liked the idea of babysitting right there. The room was bright but didn't have the things for the children that were promised when i signed up. For the longest time the kids would sit on the floor. There have been so many different sitters there that i couldn't keep up with the names. One time the toilet overflowed in the kid's room and the manager actually wanted to put the kids in there with feces on the floor. The moms had to fight with him to have the kids moved. He totally ignored everyone. I called the main office to complain. I even experienced a "bomb" scare there. We were told to evacuate immediately! No one knew why. At first they wouldn't let us get the kids because we had to go out a different door. We all met up outside. Turns out the "bomb" scare was a prank by an employee. The classes suck. The place stinks. It's hot as hell in there. My friend and I left and went to Lucille Roberts for their classes. Plus they are a lot cheaper! I wouldn't recommend this gym to anyone.

I find it odd that all of the above reviews were written only a few days apart, and with the same style of writing. Surely this gym can't be as bad as this?

I know the local gyms are competitive, but this is a bit ridiculous.

Unlike our friend with the caps-locks disorder, I'm going to actually visit this gym before I make a decision and begin railing at it.

i'm about to join this gym,, and i have no idea if i should or not anymore, because this is the only local gym besides bally, but in bally, they don't have guest passes for people younger than 18.
so is la fitness that bad or are these all just exagggerations?

Im from the UK and currently attend the gym in Glasgow. I realli dont wanna stop using this LA fitness as its the only gym so close to me. But there are buckets randomly placed on the floor to catch water leaks, and no lifeguard on duty - i was given no induction, and noone even asked if I could swim - yet I am free to use the pool unattended. Fortunately I can swim but there is the risk that I have asthma attack/seizure/cramp/faint etc etc while in the water. this is the same risk with anyone. Slightly worrying Id say.

I called first to see if I can just come in for the day. She said, it is $15 a day. What about kids club, I asked? She said that is also $15 a day and that it is not worth it because the monthly rate for members is only $49.
So, I went online and printed a 3 day guest pass. I went in, the daycare looked really nice. I asked how much it is, the sitter said $5 for the day. That's lie no. 1
Lie no. 2
I went to see the sales person, Barbara, who turned out to be the Gen. Mgr. She gave me a quick tour. During the tour, I asked if there is family discount. She said no there is no multi-person discount. Each would have to pay $49 per month. I later found out, from her own PC screen that she showed me, that for two person, the monthly fee is only $64, NOT $98!!
Lie No. 3
I went in on my last day of trial and was about to leave the gym at closing time when I saw the flyer for "friends & family promotion- Thrs only". I asked a staff about it , he said $50 for initiation for friends & families instead of $74 that the woman quoted me earlier.
The next day, on the day of the promotion, I went in and sat down with Barbara, ready to join. She said there is no such thing. No one pays $50 initiation. Everyone is $74 and she said she is going to reprimand the guy who told me this, and raised her voice as she spoke, that front desk person should not quote prices.(I should've said in her face that at least this guy was honest!) She was virtually yelling at me as if she was reprimanding me.
Needless to say, I walked away from joining. I had my credit card in my hand already.. I realized that she was NOT at all truthful in half of the things she told me. All she cared for was to get all she can out of me.
Our conversation got louder and louder, as she gets more and more upset at me asking for information about that promotion. She kept saying there is no such thing, then how come that flyer was on every single desk? Then, what IS the friends & family promotion? She said EVERYONE pays $74. Then, why did the staff tell me $50??? Why did the babysitter (2 of them) tell me it is $10 additional per month or $5 for the day??? Instead of the $15 a day that she said when I first called?
As I got up and walked away, she said "the daycare was $10, which I just let you use, and the price went up to $20 yesterday!!!" BAFOOEY!!!
What the @)(*#&!($#(&^????
As I went to pick up my child, I went back and promised her that she will be seeing my review online!
DO not trust LA Fitness, especially this woman who sits at the front of the sales area. She is obviously very dishonest and wants to take you for all she can. She's definitely lost me as a member, until this woman gets fired from the club, DO NOT JOIN!!!! I never disclosed any of her lies until now. I don't understand why sales people have to be dishonest to trick a member into signing. Don't be fooled by her. If you want to sign up at the club, go to someone else, DON'T GO TO BARBARA!! She is a liar!

I had a very similar experience with ms Barbara. she YELLED at me! All I did was ask if there was a student discount! I want to join this gym and don't have an issue with the price, but I am not giving her my business and I've heard horror stories about cancelling and know she will screw people however possible. Too bad

A few comments about the gym, and I am an active member:

1. It does get too hot in there sometimes. I have complained and all they tell me is that the AC is controlled by "corporate" and they have no local control over it.

2. Watch out for billing problems, especially when you change personal training contracts - they may double bill you and it's hard to get it fixed!

3. My wife used to be a member, but not anymore. There was no multi-person discount offered to me - we both paid $49/month each. The way our contracts were set up, my membership included racquetball and her membership included Kids Club. I think their pricing is very confusing and their "deals" constantly change, especially on the personal training. If you don't go in at the right time, you could end up paying quite a bit more.

4. The gym itself is actually pretty good - it's very big, and they have a huge variety of equipment, and it's all very new equipment - which you will probably not find at a gym that's been around for a while.

Overall, I think 49/month with racquetball and no long term contract is not so bad. I am still fairly happy with the place overall, especially the location.

actually, I spoke with the people there while I was on trial membership. A woman with 3 kids said she got 3 kids for the price of 2. She and her husband also joined at a discount. So, you are paying more than you should've as a family. Besides, I saw it with my own eyes on her computer screen that she showed me, that there is MULTI-person membership!!

The only saving grace is that the gym is NICE and the pool is sparkling clean. But like I said, I would not join under her. EVER!

Resident wrote:

A few comments about the gym, and I am an active member:
1. It does get too hot in there sometimes. I have complained and all they tell me is that the AC is controlled by "corporate" and they have no local control over it.
2. Watch out for billing problems, especially when you change personal training contracts - they may double bill you and it's hard to get it fixed!
3. My wife used to be a member, but not anymore. There was no multi-person discount offered to me - we both paid $49/month each. The way our contracts were set up, my membership included racquetball and her membership included Kids Club. I think their pricing is very confusing and their "deals" constantly change, especially on the personal training. If you don't go in at the right time, you could end up paying quite a bit more.
4. The gym itself is actually pretty good - it's very big, and they have a huge variety of equipment, and it's all very new equipment - which you will probably not find at a gym that's been around for a while.
Overall, I think 49/month with racquetball and no long term contract is not so bad. I am still fairly happy with the place overall, especially the location.

Contrary to those other cry babies . This gym is one of the greatest, I pump iron and do aerobics , it fits my needs . If you want to train the right way join this gym . the only things I would like is longer open hours , but I highly recommend this place .