Bally Total Fitness Might File For Bankruptcy

Is Bally's going to reorganize?

Good, this company was based on fradulent principles and ripping people off. The staff were unprofessional and not well trained. The managers were illiterate and could not solve day to day problems.
I hope that they do not reorganize and learn that successful companies are companies that believe in ethics and fairness which Bally's did not.

I am a bally employee and I think that these allegations are fraudulent our company has had problems in the past but since the company has restructured there has been a change made that puts us in a position to continue to lead the fitness industry

I am bally employee and i quit because i didnt want to be apart of the biggest scam corp. the management has no morles and do not care about the employees or the customer. they only care about making money. carma is a bitch. thats what they get for scamming people

James wrote:

I am a bally employee and I think that these allegations are fraudulent our company has had problems in the past but since the company has restructured there has been a change made that puts us in a position to continue to lead the fitness industry

you are brain washed like shit

i am a bally employee, i hear so many things about our company. i truly love my job as a trainer. ballys has the most loyal members. i am so greatful that they still come in despite all of the horrible talk about our company. for those thinking about joining a gym join ballys and get a month to month membership. we do train our staff to the best of our ability to sell, make money, and make a profit for the company. every business must generate money...so locking you in a contract is to keep you coming in, stay healthy(which everyone needs to) and have a place to go to that you work off your bad day. you will get screwed by your insurance, loans, debit, credit cards, your co-workers, your boss, and BALLYS. We all have this in common.

I agree, this company does not deserve to survive. Their hard sell tactics and aggressive marketing scams have come back to haunt them. Maybe someone with a better approach would buy the assets and be a success at this.

Bally's deserves to go under. For a corporate company to be able to scam so many people for their money is absolutely disgusting. Their customer service does not provide "service", their staff are rude at every facility I have ever been too, and they have no care in the world about how their members feel. I am one of those unlucky thousands of people that got scammed into a 3 year contract and nobody can do "anything" to fix it. I hope they get what they deserve

I worked for Bally's for 7 years in Chicago land area... I worked at several locations through out the years...
As an employee this is how I feel: Bally's is about making the CHA CHING $$$$$$ and politics (it's all about who you know, and how well do you know them)
who you keep it tight with will reflect on you future advancements with in the company... As long as you make the company a lot of money they will look out for you. To make a lot of money a lot of times the sales people miss represent when they sale, just to get the sale so they can get paid. They lie to survive (about the terms of the membership, prices, dues, etc..) Sales people get paid straight commission, what was not fair to the employees was if the member stop or did not make the payments they would take the commission back from you 3 or 4 months later, you will get hit in the ass when you get short on your commission check. They pay you for the sale in the end of the month and then if the member doesn't pay their monthly membership fee they take money back from the employees check... How real is that ????? As you can see Bally's makes money not just of the members but employees as well...
As a member today: I have no other choice but Bally's it's the closest fecility to my house and my job, after all this years that I made them money every month year after year my membership should be free, but it's not, I made them millions, I was one of the top sales people in Chicago land area... yes Bally's is all about making $$$$$$$$$$ they don't care if you work out and get in shape, as long as you pay your monthly membership on time, they can care less, they kiss your ass when you first step in the door, they give you the famous tour of the club and go over the prices with you and they got your ass and your money, after you sold who the hell cares.
Either way you get screwed by Bally's if you are a member or as an employee.... by the way ..........people use to tell me " I been Bally's member for 30 years or more" ummm.... who gives a shit? BALLY'S DONT CARE as long as you pay !!!!!!!!!!
I moved on to better and bigger ..

no good

disgruntal employee wrote:

<quoted text>
you are brain washed like shit

very much so !!

James wrote:

I am a bally employee and I think that these allegations are fraudulent our company has had problems in the past but since the company has restructured there has been a change made that puts us in a position to continue to lead the fitness industry

very much so

First of all its not straight commission you dumb shit. Second of all not all the clubs are like that. It all depends on what kind of people you have working at your club and whether they are willing to follow up with their old customers and make them feel welcome.

ex employee wrote:

I worked for Bally's for 7 years in Chicago land area... I worked at several locations through out the years...
As an employee this is how I feel: Bally's is about making the CHA CHING $$$$$$ and politics (it's all about who you know, and how well do you know them)
who you keep it tight with will reflect on you future advancements with in the company... As long as you make the company a lot of money they will look out for you. To make a lot of money a lot of times the sales people miss represent when they sale, just to get the sale so they can get paid. They lie to survive (about the terms of the membership, prices, dues, etc..) Sales people get paid straight commission, what was not fair to the employees was if the member stop or did not make the payments they would take the commission back from you 3 or 4 months later, you will get hit in the ass when you get short on your commission check. They pay you for the sale in the end of the month and then if the member doesn't pay their monthly membership fee they take money back from the employees check... How real is that ????? As you can see Bally's makes money not just of the members but employees as well...
As a member today: I have no other choice but Bally's it's the closest fecility to my house and my job, after all this years that I made them money every month year after year my membership should be free, but it's not, I made them millions, I was one of the top sales people in Chicago land area... yes Bally's is all about making $$$$$$$$$$ they don't care if you work out and get in shape, as long as you pay your monthly membership on time, they can care less, they kiss your ass when you first step in the door, they give you the famous tour of the club and go over the prices with you and they got your ass and your money, after you sold who the hell cares.
Either way you get screwed by Bally's if you are a member or as an employee.... by the way ..........people use to tell me " I been Bally's member for 30 years or more" ummm.... who gives a shit? BALLY'S DONT CARE as long as you pay !!!!!!!!!!
I moved on to better and bigger ..

I currently work for Bally total fitness, in fact I am the #1 sales director in my entire district. The staff is brainwashed and taken advantage of daily. Every day they are coached on how to "close" people, instead of motivating. I am officialy sick of this company, as a result it will be my last month. I was proud to never miss-rep or miss lead anyone into a new membership, which was one of the main resons why they refused to promote me fearing that I would whistle blow one day. The company is currently fileing for chapter 11 simply because of the fact it's no longer profitable. I seen them sigh up kids that are under 17 without a parent consent, I seen them allow parents to sighn up 10 year old kids when the min age is 14. I seen them get a mentaly retarted person and forced him to sign a 36 month contract. I seen them look a current long term member in the face and miss-lead them in to thinking there lifetime "fixed" renewal was no longer accepted and forced to start alllll overrr on a brand new agreement. I can no longer in good concious work for a company that lie's and capitalizes on the ignorance & goodness of it's new and old members.
Some tip's I would give you guys walking into a Bally fitness.
1. Read the Contract!!!
2. Read the Contract!!!
3. Stop being afrade, ask them question's, speak up! They fear looseing the sale, you are in control.
4. Don't sign up yet!!! Tell them ur going to think it over then they will call you up a couple day's later offering you a corporate rate.
5. ask direct questions, and expect a direct answer. They are thought to give controling statements and evade questions.
6. People think the manager is the most sane and honest one. FAR from the truth, these are the biggest sales people in the company and pressured to get you started TODAY! If ever a manager from Bally makes you fill safe and content with the promise or advice he gave you, just remember you been ...SOLD!!!
BALLY FITNESS COACH

In 1984, after back surgery, I joined Ballys in NYC because it had a special deal - one payment of a couple of hundred bucks and, thereafter,$69 PER YEAR for a LIFETIME membership. Also: I can SELL (or give) my membership to someone for whatever I can get and that person will have the $69-a-year deal. This may be one of the best investments I've ever made. I've moved several times and have never had a problem going to a different facility. I think the one I use now, in Clearwater, FL, is more than satisfactory except for one dumb problem: sometimes the person who sets up the music for the PA system gets a little weird. You try working out to "Eleanor Rigby."

Oh, and to BALLY FITNESS COACH:

*it's officially, not officialy
*mislead, not miss lead
*reasons, not resons
*mentally retarded, not mentaly retarted
*conscience, not conscious
*afraid, not afrade
*losing, not looseing
*feel, not fill

... and that's just some of them.
I'm sure you're a good fitness coach, but try lifting and opening a dictionary once in a while, for Christ's sake.

Sorry, bud. I just wanted to help out, and typed it up the same way I prob. would have text it. Stop chuking rock's at me. Thx!

Chip, I'm HAPPY that another sale's rep like myself helped you out. Don't get me wrong, BALLY offer's alot more then 24, but the management is NUT's.

chip wrote:

In 1984, after back surgery, I joined Ballys in NYC because it had a special deal - one payment of a couple of hundred bucks and, thereafter,$69 PER YEAR for a LIFETIME membership. Also: I can SELL (or give) my membership to someone for whatever I can get and that person will have the $69-a-year deal. This may be one of the best investments I've ever made. I've moved several times and have never had a problem going to a different facility. I think the one I use now, in Clearwater, FL, is more than satisfactory except for one dumb problem: sometimes the person who sets up the music for the PA system gets a little weird. You try working out to "Eleanor Rigby."

hahahahah.. thanks for making my day.. i read these little blogs and cant stop laughing.. yes learn to spell...learn to read contracts.. you spend more on fast food then a gym membership.. why do u think people get fat... too lazy to make fresh food, too stupid to know that soda and fries are killing you.. try running your legs as much as u run your mouth and you might get healthier or even look sexy in your clothes. please keep writing.. i cant stop laughing

disgruntal employee wrote:

I am bally employee and i quit because i didnt want to be apart of the biggest scam corp. the management has no morles and do not care about the employees or the customer. they only care about making money. carma is a bitch. thats what they get for scamming people

It's a good thing you quit. Now maybe you can go back to school and learn how to spell and use proper punctuation. Also when to use capital letters.