Bally Total Fitness

09/18/10

Don't make the same mistake as me

by Michael in SA at Citysearch

STOP!

I went to Bally's because the monthly dues were less than at Spectrum or Golds ... don't make the mistake I made.

After a while the discourteous staff, the messy club, and all the insects in the club and change rooms gets too much to bear. Then it gets worse!

My vehicle was broken into right outside the front door of the club .. I realize the club has no responsibility but I asked if they wcould put up a note to warn other members. The answer was "No corporate won't allow it." I explained it's just to advise the other members, and the answer from the manager was "No, even my car was broken into, I'd like to but we can't." They wouldn't even put a note in the locker room.

And then the thing that actually makes my workout un-enjoyable ... they play Bally's music and the song selection is funk, and it repeats hour-to-hour. The TV channel selection is #1 trackphone commercials (no kidding - they must be paying Bally's), and the employees say they are not allowed to change the station. There are 2 TVs with ESPN, and 2 TVs with Bally's stuff, and 2 TVs with Fox News - but the rest have the tracphone commercial.

Don't join Bally's - you won't go frequently because it is not enjoyable. Possibly that is their business strategy (to get paying members who don't go).

01/11/10

DON"T GIVE THEM YOUR BUSINESS!

by BackinSanAntonio at Citysearch

I've been a Bally member for almost seven years. When I moved back to Texas, I signed up right away. WHAT A MISTAKE. The general manager was exceedingly pushy when it came to my contract. I thought that was forgivable enough. It turns out his attitude is shared everybody who works there. It's currently below freezing in San Antonio and yet the womens' locker room has not had hot water for weeks making it impossible to take a shower after a sweaty class. When I asked when the hot water would be restored, the staff shrugged. When I asked why there wasn't a sign notifying members of the lack of hot water, one staff member sighed then said "Oh, I guess we could do that." The next day there was still no hot water, nor a sign. There is absolutely no courtesy extended toward customers. When I spoke to a staff member today, he walked away while I was still talking. In addition, many of the scheduled classes are often canceled. Instructors simply stop showing or show up every other week. It's very unpredictable and unprofessional. I am canceling my membership ASAP.

• Pros: clean facility, lots of equipment
• Cons: rude staff, canceled classes, squeaky machines

05/27/09

Pretty Awful

by ElJens at Citysearch

This place is bare bones, no towels, no shampoo in the showers, etc. The staff are really pushy, act like they care about your experience but when you ask them to do something for you they dont do it or if you complain, nothing changes. I was expecting a call from them after the day I singed up to set up PT, They never called but they called my husband to try and get him to join on the very day I joined the club. In the meantime, they have called him twice but never me! The PTs I have experienced are totally self absorbed. I have also had experience with classes being canceled and only finding that out after waiting 20 minutes and having to ask 2 staffers.

• Pros: they have lots of equipment
• Cons: staff doesn't care, classes canceled, poor personal trainers

10/15/08

Buyer Beware

by TxMomm at Citysearch

High pressure sales tactics to get your signature on long term contract for thousands that is virtually impossible to cancel, even if you read the fine print and do everything perfectly. Do your homework online.

• Pros: location
• Cons: business practices