Everything to Know Before Joining Bally's
Written: Jun 14 '00
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Social aspects, largest and only nationwide chain, lots of equipment
Cons: Pushy sales staff, untrained floor staff, equipment frequently broken, deceptive sales tactics
|
|
|
| hwz1's Full Review: Bally Total Fitness |
Thinking of joining a health club? Great! But, what should you be cautious of before joining? What do you need to know? More specifically, what about Bally's?
Bally's is the largest and the only nationwide health and fitness center. They also have a long operating history and a number of positives. However, the negatives are more prominent.
THE POSITIVES:
First of all, since Bally's is nationwide and quite large, they offer a number of different locations. You can join your local Bally's and also utilize the facilities at one on the other side of the country, should you desire. I think this is a big plus for today's transient population.
However, there is an extra cost to use another facilities equipment.
Secondly, being the largest health and fitness center has allowed Bally's to purchase a lot of equipment. They usually will have more types and more of each type of machine than a lot of other gyms around the country. Again, there is a problem; Bally's is not the best when it comes to maintenance and the machines are often out of order for days/weeks at a time.
Finally, Bally's is a great place for socializing. Our local Bally's sometimes has the feel of a college- no, not that people are drinking, but that everyone knows each other or are getting to know each other. I find the social aspect to be a needed break from the constant and often boring workouts, but hard core gym- goers may not agree.
THE NEGATIVES:
To begin with, Bally's is not know for their customer relations. The sales staff is often pushy and work on strict commission schedules that are determined by how many people they sign up. Which leads me to the next problem.
When you sign up for a Bally's membership, be sure to carefully read the fine print. Often you will find that you are tied in for as much as three years. Yes, this even occurs when you "win" a free month long trial. I know of one person who was a "winner" and then decided not to join. He never cancelled the membership that never really existed and was amazed to find his credit card littered with charges from Bally's. He refused to pay and Bally's destroyed his credit record.
Additionally, most gyms will allow you to drop your membership should you move a certain distance from the facility. Bally's does, but only if you are not within 10 miles of another one their facilities. In other words, unless you are moving to Montana you will likely find a Bally's somewhere nearby. So, be very careful when signing up- you must read the small print.
Secondly, the staff is not always trained. Bally's is a public company and, therefore, has to answer to shareholders. So, they will often hire people off the street, rather than trained exercise majors. I do not know what the savings is, but a degree is usually worth a decent amount over and above a non- degree candidate. Going even further, not all of the staff is trained in such simple techniques as CPR. I find this to be amazing.
Finally, the gym itself is good, if you prefer loud music that is not always conducive to working out. I would suggest that Bally's is similar to Las Vegas and other gyms are more like a middle sized city. In other words, Bally's seems loud and full of motion, while other gyms have a little more laid back feeling. I would also add that the overall atmosphere of the gym is not helped by the frequently broken equipment.
IN SUMMARY:
Bally's does has a lot of positives and it is certainly a positive anytime someone begins to exercise. However, I would suggest looking at other gyms before agreeing to join Bally's. I think a trained staff and working equipment are very important. Additionally, you have to wonder about a facility when they are not always straightforward with their sign up process.
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
hwz1
|
 - Top 50 |
|
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Reviews written: 845
Trusted by: 923 members
About Me:
Just got a big promotion that will move my new wife and I to Atlanta.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.