Complaint Review: 24 Hour Fitness - Boise Idaho

My husband committed to a 3 year membership after we met with a decent salesman several times and toured different clubs in our area.The club we chose had been recently renovated,and we were assured the rude and aggressively insensitive saleswoman we'd dealt with the previous year to check it out had been fired.

After joining,I was given the once-over by a young woman"fitness specialist" who seemed disinterested in me and was intent on selling personal training packages,vitamins and diet supplements,and other expensive packages.When she found I wasn't interested,she was less than pleasant and dragged her feet through the rest of the very abbreviated demonstration.

I was taken to a small office where other high-pressure sales were in process.There I was told to pull up my shirt and expose my side for a fat measurement test.I was standing next to the window with open blinds which looked out on the cardio equipment,quite occupied with other members.I felt this was very inappropriate and disrespectful.

During one of the two "free" equipment and exercise demos,I asked to be shown a weight routine.I was told that would cost extra,I would have to hire a personal trainer.I was disgusted with this attitude,as the previous clubs I'd belonged to had always given instruction as part of the membership.I said as much,and was given the blank stare treatment.On another visit I asked one of the employees to show me some weights-he did so,but said first that he 'wasn't supposed to'.

The pool that year was either cold or filthy.The hot tub was frequently out of order,as were the steamroom and sauna.We complained and were told they were sorry,or just that they were 'broken'.We stopped going to the club altogether.

When I called to complain I found a new manager,the third in a year.I was more aggressive and really let him hear my feelings about the place.He was rude and disrespectful.He wasn't interested in my problems or what I wanted as a member.He told me the pool/pool area business had been replaced over the last 6 mos,sorry to solve my problems so easily.He was a totoal jerk.I asked why there weren't any older fitness specialists,who might be more empathetic to an older person's concerns.He said age has nothing to do with it!!I reported him and the whole club to the BBB.

I attempted using the poolagain for water aerobics classes.The instructors were frequently changing,and they fired the older woman,Sandy,who had the most experience and commitment.She told us they wouldn't pay her the same wage as the younger instructors,and they complained she was too'fast' and other trumped up charges.We were just disgusted with them,as it seemed a discriminatory move.Several of us had been to the office to praise Sandy,as we got a good workout and liked her alot.

I asked for our money back,and was of course told no.There are many other little problems with this club-too numerous to relate.What a mistake it was to join this place.

Beth Lambert

Boise, Idaho