LA FITNESS

LA Fitness Review

by SusannahHartJones

I do like this gym very much, it has all the equipment and a great variety of classes to take (which I love). I go to the one in Hollywood and, I do have to warn some of you though, it is a tad like a public gym. There are just SO many people, sometimes it's hard to get a treadmill, the locker room is always busy and you definitely have to be considerate of others and their needs when weightlifting. So while I do like this gym a lot, I know it is not for everyone.

Hard rock ABS!

by rosalinmoor

I stumbled upon this find with a local school auction win; I had always wanted to try Pilates. In a short series of classes, I felt a noticeable change! With a few more classes, I felt sleeker in my over-40 body! I was amazed at how much fun I was having too! Trisha and Jesse worked me hard while making me smile and laugh as the hour passed. I find myself missing the camaraderie almost as much as the expert instruction. Pilates takes mental energy and the descriptive approaches given and encouragement along the way are best in class! Thank you to Cassidy and her tremendous staff! TRY THEM OUT!

**CRIME-RIDDEN, UNSAFE!!**

by fifthlegend

I tolerated the stench, the horrible parking, and the run-down machines for over 3 months (I had just moved to the area), but I called it quits when one of the gym's denizens broke into my locker (cut off the lock), rummaged through my backpack, stole the cash in my wallet, and then abandoned my backpack in the middle of the locker room. While the theft itself was pretty horrible, the way the staff handled the incident was what truly shocked and disgusted me.

From what I've been able to deduce, the theft must have taken place around 5 PM. I immediately spoke with one of the managers about the incident. He wrote up a report and then told me that I would receive a phone call from Bally headquarters within three days.

After waiting a week for this call, I contacted the gym again, and asked another manager why I hadn't heard back from the company. The person I spoke with actually told me that there was no record of any report being taken, and that I would need to go back to the gym and file another one. I did that, and was told, again, that I would receive a phone call from Bally headquarters in a few days.

As you can imagine, I received no such call, so I again contacted the gym and asked the manager what was going on. The guy basically told me that if the corporate office hadn't gotten in touch with me, it meant that it didn't think the matter was very important-- apparently this company doesn't think that theft is a very important issue, even though, as I later found out, it is quite common at this gym.

Fed up with the whole situation, I joined Equinox, and have never been happier. While the cost of my 3 year membership at Bally's is approximately equivalent to 5 months at Equinox, you get 10x your money's worth at the latter. Plus, this gym is extremely close to where I work.

Unfortunately, now that I'm off for the summer, necessity, convenience, and proximity may force me to patronize this cesspool a few times in the next few months, but I will NEVER use its lockers again, and neither should you!

Annoyed. Wondering when I will give up...

by malibujack

It does not appear that corporate Bally's has any idea what's going on at local gyms or refuses to act on feedback from members. As a member of the Culver City location for 1.5 years, I have had numerous concerns, which your employees have always seemed to agreed with, but nothing ever changes. Latest are the new membership key chain tags. I have asked for this since I joined and now you have them but are charging. This is an 15+ year old technology your are now charging a fee for...really??? How about fixing the parking, machines, etc... first?

• Pros: Trainers, variety of machines
• Cons: Frivolous charges, parking, front desk staff

It works, most of the time

by Santamonican

After seeing so many negative reviews on Ballys Culver City I thought I should come to their defense just a bit. This gym was a beauty when it first opened about 10 years ago. It's definitely due for a remodel and most of the equipment would be better off replaced rather than constantly, emphasize constantly, being repaired. If you come between 10am-4pm the crowds and parking are fine. Rush hour is rush hour in LA, and this includes the gym. What's this about cognitive deficiencies in the staff? Chill....as long as you don't ask cognitively questionable questions yourself your good. Contact corporate and try to get a membership through them, at least a quote. Accounting issues...corporate, not enough dumbbells...corporate, smells...corporate. Think of the gym as a dealership, you get the picture? As long as their meeting quotas and getting paid your issues are trivial, sorry you're in LA and working with a poorly supervised cash cow in the city, think. You shouldn't be paying more that $250 per year, just mention 24 hour fitness in Marina del Rey with a costco offer. Lastly, keep in mind that this is the last gym on the westside until you get to downtown. Meaning the corridor between Venice and Jefferson Blvds. from Overland to Hoover (yes that's after Vermont) does not have a gym to serve these areas. Also keep in mind that many folks use this gym to shower, like for the day, perhaps the week, because their trailer doesn't have a working shower. I'm not joking. Next time you drive up and down Venice Blvd. notice the house-trailers (RVs). Where do you think they shower? And they may decide to go for a jog on the treadmill before they do. Hint: take a machine between two unquestionable people. But your happy paying under $300 a year for your membership, huh? They are too. Live with it, it's all good. Most of the people there are fine. Relax, and quite making excuses.

• Pros: Big, bright, lots of windows
• Cons: gettin, lookin, and smellin old, few roughnecks