Planet Fitness — Attraction in Austin

Cost Effective, Bad Attitude: This place is pretty good for the price if you are just looking for a place to use a cardio machine and do some light lifting. The problem I have with this place is primarily in its attitude.

This is their business model in their own words: "As part of our model, we do not cater to bodybuilders, dropping weights, or grunting. We want our members to feel comfortable in a non-intimidating atmosphere. We are about general fitness, and most of our members are in fact first time users of a gym."

On paper this sounds good as it is trying to protect customers who would feel intimidated at a "real" gym but in actuality, they just attract people who like their cheap membership prices. The people who they are aiming at with that published model are probably at home not using their membership.

They encourage a "no judgement" mentality and toward that end institute things like giving everyone who signs up an XL t-shirt no matter what size they actually are, they have crippled machines that don't go above certain weight limits, and they have something called "pizza mondays" where they give away free pizza to gym-goers. I can't decide how I feel about the pizza thing.

They also have a thing called a "lunk alarm" "("Lunk , n, [slang], One who Grunts, Drops Weights, or JUDGES") that goes off if someone is seen to be a "lunk". This could be as simple as wearing a muscle shirt or making any sort of noise while exercising. I would think this in itself would be intensely more judgemental and intimidating than anything a gym patron would do to another.

I also sent an inquiry to their help line to request a piece of equipment that they did not already have and though I expected them to say no, I didn't expect that my answer would be very curt and almost rude. They replied that they cannot honor my request because they do not use that equipment in their locations. So I am asking about a piece of equipment they do not have and am told that they won't put one in because they don't do that? After a further inquiry, they gave me the lecture about how they did not feel it was conducive to their business model to add things to a gym for beginners. It reminded me of a story I saw where a teen was talking to a planet fitness manager and upon complaining that a weight stack only went to 75lbs, the manager responded "can you lift more than 75 lbs?" instead of addressing his real concern.

I guess I will continue to be a customer since this lets me work out cheaply on a variety of equipment, but I will continue to hate on its corporate attitude. I would probably pick a different gym if I didn't also have friends that had a good set of free weights that I can use...

Like Michael Evars I had a horrible experian with Chris the overnight staff. Ever since he started working at Planet Fitness he had been rude or just flat out missing from the front desk ( nowhere to be found on the floor) one day I noticed a lady eating on the treadmill relaxing and just let that go, then I wanted to get a hydro massage and a lady was asleep on the machine with covers on her. I asked to get a massage and was told all beds were broken. I reported that this lady was visiting an would sleep and eating on the treadmill and bed only because it happened more then once. One morning at 4am I went in and was purchasing a water from Chris. He like always was rude. I was holding my dollar to give to him and he just looked at it then me. I was confused so I said here you go. Chris rolled his eyes and I said wow. He then proceeded to yell at me “what did I do to you?” Repeatedly. I was shocked and looked around in disbelief. I told him to calm down and call his manager. He kept yelling the same thing and I said you need to have respect and do what you signed up to do without freaking out on me. I then told him I had to report a lady for sleeping in the facility. I totally understand if you accident fell asleep but she had covers which seemed planned. Chris’s eyes then widened and dilated then he yelled “You were the one who reported my wife?” I said call you manager. He then yelled to everyone I was being aggressive and threatened his pregnant wife. I repeated myself and said call you boss or give me his information please. He made racial slurs and used profanity while telling me to get out. Then he called his boss (Kent) who said if she’s being aggressive call the cops. Seems he didn’t call the cops for some reason. I then received Kent’s information and left. I went home just shocked and upset at what Planet Fitness hired as their first impression. This guy was pretty much foaming out of the corners of his mouth and very aggressive. I still don’t feel safe that he might have my information. Kent and I spoke and the Chris was dealt with after investigation. Now, I go to another gym that’s a mile further away but worth the drive. Unfortunately I will never feel comfortable visiting...

While taking a shower and getting part way dressed a female came in and went in a dressing room talking loudly and yelling at someone on the phone. She repeated yelling he just got out. He just Then she started yelling stop threatening me! Several times. This went on the entire time I was getting dressed. I heard someone else in the bathroom and looked out and saw an employee with a purple sweatshirt on. I put a towel around me and walked over to her. She jumped back from me acting startled I would approach her. I asked if she could speak to the lady and she acted like what? I repeated and she still acted dumbfounded. Then I asked Do you work here? She said yes but I can’t say anything to her. I asked about the code of no cell phones and the fact that lady keeps yelling. She said Yes, I know, she comes in and does this every day. She said she would try to talk to her later. I walked back to the dressing room to finish dressing and grab my things. I left without doing my hair or makeup as I was very uncomfortable and scared because the lady seemed very agitated.. When I got to the front door I asked the employee for her name. She asked why? I stated I because I would like to know who I am/was speaking to. She said NO and looked down. The other employee had a name tag reading Regine. The employee I had talked to is tall, long black hair, wearing a lot of makeup and maybe in age range of late 20s to early 30s? Not really sure on the age part.

If there are codes and people are supposed to contact the employees of issues so they can handle them yet refuse then what really is the point.

This all occurred the morning of Friday, April 18, 2025. It was around 8:30am when I got back to my vehicle.

This is not a safe environment...