LA Fitness — Attraction in Katy

SilverSneakers Experience: Inconsistent Policies and Disappointing Encounter

Yesterday marked our first day participating in SilverSneakers, and the class with Priscilla was truly great! Her energy and instruction made for a very positive experience.

However, our second day, with instructor Janis, was a profoundly disappointing and frustrating experience that highlights a critical inconsistency in policy and a lack of empathy.

I attend these classes primarily to support my mother, who not only has limited mobility but also does not speak English, making my presence essential for her participation and comfort. When I initially signed my mother up for SilverSneakers, I specifically asked if I could attend the classes alongside her. I was explicitly told that I could, that classes were open to everyone, and the only request was that if chairs ran out, I should yield my seat to an elderly participant and find an alternative way to exercise. I readily agreed to this arrangement.

Yesterday, this arrangement worked perfectly. My mom and I arrived early, I set up both our chairs, and indeed, chairs ran out. True to my word, I immediately gave up my prepared seat to another elderly lady. Impressively, another participant, noticing my situation, kindly showed me how to 'make my own chair' using the stepping equipment available, allowing me to fully participate in the class. It felt like a supportive community effort.

Today, anticipating a similar situation and wanting to consistently leave chairs for other seniors, I proactively built my own 'chair' with the stepping equipment. My mom and I were set up early and ready to go. Before even a greeting or an acknowledgement of us as new participants, Janis very rudely approached me. She pointed at my makeshift seating and abruptly asked if it was mine and to remove it. When I explained that it was my seating, that I had used it successfully the day before, and that my intention was to leave chairs available for other elderly participants, she curtly repeated, 'No, please remove it, or move to the back.'

I reiterated that I needed to remain next to my mother to assist her. Janis again refused, then escalated the situation by getting on her phone and stating she was going to 'have Rob come over.' Feeling completely unwelcome and unsupported, I ended up gathering my equipment, clearing out my seating, and waiting outside for my mom. Rob never appeared.

This experience was disheartening. The stark contrast between instructors' approaches, the lack of a welcoming attitude from Janis, and the inflexibility regarding a pre-approved accommodation for a caregiver supporting a vulnerable participant is unacceptable. Better internal communication about attendee policies and more empathetic instructors are desperately needed to ensure a consistent and positive experience for all SilverSneakers members and their...

A Deeply Disheartening Journey with LA Fitness

Two years ago, my wife and I, while living in California, embarked on a journey with LA Fitness, filled with hope and excitement. We signed up for a personal training program, offering us eight sessions each at the Fontana gym. The only beacon of light in this experience was our trainer, Denis - punctual, professional, and knowledgeable. He stood out like a rare gem in an otherwise lackluster setting.

However, this was just the beginning of a series of letdowns that were to follow. Each of us was charged a hefty $640 for the sessions, plus a $35 monthly membership fee. Upon our move to Houston, our optimism quickly turned to dismay. The nearest LA Fitness club was over 30 minutes away, a far cry from the convenient 6-minute distance we were accustomed to in Fontana.

We attempted to utilize our remaining 50 sessions each at the Park Row location, only to be greeted by an unbearable, sweltering environment due to a non-functional AC - in Texas summer! The stench and the heat were suffocating, with no relief in sight. This negligence in basic facility maintenance was unacceptable.

Our disillusionment deepened when we realized we were trapped in a financial vortex. Unable to pause or freeze our memberships without losing our accumulated sessions, we were forced to bleed $150 monthly for a service we couldn't use satisfactorily.

Our experience further soured at another club, 35 minutes away, where we were informed that our sessions were invalid and required additional payment. The lack of consistency and transparency was staggering.

In a desperate attempt to salvage our investment, we tried the Cinco Ranch gym. Here, we met Kevin, a trainer whose lack of professionalism and planning starkly contrasted with what we were initially promised. Random exercises without any structured plan, no body fat or muscle measurements - it was a farce.

The situation worsened when Kevin left on July 28th, 2023, leaving the gym without any trainers for nearly two months. Throughout this time, we continued to pay our fees, hoping for a resolution. Finally, we were contacted by Austen, a new trainer, on September 18th. However, just like before, Austen left after only a week of training with us.

The high turnover of trainers, a clear sign of systemic issues, was further illuminated when one trainer disclosed that they were paid a mere $8 per session. This exploitation of trainers is indicative of LA Fitness's disregard for both its employees and its customers.

Today, I stand here, exhausted and disillusioned. LA Fitness has been a vortex of broken promises, zero customer service, compassion, quality, or organization. This is not just a review; it's a plea to anyone considering this gym - think twice. Our experience has been nothing short of a nightmare, a costly lesson we hope others don't have to learn...

We were well received by the front desk staff. They helped us get signed in for our guest pass. We were later redirected with another staff member, Skyler. He started off asking questions about what other gyms I went to, how long I been in them and that sort, although it was a bit awkward I took it as it was their routine to do so which is fine. Skyler proceeded to ask me and my girl what we were working out for the day, to which I responded shoulders and arms. I was appalled to hear his response, saying that women shouldn’t train shoulders because they would be “too bulky”. As a gym member, in the 10 years I’ve been training, I’ve never heard a trainer say such calamity. It was a misogynistic and sexist statement. Should women should neglect part of their upper body to suit his preferences? Should women only train their lower body to suit old and outdated stereotypes?

After I disagreed with his statement and told him he was wrong, I asked if he was a personal trainer (to which my hope was he wasn’t for the sake of the people he would potentially misinform and not give proper guidance), he proceed to pull rank saying “oh yeah I’m the General Manager, and trained Marine Corp”. He was very condescending, interruptive and proud to show his lack of knowledge and ignorance. For a General Manager to be this uneducated, and sexist, I’d recommend to take his outdated views back to the Marine Corp, where he’ll be more of use.

After we were done with our workout, I proceeded to ask the front desk for the General Manager’s name, to which I was told Skyler isn’t General Manager, just a Sales Manager. Hopefully Skyler you’ll stick to sales, as you are not capable of understanding kinesiology or basic human body functions and needs.

Here’s something positive you can do for your gym members: Make sure your dumbbell rack is properly organized. There’s nothing worse than coming to a gym with dumbbells all over the gym floor, and not in the correct order or spots they should be. Now you might look at this and say, “oh but that’s the gym member’s fault for not re racking their weights”, although there is truth to that statement, who is responsible for enforcing the rules at the gym and fostering a culture and environment that promotes and supports good gym etiquette? Hopefully this very simple task, yet so essential to a gym is not too challenging...