LA Fitness — Attraction in Grandview Heights

My boyfriend just signed up for this gym and signed me up to be his "guest" so that I could try it out. I currently go to Planet Fitness on Bethel road but I live much closer to LA fitness. When you sign up as a guest you are allowed to work out with that person for up to 14 days.

When we first walked in we went to the front desk to get signed in. Because I was a guest there was some paperwork I had to fill out. The front desk person hardly greeted us and was somewhat rude as he told me to go sit down to fill out the application.

Out of nowhere someone came up and took my papers from me and asked me some questions about my current workout routine and what I am looking for in a gym. She then let us know she would be taking us on a tour. The front desk person never told us that we would even be taking a tour of the facility.

During the tour I stated that I currently work out at Planet Fitness and that I have a year contract with them which is ending in a couple of months. During the entire tour it was obvious that their main goal is to get you to sign up for LA fitness. (I just wanted to have a peaceful workout!!) Not to mention the person who was giving me the tour was extremely pushy.

Once we were done with the tour she lead me to their office area so that we could talk about the different packages even though I CLEARLY stated that I currently belonged to another gym and wasn't looking to sign up right at this moment. I just wanted to check out this gym so that I could keep my options open for when my other membership is over.

Once we got to the office area she said "So which package would you like to sign up for today?" and then looked at me very confused and annoyed when I said I wasn't interested in signing up right that second. I told them I was just interested in using my guest pass to work out with my boyfriend. She then proceeded to ask me if I had my ID (even though I was already signed in at the front desk AND filled out paperwork). I did not have my ID with me because I was working out at a gym I had never been to before and did not feel comfortable bringing my purse with me. Because I did not have my ID they told us that we were not allowed to work out there - maybe you should have told us that in the first place before we were forced to take a tour with a pushy salesperson!!!

In conclusion, my boyfriend and I left LA fitness and drove 15 minutes to Planet Fitness on Bethel rd where we were treated kindly with respect. I brought him as my guest and they even greeted him by his name and made him feel very welcomed - can't say I had that experience with LA fitness.

I have never felt more unwelcomed at a gym before. Shouldn't the purpose of your tour be to make people feel comfortable and welcomed so that they actually want to join your gym?

I will not be returning to this location. It is obvious that all they care about is their sales and not...

@LA Fitness Corporate Leaders: I have lived in various cities in Ohio (Dayton/Beavercreek club, Toledo/ Maumee Club, and Cleveland/ Avon Lake Club). While living in Cleveland, the Avon Lake LA Fitness was my club of choice, and by far my favorite of all clubs that I attended in the cities wherein I have lived. In September of 2024, I returned home to Columbus, thus returning to the Goodale location, the same location that I frequented in 2020 before moving away. When I returned to Columbus, I noticed an unfavorable decline in the Goodale Club (e.g., lack of cleanliness, grotesque smells in the locker rooms, and most of all broken and dilapidated equipment. In September, all of the Stair Master machines, except one, were broken, and other popular machines were defunct. I pondered making other LA Fitness locations (Graceland, Hilliard, or Reynoldsburg) my primary club; however, Goodale was most convenient for my present residence. Within the last month or so, I noticed that the foul smell in the locker room was gone. The club has been conspicuously cleaner, and the Stair Master (SM) machines that had long been inoperable wer repaired. To date, only one SM is missing as the place where it was formerly stationed is empty, leading me to believe that it is being repaired or replaced. Change takes time; however, the noticeable changes that have taken place to date are noticed and greatly appreciated. I admonish corporate bosses to give whoever the new General Manager is every resources needed to restore the LA Fitness Club @ Goodale to its former grandeur. How do I know that there is new leadership? The improvement in the club shows and when I inquired, I was told that a new GM was in place. The LA Fitness Club @ Goodale is far from perfect; however, the five star rating is awarded because of ardent strides that have been made to improve a club that has been in what we in the leadership ranks call "organizational atrophy." To whomever has taken the helm of leadership, "good job" and "keep up the good work." Your leadership is making a difference and I hope to meet him or her very soon. I have been told by a Club Manager @LA Fitness (Avon Lake) that the Goodale location is the busiest in the State. Corporate leadership @ LA Fitness, be sure to give the Club resources needed to solidify its position as the most frequented club in Ohio. I only hope that this exhaustive review will be used by corporate leaders in training and developing club leaders. To write this exhaustive rating that is favorable should speak volumes, as most customers are more likely to post negative reviews when something has gone awry, than to craft one that is immensely positive. As a scholar practitioner, I coined a phrase in 2018, "Managers manage people: Leaders Manage Relationships" (D.C. Scott, 2018). #changemanagement #intentionalleadership...

Alright,

I recently rejoined LA fitness and chose this location for convenience. I figured, with great experiences at other locations, this would be the same. Incorrect.

First, this location is not nearly as nice as my two previous experiences in Dayton and Toledo. It seems a bit smaller and is a little on the dirtier side. And much more crowded.

Second..... My workout partner & I went in tonight having signed my sister up for the VIP 14 day pass through my membership. After scanning my phone, we were told we had to wait for a manager or someone to approve my sisters guest pass. Okay great. Except 30 minutes later we were still standing at the desk. I know it’s not the 2 guys at the desks fault, but we asked several times If there was anything we could do such as complete any paperwork after working out but they told us we had no choice but to wait.

After 40 minutes of standing in front of the desk, someone finally was able to speak with us. The workers called him Champ, not sure if that’s his actual name? He came over with some forms and was holding my sisters ID. Since he walked over he was trying to sell my sister a membership... despite all of us repeatedly telling him she lives in Virginia and is only in town for 30 days... hence the guest pass. He then asked about her home workout routine and whether there were any la fitness locations near her. We asked AGAIN if we could speed this process up (we’d been standing up front 45 min now) because we are 3 professionals who work in a hospital setting and had to be at work early the next day. He stated he would have to take her on a tour and do some fitness questions because it’s policy. Except the other two of us were members and my sister said multiple times she didn’t want a tour. He ignored her and said she could meet up with us after her tour. We FINALLY got to workout after waiting almost a full hour. Blah blah fast forward to the end.

My sister went to get her ID back from Champ after working out. She asked if she needed a paper or anything to show proof of her guest pass. His response?? “Well the only way to guarantee you can come back is to leave me a 5 star review on google before you leave the building.” Are you kidding me? My sister refused for obvious reasons.

If I hadn’t recently joined and sunk money into a contract membership, they would have absolutely lost 3 customers with the lack of service tonight.

This location is a great option!!!....if you enjoy working out with 300 of your closest friends, curating long workout playlists (because you will hear every song while waiting to use the machine you want) and never expect to receive customer service of any...