Regretfully, after nearly four years as a paying member, climber, and community advocate for Reading Rocks, I have made the hard decision to finally discontinue my membership at Reading Rocks and can no longer in good faith suggest anyone patronize this gym.
This reluctant decision was finally made after a previous review, which has since been removed, where I outlined my concerns about the gym. I fairly and respectfully expressed my feedback and concerns. However, the owner, Scott, requested to speak with me over the phone about my concerns, which I thought would be taken into consideration, or at the very least heard. Instead, I was met with justification and ultimately, a threat. After paying for months of membership, Scott threatened to revoke my membership because he did not like the review I had left and was worried that my review would turn his potential business away. My feedback and concerns were not addressed, merely minimized and ignored. Instead, I was met with chastisement and a threat to be removed from the gym.
Current or future members, please be advised that should you have a negative opinion on the gym, or constructive feedback, that you do not publicly share it, lest your membership be revoked for ābashingā the gym.
To add, last year, Reading Rocks was sold and assumed new ownership. With many promises of a rehaul to the old gym, many members were excited with the prospect of a new beginning. However, many of these promises fell through or were postponed. Previous members, like myself, were alienated and disregarded ā some were lied to and others taken advantage of during the transition between owners. As Reading Rocks under its previous ownership was a true family friendly community which valued its members as people, not as potential business.
I cannot with a good conscious recommend this gym to any serious climbers, especially beginning climbers for fear that your first experience climbing will be here.
Below are some of my previous concerns which were not addressed and removed in the previous review:
Cons:
$50 cancelation fee for members
No punch passes/yearly passes offered
Setting is uninspiring and has limiting moves that require the climber to be tall or extremely strong
-Grading is inaccurate and inconsistent
-Most setters are not officially trained or proficient in setting or have not been climbing for a significant amount of time
-No secure storage for belongings
-No gym equipment
-Overpriced day passes and gear rentals
Inconveniences and Other Considerations:
-No AC in the summer
-A few days last month where the gym had no heat because the oil bill was not paid
-The owner threatened to revoke my membership because I publicly shared this feedback previously
The gym lacks basic necessities (a water fountain, gym equipment, good route setting, and community).
Cosmetically the gym has been overhauled ā new, bright, flashy holds and interior renovations can be seen on their website as well as in person. However, all of this has not improved my experience at the gym. Unfortunately, due to my interaction with the owner, Scott, and my previously aforementioned concerns regarding setting, prices, and the questionably moral business practices that I have witnessed and heard second hand about, I cannot continue to support what was once a beloved local climbing gym.
Try it for yourself, maybe you will have a better experience than myself and the countless other members who have not and will not return. I made the unfortunate mistake of sharing my concern and feedback publicly and was chastised and my paid membership threatened. Please know that this is not what the climbing community is or stands for.
While this is a business, it also remains a climbing community, or what is left of the dwindling members. However, it is clear that the ownership is only concerned with their bottom line, not the retention or satisfaction of its members and...
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