Blink Fitness (PureGym) — Attraction in New York

No frills gym. No classes, just equipment. I am fine with this, although sometimes when I'm dragging I wouldn't mind just going to a class where a teacher and the class energy provides the drive. Also, the hours don't suit me a lot of the time. They close at 7:00 on Sat and Sun. This is just the opposite of what I need - I want at least 9:00 or 10:00 on weekends. And ... they do not have overnight, rentable lockers. This is really majorly inconvenient for me. I have to drag a big workout bag of stuff around all day to go after work. One of the really not good things about this gym is the inadequate equipment. I cannot figure out how it came to be that there are 60-65 cardio machines that take up about 1/3 of the space. I have never seen more than 10 being used. Yet, I always have to strategize how to get the weight machines. There are two seated squat machines that only once I haven't had to wait for. There are only one each of the adductor/abductor leg machines. Again, a wait game. I cannot do nothing for 10-15 minutes waiting for machines but I also cannot move far away. I have to be ready to seize the moment when someone finishes. Also, there is only ONE dedicated prone hamstring machine, one seated hamstring machine, ONE dedicated knee extension machine, and one seated scapulae protraction/upper back extension machine that never has hand grips...you have to search around the gym. There are 3-4 multi-use cable machines (which I personally don't use except for lats.) And 65 cardio machines. Who did this order? Fire them please. On the plus side, I like the crowd. A lot of pretty serious and really serious people who just want to work out. I also like that there really is an ambience of acceptance. Some people are out of shape and just trying to get it together, mixed with the experienced, serious, types. But... considering the difficulty getting machines, the gym etiquette could be better re working in. Waiting 15 minutes for someone to finish whatever mega reps makes it nearly impossible to get a smooth workout. All things considered, 4 stars is generous. If another gym opened close by, I would be open to see if some of the negatives at the Utica Ave Blink could be addressed. (I just called to see if they are open tomorrow, MLK Day, and was told to go to the Google website...You don't KNOW if the place you are working in is...

Blink Fitness Utica has charged me $141.08 two months for a service I do not have with them, going in to account without my permission to do so and no one is even interested in fixing the issue.

I signed up Blink Fitness with the goal of getting a personal trainer. When signing up and between February and the end of March was the hardest time to get my 30min personal training which came complimentary as a new member. Trainers would not show up, they was no communication, it was just a mess. Finally I got a trainer by the name of Debra who herself through bad communication didn’t know I was there for our session. I decided to go with Debra since she was the only one who had the manners to apologize and take my number so that wouldn’t happen again.

3 week’s into training Debra left, which I didn’t know. I was short the only trainer who showed up to our sessions and 1 more session for the month. I was over these people so I filled out the form and canceled my personal training. Still missing my session I was billed my personal training for the following month. I canceled my membership on the spot and disputed the charge with my bank. No longer a member Blink Fitness charged me $45. for an annual fee. I am no longer a member but according to the manager I was there for 3 months which gives the right to do so.

My breaking point was this month Blink attempted to go in my account to withdraw the personal trainer fee for another month. For a service that I don’t have with a gym that I am not a member of. When I called Blink customer service asking the guy how that makes since he says he doesn’t know but I have to pay. Would you believe the next morning Blink went into another account I had which I asked them from the beginning to remove from their computer and withdrew that $141.08 again!

So now I had to dispute the charge with another bank and close all my accounts. After yelling on the phone with the poor lady at the Utica branch it looks like the paper work I filled out to cancel my membership was never processed and it stayed in the same folder unattended for two months.

I would never recommend Blink Fitness Utica to anyone. The personal trainers don’t care, there is poor communication between management and staff costing members and no one cares past...

My experience with Blink Fitness has generally been positive over the past six years, until the recent implementation of the new policy requiring members to use a smartphone in order to check in. Despite paying my monthly membership fees on time, I was denied entry to the facility because I do not own a smartphone, and staff were unable to check me in through their system without it.

This policy creates an unnecessary barrier for long-standing and loyal members, especially for individuals who cannot afford or choose not to own a smartphone. It sets the precedent that access to the gym is conditional upon having certain technology, rather than honoring the membership agreement that was originally established.

As a result of this policy, I was embarrassed and inconvenienced when I was turned away from a facility I have supported for many years. I believe this approach is unfair and exclusionary, particularly since no alternative method of check-in has been provided. Members should not be penalized or denied access to the services they are paying for simply because they do not have access to specific devices.

I respectfully ask that Blink Fitness reconsider this policy or provide an accessible alternative so that all members can continue to use the facilities without undue hardship or...