PureGym - Formerly Blink Fitness — Attraction in New York

​I was denied entry to the Gates location today, and therefore, I'm changing the 5-star review I posted a few weeks ago to 1 star. ​My Blink story started at the Stuyvesant Heights location about a year and a half ago. I got my Blue membership and was very excited to work out at this great gym (which it used to be). I was happy to write a 5-star review for them. Everything was going well, and I was very happy with this location. My work hours mean I go to the gym during the busiest times, so about half a year ago, I gladly signed up for an additional $10 a month for the "premium" machines, which are usually not occupied. ​That was working for quite a while until the A/C drama at the Stuyvesant Heights location began. I'd say it was about three months ago when the A/C on the second floor stopped working (and it hasn't worked since), creating a real sauna inside. I tried to work out there three times during the summer, but the heat was unbearable, so I left after five minutes each time. I was still very positive, thinking they simply had temporary issues that would be solved soon. ​I found the Bushwick location, which isn't as close, but I didn't mind. I visited and liked it, despite the fact that it gets even busier than Stuyvesant Heights and doesn't have the premium machines for which I was paying an extra $10 a month. I wasn't able to do anything except for cardio and legs. I still thought that location was great and gave it 5 stars. Then I found the Gates location. It is quite a hike for me, but I didn't lose my positivity for a second. I went there and loved it (another 5-star review). I'm a really easy-going person. ​Overall, for the last three months, I've been using Blink 2-3 times a month at most (I used to go to the Stuyvesant location about four times a week when the A/C was working). I arranged to do some basic workouts at home in between. It's a bit weird paying $40 a month for that, but I thought that in just a month or two, they would finally fix the A/C or the temperature outside would change, so I could go back to my nearby location. I was nothing but understanding, positive, and polite. ​Today, I was looking forward to visiting the Gates location again. While entering the building and trying to log in to the mobile app, I got an error but didn't think it was a big deal since I reached the front desk at the same time. I was informed that I needed a new app. I politely asked, "Could you please look me up? I have a membership," and showed them my ID. The response was, "I'm sorry. We don't do this. You need a new app." ​I stood there for a few seconds and quickly checked for app updates, but there was nothing there. I then understood that I needed to download a completely new app. I was about to look for it, but then thoughts started coming to my head. Hold on. For the last three months, I've been jumping through hoops trying to remain a happy Blink customer. This was the last straw. I'm not doing it. I was just denied entry,...

The staff at this gym is rude. I can tell management changed since beginning of last year because you notice the difference. Back maybe 1-2 years ago there was this black manager guy with glasses that was always there, very polite, walking around the gym and all the staff use to be so nice. NOW, it feels like kids running the gym and you can tell. I go to this blink because of the convenience of it being by my home, but I am always uncomfortable going because of the service provide. I now go to the one on knickerbocker or Myrtle because their service is much better and friendly staff, but it’s such an inconvenience to travel. The staff at the Gates location shuts the music off 30-1hour before closing. They yell at everyone in the gym at 10pm saying they are going to close the locker rooms at 10:30pm, when they actually close at 11. NEVER experienced anything like that before. On Tuesday night 3/11 the staff even shut off the lights in the locker room while me and other people were in the locker rooms getting dressed at closing! It was so uncomfortable and frightening. I was told to look into that to see if it’s a lawsuit. Additionally, yesterday afternoon I was turned away because their card systems were down and they said they are not able to charge my card for balance for March of $30. After I’ve been with blink for 4 years and one $30 payment that was their issue on their side, I had to turn back around and leave. One of the girls there offered NO solution and seems to not care at all. I only pay for a membership with blink because of its convenience of it being right next to my home. But being that I never go to the gates location because it is so unprofessional and feels like kids are running it, what is the point of having a membership here if I’m forced to travel to a better location. I can just go with a different gym that provides great service and amenities and up to date equipment. PLEASE GET NEW MANAGEMENT TO TRAIN THE STAFF THERE. This is the only gym I go to where the staff is not friendly and make things uncomfortable for people working out there especially at...

The most popular aspect of Blink Fitness is its emphasis on fitness your way. Which I guess is the same aspect of many popular mainstream gyms nowadays. But Blink sets itself apart in the ways it goes about this, when you first join, you are offered a complimentary one-on-one personal training session with knowledgeable staff that tailor the exercise experience in a way that fits your comfort level as well as your fitness level. They will help you find what exercises work for you and show you ways that you can improve and gain the most from your workouts. The fitness areas themselves are quite diverse with a wide range of exercise equipment that will fit nearly any training program or workout regiment you may have in mind. I am a fan of the free weights and stair master myself, and I rarely ever run into an issue of not having access to the weights I need due to there being two or three sets of each weight. There are plenty of treadmills, ellipticals, and stationary bikes that are very well maintained and are rarely out of order. The stair masters are another story since there are only a small handful of them and are quite popular, so they will usually have a few people milling nearby waiting for their turn. The squat racks are always in demand so you may have a hard time getting your turn in.

In short: The overall quality and experience of the gym is always a positive experience, everything is kept clean and maintained, the gym is obviously going to be packed during peak hours, but you rarely spend a long amount of time waiting for equipment to free up, plenty of lockers to store your stuff, there are showers if you’re one of those few people who shower AT the gym, the staff are always friendly and more than willing to help you with any questions about equipment or to help with any workouts. Overall 9/10 and...