Crunch Fitness - East Colonial — Attraction in Orlando

I wish this could be a better review, given how much i enjoy working out here, but the experience I had with the staff and trainers today is beyond unacceptable and far outside the bounds of professionalism. I am in law school and I use the gym as a venture to releasing stress and increasing my dopamine levels. I have been a member for over a year and have not had a terrible run in worth reporting until tonight. A trainer, employed by crunch on colonial, prioritized her client over my workout and stated I was unable to use equipment because they had priority over other members after I already engaged in using the equipment. When i explained to her that I was not aware of such a requirement and regulation being apart of my membership contract, she went to receive a larger and more “intimidating” staff member from the front to inform me that she had higher priority with her client to use the machinery than me, and that it was apart of my contract when I signed up. Curious as to which amendment to the rules and regulations I was not put on notice of, he brought me to the front to ensure the trainer could take my area where I was working out at, just to be confused as to the policy he was so knowledgeable about seconds prior. After conversing with this staff member, I was guided to the proposed manager for the day who informed me there was nothing they could do in this situation and that I was over reacting. I get it, some clients pay “thousands of dollars” (as the supposed threatening staff member informed me) for their training with a PT staff employee, but I have just as much as of a right to work out here as anyone else receiving benefits from a program they are enrolled in. This was completely unfair, utterly embarrassing and absent any form of apology from any staff member regarding the situation. To be told I was violating my contract, to then be told it’s a “general company rule”, to ultimately be told that this rule does not exist is not only confusing but frustrating. I bring so many of my friends here from school so they can have a way out in a positive workout environment, but to be treated like this is unacceptable and unprofessional. I really hope this review reaches someone’s eyes that can help me with this situation, but I also hope this review serves as a notice to potential new comers of my situation. Obviously my encounter is not out-come determinative of the environment this crunch has built, but it sure does damage the reputation of its management team as this was not handled properly by even the manager. I don't think i over-reacted and I believe I deserve some form of apology from the management...

Why is Crunch on East Colonial the best gym in Orlando?

First: the equipment. This gym is BUSY, but apart from Monday evenings I rarely need to wait on equipment because this Crunch has two to three times the number of the popular stations that you’d expect from a gym this size: 6 flat benches, 11 squat racks plus 5 or so squat machines, probably 20 treadmills, 9 punching bags, and probably 20 pull-up bars throughout the gym. There’s no wasted space at Crunch, which shows great planning and adjustments on behalf of the management.

Then you have the staff, and I need to break this part up because each piece of the staff deserves their own recognition.

I feel the most important is the cleaning staff, because this place is the size of Publix, just as busy, and somehow cleaner.

The front desk is great is always friendly. I’ve never had to wait to check in and I always get a hello and a wave goodbye. It may not seem like much but it makes me feel welcome.

Then you have the fitness class teachers, and you’ll be surprised by the level talent you get here. I take a few hot yoga classes a week at Crunch in the dedicated hot yoga room and the teachers are as good or better that you’d find at a $100/month yoga studio. They each have their own teaching and flow style, and like I said the room is a dedicated yoga space. Aside from the noise coming in from the rest of the gym you’ll feel like you’re in an actual yoga studio.

I don’t do personal training, but I’ve seen the same trainers and their same clients here for three years so they must be doing it right. Also have to say the trainers are pretty friendly and seem ego-free, and are super-focused on their clients in a session.

The extras: I think there are tanning beds included in my membership but I haven’t used them. Though we do have these fun hydro-massage chairs included in my membership and I’ve used those. Plus I can bring always bring a guest, which is something I’ve never been able to do at my other gyms.

Finally I need to recognize Crunch’s manager, Matthew. I’ve been a member of all the big gyms in Orlando, and Crunch is the first time I’ve been on a first-name basis with the manager. Come in on any given day and you’ll see him doing seven different things: working the front desk, doing one-on-ones with the staff, inspecting equipment, even vacuuming the floors with that Ghostbusters vacuum pack. Guy really cares about the gym. For all the great things I have to say about Crunch, I feel it starts at the top and have to give him credit for building the best...

UPDATE: Raising from one star to three. The managing director reached out to resolve this and was very courteous and professional, and apologized for the behavior of the manager on duty. While I’m still concerned about the lack of social distancing and mask requirements being enforced, I have a lot of respect for a business who can own their mistakes and rectify them, and I hope that better social distancing measures will be enforced going forward. It’s a nice facility that I’d still look forward to using when it’s safer to do so.

Zero regard for the safety of their employees and patrons in the midst of a global pandemic. I signed up for the founders rate before COVID-19 even struck - how were we to know that it was coming? The best thing they could have done from a customer service perspective is give us the option to cancel our memberships, or postpone our start date, but of course they didn't do that. Instead, our memberships started on the day they opened, right as case numbers start to skyrocket in Florida, and we're given no option to freeze our membership (which many other gyms are doing), because of the initial 90-day commitment. Which I get, in normal times, but not while we're in the middle of a global pandemic. However, I was told via email I could pause, but I had to come in, which I did. However, when I got there, I was told that was incorrect and they didn't know who told me that (despite me showing the email they sent). The Orange County mask ordinance was not being followed at all, the gym was packed, hardly anyone in masks. The manager speaking to me kept pulling his mask down to talk to me, despite me requesting that he not. He kept saying "masks aren't required if you're 6' apart" but then ignoring the multitude of members who weren't 6' apart when pointed out, and nevermind that almost none of the equipment is even spaced to allow you to be 6 feet apart. The treadmills and other cardio equipment are closer than that to each other. Had I been given the option to start my membership later, given the current pandemic, I would have considered keeping my membership - I was excited to have this gym so close by. But given how this has been handled, I refuse to give this location a penny more than necessary now and will be taking my patronage elsewhere. The manager was callous, rude, and clearly doesn't care about the safety or comfort of his members. I'll be cancelling the second my...