LA Fitness — Attraction in Raleigh

I’m extremely disappointed with the way I was treated at the LA Fitness located at 6461 Plantation Center Dr, Raleigh, NC 27616. I’m visiting family here in North Carolina and came by this location with my fiancé. I’m a paying member based in California and didn’t realize my membership didn’t include out of state access.

When I scanned in, the guy at the front desk immediately asked if I was from here. I explained that I was just visiting, but instead of offering help or explaining options, he was rude, dismissive, and made no effort to assist. There was no explanation, no attempt to offer a guest pass, upgrade, or even a basic welcome. He simply turned us away, without care.

I even called my home gym in California, and their manager was very kind and understanding. They said that this location could have offered a courtesy pass but when I brought it up, the staff here, especially the manager Daniel, refused and acted like I didn’t matter. It was honestly one of the most unwelcoming gym experiences I’ve ever had.

To compare after leaving LA Fitness, I went to Planet Fitness nearby, and guess what? I’m not even a member there, but they gladly welcomed me in, offered me a free guest pass, and treated me with kindness and respect. Their staff was professional and accommodating, something this LA Fitness location seriously lacks.

I’ve always had great experiences at my home LA Fitness in California, where staff are helpful and friendly. But this Raleigh location made me feel disrespected, unimportant, and embarrassed. I wasn’t trying to get in for free I would’ve upgraded on the spot if someone had just taken a moment to explain. Instead, I was kicked out like I wasn’t even a member.

Really upsetting experience. LA Fitness corporate should be aware of how this location treats loyal members from...

While some of the staff are friendly, newer employees seem undertrained and often appear unsure when asked basic questions. One man at the front always looks unhappy and like he hates his job and bothered to be spoken to. Might just be his face though who knows.

When I attempted to cancel my membership on the phone because I moved, I was repeatedly told to call back after leaving my number and was then emailed about processing the cancellation only to later be informed that the person who contacted me had already left the organization. When I called to address being charged for the month I was trying to cancel, the operations manager responded as if I should have already known how the process worked and said “of course you’re going to be charged the last month”.

However, I had never received any clear communication or guidance. I know it’s only $35 but thankfully HR was kind enough to explain it might take a few days for the refund if it wasn’t processed yet on their end and only the charge reflected on my bank account. All it takes is some patience and understanding.

Additionally, items such as ankle cuffs were stolen, and I was told they unfortunately would no longer be replaced.

If you have the option to join another gym, I strongly recommend doing so. Based on my experience, it doesn’t seem like the staff are adequately supported or compensated, and that lack of investment reflects in the quality of service. As someone who also works in a customer-facing role, I know it doesn’t take much effort to be kind or helpful—but even that feels like too much to...

I had an extremely frustrating experience at LA Fitness that made me question the professionalism and organization of this gym.

I scheduled a fitness test on 3/5 (Wednesday) around 9 PM at the front desk for 3/7 (Friday) at 12:30 PM. When I arrived five minutes early, I was told by the only trainer there that I was not on the schedule. They asked me to wait while they figured out what happened, but after 30 minutes, no one followed up with me—the trainer instead started working with another client.

The General Manager eventually asked what was going on, and after I explained the situation, he spoke with the trainer. He returned and told me they weren’t sure what had happened but that if I was willing to wait 10–15 minutes, they would squeeze me in. I agreed and decided to start my workout while waiting.

Two hours passed, and no one ever came to get me. During that time, the trainer started working with yet another client instead of addressing my appointment. At that point, I left, feeling completely disregarded as a member.

To make matters worse, on 3/11, I received a text confirming a fitness test appointment that I never scheduled. Given my previous experience, I asked the front desk to cancel it, as I refuse to have my time wasted again. I’ll be looking elsewhere for a trainer who values their clients.

This level of disorganization and lack of communication is unacceptable for a gym that claims to prioritize member experience. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and implements changes to prevent this from...