LA Fitness — Attraction in Secaucus

I had left a 5 Star review in 2018 for Isaiah.

Sadly, due to todays interaction with new management(Horrible)

They need to update staff and management training regarding how to handle paying members. The harassment and profiling are excessive, and the staff is unfamiliar with their own policies. If a member chooses not to take a picture, as I did because I wasn't in the mood, they should have asked for my ID and moved on. Instead, the front desk employee took my refusal personally and insisted that I had no choice but to comply. When she saw that I wasn't going to give in, she said my guest was trespassing and not allowed in.

I told her and the assistant manager, who claimed to be the manager, that I would come back the next day to take the picture, but they insisted that I had to do so and as well give them my guest information. I had already provided this information the day before and many times prior. It felt like they were on an ego trip, looking for reasons to harass me and my girl since I didn't want to take the picture.

According to HQ, they should have asked for my ID instead of insisting on a photo. They never asked for my ID and instead threatened to call the police. I told them to go ahead because I am a paying member, and my girl was already in the system.

When the police arrived, they said they were not there to enforce policy. The assistant manager tried to play the victim and tried accusing me of being aggressive and he felt in danger when I leaned forward to speak(A 6ft 300lbs man / me a 5’’5 small thing Female😒), but the officer dismissed his claims and acknowledged I was FREE to lean forward and pace around if I chose.

The police asked him if I should continue working out or if they wanted me out. The assistant manager, still power-tripping, said: “only if I do what they are asking me to do.” I said I had already done it, just not the way he wanted it done ( I was signed in, my guessed was signed in and I already scanned). I don’t have to nor my guest has to take a picture. He got on the phone and said the operating manager no longer wanted me there, and that I should be escorted out. I was then officially removed by the police, who stated that if me and my guest returned, we would be arrested for trespassing.

I called HQ again to report the issue. They contacted the gym, where the staff falsely claimed that I had caused the altercation. In reality, both the front desk employee and the assistant manager were responsible for the altercation. Their actions led to the unnecessary escalation of the situation, they could of just simply asked my guest for her ID and even me, since I didn’t want to take the photo at that moment in time. Instead they decided to call the police, which seemed to be driven by an ego trip, more then them actually doing it for policy purposes.

Over the phone, they told HQ that they wanted to keep me as a member. I asked why they had told the officer otherwise. Which had me humiliated and removed. As well why they hadn't handled the situation with more tact and respect. They had no coherent response.

When I asked how I had caused an altercation, I clarified that I had barley acknowledged their requests which I knew I wasn’t required to do. Walked away and was working out, saw the police myself, walked up to the officer, and explained the situation, again no answer.

If I had been in the wrong, the officer would have walked me out or arrested me on the SPOT, if I were being disruptive. However, he did not because I was not being problematic. The staff kept going back and forth, the officers asking what they wanted to do.

Since the police cannot arrest me for refusing to take a photo or enforce such a policy, the officer asked if they were kicking me out or allowing my access. They confirmed that I was to be removed.

This whole matter and situation was humiliating and disrespectful, to me as a member and my guest, as my guest & GF. I pay extra to be able to bring a guest, and them being harassed or humiliated is not the experience one is ever...

I used to love coming to this gym, but over the past few months, my experience has steadily declined.

I came here this evening specifically because my back was tight and needed relief. Swimming and using the sauna usually help, but once again, the sauna was out of order. This has happened so many times that I’ve lost count. To make matters worse, the spa (hot tub) hasn’t been heated for months, and the Clifton location’s spa has been broken since I joined LA Fitness.

Since I couldn’t use the sauna or spa to loosen up, I spent extra time in the hot shower. Instead of understanding, staff repeatedly used the loudspeaker to rudely rush us out. Then, towards closing time, they took it a step further—threatening to scan our gym IDs as a form of punishment for staying a few minutes past closing. This not only felt unprofessional but also raised concerns about how members are treated. If they’re rushing people out like this, it’s clear that no cleaning is happening after hours, which is absolutely unacceptable. Frankly, I rarely see staff cleaning even during operating hours. The spa often has a layer of nasty foam on top, and the locker room and sauna have smelled awful for months.

When I mentioned that the sauna wasn’t working and that’s why I was running late, the manager responded with an unprofessional and condescending remark—suggesting I enforce the rules because people are "breaking the machine." If that’s the case, why not invest in a sauna that can actually handle standard use? That kind of response from management is completely unacceptable.

I also come here to lift, but even that has its issues—dumbbells are constantly left scattered everywhere, making it frustrating to find what I need. While that’s a minor inconvenience compared to the maintenance and cleanliness issues, it speaks to the overall lack of gym management.

On top of these ongoing issues, my recent experience trying to freeze my membership due to work travel was the final push to cancel. As a U.S. Merchant Marine officer, I often don’t get 10 days' notice before shipping out, yet LA Fitness requires this timeframe for a membership freeze. I was dispatched on short notice and attempted to freeze my account before being charged for a month I wouldn’t even be in town. Despite having proof that I was leaving, they refused to make any accommodations.

The online system offered no real guidance, directing me to the Secaucus location, where the manager wasn’t available, and the staff had no corporate billing contact to assist me. The only solution was an email that wouldn’t have been resolved in time. Meanwhile, the Lodi location informed me of the 10-day policy but couldn’t assist either. Frustrated by the lack of support and transparency, I blocked them from charging my card—only to receive an urgent call the next morning about the payment. Funny how they suddenly had a number in Florida to reach me when money was involved, but no one could provide that information when I needed help.

At this point, I’ve had enough. I was willing to give LA Fitness another chance, but between the poor maintenance, unprofessional management, and inflexible policies, I’m done. My membership is canceled, and I’ll be taking my business elsewhere. LA Fitness needs...

I travel for work, I lift all over the world and this gym made such an impression I had tp write a review. The gym itself is large, and has lots of top end gear. All the good stuff. lots of space, lots of weight, and the actual equipment is surprisingly well maintained. The HUGE downside of this gym is the culture of the gym. Slobs. I've been lifting for over 40 years and this might be the messiest, sloppiest gym I have ever seen. There is a terrible culture here that pretty much no one re-racks weights. The dumbell rack is the biggest joke of a dumbell rack I have ever seen. I literally walked around the gym for 10 minutes trying to find a pair of anything. If you need a pair of 25s,,, count on a 10minute walk around. No one,,, I mean no one re racks weights. I found dumbells all over the gym looking for pairs. The dumbells that were actually in the rack were usually singles. Grab one of your choice,,, and go hunting all over the gym for a 2nd one. They have lots of nice Hammer Strength gear. I did not walk up to one of those nice machines that anyone had stripped afterward. Every machine was left exactly how the previous user left it. The weight trees usually had weights laying on the floor near it. You can also pretty much count on that no machine was wiped down after the last person finished. How can you know that you ask,,, there are no wipes,,,, nor is there any spray to wipe down anything when you are done. Bring a towel. How could it get this bad,,, I'd assume complete apathy on the staffs side. There was not one employee walking the floor. No one cleaning up. The person at the front desk was sitting there playing with their phone. Ifthe mgt doesnt give a ** why should the patrons.

I did see a few people re-rack, usually the big guys who have brought their gym etiquette from years of lifting. The gym-bros just walked away from everything. I watched it happed for two days.

I dont know if LA Fitness are franchised independently, or controlled by the LA Fitness mother ship, but this one needs a housecleaning at the genetic level and an entire new management staff and culture installed. Its too bad, because the facility itself is excellent, or...