Crunch Fitness - Ithaca — Local services in City of Ithaca

The conditions of the gym are very inconsistent. Some days you come in and it's like you're working out in a refrigerator, so cold to the point the metal machine attachments are freezing to the touch. Other days it's hot and humid.

Their group fitness classes are ridiculously and unnecessarily obnoxiously loud, with music blaring, the "trainer" yelling into the mic and their bell ringing between rounds of their circuit training. So loud to the point where if you're speaking face to face with someone you quite literally have to scream/yell for them to hear you.

I have two accounts there that I'm financially responsible for. Both were apparently past due, due to me mistakenly entering the wrong card. For both accounts, there wasn't an email, phonecall, text message, letter, absolutely anything at all stating it was past due. I come there almost everyday and every time I scanned my card, no one told me I was past due. It wasn't until the 30 day mark was hit and the late fee was applied to my account that they decided to say something. Literally the DAY after the late fees hit. When they easily could've told me I was past due every time I scanned my card. Or do like every other gym and membership-based places do and notify you electronically of the past due amount. Considering the same thing happened with two accounts, this is clearly done on purpose to collect late fees. It's unethical and ridiculous.

The "Manager" Rebecca, who wouldn't waive the late fees the day after they hit because she would apparently "get in trouble" but rather knocked $15 off of each late fee (they charged a $30 fee for both the activation fee and one month's member fees, totaling $60). When it was literally the day after the late fee hit, again without any notice whatsoever to me. There shouldn't have been any late fee at all considering deliberate lack of notification.

Then to hear that this same "Manager" goes asking people who did their tattoos and when she hears that it was done by me she rolls her eyes and catches an attitude saying "you mean Muhammad, the one that's here right now?" And clearly has an issue and becomes passive aggressive about it. It's so ridiculously unprofessional and childish, especially considering this is the person that is supposedly in charge of the entire operation there. Grow up.

When I spoke to her about the late fees, I was clearly bothered by it but still was completely professional about it. Clearly she took things personally. After she stated she would "get in trouble" for waiving the late fees as if it's not her responsibility or in her power to do so (which is ridiculous considering she's supposed to be the General Manager), I asked if it would be worth it for me to contact Corporate in regards to it then. She said "go for it". I went online and searched for a phone number and the only one I could find said "this line is not monitored" and then disconnected.

This practice of waiting until late fees hit people's accounts to tell them that they're past due is very clearly on purpose and is completely unethical. You can clearly see by many other reviews here that they are scamming and very dishonest with people in regards to membership fees, cancelations and late fees.

While I will admit, the quality of equipment here is great and the place is very clean, this is far outweighed by the very negative experience that I have had with management. It would be one thing if this came from someone that is working the desk and simply trying to do their job. But for it to come from the person that is supposedly in charge of the entire operation here and making up excuses and ridiculous reasons as to why she can't accommodate waiving late fees when the customer was never notified in any way whatsoever and the desk people decided not to say anything at all every time the membership barcode was scanned is absolutely ridiculous.

Having an almost 3 star review for a business that has only been open a few months is just embarrassing and very reflective of the low quality service and unethical...

I learned recently that I required joint replacement surgery. I called Crunch to cancel my membership, a nice young man stated that he would cancel it, I would be responsible for another month of fees and the annual gym fee, I agreed. Done, right? Nope! A day later I got a call from what I assume was corporate saying I would be charged for the remainder of my 1 year membership AND the annual fee, I didn’t agree to this. Next day, called the Ithaca gym back, again, nice young man looks up my account stated I had a month to month membership that was up in September but he would connect me with “someone who could help”. In comes Jasmine, who states I have a year membership contradicting the individuals I assume she is responsible for training and that I was responsible for the remainder of the year and the annual fee. I replied stating that a joint replacement surgery didn’t count as a viable reason for canceling a gym membership? Jasmine responded “nope”. Take your dollars elsewhere folks, maybe a locally owned gym, a gym in your garage, hell a GLP1 might do the trick! But don’t give your money to this place, they have zero concern for your actual well being, big business box gym only and will rip you off. Get in a work accident and lose your limbs? Pay Crunch your yearly membership. Get in a car accident and get a TBI? Pay Crunch your annual membership. Get sucked down a crack in an earthquake? Pay Crunch your annual membership! Thanks Jasmine you’re a class act. Your gym is filthy and the last 2 times I was there the cops were on property dealing with people in the gym.

The gyms response to my review is a nothing burger. “We wish you well, we’re keeping your money, best of luck” would have been...

I had been a member at Island Health and Fitness for several years and the Y -- and before that, the City Health Club and IFC -- when I joined Crunch. In fact, I maintained my membership at Island for several months, because I wasn't sure I would like Crunch. It seemed kind of low-rent, literally and figuratively. But they have added to the equipment (especially the little yoga accoutrements) and they are clearly in it for the long hall.

Other than the view, which can't compete with Island (and which only seems a factor if you are rowing and like to pretend you are out on the Inlet with the geese and ospreys), Crunch beats Island in most respects:

More space... Very thoughtful layout More machines, and in better condition Newer, more ergonomic weights More convenient water fountain Much better parking facilities Somewhat better hours More friendly staff. (Island has a cloistered desk, protected from customers; Crunch staff are exposed to client contact) I have particularly enjoyed classes and training with Crystal Allen, but the other instructors and PTs seem pretty good, too.

On the other hand:

The locker rooms are too small Staff should wear visible name tags I miss Mark's Boot Camp at IHF. Weekend hours are terrible. Ask anybody.

For a while, I was worried that Crunch wouldn't get enough members to survive. Now I am wondering if Island will be able to handle the competition. I see more and more longtime Island client showing up, and obviously enjoying the facilities and the much more reasonable...