Edison YMCA — Local services in Edison

This past Wednesday, I attempted to enter the JCC/Edison YMCA with my three-year-old son by scanning my membership card, as I have done on numerous occasions without incident since August.

However, after I scanned my card, a front desk employee wearing a nametag labelled Maria confronted me and accusingly claimed, "Well, you’re not even a nationwide member yet.  I can’t find you!" I answered, "Well, I have been here a few times, but no one has ever told me about this." Marie then dismissively said, "Ok, you can go now." I explained to her, "I never had a problem coming here before, and now you’re the only person to complain to me about this."

Another member who was behind me and attempting to enter the facility then turned to me and said, "Yeah, she does that to me too.”  After scanning his membership card, he then asked Maria, "Am I good to go?"

Maria completely ignored him, came out of her seat, and walked around the counter.  She then stood in front of me and continued to argue with me. I asked her if she could talk to me courteously instead of condescendingly.

Finally, Maria asked me, "What is your nationality?"

I was in total disbelief why she would need to ask me this question, or even how this question was relevant to nationwide membership. I then retorted, "It's none of your business."

I then asked Marie if I could speak to her supervisor. Maria then said, "You cannot talk to my supervisor since she left already."

At this point, I didn't want to waste any more of my time with her and proceeded to enter the facility to go swimming with my young son.  It was getting late and the pool was closing soon.  I went down the hallway towards the locker rooms.  Maria then followed me, claiming I needed to sign a form on her iPad since I wasn't a nationwide member.   She then turned around and said she was going to bring other staff.

I entered the pool with my young son and after a few minutes, I saw Maria run into locker room and enter the pool with two other employees, one of them named Ken.  Maria then yelled at me, “Ma'am you need to get out off pool and sign this form!"  I was in total shock that Maria would chase me all the way to the pool and terrify me like this in front of my young son.  I told Maria, "You have terrible customer service."

After Maria left, I explained the situation to Ken, and Ken said he would help me if I needed to sign anything.   After the pool closed, Ken said he looked in the system and confirmed that I was already a nationwide member and had signed a waiver.  Ken was very helpful in defusing the situation.

This is not the first time Maria has belittled me like this.  During my interactions with Maria, she has always been either disrespectful or dismissive of me.  Last summer, when I asked Maria about the summer camp and swimming programs for my young son, she dismissively said that I needed to ask someone else or come back tomorrow.   Maria claimed she has difficulty...

I'm a YMCA member and this location is the worst place. The pool is over crowded. changing room are filthy. On the changing room floor there are water that don't flow with lots of dirt. Disgusting !!!

Please understand that i don't have anything against different ethnics but it really bothers me when most of same ethnic people don't concern about others. People who use this pool (specially Asins) have no respect for other patrons. I have seen few people showing their frustration. Usually they use a whole lane to them self thinking they are the only ones who paid membership. Usually there are 2 lanes opened for lap swimmers (rest of 4 lanes are for kids and non-lap swimmers) and sometimes adults bring their kids who cannot swim to lap lanes and start giving lessons having no concern for other swimmers.There are Indins also using this place but they have better courtesy.

Also this place have some weird hours. Saturday morning almost is closed for lessons and then they close the place at 5 on weekends.

Sometimes I use Woodbridge center pool (can use once a week with your Edison/Woodbridge YMCA membership). The majority is White and Indins and the place is clean and well kept. The people using the place is more courteous.

So if you prefer to get a YMCA membership, ignore this place and get from...

i would give this place 5 stars if it werent for their stupid "key fob" rule which affects people who cant drive and therefore dont have car keys

1. i hate having to remember to not only bring my membership card but also my key fob just to unlock a door its just another hassle to remember something to tiny

2. i dont even have to use my key fob 50% of the time because someone else already uses theirs to open the door for me

3. worst of all why are members (people who actually pay monthly and dont break the rules) are the ones who HAVE TO PAY FOR A KEY FOB. $5 FOR ONE KEY FOB??? WE GOTTA PAY TO UNLOCK A DOOR???

and yes, you can put this key fob on your car keys and it's no big deal. but for people like me who cant drive i hate having to carry around my key fob in the facility and risk losing it.

im sorry but these key fobs gotta go. never understood why they dont have someone physically check who has a membership and who doesn't. these key fobs arent doing anything and i really question the decision making of whoever...