Gold's Gym — Local services in Highland Springs

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On 9/21/25 I was driving a 12 hour journey from North Carolina to Ohio. I stopped in to break the trip up and this gym requires to hold your ID along with $20 for a day pass. First two issues, it’s 2025, scan the ID, make yourself a copy and $20? I know it’s a ploy to have people sign up instead of paying the day rate routinely but seriously ? I don’t live in the area, wouldn’t you want an affordable price to offer outsiders a chance to positively speak about your gym?

So back to the point, I forgot to pick up my ID when I left and didn’t realize until Ohio 100% my fault but i immediately called them for the first time. I got a kid at the front desk that sounded high out of his mind. He couldn’t stop laughing and continued to say he’s “so sorry I lost my ID, I hope you find it man”. I explained to him 3x I didn’t lose it, it’s with your front desk. Eventually I gave up and said I’ll just call later. So I did. The second guy was extremely polite and said he would have him morning crew mail the ID out. Perfect!! Except when I called back on the 25th because I still didn’t have it….. the front desk apologized and promised it would go out today. Okay cool no worries. I called on the 29th and spoke with a female supervisor who said she oversaw the front desk. IT STILL DIDNT GO OUT so she apologized profusely, thanked me for my patience a ton and promised me she would personally get it done. Okay.. no worries. Well now 10/2 rolls around, still no sign of the ID so I call again. This time I get the GM Landon. He finds the ID, said he had no idea this was happening to me and promises he will go put it in the mail, literally as he hangs up. I explained I have a business trip in 3 days and I really need it so I can board the plane. I called back in 15 minutes and he indeed did do that but no overnight or upgraded shipping even after I offered to pay on their behalf for it.

Well the flight day is here. I don’t have my ID and I’m going to miss the flight. I have to explain to work why. It’s embarrassing, frustrating and just stupid. Again I understand it was my job to pick up the ID but once the mistake was made, I was incredibly polite and patient. Why did it take 2 weeks and 5 employees to just drop it in the USPS box OUTSIDE YOUR GYM. Then to not help me out with upgraded shipping when I’m offering to give you money to do so is crazy.

I feel weird leaving a poor review, especially after working at a gym for 7 years but I really hope the staff understands that the little things they ignore for customer service have real life consequences sometimes. It’s not okay that I missed this trip and it didn’t have to happen. Especially for a customer that did...

6/26/23 Edit: This gym has deteriorated from my review a few months ago.

The gym feels like it’s run by people that don’t workout, or rather learned everything they know from TikTok. The things that are wrong are…. Silly. I can see how many of these things would seem fine to someone that isn’t well versed in gyms or fitness. That’s not something to talk to the management about as I feel that they are doing the best they can. People can’t be good at something if they aren’t capable or weren’t trained properly or are not given adequate tools.

This is only the best gym in Richmond metro because we don’t have any better options. Literally. It’s not great. Big fish, itty bitty pond. That being said, you have to go here if you are serious about your physique. Unfortunately.

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Best gym in metro Richmond imo.

That being said, this gym leaves a lot to be desired. It's filthy. There are usually a lot of staff hanging around and behind the desk on their cell phones. There's a distinct quality difference when Clay is around and when he isn't. He seems to be gone now and it's very sad.

There are always used paper towels everywhere. Everything is dirty and dusty from years of not being cleaned.

The compel trainers do not put their weights away. They also do not wipe down the machines. They are always working out and everyone knows who they are and they have the worst form and the worst gym etiquette. Why would anyone clean up behind themselves when the staff doesn't. Stop telling us it's a third party. You work with them. You have them in there. It's your responsibility to control them.

I appreciate the effort to collect unique equipment. Often though, we can tell that the person choosing the equipment isn't an expert. For example; We were all excited to see the standing hip abductor but, it's useless. The weight stack doesn't go high enough for a warm up. There's no point in buying something just to say we have it if nobody who needs it can use it. And it sits unused.

Don't get me started on the cinema. This needs no explanation. You clearly know what I'm talking about.

Furthermore, often times this place feels like a best friend's club with a lot of nepotism and favoritism, rather than a public gym. Perhaps the managers shouldn't be seen hanging out with the staff and clients all the time like they're besties. Perhaps, they should go to another location to be friends. For example; Clay was only seen working out alone and retained professionalism at all times inside the facility.

Can we just have Clay back, please? Pay him whatever it takes. I'm willing...

Up date:golds is anti American,noticed the American flag stuffed leaning against a corner in the back totally being disrespected and no special hours for memorial day and Independence day but had special hours for new years eve, will only be going here till i find a new gym not anti American,.

Typical gym,free weights, machines, and more,never have to wait to long for an exercise machine . But the staff needs to learn customer service, they hardly say hello or goodbye even when looking at them as i walk in or out,also notice how rude they are outside gym ie parking lot,especially the personal trainers, seen them act nice but arrogant in the gym but rude and almost hit your car with theres on the way out,also they do not show good examples seen them in meeting eating fried chicken in front of whole gym not setting example, eating fast food in gront of potential client is disrespectful and they should set the example they tell there clients to do. In all if your looking for place to just work out this place is good,but if your looking for personal training bring your own trainer.

Update, customer service has gotten better but some seem like there forced to say hi have a good day, but as for personal trainers, still not up to pair,example a trainer who looked stoned while training his client if thats what you want to call it had head phones in,on his phone,didn't show his client how to do exercise right,and had his client walk within inches of me swinging a heavy kettle bell therefore putting his client in danger. They are there for $,what happened to trainers that would encourage there clients while working out,would workout a little with them,and give there clients full attention, trainers in my day cared about the people not the money. Next time a trainer brings a client in my area were im working out or tskes up the entire middle of the fairway i will not be nice i will very loudly Express my feelings of please stay out of my area other people are trying to workout too,but this is only for aboit jalf the trainers ive seen vant speak...