The Edge Fitness Clubs — Local services in Manchester

My main point in writing this review is to address the concerns and complaints brought up by other reviews. First here is my review of the place; Large gym, lots of equipment, staff is helpful but never felt the need to ask for help, they have store that sells clothing and supplements, locker has a spa, a lot of cardio equipment and a cool but useless movie theatre with treadmills. Simple rules, no grunting, no dropping weights, and please wipe down equipment. Weights and cardio equipment are separated for the most part. NOW, my opinion on the numerous negative reviews. First let's tackle the customer service. I personally have not had a single bad experience with the people working there. I've accidentally used equipment that was in use with a trainer/trainee and was treated politely and told I could keep using it while they went to another one, I was given a free assessment and even had an employee offer to watch my things because I forgot to bring a lock. Like any gym I was constantly offered packages and promotions upon signing up but to my surprise was left alone when I stated I could not afford anything above what I had already chosen. Now I cannot say if this is going to be the case with everyone but one thing people must understand is you're going to the gym for one reason, to workout. Since going there I haven't at any point felt the need to even talk to the staff, is it too complicated to just workout? Next, let's tackle people complaining about price. I challenge you to find a gym as inclusive, with a good selection of equipment, open space, and amenities provided for ~10 dollars a month. Repairs are done on time and equipment is kept fresh, it never smells like BO in the gym and the wait time isn't bad depending on the hour you go. Finally, for the people complaining about cancelling and scamming, it is not their fault that you do not possess the ability to understand how a simple contract works or to think about reading it before signing it. They laid out the initial contract to me, I was bombarded with offers to upgrade, I asked some simple clarifying questions and was able to understand that I cannot cancel my 12 month contract without paying a fee and that if I did not cancel it at the end of the 12 months it would automatically be renewed. Finally the trainers, I have not worked with the trainers so I cannot comment on their knowledge or behavior but honestly, if you want personal training and you're too dense to do some research and begin your workouts yourself instead of dishing large amounts of money on someone telling you what to do, maybe don't go here. Especially since if you can afford a trainer here you can afford a trainer somewhere else that can give you a much more personalized training routine. If you're coming here for personal training I think you've already made a mistake, don't add onto it by complaining. To sum this all up, if you're not picky, if you're not new to the gym scene, and if you're the person who knows what they're doing and just wants to come to the gym workout in silence and then go home all for under 15 dollars then this is a good gym for you. If you're high maintenance don't come here, I wouldn't want to workout in a gym with you. This concludes my pointless...

I've called the Bristol location several times within a span of 14 days to change my membership. Each time I'm told the GM, John, was contacted. I received zero follow up, unless I called them. 3rd time I called, I spoke to the Training Manager , Nick, who stated he'd follow up with me the following morning. Did he? Surprise. He didn't. So, I kept calling. Emails were supposedly sent to John, yet John clearly stated he never received any.

FYI before signing up for a membership, I went online and read the reviews .Numerous people complained that the GM is a crook when it comes to membership cancellations/changes, yet I still signed up. Stupid me, I guess. THEYRE NOT JOKING!

Initially, I called to cancel, but decided to change to the $10 membership .... This is why...

In June, I visited the Bristol preview site. A nice salesman named Jack assisted me. He upsold the fact that the premium membership would allow me to work out in the exclusive "women's section". Honestly, it doesn't bother me,at all, to work out in the same room as men. I'm not even sure why women feel uncomfortable . *Note I didn't sign up for the $28 membership for this perk. *

Anyways, I was told I can check out the Edge Fitness at the Manchester location since the Bristol gym didn't open until the end of August. Great. I did - I wanted to see what the "women's section" hype was all about.

To my frustration, the "women's section" section is packed with ab workout gear and tiny baby hand weights... I don't remember max dumbbell size; maybe 30lbs? 25lbs?As a woman who pushes/pulls heavy weight .... I was IRATE. Also, this "women's section" didn't have a barbell section... It had yoga mats though!

The women's section, that Jack so wonderfully "sold" me, is a JOKE! It's humiliating to women who actually lift and aren't ashamed of themselves!

The funny part is... Both Nick and John were SO SURPRISED of my disatisfaction with the "women's section", stating I was the first complaint and implying my complaint was meaningless (you know, because I was the first and only woman to complain. I must be irrational).

I gave The Edge a 2 star review ONLY BECAUSE, after consistently calling and following up, I finally received my cancellation email & $10.64 refund for the sign up fee .

I know 3 others who are cancelling their memberships before the gym even opens because of garbage I had to go through. The Edge also lost a lot of potential business...

I only take the time to write reviews when I feel genuinely compelled to do so, and I hope this helps others in their fitness journey. I was a member of LA Fitness in South Windsor for several years until it closed. Despite my long membership, I was never motivated to go regularly, and I found myself doing the same monotonous workouts. The club itself was fine, but it had a very corporate feel, and nothing about it, including the people, really inspired me.

Then, COVID hit, and I didn't step into a gym for about a year. I've been going to gyms since high school, so it's not a new environment for me. One day, I decided to visit Edge Fitness in Manchester, and I immediately enrolled the same day. At that time, I didn't know anyone there, but I quickly found myself going to the gym 3 to 4 days a week.

I met the General Manager, Patrick (no longer with Edge), and he was amazing. Slowly, I started engaging more and found that the gym felt more like a community. Then I met Adam, the Fitness Manager—what a fantastic person! There's no sales push with Adam; he speaks from the heart and offers ideas that truly make sense. I was eventually sold on the idea of Personal Training and started working with Hasif.

Choosing to train with Hasif has been one of the best decisions I've made. Before we started the PT sessions, he took the time to understand exactly what I needed from the program and how he could help. He listened carefully and continued to ask questions even after our sessions began, ensuring the program was perfectly tailored to me. I've been training with him for a couple of months now, and it has been a game-changer. My mobility, strength, and endurance have all dramatically improved, and I can see the impact on my daily activities.

I can't stop bragging about Hasif—he is the best trainer I've ever worked with. He is a gem of a person, and working with him feels like magic. I plan to continue my fitness journey with Hasif and will provide updates on my progress. If you're considering Personal Training, I highly recommend giving it a shot with Hasif.

Thank you, Pat, Adam, and Hasif—you are...