Rainier Health & Fitness — Local services in Seattle

UPDATE AS OF 12/12/2023:

RHF gave me a call after the 10/8 update which meant a lot. They were super kind and helpful on the phone and as we talked it became clear that my situation is an outlier, and they've really worked to make sure that cancelling your membership is a streamlined process. RHF is a small, locally owned gym and has a really robust volunteer program (one of the aspects I loved most about the gym, I think it's great that they are making fitness accessible to people) and we believe there was just a communication/misunderstanding when it came to cancelling my membership. They were able to reimburse me for 6 months of membership which meant a great deal to me. I'm bumping my review up to 3 stars. I really appreciate all of the time Alicia spent speaking with me and sorting things out - it is really great knowing the care and attention they are able to provide members in situations like this.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

The gym is small but has all of the basics. If you're looking for a space to work out, this will do. This low rating and review is to serve as a WARNING regarding potentially predatory membership fees.

I was a member of RHF in fall 2021 and spring 2022. I paid my monthly membership in cash after having read reviews of former members having a difficult time having their membership canceled (for some reason these are no longer viewable/still around.) I moved in May of 2022, and when I left, I canceled my membership with a front desk person on my last day. She assured me it would be canceled, and that there was nothing really to cancel since I had always paid in cash.

It was certainly my fault for not realizing they had my card on file and were continuing to bill me for the past year and change. But it's just really unfortunate since I no longer live in the area and was verbally reassured my membership had been canceled. This is a fine local gym but please MAKE SURE you cancel your membership. Double and triple-check. Get written confirmation. I thought I was safe because I paid in cash and the desk person reassured me, but that obviously wasn't the case. I think I was more at ease because it's a small, locally owned gym - I spoke to the front deskperson, thought everything was handled, and wasn't vigilant, and that's on me. It's an unfortunate situation - since there was no paper trail of my cancelling, and I was so late to catch it, the gym's hands are pretty tied. This is a fine gym but I feel obligated to warn and remind others to be extra careful when cancelling.

If you're looking for a gym in the area I'd recommend Rain City Fit - that's the gym I went to after RHF. It's a bit further but really worth it. I never once had any sort of membership problems with them (I paused my membership multiple times and and management was always extremely helpful and accommodating.) Good luck on your fitness journey!

10/8/2023 UPDATE

My original review was 2 stars, but I have now decreased it to 1 - RHF never ended up reaching out to me after they responded to this review. I strongly feel that I should be reimbursed, but certainly the least they could do was reach out. I understand there was no paper trail of me cancelling, but I feel that speaking with a front deskperson should have been enough - it's clear that whomever I spoke with made a similar assumption as I did (I had been paying my membership fees in cash, so to cancel, all I had to do was stop coming in and paying in cash.) I feel pretty scammed and let down by a gym I...

I've been going here since 2022 after I moved to the area. I've done running and climbing but was always curious about free weights and barbells. I signed up for TEAM training to help me learn safe forms and loved the small classes and personal touch from trainers. In a class format they were curious about my fitness goals, and I definitely saw those represented in Abbie and Buford's classes. I had amazing guidance through my first pregnancy as well and felt really cared for with very modern understandings that pregnancy can still include low impact strength training. I have had breaks off and on, but the community of the gym keeps me coming back. I love the community focus, the classes for elderly, outreach for youth, and I see all manner of folks here which is important to RHF. I've never had much issue taking billing breaks for pregnancy or summer like some folks. I've grown more confident in independent routines thanks to their guidance. I like how they've transitioned TEAM training to a punch card style rather than monthly billing to create more flexibility with drop ins or schedule changes. Also, major shout out for being up and running 1 day after being hit by a car. Absolutely incredible that they were able to clean the space of glass and that we're not freezing with an open wall in basically a matter of hours. I think its wild people hold that against the business when it is 100% out of their control and also billed monthly not on a...

The gym closed one day due to a car hitting the building. They did not provide a day to makeup and the fees for this gym is now 38$ including tax. The area is prone for an accident or two sooner or later since a lot of cars on road drive on their sidewalks. I recommend they talk to building manager to see if barricades can be put in. I forsaw a car hitting it one day and it happened. I asked the owner to compensate for one day closure this month. They have policy of charging for another month end services, terrible way of handling services.They charge first and last month for those who are joining. There are clients here who leek of marijuana. No swimming pool, sauna, or showers. If you are interested in any of what I mentioned go to LA fitness or 24 hr fitness. Pricing is now 38$/month here...