Planet Fitness — Local services in Sterling

I love that the machines all count your reps and time for you and they have both very clear instructions on the machine itself and QR codes that take you to videos on how to use them if those instructions are not quite enough. I also love that nobody looks at me funny when I enter the gym as a fat, disabled woman who uses crutches full time. They really do mean it when they say it's a judgement free zone. And the staff is friendly.

The only downsides are that the locker rooms and all of the strength training equipment are all down a flight of rather intimidating metal stairs...as a crutches user, these stairs are actually rather frightening, (There does appear to be a wheelchair accessible door downstairs, that leads out the back, I have no idea how one gets to enter through it, though, since the check in desk is upstairs), and that there's no way to attach the shower head in the disabled shower stall to the wall so it sprays water at you, it's exclusively hand-held...with one hand on the stability bars on the wall so I don't fall down, and the other holding the shower head, I do not have a 3rd hand to wash with, so it becomes a VERY awkward back and forth of spraying water on myself, wedging the shower head behind one of the stability bars(because there really is nothing to mount it on) , applying soap, arguing with the shower head to get it back from behind the stability bars, rinsing, and repeating with the next body part. It's not ideal but I'm not sure what the ADA regulations for accessible showers are.

Update:I injured my shoulder and couldn't climb those scary stairs anymore because I could only use one crutch but I do still need to use the gym to keep everything else strong so my recovery isn't set back by too much deconditioning (can't skip leg day for a torn rotator cuff). So I've had to find out how one gets to use the accessible entrance in the back. Turns out that door is a locked, alarmed, fire door (yes, that is very much illegal) that a staff member will come open for you if you call and state a need to use it...yes, the staff members have had to say "if the fire department shows up, I'll explain the situation to them." And check in stops being touchless when I have to hand the staff member my phone to take upstairs, out of my ability to see them, to wave in front of the scanner to check me in. And yes, legally they are required to have seating in the disabled shower so wheelchair users and people like me can safely shower. So, while I'm not adjusting my overall star rating yet, because they do seem to want to improve their accessibility. For equipment & environment they get 4.5-5 stars and for current ADA...

Current review as of 03FEB22: Today was my first time back at the Sterling, VA town center plaza location in over a month - and it didn’t take long to be reminded of how disgusting the Black Card Amenities are kept, and how much the employees and management don’t care about cleanliness or client feedback.

I’ve raised countless concerns with employees and management, taken photos, and visually shown employees the dirty tanning beds and floors of the tanning booths - showing dirt, human hair, and sweat. Most time the same messes were there several days in a row.

Members should not have to clean up these disgusting amenities and management should care enough to correct the issue or find a team that will. I’ve raised the same concerns/complaints for over a year now and nothing has changed.

Original Review: Overall, not a bad gym - but the team can step-up the cleanliness, supplies, and client interaction on the gym floor. Half of the staff doesn’t seem to care much about their jobs (especially overnight and early morning crews). Usually the weekend crews are the best. I’ve provided all this feedback to the gym employees and managers over the last year and nothing much has changed.

black card: Red light and tanning lights are burnt-out in multiple machines, some of the other equipment isn’t working. Tanning floors in stand up units not cleaned, always see hair and other debris left in there. Often times several days later. Rubber floor mats in stand up units are lose and can pose a slipping hazard.

Spray sanitizer at cleaning stations smells really strongly like ammonia or vinegar - The foul odors make people not want to use the spray (and leaves hands smelling like ammonia). They need a new product (not to just dilute it with more water.

Hardly seen cleaning crew actually sanitize equipment. The commercials on the screens in the gym and in public show clubs being sanitized constantly, and cleaned with advanced/modern equipment. Not this gym. I have however, seen the crew dusting with a regular duster that is used on every single machine without any cleaning/sanitizing solution.

Employees should walk around on a regular basis, at least once or twice an hour - catch people playing loud music, not wearing masks, not putting back equipment, etc.

Speakers in downstairs area (with smith machines) don’t work, which has caused people to bring their own Bluetooth speakers.

Hand sanitizer is empty constantly, as well as soap in main bathrooms.

Men’s bathroom is almost always in terrible shape… no TP, bad ventilation, one stall door has a...

Most disappointing , upsetting , frustrating experience today. I have been a member of this gym for YEARS!!! And I have never experienced such an awful situation the way I did today. My mother went to the gym this evening , brought a guest for the first time ever . My mother checked in at the front desk and this man who was in a terrible mood, wasn’t friendly at all, spoke dry with attitude was attending at the front desk . He proceeds with telling my mom the guest needed to fill info out to enter the gym, my parents not 100% comfortable with the language and not tech savvy at all we’re struggling with maneuvering the app to add the guest , ask this staff member to assist, he seemed annoyed that my parents couldn’t get around it with getting it done. My mom notices that he’s annoyed and my mom starts to get frustrated and she makes a comment that it’s just too much for her but that he should be more friendly and helpful and nicer because it’s a lot for her and he’s there working to assist its his job to take care of the customer , he gets annoyed at that and tells my mom “ then if you want better service you should get a better membership and he should too” then my mom tells him to keep it down BECUASE he’s starting to get loud at this point and even more aggressive in tone and body language , and tells my mom “ no you shut up” in Spanish ,thats when my step dad comes in and tells him to have more respect towards the lady, and that’s when the worker tells my dad “ meet me outside then!” And thats when eventually before the situation escalated my parents left . And shortly after the manager calls my moms phone and says “ hi I am the manager my co worker told me you came to the gym to fight him so I am canceling your gym membership you are not allowed here anymore bye” . The unprofessionalism in ALL of this is insane . For me personally, after years of being a member at this facility and after building great relationships with some of the workers there, I can’t believe anyone would be disrespectful in this manner. Losing me as a member , my entire family and friends as members as well this week....