Life Time — Local services in Tempe

For I gym that I have devoted eight years of my life attending, to now having to encounter numerous different racial profiling situations, I will not just let it go unnoticed. In the past this facility has allowed in a countless number of new workers who have no customer service experience at all to manage an already dysfunctional front desk. There used to be an older blonde woman who would swipe your card and then hold it up in the air to create some kind of spectacle to humiliate you when nothing was wrong with your account to begin with. Their used to be a shorter brunette who was notoriously known for being so rude that people would just walk past her without swiping in their cards just to avoid confrontation. There were numerous new faces behind that front desk who you would never see again because all they did was talk amongst themselves and act like no one else existed. In addition to that, whenever you go towards one of the side offices to complain you'll just get someone who could careless and use phrases such as "I'll allow you to go in" as if you needed permission or "I'm not at liberty to discuss that" if so then what exactly do you do? So keeping in mind these horrific past experiences, I attend this gym with the mindset that I should expect nothing greater in regards to customer service, because they have for years lacked in that department. So when I went in on August 27th, I approached the front desk with my card in hand idly waiting in line. When it was my turn I handed my card over to a woman, who later claimed she was the manager (Kate) but yet no one else has ever seen her before, and she went ahead and swiped my card. She took one look at the screen and then looked me dead in my eyes and had the nerve to say that I can't work out here. Mind you that she didn't try to double check my account or even see that my name has been in that system for the past 8 years, so I took offense to her lack of cooperation. I was forced to stand there like some adolescent child that was lying when all I was doing was trying to work out. There came a point where I had to raise my voice just to get someone else to assist me because no one else had the nerve to take it upon themselves to do so. She acted in such a classless and vindictive manner that she had the nerve to look down upon me as if I can't afford a membership and that I was trying to sneak in. Finally after some time I was approached by an assistant sales manager, Bert Flemming, who tried to deescalate the situation. He approached her and had to tell, "Don't worry they work out here". He walked me over to his office and assisted me with my card. He found that my account had a medical hold on it because I temporarily paused it because I had surgery done on my right knee. I had to explain to him that that hold should have been taken off weeks ago because i have been working out for the past two months He was able to help me with no problem but he still was not someone who was capable to rectifying the situation. He spoke to me as the middle man and didn't care much for the extra details because he didn't want to have to answer to Kate. So looking at this situation from a corporate stand point I can say that they were both negligent in handling a situation that should have never occurred to begin with. Neither one of them has taken responsibility for their actions and no apologies have been issued. After an experience like that, I spoke with other members of that gym who I see regularly, and they all told me stories of their own about that front desk and how they don't cooperate well with people of color. From here I will let Lifetime's corporate office about this situation and then the NAACP...

Yesterday was my last day at Lifetime. I sent a much longer version of these items to the CEO of the company via email today, but here are the bullet points. I strongly encourage you to consider (and look for) these before joining or staying at Lifetime.

I've giving two stars because the front desk staff and spa staff are incredibly friendly, and they have some great yoga classes. The general workout experience is terrible and has gone downhill terribly in the past year and a half.

-Broken equipment is consistently mishandled. Broken equipment is left out without warning signs, when there are signs they are sometimes removed without repairs, they constantly miss estimated repair dates (weeks, even a month or more), and in one case a broken piece of equipment was brought back out onto the floor unfixed. The majority of the training staff does not respect other people working around them. I've had my equipment taken while I put other things away, my space encroached on as I'm working, I've even been run into by trainers while working out. The layout was redesigned a year and a half ago, and now most foot traffic upstairs crosses right through the general fitness area. You are constantly having people walk right through your workout. There is mostly unused equipment cluttering the whole area. Recently much of the cardio equipment was replaced, despite the old equipment working fine. The new equipment has tiny cup holders that can't hold hydroflask or Nalgene bottles, two of the most common water bottles. But the equipment looks pretty... During peak hours there are huge training classes in the middle of the gym. It can be hard to find basic equipment like mats, and in some cases hard to even move around the gym. The lap pools have ten total lanes...and over half are blocked every weeknight and Saturday mornings for classes. Areas of the facility are constantly closed for random events. Rules are posted, but not enforced. Or observed by trainers. People leave bags everywhere and sit on equipment playing on their phones. No one does anything about this. The current training manager, Ryan, told me "he's made a conscious business decision to not enforce the rules until he can change the culture." He spends 95% of his time in his office, so his computer must have great culture. I have never had a complaint sent in answered, and I don't know of any member who has. Management turns over constantly. They all talk a good game, do virtually nothing, and then are gone. The current training manager has been there since the beginning of the year and doesn't even have his name on his office door. The current general manager has been there four months and still doesn't have his picture on the sign in the lobby. No accountability if members don't know who you are.

This is just a small sample, but there is a character limit for this review. If you are thinking of joining and do a tour, take a critical look at what you're getting. Look at the number of signs listing time restrictions on equipment. Look at the clutter left all over. Look at the trainers who don't leave space for the commonfolk around them. Don't just fall for the shiny objects they try to...

Not sure I need suggestions from the CEO of Lifetime Fitness other than that of workout routines. Think I will consider canceling my membership after 3+ yrs. Leave politics at the door Bahram Akradi. (See Below, this was emailed to all members)

Dear Fellow Americans,

I regularly think about the influence of leadership on the well-being of individuals, societies, the environment, and our planet. Whether in our communities, businesses, or even our homes, each of us plays a critical role in uniting people around causes that contribute to a healthier, more productive world.

This is equally important for those in public service. After all, our elected officials are supposed to lead and unite us. Let’s make it clear to our leaders in public service that we expect them to act in this fashion. Please join me in asking all of our elected officials — Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, including our President, Senators, Representatives, Governors, and Mayors — to focus on what is best for our citizens and our country.

Instead of constantly resorting to attacks and counterattacks, let’s ask our elected officials to engage in productive and respectful debates so they can prevail with the best approaches that move our nation forward. Only these types of debates, broadcast to all Americans, will accurately inform and empower each individual to form his or her own conclusions.

Instead of dividing us, let’s ask our elected officials — and the media — to unite us and to do so with the mutual care and respect we would be proud to teach our children.

I hope fellow business leaders also will join me in asking all politicians and the media to halt the ongoing blame game and, instead, focus on

Only as a united nation will we solve the real problems we face right here at home, while positively influencing the world around us. #unitednotdivided

balanced, intellectual, and respectful discussions that address the important issues facing our country.

We need to be the United States of America, not the Divided States of America. Only as a united nation will we solve the real problems we face right here at home, while positively influencing the world around us.

To all elected officials and media, I ask that you commit to lead our nation with the common goal of unity and alignment. Please focus on doing what is right for our country, as leadership is a responsibility, not a privilege . . . and now, that responsibility is to unite America.

For the rest of us, we each have the power to let our elected officials know how we feel, what we expect, and our desire to be united, not divided.

Please take action to ensure your message is heard. If you agree, please feel free to share this message via Facebook. #unitednotdivided Bahram Akradi Founder, Chairman, and CEO of...