LA Fitness — Local services in Waldorf

Don't come to this gym expecting to use the equipment you need unless you're planning to get into a fight: Hostile personal trainer at LA Fitness, Waldorf, instigates gym members who don't pay for personal training.

Here were just a few of the many gripes we've had with the gym, before the masked personal trainer incident finally drove us to cancel our memberships.

Equipment is seldom put away properly (you can find the trainers snatching barbells and benches from the common area and taking them to the private personal training area, never returning them)

Machines are frequently broken (e.g. a few months ago, three out of four of the stair climbers were out of order for weeks at a time; at least one out of the two leg extension machines are out of order at ANY given time)

Long wait times for equipment, even during non-peak hours (good luck finding a bench or a squat rack)

Staff turns a blind eye to members using the equipment improperly, slamming the weights even on selectorized equipment like the pulldown machine (probably why everything is almost always broken)

Long account about the personal trainer incident, if interested:

On Thursday, November 21st, my husband and I were working out at approximately 7 pm, waiting for the hip abductor machine to free up. As soon as the occupant left the machine, a personal trainer wearing a mask tossed his notebook on the seat of the machine while he continued to train his client on the adjacent hip adductor machine. Assuming the trainer and his client would use it next, we decided to do a couple more sets and continue waiting for the hip abductor machine.

By this point, about 10 minutes had passed, and the trainer's client moved from the hip adductor machine to the adjacent leg press machine. The hip abductor machine hadn't been touched at all during this period (except by his notebook, which at some point was moved from the seat to the item ledge on the machine). We figured the trainer just forgot about his notebook, so my husband started wiping down the hip abductor machine to use.

As soon as my husband finished wiping the machine off, the trainer turned to face my husband and said that he and his client were using it. My husband responded, saying he noticed they were on a different machine, and asked if we could just work in one set while they were on the leg press. The trainer firmly replied no, they're using it.

My husband called the trainer out for taking up three machines (hip abductor, hip adductor, leg press) all at once, saying it's not a good look to do that as a trainer. The trainer laughed incredulously, and said you can use this one (the hip adductor). That wasn't the muscle group we were training, nor the machine we had been waiting on for at least 15 minutes by that point, unfortunately.

The trainer kept arguing with us, saying she pays extra. (Mind you, this incident happened on the common floor, where all members are allowed to work out. The members who pay extra for personal training get their own, cordoned off training area outfitted with equipment like a push sled, kettlebells, and TRX gear not found on the common floor, unavailable to common members.) We pressed that you shouldn't be taking up three machines, especially if you aren't even super-setting on them. He laughed in our faces, and said "What three machines?"

Astonishingly, he then proceeded to hop on the hip abductor machine that we've been waiting for this whole time, and pretended to work out - on his client's time, no less. He said, see, he's using it, and that if we're upset then go tell the manager.

We left. We tried coming back to talk to the manager, but we never did get to consult her, because the front desk staff told us her incorrect working hours - twice.

I do not recommend LA...

I was torn on my review rating because I go to this gym and I like it, but the new GM Damien, needs a new attitude. I believe this new title is getting to his head. I gave the location two stars because I figured it would get the attention of someone higher than him. On 01/28/2021 i was threatened that he would revoke my membership if I take a sanitizing bottle from the trainer section. I called his bluff and asked him to come with me to the front to revoke it because I can’t see LA fitness revoking a $40 monthly membership over me taking 1 out of 7 sanitizing bottles that were over there especially when there were no more sanitizing bottles in the front. He never came with me to revoke my membership, but making empty threats isn’t the way to scare someone especially when they pay their money for a service and your threat is unrealistic. At approximately 8:51pm I walked over to grab the a bottle because there were no more in the front (previously mentioned). No one was being trained at that time or I obviously would’ve never went over there. He says to me “are you part of the trainer program?” I was confused and had my music on, but I answered “no.” He replied “then you can’t be over here at all”... I started to put the bottle down and the cleaning girl (who was so nice and honestly does a great job everyday) tries to lighten the mood and says “don’t let him scare you, take a bottle” I laughed because I thought he was joking I responded “oh I’m not scared, I’m still going to use it... no one is being trained and you close in a hour” he says “do it again and we’ll revoke your membership.” At this point I’m upset and I’m sure the energy for my workout will be thrown off, but I made time to ask him multiple times to please go cancel my membership because corporate would never hear the end or this. I’ll go to Walmart and buy you 40 sanitizing bottles instead of giving my monthly $40 to the corporation if you’d like.

I’m so confused because over a sanitizing bottle, would LA Fitness cancel a membership of a valuable customer? I come in, greet staff, do my workout and leave. I’m actually shocked and this is the prime example of what happens when you give someone power who has never had it before. They TRY to intimidate people. I honestly think there needs to be clarification on power...

LA Fitness–Waldorf has been slowly going down hill! I started membership at this location 5yrs ago and heavily considering going elsewhere. When traveling, I've hit up different facilities and even the older facilities don't compare to this one.

1.) Broken equipment–1/3 of the gym has “scheduled for maintenance” signs. 4 stair masters have been broken for over a year!! A few ellipticals and treadmills are now having issues. I'm fully aware things breakdown, but months to a year of no maintenance is crazy. The “when gym is full, limit cardio to 30min” sign is wild seeing it’s always packed and things are out of order. Also, the padding on a lot of equipment is cracked or missing.

2.) Cleanliness–Sanitation stations for wiping equipment after usage are a hit or miss. Most of the time, they’re empty. Everyone now brings their own wipes or Lysol spray.

3.) Bathrooms are ALWAYS out of soap and paper towels/toilet tissue and that’s a serious issue! 4 out of 6 sinks are broken. There was an infestation in the locker room at one point where I seen the exterminator on more than one occasion. Them roaches were HUGE. I now carry my gym bag on me.

4.) Either the pool, hot tub, or sauna are broken every month.

5.) Water fountains working AND properly filtrated are a hit or miss (filtration replacement notification seems to be on a lot).

6.) Minor to me but something to mention, the trainers do NOT look the part trying to get people in shape nor are they approachable for those that have basic fitness/safety questions. The new evening staff are cool and respectable (it’s a revolving door for employees), but the facility needs a tremendous makeover.

I wouldn't be surprised in 2 yrs or less if this gym closes for major renovations, or another bigger gym popping in the Waldorf area and everyone starts migrating there. ...