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Rant - All Star Fitness

Started 3 years ago by hollyplace
Latest reply from Shfy1

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hollyplace
Member Profile

I just wanted to rant about the guy who does membership and canceling of memberships at All Star Fitness. He was a jerk when I signed up and even more rude when I cancelled my membership and spoke down to me like I was a waste of his time. He went so far as to lie about how I couldn't change my form of payment when I was filling out my paperwork. Thank goodness (RAVE) there was a nice woman working at the front desk who interrupted him and set the situation straight. I have worked in the customer service industry for years and I am just not sure how someone that talks to people the way he does still has a job, especially in friendly West Seattle. Whew, I feel better already.

Posted 3 years ago #
dawn211
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That's why I joined the Y.

Posted 3 years ago #
WSB
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And note as per the ad immediately off to the right (the YMCA is a longtime WSB sponsor), joining fees are 50% off till the end of the month (which is mere days away) :) - TR

Posted 3 years ago #
mom2soren
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Why did you cancel your membership? Was it a bad experience all around? Just wondering, thought about joining...

Posted 3 years ago #
cjboffoli
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I too have heard some similar things about their smarmy, high-pressure, "what can we do to put you in this membership today?" techniques. I joined Snap Fitness (which I first read about in the West Seattle Blog, of course) and it has been great so far.

Posted 3 years ago #
Traci
Member Profile

I personally joined AllStar because they didn't use pushy ways to get me to join. I walked in, asked for a tour and some info, and that's just what I got. They never called to "check up" on me which was a first.

I understand the rant, though...There are some employees that are MUCH friendlier than others. Sorry to hear about them hassling you about the contract!

As a gym, mom2soren, I like it a lot. There's a lot of space to stretch, whatever. It's big enough to be somewhat anonymous, which is what I like but also has tons of active classes. Hope you find the right gym for you!

Posted 3 years ago #
squareeyes
Member Profile

I joined All Star and paid for a year up front. That entitled me to an additional three months of membership for free. Each time I went in I asked if my membership card was ready. Each time the receptionist would check the box and say "no, it hasn't come in yet" so naturally I infer from this that the card is coming from an external source. After six weeks of this, I asked to speak to the manager. He said they make the cards upstairs and would have one ready the next time I came in. Why, in the previous six weeks, did the receptionist not once offer to investigate? Why did I have to ask for the manager?!? It was really indicative of the level of customer service on many levels. Right about the three month time I got a phone call to say that my membership was expiring and would I like to renew? I advised that my membership was good for another 12 months and perhaps they should correct their records. A couple of days later I got another call asking if I would like to renew my expiring membership. I think I got really abrupt with that caller. That was the last renew request I received at that time.

Then I started using the pool. No slow/medium/fast lanes; it's a free-for-all. I did request that they label lanes but it fell on deaf ears. I hadn't swum in years so am very slow, but I'm not all over the lane. My last time in the pool I selected the only lane with a single swimmer who turned out to be superfast. At one point he hit my head, didn't stop to see if I was okay, continued to swim several laps before he paused, asked if I was okay, and then suggested I find another lane to swim in. Times like that I wish I could be a more confrontational person, but I'm in a pool for pete's sake. As for the "lifeguard", the person who sits in a plastic chair doing nothing...?

So finally, my year was nearly up. I had quit going to the gym months before. I drafted a letter advising that I was not renewing my membership, enclosed my membership card, and sent it. You know what happens next...the phone rings.

I'm with Snap Fitness now and am very happy with both the facilities and the management.

Posted 3 years ago #
goodgraces
Member Profile

Ditto to what Cjboffoli wrote -- I've heard the same.

Posted 3 years ago #
swimcat
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Oh my- I quit AllStar over a year ago and couldn't be happier. The employees strike me as pretty incompetent- ESPECIALLY the pool staff. They've created very dangerous conditions. Hopefully it has improved since I left, but it was that way for three years so I doubt it.

Squareeyes- sorry you got run over in the pool by a fast swimmer, but that's the way it's done. I qualified for Olympic Trials back in the day and I've been kicked/hit many times in the pool because I got in someone's way (and I've hitted/kicked people in my way too). It's not done on purpose, it just happens because someone wasn't where they should be. It's more avoidable if people go in a lane with someone their speed. I fought with All-Star forever to get some lane assignments, but NO! If they had, you probably wouldn't have gotten hit.

Posted 3 years ago #
swimcat
Member Profile

I mean I hit people- not hitted. oops!

Posted 3 years ago #
Oliver
Member Profile

All-Star is not family friendly and were totally insensitive when I wanted to post-pone my membership because I was pregnant and on bed rest. The guy at the desk said I could excercise while I was pregnant if I really wanted to and that they would insist that I keep paying because of my coontract. Since I didn't have the energy the fight it, I kept paying until my contract was up (a few months) and then immediately cancelled my membership. I will never go back to a company that is that short-sighted and insensitive. I saw it as a big lost opportunity for All-Star, had they simply given me a post-ponement they would have had a loyal customer for life.

The YMCA, on the otherhand, has a loyal customer for life and is great to the whole family!

Posted 3 years ago #
hollyplace
Member Profile

I hear good things about the Y too. I might give them a try next time. I picked All Star before because they seemed to have a nicer/larger facility. I didn't have a bad experience there, just the one guy who was a JERK.

Posted 3 years ago #
grrltraveler2007
Member Profile

I haven't had any of those issues at All Star.. i've been there 3 years. I took time off while I was pregnant (actually the last month and the first two after I had her) and they were okay as long as you paid the $10/mo to keep it active.

They aren't family friendly and their pool never seems to be open and/or warm but I don't swim for my exercise so that's okay. I wouldn't consider them for mom and tots class because of the water temps.

I tried out the Ymca once I had the kid but I found the West Seattle facility to be too small for the hours I work out - 5-5:30am.. I don't want to have to wait for a machine and for the week I tried it out, I always had to do something else first. Not such a big deal for some but I prefer to have it the other way. :) Just my two cents~

Posted 3 years ago #
cruiser
Member Profile

Wow you go to the gym at 5am!!!! I must pass you when I'm on my home from the bar:)

Posted 3 years ago #
grrltraveler2007
Member Profile

If you're at the bar and I'm at the gym, who's watching our kid? :)

Posted 3 years ago #
kc
Member Profile

We've been members of both All Star and West Seattle Y. We stayed with All Star because we wanted a lot of pool time for us and our young children. Their open family swim is very broad and the lanes, at least when I tend to go, are usually available. It's large and I never have to wait for machines. There are tons of classes.

The Y is a nice place and my friends who go there enjoy the community and seeing friends every time they go to workout. For me, it's just too small and the pool is restricted as far as family swim time.

Having said all that, the staff at All Star needs a huge lesson in customer service. I've never encountered one that seemed to care about helping, answering questions, or doing more than just taking a membership card. They could learn a lot about building a community from the Y.

Posted 3 years ago #
grrltraveler2007
Member Profile

Hear, hear, KC.

Posted 3 years ago #
RS
Member Profile

This is not the first rant about All Star and their customer service. Maybe a gym member should bring these threads to the attention of management. If it was my business, I'd want to know that I had a bunch of pissed off customers/former customers so that I could make some changes or get rid of my less popular staff. I'm sure there are tons of nice people looking for jobs right now!

Posted 3 years ago #
alki_2008
Member Profile

RS - I had the same thought after reading this thread. It's entirely possible that the higher-level managers don't know about these issues. There's contact info at their website where a link to this thread could be sent.

EDIT: FWIW, I've submitted a note through their website with a link to this thread.

Posted 3 years ago #
Bonnie
Member Profile

Very interesting reading. I belong to the Y and love it but have a hard time getting to the classes due to the time I need to get my kids to school. I've thought about checking out All Star once both my kids start elementary school but I think I'll just stay with the Y. My daughter loves the Kids Gym.

Posted 3 years ago #
saney
Member Profile

i actually like that all-star is relatively kid-free. i have tried the Y and i hated trying to swim laps during family hour, when noodles kept flying over into the lanes. the locker room at the Y is full of loud kids everywhere. all-star's locker room is pretty quiet.

i like that allstar has so many machines..plus the ladies only gym is nice...i never have to wait. the class schedule has many different options for the different times.

Posted 3 years ago #
meg
Member Profile

I go to Allstar and, while I have some complaints, I am overall happy.
The things I like:
*the new spin bikes (brand spankin' new & lots of them!),
*the variety of classes/times offered, (95% of the instructors are really good & definately better than other gyms I have gone to),
*(the day care is great (the Kids Club staff are really nice and my daughter seems very happy there)
* the pool. I have been a swimmer my whole life and I have to say that this is the first place I have been satisfied with the pool. Many times I have a lane to myself. If not, then we split lanes with 1 other person so assigning speeds to lanes is unnecessary. In the year I have been going I only had to 'circle swim' because there were 3 in a line once for part of my workout. This, to me, is nothing short of a miracle. At most of the city pools you will share your lane with 5 other people who are ignoring the lane designations (and the lifeguards will not enforce) so you'll be in a fast lane with someone who can barely swim.
*it is a big gym, but never feels crowded or overwhelming.
* it is convenient.

The things I don't like:
*the front desk staff (nearly all of them are completely incompetent regardless of the basic question I have for them),
* the membership guys (they seem to be all be men and all just hang out and talk to each other).
* the showers could be cleaner....but it is still cleaner than other gyms I have belonged to (mainly the ever-disgusting and foul 24 hr fitness)
*I have heard the management is kind of crap and I know they don't listen to input from members very often from what I hear.

I would gladly stay at All Star for the pool and spin classes alone, but am glad there are so many other options.

Posted 3 years ago #
jschu
Member Profile

Try Bally's- friendly staff- no pushy workers. The ones cleaning the lockerooms don't say anything. They are happy to be here. no complaints and everything is clean.

Posted 3 years ago #
charlabob
Member Profile

We stopped at AllStar on the way home to cancel our membership. After reading this, I was loaded for bear :-) The membership guy listened to our story, and gave us the name of the GM so we could suspend payment rather than cancel -- thus not losing our sign-up fee. We'll see if he's right -- but if it does, in fact, happen -- it seems reasonable. I'll report back after I talk to the GM (and I'll also let him know about this thread -- in case he's interested.)

Stay tuned ...

c

Posted 3 years ago #
herongrrrl
Member Profile

Another dissatisfied customer! I was a member for years, loved the variety of facilities and classes, but eventually got tired of freezing in the pool (not remedied despite multiple complaints from people in addition to me), wading through big hairballs in the showers (and other sanitation issues throughout) and the fact that the working conditions there were so poor that my excellent personal trainer decided to go elsewhere (unfortunately to the east side, where I'm not willing to commute just to work out).

For a variety of reasons the Y isn't for me. Now my workouts consist of walking, yoga at home, or swimming at SW/Colman pools. Does the job, and lots cheaper than joining a club!

Posted 3 years ago #
meg
Member Profile

Actually, the water temperature for swimming laps is perfect. It would be a bit chilly (maybe?) for playing in...but since it is a gym pool for working out I think the temperature is great. Sometimes it is brisk when you first hop it, but I have to say it is warmer than the city pools I used to swim in (ballard, queen anne, madison, medger evers, SW & green lake).
Lap pools shouldn't be too warm.

Posted 3 years ago #
saney
Member Profile

jschu- the closest ballys is in bellevue...too far.

i agree w/ meg about the water temp. you dont want to do laps or a water fitness class in a warm pool.

Posted 3 years ago #
herongrrrl
Member Profile

Matter of preference, I guess, Meg. I was usually doing laps and still chilly. I don't remember the pools I've been in for swim team being that cold. And for the family swims, it was far too cold for my daughter--she actually turned blue after being in the pool for 20 minutes. That was what prompted my complaint, and I never heard a response back about it.

Posted 3 years ago #
westwoodmom
Member Profile

You should not be shivering 20 minutes in a water workout class where you are doing jumping jacks. Children who are in constant motion should not be blue 10 minutes in the pool. Allstar pool is significantly cooler than community center pools. And when your pool staff continually tell you that your pool maintenance is dangerously bad, you really have a problem. I will never go back or recommend Allstar.

Posted 3 years ago #
alki_2008
Member Profile

jschu - are you sure that car belongs to the owner of All-Star fitness, and not another gym?

Just wondering because I know of 3 cars the All Star owner drives and none of them are yellow land rovers. I guess it's possible he's has a 4th car, although I'm still not sure if it's relevant to identify the gym owner's car.

Posted 3 years ago #
westseattlegrl
Member Profile

okay, I had to sign up just so I could chime in.

Years ago, I worked the front desk at a different All Star Fitness location. It was one of the most chaotic companies to work for. I think the West Seattle location is visibly the nicest compared to others, especially the one I worked for which barely had any cleaning supplies, mold on the carpet and ceilings.

The front desk position had an extremely high turnover rate with little to no customer service training. So even if the front desk employee became super helpful, he/she was gone in a few months. It was a difficult position because of all the problems, like broken machines (and my manager telling me I couldn't place a "broken" sign on it because it wouldn't look good if he was touring potential members). Something was always breaking down. The repairs were spotty.

I fielded A LOT of complaints about membership. People would threaten class action lawsuits. If your year of membership hadn't expired, then you had to go through so many hoops like proving you had moved more than 20 miles from the nearest location or pay alot of $$$. The salesguys, at least at my location, were under a lot of pressure to fill a quota, so they weren't the best people to talk about membership concerns. Maybe you could talk to the accounting department? That's where I sent people when they had questions.

I don't know if sending them complaints would help because there really isn't any incentive for them to improve. A lot of suggestions that I passed on to my manager fell on deaf ears. It was just shrugged off like it was okay to lose a member because there were others who just dealt with the moldy carpets or freezing water temperature.

And the owner, Bob Padgett, drives a yellow hummer.

Posted 3 years ago #
hollyplace
Member Profile

Does Bob work at the West Seattle location? That was the man's name that was so RUDE to me.

Posted 3 years ago #
andrea
Member Profile

I don't know his last name, but I do know that the owner of AllStar is named Bob and he does drive a bright yellow Hummer...he's out and about in WS all the time...someone should mention these issues to him!
And I love the Y! They are a great community gym that I don't ever find to be too busy or too crowded...and I think its much cleaner than most gyms that I've been a member of (both 24 Hour & All Star in the past).

Posted 3 years ago #
GenHillOne
Member Profile

By all means, let's be sure the owner/manager is informed of the problems, but how does it help to post his personal information? Going to corner him in the grocery store parking lot? Maybe I'm being too sensitive, but it has a real yuck factor for me. Anyone else think it's inappropriate and creepy?

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
Member Profile

Someone driving a yellow Hummer has already decided they want/need attention.

Posted 3 years ago #
AlkiKmac
Member Profile

Calling out what Bob drives or anything about his personal life is creepy, but he's made himself well known to folks in Alki. Identifying him by name as the owner is not creepy. He's listed as CEO on the Allstar website with full contact info. He'd made it public knowledge.

Posted 3 years ago #
GenHillOne
Member Profile

LOL - yes, I think I agree that a Hummer is a cry for attention ;)

And agreed, if it's offered up as public information, fair game. I guess it's the make/model and license plate that took it over the edge for me.

Posted 3 years ago #
beachdrivegirl
Member Profile

I just read this thread for the first time. I havent been into AllStar but it does sound like they do hve some customer service issues. I do think that each and everyone of you that have had an issue contact Bob directly so he understands why people are leaving his business. How is he ever going to fix the problem if he doesnt know about it? I also think that some people need to reevaluate what is good and bad service. For example, if you are infact in a contract, you might not be able to cancel it even if you are on bed rest pregnant. What would be the point of contracts if companies did not hold those in contracts accountable? Companies base their operations on the funds they are counting on comign in which is usually determined by the number of non-cancebable contracts that are out there. Maybe you should take it upon yourself to read the contracts you are signing in the future so you understand all of the T's & C's.

Posted 3 years ago #
Jeannie
Member Profile

Ironic that a guy who's supposed to promote good health and fitness drives an "I'm overcompensating" Hummer. Tacky!

Posted 3 years ago #
margo
Member Profile

I always thought that driving those oversized vehicles was an attempt to overcome other shortcomings. Emphasis on short!

Posted 3 years ago #
RS
Member Profile

Hmmm... I always thought it was a way to show contempt for the planet and the safety of others on the road. Guess it's all of the above!

Posted 3 years ago #
alki_2008
Member Profile

Wow - this thread has taken a turn. I don't go to gyms, so I have nothing to say about the All Star facility in West Seattle.

However, I do think it's unnecessary and irrelevant to make assumptions about someone's character based on the type/color/size of the car they drive. It would be one thing to make jokes about a generic 'person', but in this case it's about someone specific.

I also think it's unnecessary to identify someone's vehicle (and license plate number) in this forum so that others in the neighborhood can recognize him.

Granted, Bob's contact information is on the All Star website, but I don't see where he's listed his car and license plate number. Do you want me to give you his home address and the types/colors/licenses of his other cars? It's one thing if you run into him and see what car he drives, since he'd be out in public in that case...and certainly there's public information that can be attained with some research - but to announce it here is just not necessary and doesn't have anything to do with the West Seattle All Star facility at all.

My 2 cents.

Posted 3 years ago #
jschu
Member Profile

I wouldn't apporach someone in public- thye may become aggressive or feel threatened. I would write a letter or leave a note on their door.

My advice just drop it nothing will happen.

Posted 3 years ago #
Irukandji
Member Profile

Generally speaking, what we choose to do, drive, wear or present does say something about us. Generally, IMHO, Hummer = Needledick. All Star Fitness isn't a good match for me (though their childcare was GREAT) - I never cared for the facility, the broken down equipment, grungy locker rooms. Simple enough to pay out the contract and go somewhere else.

Posted 3 years ago #
JanS
Member Profile

wow...if we all thought like that..."just drop it nothing will happen"...you'd be right...nothing WOULD happen.

Posted 3 years ago #
pigeonmom
Member Profile

I see many drivers in my kind of work and ALL of the Hummer drivers I've seen are JERKS.

Posted 3 years ago #
Kevin
Member Profile

Excerpt from a previous post by Andrea:
.
"And I love the Y! They are a great community gym that I don't ever find to be too busy or too crowded...and I think its much cleaner than most gyms that I've been a member of (both 24 Hour & All Star in the past)."
.
Shame on you Andrea for sharing one of West Seattle's best kept secrets :)
.
I have been going to both WS YMCA locations for about seven years and have always been VERY satisfied with their facilities and classes.
.
They may be a bit smaller than other gyms, but more than make up for it with their people and excellent service. Never an issue with cleanliness, and they really do CARE about their members.

Posted 3 years ago #
RainyDay1235
Member Profile

Best thing you can do is spread the word - pro/con - to friends and on blogs. The business will eventually take care of itself (or not as the case may be).

Snap fitness seems to have the right mindset. Pay-as-you-go and they will keep earning your membership every day. That's how everything should be.

Did I forget to mention how much I love my craigslist treadmill at home? :)

Posted 3 years ago #
bsmomma
Member Profile

I Love the Y but unfortunately the parking does not accomodate everyone that loves the Y. I had signed my daughter up for waterbabies and I am not kidding, we were only able to make it to 2 classes because of parking! I like to work out at 5am but they're not open that early. The work out room in the evenings and weekends is jammed packed. They also raised our membership fees both years we were members. I go to Anytime fitness now. There's no classes or anything of a "normal" gym atmosphere. They have work out equipment and that's it. I LOVE it! I can go there anytime I want! I weighed the financial side and it's a better deal to pay for classes on a non member basis than pay for the membership and the classes.

Posted 3 years ago #
bird87
Member Profile

I am a y member because of the same ill treatment, not to mention the ridiculous prices! If you are a low income applicant the y offers a discounted membership, even for students. It is very simple and you should hear back within a week. fyi.

Posted 3 years ago #