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August 2024 by M H
Honestly a great spot, I stopped in for a day pass, the staff was super nice/quick and the gym itself is big, clean, and well-appointed. I do wish they had more olympic racks - had to fall back to the Smith for barbell rows - but otherwise no issues with lack of equipment or crowding (even though it was borderline rush hour when I went).
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August 2024 by Gustavo Asman
I was a member about 10 years ago and did not love it at that time. Then moved, went to a different local gym in Ballard, but this gym closed recently and got the option to get transferred to this one once again. I have been going for about three months now and have to say it is a pretty different experience.
What I love:
-Cleaning crew. Let me start with these folks... shout out to the anonymous heroes that make it all clean and ready for us all. I often see or run into the folks cleaning the machines and equipment and they deserve some recognition or a raise. They put a ton of effort into all they do, I can see them go in detail, putting effort and dedication into each task, really inspiring to see how much they care, all of them.
-Front desk. Most folks that welcome you do it with a smile and are mostly friendly and helpful.
-Options. For a relatively small amount you can do all the machines, weightlifting, play raquet or basketball, punch the heavy bags downstairs... pretty good variety, hard to get bored.
What could go better:
-Not much, I have to say. I wish Monday's were not super packed as they are around 6-8pm, but I guess it might be the guilt from not going over the weekend (Fridays after work, and Sundays tend to be pretty empty)
-I have not tried the classes, as none sound super interesting to me at least. I see lots of people in most of them so they might be good.. I wish at some times where the big room downstairs is free they could add some boxing or martial arts class.
But again at the price we pay for all we get, not complaining at all, just an idea.
Again, mainly because I see them often and they do a ton of very dedicated and detailed work, kudos and thanks to the group of folks keeping the gym clean, and as a result, all of us healthy.
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August 2024 by Trystan P.
Got a three day free pass and they didn’t even let me use it. Building is full of squares.
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August 2024 by Blake Pratt
They will gladly take your money, facilities are decent, so many machines with people sitting and using their phones which causes delays in your workout or availability of machines. When you try to cancel your membership you get the run around. You HAVE to go in person and cancel with the manager. I went in at 9:00am to cancel on a Thursday and the manager was not there. The customer service is horrible as they don’t know anything except it has to be done by the manager. Find a different gym…not LA Fitness!
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August 2024 by Jack Helsel
The equipment is good but whenever I call I sit on the line for over five minutes, ringing and ringing, no one EVER picks up.
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August 2024 by Gracie Marshall
Rowing machines are busted, and have been for months now.
I’ve been going here for a long time and nothing has been done to fix the rowing machines. There are four, and 3 of those 4 have issues. The one on the far left and the one far right both fail to count your strokes, time, or distance when rowing, and the one on the middle left has a frayed foot strap so you cannot strap in.
I’ve told the staff about the broken machines, and nothing has been done. I promise, I will take down this review if the machines get fixed. PLEASE fix
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August 2024 by Eric Yanes
JJ was extremely helpful in what can be a tedious process signing up at the gym. He was fast and approachable which are invaluable skills to have in a gym setting.
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August 2024 by Sally Sue Ember (Sally Ember, EdD)
Main office is horrible: unresponsive to most requests.
Swimmers refuse to circle swim even when crowded and policy not posted.
Showers are aimed horribly. Some have poor drainage, low pressure.
Shower supply schedule is wrong: have run out twice in two months.
Music in locker rooms is WAY TOO LOUD and unnecessary entirely; numerous complaints have had no results.
High turnover in managers (3 in 4 months)!
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August 2024 by Helen Jenne
I tried to cancel my membership over the phone and they told me I had to come in in person. Then I came in and they told me I could only cancel between 9 and 5 M - F. I guess I have to duck out of work to cancel my gym membership? It’s 2024, the fact that this isn’t offered online is ridiculous.
The staff at this LA fitness is professional and nice, but the gym is overcrowded and attempting to use free weights or a rack anytime between 5 and 10pm is miserable.
If you can afford it, I recommend looking into other options. I think it’s ok to go here if you only need to use machines, otherwise it’s not worth it.
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August 2024 by Evan Carter
They claim to have 3 day guest passes to check out the gym and when I went in to activate they told me it couldn’t be used today and I will have to wait up to a week to be added to a waitlist. On top of that disappointing interaction the staff in charge of signing me up — JJ I believe — was rude and unprofessional.
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August 2024 by Olga Cote
About 2 months ago they ran out of paper towels in all the bathrooms. When i came to the front desk to ask about it, they simply informed me that their delivery did not come in. No one made a heroic effort to go to a local store nearby to get some. Fine.
same thing again today. For 2 days now, there are no towels at all in the bathrooms and all paper holders display a jolly hand written notice that there are no paper towels are available as if the actual paper towels missing is not obvious.
I am now just clinically curious when they will finally procure the paper towels. Will it take them 3 days or will they push it to a whole week? One must get their entertainment where one can.
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August 2024 by Alex Hamill
Can I leave a zero star? The membership team was completely unprofessional. I was visiting for 3 days and wanted so work out. He told me it would be 1 to 2 weeks before a guess pass we’re to be approved and then tried to leverage me into paying $20 per day, or getting a family member to sign up… Completely disrespectful and is not of the sort to be dealing with customers. I’m not one to complain or write reviews, but this membership team should be dissolved. On top of that, I received a call from a woman yesterday who instructed me that my guess pass would be approved if I came in and had her do it. Which means this other guy is a straight up liar. “JJ” is the persons name and he should be fired immediately.
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August 2024 by anna stubbs
Friendly helpful staff, spacious and good equipment
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July 2024 by Isamu
they were so awesome and helpful with my guest pass
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July 2024 by Elizabeth H Young
You must read this before joining LA Fitness Ballard. I have been going to this gym for over 15 years, mainly for the classes and the pool. My expectations are pretty low and I have had no complaints until I looked at my credit card bill last week. I saw that Ballard LA had been charging me an additional $20 a month for guest services, which was a reoccurring charge I had never agreed to. They overcharged me for 6 months, and only sent one email about this new charge that I did not authorize.
Back in December, I went to the gym with my kids because our only shower was having serious issues. I was told I would only be charged $20 for one month of guest privileges so my own kids could come in with me to use the gym to shower and did not sign a single piece of paper. The entire transaction was handled personably (or so I thought) by the two guys working the front desk. Upon discovery of the random charges and after numerous calls to the Ballard location as well as corporate (which were unreturned), they refunded me a meager $20 (I am due over $150) and presented me with documents I never signed that use screenshots of my electronic signature.
They refused to email me said document (suspicious) or make any apologies/amendments for the poor manner in which this all was handled. It's bizarre, pathetic, and extremely unprofessional, albeit not surprising, to find out that a large corporation such as LA Fitness could care less about customer satisfaction, nor do they bother with securing their customers' accounts and privacy. Although the current operations manager was attentive and listened to my case, it's clear from many other online reviews that they use these cheap tactics again and again to take peoples' money in unsavory ways.
