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Thread: Bally's or YMCA??

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    Featured Member AkashaM's Avatar
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    Default Bally's or YMCA??

    A friend of mine have been researching gyms. I can't decide which one to choose.

    We took a tour of a local Y and this is the payment plan for 2 adults:

    its $748 for the year. we can add up to 6 people to plan for no charge. we get 6 passes to use "away clubs" which are Y's anywhere in the country and 6 guest passes. This particular location has a pool, b-ball court, raquetball court, sauna, freewieght room (its not fancy--but cool), brand new cardio machines (treadmill, elipicals etc), decent wieght machines (not brand new, but still nice), excersize bikes. While many classes are free, most you pay extra, usually $40. Personal training is extra at 5 sessions for $165 & 10 for $335. I liked the community center feel to it and the people seemed cool. The only downside to it was the kids hanging out in the workout rooms--I went during after school hours. But the place opens at 7am and closes at 10.

    Then at Ballys it breaks down like this for 2 adults:

    Its a little over 1500$ for the year and can be paid at $93 per month with $242 down. We didnt want a contract. We get 5 personal training sessions free (after that--VERY pricey) and some diet supplements & monthly fat analysis. The membership is good for the entire US (total fitness only). We could go as often as we like weekly. We get 6 guest passes (3 each). A large freeweight section, cardio, ect.

    What I liked was that equipment was modern; the salesman said that equipment is constantly replaced with the latest models. What I didnt like was that machines are way too close together, too many people and it felt intimidating with all the hard body hunks running around. The salesman said it was peak time (after work/school) and I could come in as early as 6am. The classes are included as part the membership fee. There's a sauna and other locations have pools.

    I feel like I'm selling my soul to the devil by going to bally's. LOL.

    I looked at Lucille Roberts...no thanks. The equipment sucks.

    I will also be trying New york sports clubs, Crunch and some private owned gyms.

    any suggestions?
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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    Personally, I think Bally's is evil. I once had a membership to the YMCA, and really like it. Then again, the Y met my needs, so a different gym might work for you, depending on your needs and desires. The quality of chain gyms can vary from one area of the country to the next. It sounds like you have a good list of places to check out....I hope you find one that works for you.
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    Featured Member short skirts's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    I've had a membership at Bally's for 17 yrs and have always enjoyed going there. It's definitely a place to get your work out, not a social scene like some other places, which is what I like. Maybe you should ask for a free week's pass at both places and try them out to see which one you like the best before you spend so much money. I know Bally's gives them out, not sure how YMCA works.

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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    Do you have a Planet Fitness in your area? It's not as super fancy as the bigger gyms but I pay $10 a month, and it has the basics, so I'm happy.
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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    anything is better than Bally's...

    They are such pimps. You sign up and they own your ass. If you are not positively committed for the long term, don't go with them. Plus the one here is mobbed and you can't bring a guest without them getting a lengthy sales pitch.

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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    I have a membership at Bally's because my brother works there. It is often crowded and the guys there are mad creepy. If you liked the YMCA I'd say go with that.

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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    Bally's is a good deal for the long-term because your membership rate drops after your original contract is up. I pay $12/mo for mine.

    But it's true that their contract is about as easy to get out of as a contract with the devil (and probably authored by same).

    However, Bally's is poised to declare Chapter 11, so you might want to factor that into your decision.

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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    I've never belonged to either one, but my parents have a family membership at the YMCA and they're pretty happy with it. Their prices are reasonable and they don't have the newest equipment, but it's decent.

    A friend of mine in Ohio used to belong to Bally's and when I went to go visit her, we worked out there together. They gave me a free guest pass to use while I was there. I thought their equipment was really nice. They have everything you could possibly want for your workout-weights, treadmills, elliptical machines, a pool, etc, and I know they offer a lot of classes. But I've heard some bad things about Bally's screwing people over when they try to cancel their membership. They did it to my friend and now she owes them a lot of money. However, it might have been her fault for not reading the contract carefully enough-I'm not quite sure what happened.

    If you have a Gold's Gym near you, I belonged to one in the past and I would recommend them. I only paid $33 or $38 a month for my membership, can't remember. It's even cheaper if you pay for the whole year up front. They have excellent equipment and I think most or all of them are open 24 hours. They offer a wide variety of classes, just about anything you can think of. I took this abdominal workout one a couple times that totally kicked my ass. Most or all of their classes are included in your membership and you don't have to pay extra. It wasn't all muscle men and gym bunnies at the gym by me either-there was a wide variety of people who worked out there. Nobody ever bothered me or hit on me there, and I liked that. Their personal trainer wasn't that helpful and basically just tried to get me to buy vitamins and a bunch of crap, but maybe I just had a bad one. Other than that, I liked Gold's-the only reason I canceled my membership was because I was having financial troubles and couldn't afford it anymore. Plus I have all the workout equipment I need at home.






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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    Bally's is the devil. But on the bright side, YMCA is a not for profit so the money you spend goes into other programs that they offer to the community







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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    Fuck Bally's and their extortionist rates. Look for a Gold's Gym or an NYSC franchise near you.
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  11. #11
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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    Before my financial woes, I was with LA Fitness.Good gym.

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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    LA Fitness totally fucked me.

    I recommend Gold's Gym, like a couple other people here. Always clean, the machines get fixed within the hour they are deemed in need of repair and I only pay $25.



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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    I also recommend Golds. I live less than a mile from them. Cheaper than any other gym and have everything I need.

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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    If you like classes I would look at the classes and times. Some Ys have really crappy classes, but some in richer areas have really great ones.

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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    I've heard some baaaad things about Ballys. In fact, another message board I post on has a post from someone who, after six years, had ballys send a collection agency after her for something she doesn't owe.

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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    Go with the YMCA it is a better deal. I here to many bad things about Ballys.
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    Exclamation Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    Quote Originally Posted by FrustratedBunny View Post
    I've heard some baaaad things about Ballys. In fact, another message board I post on has a post from someone who, after six years, had ballys send a collection agency after her for something she doesn't owe.
    Ditto. They did it to me, several times, including taking money out of my account long after I cancelled my membership. Then, over a year later; they started calling me constantly, harrassing me over an (non-existant)second membership they insisted I had simultaniously with the first one, saying I owed them all this money, and eventually sending it to collections - now why would I have TWO memberships at ONE gym for ONE person??. It took forever to clean up the financial mess they made for me, all over memberships I didn't have, and money I didn't owe.They harrassed me for at least three years after I cancelled with them. Customer service also sucked horribly, which is why I quit in the first place. I also have heard similar stories from others. Bally's will also will quote you one price, then charge you another. I say NEVER, EVER join Bally's.

    I am at the YWCA now and they are awesome.
    Last edited by Nakedtruth; 04-06-2007 at 11:48 AM. Reason: typos

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    Featured Member AkashaM's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally's or YMCA??

    well i joined bally's (I buckled b/c its down the street from my house, my friend was riding my ass about it and it was the cheapest option compared to other gyms here). We got a month to month deal with no contract.

    Already there has been some damn problems. The salesman told us that we would get 6 personal training sessions (3 each).

    We meet with her: she says my friend gets 4, I get 1. WTF?? B/c my friend was the first name on the account...so SHE gets the fucking sessions and the free shit. GRRRRRRR!

    Sooooo, I marched straight to the salesman and told him, "I want my PT sessions AND I want my free shit (supliments blablabla) that was promised to US."

    He never said anything about who gets what exactly, and I asked alot of questions.

    The salesman apologised and said that I will have my free shit tomorrow and he spoke with the PT and got me 5 sessions with a PT.

    Haha VICTORY!!

    The sage continues...

    I hate bally's again, but at least I get my free milkshake.
    Last edited by AkashaM; 04-11-2007 at 08:45 AM.
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