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2009-01-01 2:33 PM

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Subject: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
Anyone have any opinions on any of these gyms? These places have locations in the areas I travel most (Livonia, Michigan, and Scottsdale, AZ). Just looking for a good place to work out.



2009-01-01 2:44 PM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?

vonschnapps - 2009-01-01 3:33 PM Anyone have any opinions on any of these gyms? These places have locations in the areas I travel most (Livonia, Michigan, and Scottsdale, AZ). Just looking for a good place to work out.

I use LA Fitness.  There are no perks to this gym.  It's just a basic gym with a pool.  The pool (at least where I go) is 4 lanes and I rarely have a problem getting a lane.  I pay $34.99/month, which is the cheapest gym with pool in the area.  I don't have any complaints about the place, but then again I can't sing high praise for the place.

2009-01-01 3:06 PM
in reply to: #1881340

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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
I was a member at Bally's and paid $19/month up until last May and they had a 4-lane pool as well and I rarely had a hard time getting a lane early in the morning. I think the best thing is to go and check them out first as I have had differing experiences depending on the location with Bally's. I don't have any experiences with the others.
2009-01-01 4:29 PM
in reply to: #1881340

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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
I workout/teach at LA Fitness (McCormick Ranch - Scottsdale) and it is fine. Hours are a bit lacking on the weekends (don't open until 8am Sat and Sun) but as far as gyms go, it is fine, clean, good equipment etc...4 lane pool that is pretty clean and well maintained. Can't say what the fees are since I have a free membership due to teaching Spin there. The Bally's in Scottsdale Closed so I don't know where another one is. Haven't heard of the other two.
LaFitness is a fine, basic gym. I don't usually have a problem swimming there (usually at 5:30am- 4 lanes) and depending on what time you go, no problem getting on the machines.
Hope this helps!
2009-01-01 7:20 PM
in reply to: #1881340

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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
LA Fitness. You can't bet the price $35.00/month, No other gym at that price offer a pool................
2009-01-02 8:20 AM
in reply to: #1881742

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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?

zeroviz - 2009-01-01 8:20 PM LA Fitness. You can't bet the price $35.00/month, No other gym at that price offer a pool................

Well, apparently some do.  Çheck out Max O's post. Wink



2009-01-02 8:24 AM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
runspingirl - 2009-01-01 4:29 PM

I workout/teach at LA Fitness (McCormick Ranch - Scottsdale) and it is fine. Hours are a bit lacking on the weekends (don't open until 8am Sat and Sun) but as far as gyms go, it is fine, clean, good equipment etc...4 lane pool that is pretty clean and well maintained. Can't say what the fees are since I have a free membership due to teaching Spin there. The Bally's in Scottsdale Closed so I don't know where another one is. Haven't heard of the other two.
LaFitness is a fine, basic gym. I don't usually have a problem swimming there (usually at 5:30am- 4 lanes) and depending on what time you go, no problem getting on the machines.
Hope this helps!


Hey I swim there!
2009-01-02 8:50 AM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
i used to belong to bally's.. didn't like it, seemed to be a meeting place that smelled like cologne and perfume..
2009-01-02 8:55 AM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?

I'm in agreement on LA Fitness - that's been my experience exactly.  The only major downside is that the pool is strange.  There is a current, so one direction is fast and the way back is slow.  I've experienced this at THREE seperate locations in Minnesota, so I have to think this might not be a coincidence and something about how they do their pools.

LA Fitness is pretty new in our area, so the locker room was really nice and shiny when I first started going.  Now it's quickly showing wear with hair/mildew in the showers, dirty lockers, etc. 

You really can't beat the price, if you don't mind no frills.  In fact I really like the treadmills and bikes because they have built in fans that actually work (for now anyway)   But in the end  I decided to go back to Lifetime because I apparently will pay for the bit nicer service (towels, suit spinner, etc).

2009-01-02 9:27 AM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
Bally's wouldn't let me do deadlifts
2009-01-02 9:39 AM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
BikerGrrrl - 2009-01-02 8:55 AM

  The only major downside is that the pool is strange.  There is a current, so one direction is fast and the way back is slow.  I've experienced this at THREE seperate locations in Minnesota, so I have to think this might not be a coincidence and something about how they do their pools.



Maybe they put them on a slope so your swimming up hill on one leg and downhill going the other way.



2009-01-02 4:05 PM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
Bally's is.. or at least was well established in Michigan, but I would stay away from there.

I know LA Fitness is sort of new to the state, and that is what I would recommend for the value. I am a member in Georgia, and used the Troy Michigan facility recently, and it was nice.. but only had a 3 lane pool.

If money is no object, or if you are doing a bulk, family type membership, then Lifetime fitness is the best. They also have several Michigan locations. Not sure if any are local to Livonia or not.
2009-01-02 5:33 PM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?

Have you looked into the YMCA?  I have made extensive use of the Away Program which allows me to use almost any Y in the country.  Of course sometimes the pools are icky but you would be suprised at some facilities.

http://www.ymca.net/get_involved/visiting_other_ymcas.html

None of the other Y's I have been to have charged me or restricted the hours I could use their facilities.

2009-01-02 6:33 PM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
x3 for Lifetime Fitness. Not cheap, but I'm convinced you'll workout more and longer because the facility is actually enjoyable.

I know for a fact there is a Lifetime in Scottsdale. Can't speak for Livonia. My usage is mainly in Minnesota, Raleigh, Northern VA, and Chicagoland. All of those areas of nice Lifetimes.
2009-01-02 6:39 PM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?

Ask for a free trial (at least a week). Most places will be happy to give one at the prospect of the a new client

J

2009-01-03 11:37 AM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?

bryancd - 2009-01-02 8:24 AM  Hey I swim there!

 Reason enough to join.   I bet they put something in the pool water there.



2009-01-03 1:24 PM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
I HATE Bally's. Hate it. The guy we bought our membership from lied to us when we joined, and me being gullible didn't read the fine print so I've been stuck in their contract for 3 years. The pools are nasty (at least the ones in San Diego and Ann Arbor), the facilities are cramped and gross feeling and I just don't like it there. I would recommend going somewhere else. Ask TriOK which gym she likes- she goes to some here in Michigan.
2009-01-03 1:54 PM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
I swam over the holiday break at the Ballys on Cave Creek in north Phoenix. It was a slight trek from our place in Scottsdale but every time I went, no matter what the hour, I had a lane to myself in the pool and practically the whole pool to myself. It was clean, very nice locker rooms (way better than my Ballys at home) and I was uber-impressed.
2009-01-03 2:36 PM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
chirunner134 - 2009-01-03 11:37 AM

bryancd - 2009-01-02 8:24 AM  Hey I swim there!

 Reason enough to join.   I bet they put something in the pool water there.



...pee.
2009-01-03 2:39 PM
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Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
bryancd - 2009-01-03 2:36 PM

chirunner134 - 2009-01-03 11:37 AM

bryancd - 2009-01-02 8:24 AM  Hey I swim there!

 Reason enough to join.   I bet they put something in the pool water there.



  • ..pee.


  • Hey.. they put pee in our pool too. Well.. not so sure if it's them.. or ..
    2009-01-03 2:50 PM
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    Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
    I'd be careful with Bally's I believe that they filed for Chapter 11 in early December.  I think it was the second time in the last 2 years they have sought bankruptcy protection.  I used to be a member in Chicago and their facilities were just nasty.  I'd go anyplace but Bally's. 


    2009-01-03 8:41 PM
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    Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
    ^^^ x2!

    I'm a member at Bally's (Chicago suburbs)...and the club I go to is a total DUMP! Poorly maintained equipment, filthy lockerooms/showers, weightroom ALWAYS looks like a tornado blew through it, no cleaning staff whatsoever, medicine balls & stability balls are all grossly underinflated, spin bikes constantly breaking down, many broken/unusable lockers, club doesn't open up on time, the list goes on and on!!! Thank goodness my club doesn't have a pool, because I cannot even fathom what kind of condition (I'm thinking CESS POOL) it would be in! I've tried complaining to the management, but it doesn't get me very far. The manager doesn't like me very much, due to the fact that I b!tch about everything. I've tried going over his head, and complaining to corporate...but even that tactic only worked once.

    I go there because it's cheap and it's all I can afford. Other gyms in my area want upwards of $60/month for memberships, and I just can't swing that.

    With them filing for Chapter 11, who knows what the future holds for BTF. I'm told that they are having a court hearing on January 7th, to determine the fate of the company.
    2009-01-03 8:46 PM
    in reply to: #1881340

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    Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
    I am at the YMCA and love love love it there. I get to play in my pickleball league and my husband plays in his basketball league. There are so many other options and classes to. Our branch has two 25 meter 9 lane pools. (one indoor one outdoor) I think he pays $73 which covers myself, him and up to 4 future kids haha
    2009-01-03 9:08 PM
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    Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?

    I think it very much depends on the specific gym, even more so than the chain.  Several people, for example, mentioned the Y.  The Y locally in Reading is a pit, and in a very scary area, which would strongly dissuade me from using it. The Y in Phoenixville, where my sister in law lives, is very nice, and she goes there.  There is also a really nice one in Harleysville, about an hour from me, near my favorite dive shop, that is gorgeous, from what I hear, that used to rent its pool to the dive shop for training (the shop just relocated and will have it's own pool now for that use).

    I belong to LA Fitness, since they are very close to my house, and have a cheap pool.  There is a bigger gym about 2 miles further away, but they charge as much for the pool alone as LA Fitness does for the whole shebang. It's still pretty clean after several years, and other than the usual January crowds, easy to get to use the pool and the elliptical trainer (that mrs gearboy prefers).

    2009-01-03 9:08 PM
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    Subject: RE: LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Bally's, Snap Fitness?
    Sorry didn't really you just wanted opinions on those gyms
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