Bally Total Fitness

If I click the 5^th star I would be lying. I have a memebership at 24-​hr. that was paid off in advance. But since I relocated in Encino and sherman oaks galleria is out of the question now. I wanted to join this place for it is close to me and when I took the 2 weeks trial, I didn’t want to go back after 2-​days. A bunch of hog-​sweat all the way to the micro cube steam room. I think the whole faciality needs to be totally worked on.

This gym is a mess. expect sweat on all the equipment if it is working. Expect to wait for aerobic machines because no one honors the 30 min rule. The staff is apathetic at best. The dumbbells are never put back in place. Rarely will yo find a matching set. No one cleans and the people who attend are major pigs.
Go somewhere else.

Eh… it’s ok… Not much more than that. For the price, not too bad. I got an offer from Ballys for a $ 100/​yr which is about 4x cheaper than the closest 24 hours. Most of the fitness center is kept relatively clean. The bathroom is a bit gnarly, but it has more to do with the smell than anything else.
First, let’s get the negatives out of the way.
The place does have some major downsides though. They got minus 1 star for broken cardio machines. I don’t know if it’s the patrons that don’t know how to use the machines that breaks it or if Bally’s is just not doing proper maintenance on it… but whatever the case might be, there are too many of them broken to be acceptable.
I knocked down another star for the lack of lower weight dumbbells. What’s the point of paying for a gym if they don’t even have proper weights to work out with? I heard that it’s because some people steals the dumbbells, but that ain’t my problem.
Now for the positives…
Even when the place is packed, it isn’t too bad. Some of the more popular machines (ie. the stairmaster) might be all taken, but there are always other cardio machines or bench press benches open. I don’t have to keep one eye out to see if a spot opens up.
The class floor space is very spacious and the cycling class’ cycles are very well kept. Not too shabby if you like doing the aerobics classes.
Some neutrals…
No swimming pool. I don’t mind going for a swim now and then and was a bit disappointed to find that this gym didn’t have one. Still, swimming isn’t a major part of my workout so I don’t really fault it for the lack of a pool.
About half of the weight machines are new and the other half are old. Both are functional and almost never broken. It gets the job done so I don’t see a reason for complaint.
No shake bar or at least, none that I saw. Maybe it’s hidden in some corner that I haven’t been to, though I doubt it. Not really a downside for me. The lack of one shouldn’t really be a downside for anyone.

A comedian once inquired: «Does paying more money for my gym membership means more hair in the sinks?».
I was harsh on my previous Bally review but this update is not much better. Besides the horrific conditions I wrote about, I must reiterate about the conditions of the free weights and cardio machines.
As I mentioned, the gym has many broken down machines and missing free weights. Whenever I go, there’s always something broken or missing. That hasn’t changed but what I don’t understand is why Bally doesn’t simply replace them. The free weights and machines are way outdated and constantly fixing them seems pointless. Since members are paying good money to go here, why can’t the gym just purchase new equipment? If free weights are missing, just have them replaced instead of having them missing all the time.
As for repairing cardio machines… well two to three weeks is pretty bad.

I’m still annoyed at the squat rack, but I have to commend them for having employees walk around and offer spot’s and stuff now. Idk why more places don’t do that. I was able to give my all on the decline bench, Rocky 4 style. Because one of the trainers helped me. Yes indeed.

I have been a member since 1990. I used to go to this gym in 1995. i just moved back to the valley, and renewed my membership here for 89.00 a yr. Wthhhhhhhhhhhhhhh? They still have the same equipment since 1995, in the same place! The place is filthy, the men are just in there gabbing, and hogging up all the machines. Most of the cardio machines are taped together. What happen to this place? It used to be so clean and nice. I should have known when the parking lot is usually empty. I was going to the North Hollywood one for the past year, I didn’t care for that one, but hey… it a heck of a lot cleaner, and way more up to date equipment. :(I guess for 89.00 a yr I cannot complain too much though. LOL

It is okay, but not nice. I joined while I was living in Rancho Cucamonga and I used to go to the location in Montclair before I move. Those where very nice and clean. So it was disappointing coming to the Encino location. As others have said, the equipment is often out of order and the locker rooms aren’t very clean. Also the entrance to the kids’ center is outside the gym. I don’t have children, but i would imagine this is not a perk…
Besides this location, I enjoy my membership. I’ve gone to literally dozens of Bally’s over the last couple years, even out of state. My membership is now $ 12/​mo for all their locations since I am passed the 3 year contracts.

It’s tough because most of the gyms in the valley really suck or are really overpriced. I joined here for a few months because the LA Fitness in Northridge is disgusting and 24 hr. fitness in Sherman Oaks is rediculous parking (not even close to the gym) and it’s packed. Ballys ended up not being much better. I think it was $ 35 or $ 40 a month and there were a few things I couldn’t stand.
First, the Personal Trainers are really pushy. I did not come to go on the cardio equipment so that you could pressure me to pay you more money for training sessions every time I step foot in here. Also, the evening classes are really packed so I didn’t even want to bother with them. Finally, the bathrooms in the evening are not kept clean and they really should be. I shouldn’t walk out feeling like I might have contracted some sort of disease. Wouldn’t even think of taking a shower here. To their credit, the free personal training session I had did kick my butt, great workout. Also I never had to wait for a treadmill for more than 10 minutes, though there were always 1 – 2 of them broken which didn’t help times sake.
Look, I get it the argument goes both ways, do you want to pay big bucks for a gym with more spa like qualities, or do you want to come here and sacrifice standards because why pay a bunch of $ for a gym? Everyone feels differently, but this is L.A. and it’s time that more gyms upgrade and start giving a crap about all the negative reviews.
If you can afford $ 70 a month I’ve found that 360 Health Club in Reseda is great. I’m going to skip the gym route entirely now and do Personal Training sessions once a week mixed with the treadmill at home. Goodbye Ballys!

The place is cheap, and feels very cheap.
They place smells bad, and the men’s locker room smells worse.
Lots of senior citizens and the machines are not clean, and nobody seems to bother to wipe them,

Equipment okay when it works. They need to keep the place cleaner.

Small. Crowded. Outdated. Parking Sucks.
Bally’s is a mediocre 24 hour fitness except it is not open 24 hours. I signed up many years ago, and signed my life away to a contract. After coming here for two years during high school, I moved to Santa Cruz for school, where the was no Ballys within a 25 radius. Thus the drama began. Bally’s needed a proof of address. However, it is difficult to prove or show documentation for address when you are living in a dorm. It took forever to figure out these hurdles with customer service, and took more longer to process it.
The facility is relatively small compared to other gym. The parking downstairs is always full during the evening. Although there were some highlights, such as randomly bumping in into old high school friends, I don’t think I truly enjoyed my time at Bally’s
Perhaps they improved their services in the past 3 years ago, but back then they were eh.

Actually,
This is a pretty nice Bally’s. Little outdoor area with a hot-​tub in back. Dungeonlike (and I mean that in a good way) weight-​room downstairs. Scads of cardio, some weight machines, and a big open dance studio.
Me likey.

I’ve been a member for almost a year. It that years time, I noticed how the ladies restroom/​locker room area was not being cleaned. Not enough paper towels, soap, seat covers or toilet paper in the stalls. The sink counter was constantly wet. I also noticed the gym equipment was never being cleaned down.
Finally found out from one of the staff, Balley’s let go their cleaning crew a year ago & they only clean 1x daily at night.
I called the Board of Health & found out they get complaints about Balley’s all the time. Its corporate wide on their lack of cleanliness
I was told less complaints at other facilities.
This place only cares about membership but not their members after they are signed up

Ok so what can I say about this gym. There’s no readily available cleaning supplies for the machines. I find that to be disgusting. Back when I was a member of Gold’s Gym they had a basket up on the wall with a roll of paper underneath it at every section of machines of the gym so we can always clean the machines after usage.
Availability of the Machines is usually good before 3pm but anything afterwards you can expect to wait for a treadmill or other machines. We have many old men that I call Lurkers, they walk around just looking at all the women 20 yrs younger than they are & they try to grab the machine next to you. I always feel like im some piece of meat just sitting out in the badlands of Africa until I get attacked as prey. I can never get in a good work-​out without always worrying who is staring at my A$$ or my breast as Im jogging on the treadmill.
The staff need to take a class in Customer Service as well as etiquette. Everytime you ask them a question its like your bothering them & disturbing their day when they are just gabbing with a fellow co-​worker about their personal life not work related. Though I have only encountered ONE nice staff member but he’s no longer there.
The classes are always over packed & I really dont understand why they dont just offer 2 of the same classes in the morning & at night. That way everyone can get in a class without being packed in like sardines.
The women’s bathroom, are OK… Could use some air freshner but its predominately clean if the women just pick up after themselves & be ladies that like to be clean.
Other than that I am stuck with this gym since the North Hollywood one is worse.

I see a lot of horrible reviews for this Bally’s and it’s understandable, BUT… it seems a lot of the criticism is exactly what a gym is suppose to be. Dirty, sweaty and raw. It’s a gym, not a spa. The men’s locker room reeks bad. Since it is partially carpeted, I’m sure it absorbed the years of foot funk and nutsweat. But I go there to workout not inhale dude-​pourri. The open air locker room setting does give everyone a great shot of your goods as you walk down towards the showers. There’s really nothing separating you from the spray of water ricocheting off the hairy naked dude across and next to you. But… once again, it’s a gym. The regimen is like prison, but that just makes you harder (not in a bonerific way… but strength). Did I mention it’s a gym?
I’ve been a member now for over 10 years and I do remember when they use to scam people into a membership, but consider this:
a) we all try to make a commitment for better health but then realize our lives are too busy and thus let that one thing go.
b) we allow fitness to be the first thing to go in our lives.
Fitness is not recreation; it’s life. So with that being said, I paid a large amount as a start rate. Then after three years commitment I now pay $ 12/​month. I can go to any and every Bally’s out there in the U.S. (this is why I got the membership). I visit this one in Encino a lot. They use the rubber plates which are easier to handle, but somehow feel like cheating. There are ALWAYS dumbbells available (keep in mind, I only go on weekends, I go to the Santa Monica one on weekdays). And I see regulars there. Very friendly and approachable.
I would only warn people who are considering joining that this is a commitment. The reason you pay is so that you feel bad about NOT going to workout. The machines have been updated (I especially like the new cable stuff). I know a large flow of people are going to hit this place come Jan. 1 and flutter out the 2 weeks after, so… don’t give up too quickly. Fitness is life. I’ll see you guys there!

I joined Bally’s for the summer (I go to school in norcal and am only here for three months) .
There was no contract, just month-​to-​month.
The staff is a bit rude, and kind of pushy about setting you up with a trainer. I AM ONLY HERE TEMPORARILY, NO I DON’T WANT A TRAINER!!!
The people that go there are, well, as follows: The people that live in encino, sherman oaks, and tarzana. If you live around the area, you know who I am talking about.. . It mostly consists of middle eastern 18 – 25 year old guys who think they are hot. NO. They beef up, but are delusional, you’re not hot, you look like every one else in the valley, nothing special, just bleh. The women tend to stare, it’s kind of annoying. I came to work out, not to gawk or be gawked at. And what is with all the 13 year old tweens walking around with their tits and asses hanging out? cover up please, you are a child, and guys here are not impressive. Shouldn’t you be at home watching Hannah Montana or something. be gone. The older men tend to stare too. You are sweaty, gross, old, and more than likely, MARRIED. stop staring, go pick up a playboy or something, I’m sure you can get much more out of that than watching other people’s sweaty asses, and nobody there is even hot, so.…ya, playboy, invest in it.
OK, the place STINKS. It smells like a combination of poo, sweat, and piss. They have horrible ventilation.
PEOPLE! please wipe down the machines when you are finished. I hate walking up to a weight machine only to find ass crack sweat on the seat. GROSS!
Umm, I have a massive problem with the bathrooms. The stalls are obviously separated by dividers. In those dividers are the disposable seat covers we are all supposed to use. They are always out of those, and they seem to never put more in because every time I go into the bathroom, they are gone. The problem arises in that you can see into the next stall when they are all out. Umm, I don’t need grandma in the next stall to stare at me while I am peeing, thank you.
Bally’s, you disappoint. Go to La fitness on sepulveda or 24 hour at the galleria, much better.

Let me address the worst thing about Bally’s: The contracts. I had a Bally’s contract a few years back, basically what they did was at that time, I don’t know about now, was to open a sort of charge account and charge you for all three years dues at once, so you wind up getting a bill for about $ 3000 that you’ll gradually pay off over that period.
Obviously that’s bad business, and very problematic.
I payed my contract up and joined other gyms rather than resign with Bally’s for awhile. I went to Total Women, 24 in Sherman Oaks, LA Fitness and Bodies in Motion all at various times. At the peak I had three memberships at once.
I got used to being frustrated with the bad parking at 24 Hour Fitness, which was my final choice of the above listed clubs. But when I realized I could get a Bally’s membership for $ 99 a year (as opposed to $ 45 a month at 24) I decided to quit 24.
I’ve been to THIS location of Bally’s now a handful of times, and I have to say, I think it’s remarkably good. The parking situation is not good, but the club is pretty big, has a wide variety of equipment and isn’t nearly as clusterf*ck crazy during rush hour as 24.
You have to pay extra per month to take classes, which is kinda sucky, but honestly I never like classes anyways– all that bad dance music and someone count-​screaming into a mic!
My advice if you’re thinking of joining Bally’s is first of all, not to sign a long contract, and second of all to consider this location– it’s actually a pretty great gym!

Listen to Floppin T. and just google «bally total fitness scam»
I was a naïve 21 year old fresh out of college and got pressured into signing a 3 year contract, being told that I can cancel whenever, as long as I move 25 miles away from the club. The contract is not clear about this, and the trainer/​seller came off confident, so I believed him. When I moved away and tried to cancel my membership, they wouldn’t let me, saying I was within 25 miles of a club. That club was not convenient for me, and my understanding was that I was 25 miles away from the club I was a member of.
Almost 3 years later, I am now in Iowa City, no where near a Bally club. I paid my cancellation fee and membership fees up to my date of cancellation. They are still hassling me and sending me bills.
I hate Bally. DO NOT sign anything from them unless you understand what you’re getting yourself into.

Ugh. Lets just say I’m counting down the seconds until my contract is up.
This place is old, smelly, and definitely not someplace I look forward to going to, which is very detrimental to a workout routine.
I started off with a trainer there. One star for her. She was nice and helpful.
I am now trying to force myself to take classes there so my money isn’t a total waste, but this is annoying and inconvenient because it means having to stay in the valley even longer, and then drive 20 minutes to get home after working out at a place thats not worth it.
If anyone is thinking about this place because it is close to work. DON’T DO IT!!!

UPDATE: Even though I rarely use them, this gym has recently upgraded a lot of their equipment, making the whole place seem more up-​to-​date. Now if only they’d update the floors (old carpet just isn’t flattering).
I used to work out at the Chatsworth location since it used to be close to work, but now I’ve settled for this one (since it’s the second closest to where I work now).
Unlike the gym at Chatsworth, this place does not have a sauna, pool, or jacuzzi. The facility is outdated compared to the other locations I’ve been to, especially with their machines, but I don’t use them anyway. I mainly come here because of their classes. I take the Kwando (kickboxing), PowerFlex (weight training), and Step classes 3 – 4 nights a week after work, and it’s been a very effective workout for me. I’ve already lost 20+ lbs.