Village Gym

Originally (Feb 2014) I loved this gym. Nice low key atmosphere. Not too many «Peacocks» strutting around. Not the latest gear but it works. My wife and I ended up there because her gym (Serenity) closed — and she’s all about Zumba. Her instructor went there so many of her students did as well. Meanwhile we signed up both of us and I can do cardio and weights while she Zumbas. Cool. THEN the owner went with a UFC franchise, and «Village Gym» is no more. They’re building an «octagon» cage in the middle where numb-​nuts will apparently bash each other’s brains out while I try to do some elliptical. Not thinking this is gonna work. OH — and the Zumba classes? They plan to do THOSE in the «octagon» too. With the loud Zumba music. Right. That’ll work for about 10 minutes. Anyway, we’re out of there as soon as we find something else. It’s impossible to get a straight answer out of anyone who works there. They love circular logic. The ones who have a brain at least. One of the «trainers» smokes. Another one likes to «massage» his co-​workers in the «office. Jeez. So if you’re into MMA (or just kicking people) you’ll love this place now.

I was a fan and faithful member from the time they opened last year until today. I wholeheartedly concur with previous reviews — they are CROOKS who don’t even work with the members to keep them happy.
First of all, I haven’t been there lately because I’ve been busy working and training for a bike ride. They no longer have Spin class, and the one I tried a long time ago SUCKED!
I drove by this weekend and noticed that the «Village Gym» sign was covered up with a UFC sign. As a paying member, I was shocked that I wasn’t informed. I stopped in this AM to find that the ownership changed on May 1^st. But hey — lucky for ME — they’re getting new equipment (there are pictures on the wall!) AND I get «grandfathered» in at my current rate ($ 15/​mo.).
But they don’t have anything left that I signed up for in the first place…
I loved Zumba (Nicole) — she left May 1^st. They had an awesome yoga instructor — she left last year. Daniel is a cutie-​pie, and lucky for them he’s still there. I only used their crappy machines the last couple of months when I was rehabbing from an ankle injury.
The people that work the front desk have no personality and aren’t «authorized» to do anything except write down your debit card number, leave it laying on the front desk, then tell you they lost it and need it again. That should have been my first clue…
They wouldn’t work with me when I broke my ankle in Oct and wasn’t able to come in for three months. I gave them my new debit card and they charged me twice. Now they won’t refund even the measly $ 15 they overcharged me even if I paid for all the time I wasn’t there. $ 15 isn’t a big thing, but there was a $ 45 charge I never authorized, and they ended up overcharging me. Should have left then and never given them my new debit card. I’ve paid $ 135 since I went back in Jan for a $ 15/​mo. membership which I’ve hardly used because there’s nothing great about the place anyway. The girl who gave it 5 stars hasn’t been there — there’s hardly a locker room, and there’s only 1 shower. Complete farce.
I’ve worked with gyms as clients (I’m an accountant). I know it’s a tough business. You don’t make it by ripping people off and not being honest with them.
There was a $ 29 joiner’s fee they didn’t tell me about until I signed the paperwork, and apparently there is a 30-​day cancellation fee that I just learned about today.
Good luck, UFC! I don’t expect you to be in business in this location for more than a year, if that. With all the cheap options for the young people, all you get at this location is older folks mostly. Hope you didn’t pay Village Gym much. And with your attitude and unwillingness to work with people, you’re not going to grow and sustain your membership.
I walked in there today willing to give it another shot, simply because it’s close and maybe it would be better than Village Gym. After the treatment I got today, you’d think asking for $ 15 back was like asking for gold, and I hated to even ask. I was just so disgusted with the way I’ve been treated all the way along, by «management» anyway, whoever «they» are…
This guy «Chris» — the new UFC guy there — is a jerk. So is the other guy. They don’t even have a proper «cancellation» form — they just had me sign a handwritten piece of paper that didn’t say anything.
I’m pretty sure this gym makes it’s money by the low monthly fee that peoplen (like me) forget they’re paying, or think «it’s not that much»… but when every $ 15 is worth more to them than working with a good customer, it’s gonna bite them in the butt in the long (or short) run.
And this UFC Gym thinks they’re going to get people in there at $ 69/​mo. when Village couldn’t get them in for $ 15. Bwaaahhahahahaha!!!
DO NOT SIGN UP WITH THEM — UFC OR VILLAGE.
JUST DON’T !!!

OMG as an update to my update… these people are untrustworthy crooks! They have been continuing to charge me month after month. Its impossible to cancel this thing and you get nowhere with the idiots running the place! I finally had a file a dispute with my bank and cancel my debit card. DO NOT BOTHER WITH THIS PLACE UNLESS YOU ENJOY FRUSTRATION IN YOUR LIFE!

DO NOT GO HERE! The gym is terrible. The first month I had a membership they weren’t open and still charged me. Then I tried to cancel the membership in October because they started charging me double for one membership. I’ve been in several times trying to cancel and they are still charging me double for a membership I canceled 3 months ago and the same situation happened to my friends. They take your money and rip you off!!!

The reason for 3 stars: A small gym with a mellow vibe — perfect for the people who want to get in shape and not worry about what you look like or being up on the latest fitness wear. It’s never too crowded. Fitness classes are usually well attended.
The reasons why it’s not 5 star rating: Improvements are needed in the cleanliness category. The bathrooms need to be cleaned way more often than they appear to be. Shouldn’t this be done at least 3 times a day? Basics like trash being emptied and soap dispensers filled are not a regular routine. There is only 1 spot to get paper and disinfectant (Spic and Span?) to wipe down machines. There should be at least two more stations around the place. And finally, one very important thing they don’t do is insist that people bring towels (nor do they provide them). Most customers are very polite and respectful and wipe down the machines after using them. However, some very sweaty people do not do so. .. which is gross. Instituting a towel policy and wiping down the machines after use would go a long way to earning four or five stars. In fact, I think it would be wise if the employees went around periodically each day and wiped them down.
Oh, and one final thought: How long does it take to get an «out of order machine» fixed?

I’m soooooo upset!
I signed up for this gym on top of my already purchased membership at LA fitness. I was excited because they had great classes and a great location, near all my friends!
It seemed that they provided cool innovative classes that were fun and inspiring and occurred at times that worked well for moms like me. But as soon as I signed up (I went gung ho and purchased a year membership because I was ready to get my butt in shape)… as soon as I signed the class times began changing. Then they changed again, and before you knew what happened, you ended up missing half the class or you show up for Abs &Core and get something else entirely. The worst happened when I showed up for PIYO at 5:30 in the morning and it was cancelled! This class was amazing and 95% of the reason I signed up! I knew they needed steadier attendance but it was the middle of summer and different people kept taking their vacations which made that difficult. I asked them not to cancel it until some time had past and they couldn’t give a flyin flip… yet you can show up to a Zumba class on Friday and have it so crowded you are bumping in to everyone! It’s poorly air conditioned and yes the person below is correct some instructors use free music stations to run the classes which becomes highly distracting.
I tried to get my money back, but they honestly couldn’t care less about their patrons. I’ve tried to speak with the owner at least three times and he’s NEVER available. I’m sure I’ll never see a dime of my unused gym membership returned, ugh!
Please do not sign up for this gym, they meant well in the creation, but failed in the follow through… Don’t waste your time or money!

At first, happy that a gym was opening closer to where I live. Read the Unilocal reviews and ignored the posts about being charged for monthly fees long after cancelation. They started to charge my card, at least a month before opening. Money lost. Three months down the road, no credit and still had not used the memebership (my own fault).
Decided that enough was enough and canceled both our memeberships. Canceled with Mike (manager) on June 20^th, and was told no refund for the June payment as it was after the billing date (Billing on the 15^th of the month), but that it would be canceled with no July payment owed.
July 15^th? Of course its on my cc statement. I called the main office and was told that I had not read my contract, and that there was a 30 day cancelation, and that I would be charged for August as well. Went to see Mike who finally took care of the situation, canceled our memeberships and made sure (I hope) that there would be no further charges.
Note to all: when a number of posts all complain about the same thing… LISTEN!

This gym is by far my favorite gym in San Diego. The atmosphere is very relaxed, and all the staff are very friendly and get to know you.
This gym is great for all levels of experience. There is a good variety or cardio, free weights, and machines. Although small, this gym has everything you need for any kind of workout.
I love the (woman’s) locker room here, very clean an spacious. The showers are great! It’s always very clean in the locker room as well as the gym.
Bottom line. All you name brand bitches that need shiny equipment, and matching workout outfits should probably keep your ass at a name brand gym. And if you need day care, call a friend. Everyone has something to say, and wants to bitch, but at the end of the day you’re here to work out. Educate yourselves.
Sorry if I offended anyone, but the truth is the truth.

Shady Business!
My wife and I have been members since the gym opened a few months back. First of all as others have stated, the gym started charging membership dues before they were even complete with their construction. They opened a month late!
Secondly and more importantly do not sign up for training sessions, they bill you monthly rather than by session whether you use them or not… which is ridiculous. My wife signed up thinking she was getting a month of sessions and was told by their staff that if she didn’t want to continue past the end of the month that she needed to cancel before months end. She did with about a week to spare before months end, and then they still billed us three weeks later for a second month. They said that they require 30 day cancellation per the contract which is BS… this was never mentioned when she signed up (yes it was in the contract but even the trainers told us that none of their other clients are on monthly plans… they renew when they are out of sessions. They had plenty of time to cancel it and their own staff told both my wife and myself that everything was taken care of and that it would be cancelled immediately. Then their manager who is there about 2 hours a day it seems claimed that we needed to fill out a cancellation form which was never brought to our attention until 3 weeks later when they billed us. I even talked directly to the owner and he still decided not to refund the money even though my wife still had sessions she hadn’t finished from the first month.
Needless to say this place is a big scam and I don’t recommend this gym. My wife and I are cancelling our memberships immediately. Besides the nearby location it is a rip off. Pay the extra few dollars a month and go to a real gym with staff who know what the hell they are talking about and give a crap about their clients.

Wow, I was really underwhelmed by visiting this new location for Village Gym. It’s just like Unilocalers have stated about their original La Mesa location. All the cardio and weight equipment is «hand me downs» which other gyms have discarded as obsolete. I saw types of equipment which a Navy gym obsoleted years ago. It’s not a good sign when a «new» gym makes the Government look state of the art. Also, the building is simply strange for a gym. It was a realty office for years until the market dived. Then it sat vacant for years. The structure is more suited for offices than gym. Lastly, Village Gym monthly membership of $ 19 is tough to justify. Granted there are no other gyms in immediate vicinity of Jackson and Navajo so location is a plus. Yet driving a few miles provides state of the art gyms (LA Fitness, Chuze, etc.) with similar (if not less) monthly rates.

1 star: My husband and I signed up for Village Gym’s new location. We thought it would be great because we live so close. They told us we can sign up now and get a good rate and it will open on the 15^th and they’ll charge us on the 15^th. Well they charged us, but the gym is still under construction. We called and emailed them and haven’t received a response. So far I’m livid. Horrible customer service. They better refund our money and give us a call soon.
Review update
— 2 stars: Finally got a call. Said will open on the 1^st and payment will be for a full month the gym is open. Will wait to change review once the gym is open.