YMCA of Greater Saint Louis

I’ve been on the cusp of joining this YMCA for years now, and I’ve finally made my decision. Never. Ever. On Principle.
My son has been taking Kempo Karate lessons at the Y for five years, starting in second grade with a white belt that was too big for him by far. The program was an hour long, twice a week and was a great mix of exercise, discipline and fun. Our son really enjoyed the time he spent in the dojo on the mats growing in his technique and strength. His instructors balanced their talents well, playing their expectations off each other «good cop/​bad cop» style (like good coaches often do) and brought the class forward through the belt tests and our boy progressed well and with joy. They were flexible with us and our schedule and the cost was affordable for our schoolteacher’s family, even as a non-​member of the Y. I was appreciative of this courtesy and seasonally considered whether to figure out a way to budget the costly family membership somehow.
This January, on the first day of class, as my boy bounded up the stairs to join the others, I got the news that the class fee had been raised by the YMCA office. Rather than $ 125 for seven weeks, the fee was now $ 195, payable that evening, thank you. I had received no notice of this rise in rate, no warning that it would be going up despite their having my email on file. Either I would pay it, or my son would be out of the term and could not advance with his class.
Of course, I paid.
I checked with the instructors. There was no improvement in facilities for the class, there was no raise in their compensation, there was no benefit planned for the participants. Several families had opted out based on the expense already. Classes were now at risk.
The explanation given to me later at the desk was that YMCA membership enrollment was going down and the management was seeking to «encourage» non-​members to join by raising the rates of these classes so drastically and unannounced.
Indeed, if I join, I’ll save a great deal of money on the class and enjoy the benefits of the facilities, but I can’t abide and submit to that kind of manipulation. Had I gotten a flyer telling me of my options, that would have been another matter, but this seems like soft extortion. I don’t care for it. I’ll pay the extra to meet where these instructors choose to meet, and follow them if they go elsewhere.
If this policy is indicative, then this organization is not following solid ethics and is likely going to satisfy you as a consumer only as long as you’re not paying close attention to your services, facilities, or your bill.
If I were you, I’d would be wary of the smiley faces on the posters on the walls of the YMCA. Those are models. I get the impression that the folks in charge at YMCA headquarters are all business, and not good business.

The Webster Y is a good value, from a price/​facility standpoint. It’s friendly and utilitarian, and to enjoy it, you gotta be willing to share. Specifically, the pool really isn’t big enough for all the program needs. I’m a slow lap swimmer who often feels frustrated by the insufficient number of lanes available. Swimming early in the morning or late in the evening helps somewhat, as the pool usually doesn’t have other activities then. But, those also are the times that the die-​hard swimmers come out, which can be a little intimidating and somewhat annoying since a slow lap swimmer is relegated to the share with the barely moving the kickboard folks.
At various times of the day, one or more laps may be open, but check the schedule carefully before you go because swim lessons rule in the spring.
The locker room is really lame, as the shower curtains don’t really cover the entire opening to the shower stalls. I don’t care that much about showering and changing in the presence of other adults, but it’s a little ewwy when kids are around.