Bally Total Fitness

Absolutely horrible and I'm only paying $20 a month because I signed on under my friend's membership and I still don't believe it is a good deal. The machines are old and alot of them are even broken. For example most of the bikes don't work and the stair master machine is an antique. The machines are dirty no one cleans them. Also, the sauna is barely a sauna it never gets warm enough, the steam room looks like it is cleaned maybe once a month if lucky, and the whirl pool is disgusting your eyes literally burn from the steam because you can tell they just pour in the chlorine instead of cleaning it. I just went in to cancel my $20 a month membership and they said it was a $20 charge for them to cancel it. My other option is to mail, email or call a toll free number which I just tried thinking it would be the fastest and safest way to do so. Nope, no one even answers. Ooooooo and ladies if you do decide to join be ready to feel uncomfortable from getting eye-f**ked every time you go in. more

I've been to the three nearest Bally's in NJ and Saddlebrook is by far the best. It has tons of TMs, Ellipticals, Spinning classes (10 a week), and two Stairmasters. Lots of cardio options. Classes are included in the membership except for special cases, such as the 1 1/2 hr Spinning class (normal is 45 mins). There are lots of other good classes, like Straight Up Strength and Kickboxing. The club has long hours, 6a-11p, less on F-Sun. Be warned it gets very busy after 6 pm. This club has the biggest stretch area I've ever seen. I find it ideal for my PT routines. Even though there is ""Bally's radio"" playing in the weights room, there are no speakers over the cardio machines. I've asked them numerous times to install one and they just won't do it. Cardio can be quite monotonous after a time with nothing to hear but the humming and thumping of the machines. Also, it wouldn't hurt to have fans in this area. At least to have a few TMs near one fan would help. I'm usually facing heat exhaustion after a short while- and this is in the winter! I'm not sure how other fitness chains handle individual climate control. more

STAY AWAY UNLESS YOU DON'T PLAN TO CANCEL EVER!!! ONE STAR RATING IS TOO HIGH FOR THIS BUSINESS!! I joined Bally @ Englewood Cliffs, NJ with my wife on March of 2011. The sales person that helped us, ALLAN RAMIREZ was very swift and helpful to get us signed up. At the time, he told us we could bring a cancellation letter to him and he would take care of it. A few weeks ago we went to the location and we were told we could ONLY cancel in writing. I called customer support today and spent over 30 minutes trying to get a representative on the line, which you can only do by asking to sign up or add a member. The rep that picked the line ""LUIS UGALDE"" told me that even though I was the husband and the account buyer/payer, we had to send a SEPARATE CERTIFIED LETTERS EACH. He even said to mail to a different address other than the one on the contract. I called my local Bally to corroborate the address. The ""manager"" there ""ALEXIS HERNANDEZ"" said he didn't have the address and that I should call customer service. What kind of manager can't give you this kind of information??? This guy even put me on hold every two minutes, then pick the line as if he didn't know who I was or what I was talking about. THEY ARE ALL TRAIN VERY WELL TO GIVE YOU THE TURN AROUND SO YOU DESIST ON CANCELLING! BEWARE!! STAY AWAY, YOU WILL THANK ME!! more

I just moved to the area and Bally's was the closest gym. I used to belong to LA Fitness, which the Bally's in Saddle Brook could never compete with. The only pro is the customer service, staff is friendly. The cons are the horrible location, small space, variety and cleanliness. Many of the cardio machines are either broken or on their way to be being broken which leaves you either watching the many TVs while waiting for a machine or finding something else to do.(Anyone for a jog?) The cleanliness in the work out areas is absurd. There are no antibacterial stations or bottles to clean the machines after you're done working out. Sometimes there is paper towel available. I've even seen members bring and carry around their own cleaning bottles. Which is sad considering the cheap cost of putting out a couple cleaning bottles to help prevent the spread of germs. The locker rooms are so so, they definitely need a update. The bathrooms, sinks and showers are usually clean. They could also use more classes, but with the space how could they. The smallest pool & suana I've ever seen...no thanks Not a good value for the money. Pros: Customer Service Cons: Cleanliness, Variety, Location more