Express Fitness Ctr-Pleasanton

I am a ""not serious"" gym member who has been doing a couple of days a week for over 10 years. My objectives are to keep my weight under control, get a bit of cardio and, frankly, I like the great feeling I get from doing this. For my purposes, Express Fitness is a very good choice. I like it more than my past experiences at Schoebers (Fremont and Pleasanton) and Reach (Los Altos). I use the facility during the lunch hour; get in, do my stuff and get out. I don't go there to socialize or enjoy the sauna or hot tub (of which, there are none). Being on the low end of cost, it does tend to get busy at times. Lunch works fine for me, but I suspect that later in the day may be a bit more challenging (from what I read in other forums). What I don't care for are the members who tie up machines while they chat with friends, inconsiderate trainers who leave their personal stuff (cell phones, notebooks, etc) on equipment they are not using, folks who can't be bothered putting weights back or do their free weight reps while blocking the weightrack. This is pervasive enough to be annoying but not so bad as to only rate them 3 stars. It's probably the typical percentage of absent minded, ignorant or worse folks one encounters in a gym. The equipment is in good shape, there seems to be plenty of it (although they could use another pec deck) and stuff that is broke gets fixed fast. What little contact I have had with the staff has been cordial. I don't have any desire to retain a personal trainer, so I can't comment first hand. From what I see going on with personal trainers: they behave pretty much as I have seen in other places. Summing up: I enjoy my membership there and recommend them. more

This is by far the worst club I have ever been a member of. They have the worst customer service of any health club I have ever been a member of. I signed up for personal training in May 2007. I had a goal to reach by August 1st. I signed up, paid for my membership and was never contacted by the trainer for an appt. I called several times, and kept leaving messages, but no return calls. Finally after 2 1/2 weeks I talk to the fitness manager who tells me my trainer has been out sick and he will have her call me back immediately. Another week go by and absouletly nothing. I call back and again no one to talk to. After 5 weeks the trainer gets in touch with me, and we set up some appts. I show up for my 1st appt with her, and she is a no show. She didn't even have the curtousy to call and cancel our appt. Cons: Equipment does not work properly - RUDE staff more