After yet another run in with the horrible crew at LA Fitness on Southern Ave., I cancelled my membership at that filthy home of poor customer service, high pressure sales and sketchy business practice, and signed up the same day at Planet Fitness. I didn't need to complete the tour to know that PF is a much better gym. It is pristine clean, does not smell and is well-equipped. After just a few workouts the staff greet me by name and always acknowledge me when I leave. The music is okay at PF, but at least it isn't as loud as it is at LA Fitness. The sound system is Bose at PF and sounds great - the system at LA F sounds like caterwauling night cats and grates on your nerves after just a few minutes. It seems they only have a few songs on the LA F playlist. One day a few weeks ago the sound system at LA F was not working and the atmosphere was so much nicer. They should have left it off! One of the other features I like is that there are cleaning stations with spray bottles and towels all over the place at PF. I counted 11 (there may be more) at PF. Better still? They have developed a culture of clean at PF - part of the tour - before you even sign up - is a little chat about asking members to clean up the equipment after their use. Everywhere I look folks are wiping down the machine or equipment. I vote with my dollars and when a place is a nice as PF, I am HAPPY to give them lots of votes ($) - even though my Black Card membership costs less than my membership at LA Fitness. Maybe they should change the name to LA Ghetto Fitness (Watts-Fitness?) in keeping with the way it looks, smells and operates.
Way to go, Planet Fitness - I'm tellin' everyone to join your clubs!