24 Hour Fitness files for bankruptcy, closes over 130 gyms amid coronavirus pandemic (working out, training)
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24 hour fitness I noticed was going downhill for a while, first was the steam room hours, than they were absorbing many Bally’s locations a good number of which were run down, they never converted them to 24 hour operations nor bother to renovate them but yet converted some of them from sports to super sports which meant a higher charge even for those who had just signed up at the same location months ago.
Most recently In 2018 they took away towels from upgraded super sports locations and Severely limited equipment checkouts such as basketballs,, and a year later converted many centers from 24 hour to 20 hours. I feel they were collapsing on themselves for a long time.
I have a Planet Fitness black card membership. $22.99 a month and I can go to any club in the country. Free tanning/massage chairs/hydromassage. Each location I've been to has always been clean as a pin, staff friendly, etc.
My local YMCA was $55/month. Sure, there are more amenities, but it is a 55 year old building and shows its age. The facility is never as clean as PF. The pool and hot tub are either closed for classes or out of order more than they seem available.
Because they were barely hanging on before. Too many gyms and they expanded aggressively taking on a lot of debt which was rated as junk bonds even before.
This - and they have had a revolving door of CEOs for the last several years.
I have a Planet Fitness black card membership. $22.99 a month and I can go to any club in the country. Free tanning/massage chairs/hydromassage. Each location I've been to has always been clean as a pin, staff friendly, etc.
My local YMCA was $55/month. Sure, there are more amenities, but it is a 55 year old building and shows its age. The facility is never as clean as PF. The pool and hot tub are either closed for classes or out of order more than they seem available.
My local YMCA is old, rundown, and dingy. I used to be a member, but why workout in that type of environment? YMCA has a financial assistance program for low income members so that probably helps them maintain memberships.
Planet Fitness in my area are cleaner and more appealing. While some think it's not real workout facility, it serves my needs. However, I like to workout between 4:30-5:00 a.m., but my local PP doesn't open until 6:00 a.m. now. Would like them to go back to 24 hours, but they can't given the current events.
I agree with other posters. I've been a member of just about every gym chain in existence, from mom and pop to the big guys, and I was extremely dissatisfied with 24 Hour. I was a member back in 2013 for a few months. They did not maintain their equipment properly. I would always have to wait to use the treadmill and other things because half the machines had some problem. That's a warning sign of financial issues. I cancelled right away. A word of advice for those who want to join a gym: don't ever sign up for several months in advance. You might quickly discover some dealbreaker and then you're stuck.
I've been with 24 hr for almost 6 years. I always thought they didn't have the latest equipment and took forever to repair the broken ones.
Now the ones in my area that are going to open is by appt only and for an hour slot. I'm trying to figure out how all the people from the other gyms are going to migrate to mine and take up all these workout spots. I mean whats the point in paying for a membership if I can only work out once every two weeks for an hour due to the demand????
I'm sorry to hear this about 24 hour. I haven't had a membership with them in 5 years. I had to canx it when I moved to Fla at that time. There are only a few locations in Fla. I had a membership with them for almost 20 years between Calif and Oregon. I was paying $49 a year. I really hated having to canx it. The gyms where I live in Fla, are not all that great. So I really miss 24 Hour.
I always liked the chain but yes their equip was frequently broken. I think they have been having problems for awhile. I know LA Fitness in Metro Phoenix bought all 24 Hour locations. I hope they don't go completely out of business.
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