There are several parts of this business that are deserving of 1 star. Cleanliness of facility: 1, shower area looks like it is never cleaned, changing rooms look like they are never wiped down or mopped, baby pool area always kind of gross Competency of swim instructor for mini class:1 Our instructor was flirting with the instructor in the next lane while she was supposed to be teaching children under 18 months of age who are at high risk of drowning. This included splashing water (even grabbing her personal water bottle to squeeze water onto instructor in next lane) into next lane and throwing baby toys into next lane. I brought this to the attention of the front desk staff. This instructor was allowed to continue on with the mini class. This instructor also issued instructions only once to parents at an almost-whisper and then seemed annoyed when nobody knew what to do. scammy enrollment policies: 1 We were told at the time of enrolling that we could book for just one month with no auto re-enrollment. They re-enrolled us so we had to pay for month 2 in a hostage situation. They also told us we could cancel classes with fair notice and use make up tokens any time. Well, not any time because when we tried to use them after our last month ended, they told us we would have to reenroll ($120) to use our make up tokens for lessons WE ALREADY PAID FOR. Just go to the YMCA-- it's not any cleaner but at least it is cheaper, they're nicer, not scammers, and there's multiple instructors per class and very active life guards. read more

I attended a birthday party here and it was a great experience! The facility was clean, staff was professional and most importantly they kept kids safe! Children were required to pass a swim test if they wanted to swim independently and couldn't touch the bottom of the pool. If they were unable to complete the test on their own they would need a life vest or an adult with them. I am grateful for the cleanliness, access to blow dryers and fun decor! read more

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I really like this place. I brought my daughter here when I had to swim with her; I didn't enjoy that. I brought her back when she was old enough to go in herself and I love it! The staff are so so so friendly!! I've never gone across anyone rude...the swim instructors are good and great if you know who to choose (some are just plain better with kids)! I've seen tremendous progress. They also have everything you can think of, free balloons, a free give away, a fish tank, books, a turtle tank and snacks if you're hungry or coffee if your tired or thirsty! If you forget anything-towel, bathing suit, goggles, swim cap-earplugs...it's all here! All in all, not a bad place to spend an hour in return for a swimmer! read more

Goldfish Swim School - Birmingham - The waiting area. Large enough to relax while the children are swimming - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

My daughters have been taking lessons at Goldfish for a few years now and we have been very happy with this facility. Luke is absolutely such an amazing teacher in Junior 2! He captivates the attention and keeps the silliness in line, while helping the kids master their skills in a safe manner. We have had many instructor, but he is by far one of the BEST! My eldest has worked with many different instructors as well and her newest Rain is a dream to work with. She is encouraging, has great energy, a positive influence and very motivating for my older daughter. read more

Pool is always closed because of Fudge Brownie Surprise and they don't tell you until you arrive. Very average quality experience at best. Update to respond to owner's response: It happened to us every time you had an "accident", not occasionally, and we've discussed at length what a waste of time it was for us personally and you did nothing to accommodate on repeat occasions. The bottom line is the whole Goldfish experience was a waste of time and is a very low quality service you're offering. Facilities are fine, staff is ok albeit flaky, management is irritatingly void of honor or substance. I gave you two stars and I am being generous. read more

Great atmosphere. My son took lessons here for several years. Coaches knowledgeable and welcoming. Provided a great foundation and skill set for him. Can be busy later morning on weekends, but never prevented us from coming back. Very accommodating when needing to reschedule lessons. read more

Have been taking my son here since he was approx. 6 months old and he LOVES it. From the moment you walk in, you feel welcomed by staff. There are tables and chairs set around the entire main area so kids can sit and draw; look at the fish or turtle; or get a treat from the little snack shop before/after class. He adores both of the instructors he's had and smiles when he sees them. We've taken him in pools and the ocean since starting swim classes here and it's so amazing how comfortable he seems in the water now! They also have "open swim" some afternoons which is a nice plus to have there. The only down side is that the area where the changing rooms are can get quite crowded but I feel like that's the case in all changing areas/locker room type deals. Once we figured out a routine it became easier to get him out of the pool and changed without having to wait for a room while in wet bathing suits. All in all I'm so glad we decided to try out goldfish and plan to continue going as long as we can. read more

My son got more out of one swim lesson at the ymca than he did in 5 years at goldfish. He was on the waiting list for private and semi private swim lessons for over a year and I finally gave up. I considered signing him up for the Jumps Start clinics, but with multiple kids in his class he wouldn't have gotten much out of it. Maybe Goldfish works for some kids, but not for my son. We have liked his teachers, however, and the staff is friendly and helpful. And they really need a larger facility - it's very overcrowded! read more

Everyone is friendly. Been taking my daughter for about 10 months. She likes it a lot. She started at 4 months old and I think it's really helped her develop motor skills read more

Seemed small and dirty. Instructors were not overly friendly with my kids. Teachers just seemed to be going through the motions and didn't really care. read more

I'm disappointed with my experience at Goldfish. We signed my daughter up for lessons, but she refuses to participate. After several lessons with her not participating, I went to the front desk and asked to cancel lessons. They informed me that they require 30 days notice, so we would need to pay for 30 additional days of lessons. This was news to me. I don't recall being informed of this when we signed up for lessons. Maybe it was in the fine print somewhere. So now we are resigned to 30 more days of lessons with a child who will not even get in the water. In addition, the facility is very crowded and chaotic (we go on Sundays). Pool deck needs to be cleaned more often. Instructors are nice. read more

I am a huge fan of Goldfish/Birmingham! Water safety is VERY important to me especially when it comes to children. My daughter has been a Goldfish member since May. We started out in the "kiddie pool" and she made it to the "big kid" pool just before she turned Three. I was so amazed at how well she took to her new male instructor. A pleasant surprise since she always wants female teachers/doctors. Then she turned Three and we had to bump her up to another level. I tried to keep the same time which meant switching instructors, she was not a fan so I had to switch to a different time to keep the same instructor. I'd rather be inconvenienced with my time than her progress. All of the instructors are GREAT. The staff IS young, but when dealing with a bunch of little ones, I'd rather have them young and attentive. Very positive and upbeat! Whoever has learned her name ALWAYS says,"Hi,.... !" Which is VERY warming and she instantly smiles. I like that they sell goggles, but was not aware that they had a bunch to borrow if you lost or forgot your personal pair. It might have made me try a few out before buying a particular brand. Kids come in different shapes and sizes... what might work well for her might not work well for your child. If you forget a bathing suit or towel for your child, don't worry. You can always purchase items from their retail section. Need a pick me up or just plain thirsty? They sell coffee, soda and water! As well as a few snacks. They'll have Customer Evaluation Weeks where you can get a free drink for filling out a Comment Card (how cool!). My daughter enjoys the complimentary balloons. They do give out a lot of Ribbons for achieving random progress in the pool (It reminds me of Meet the Fockers, but I am sure the children like it! I know mine is proud when receiving things like "I know all the drills because of my fantastic listening skills! or whatever the cute rhyme is and it builds up their confidence so I welcome it). I find the wooden box of random little toys to be a little over the top and only allow her to pick one out if it's a Lesson Day as opposed to Open Swim. Yes, they even have Open Swim around lunch time Monday-Friday. So pack some snacks for the car ride home or grab some from the Snack Shop! The decor and Reggae music can be quite inviting and relaxing especially when walking in from the rainy/colder days. Both pools ARE VERY WARM! And there's a restroom off from the showers just in case your child needs a quick potty break! There's a plethora of flotation devices to help your child along the way... Water barbells, water dumbbells, boogie boards, diving sticks/rings, flippers, giant ducks and balls for the babies. Foam sheets, foam motorcycle, foam canoe, etc. There's a blow dryer station to dry your child's hair before leaving the Swim School. They have a Kids Night Out every so often and will do Birthday Parties on the weekends if it's in your budget! Cons: *No locker rooms... Sounds like a mad-house on the weekends. I recommend bringing a cover up and maybe an extra towel if you're stuck waiting for a Changing Room. *The showers are RIGHT next to the pool with a glass wall separating them, but I am getting used to it! *Not really a fan of the dusty Changing Rooms and I feel like the deck could use a good scrub more often, but I feel a little O.C.D. at times. *Hope that your kid doesn't cry or the other student. It will totally change the actually learning time in the pool. If a kid is having a hard time coping, I'll see another staff member hop in and help the main instructor and that is reassuring and keeps the lesson going. *30 Day notice for cancelling, smart business, but not favorable if there is a dramatic change in your life. *No tour, which I don't mind, but get there early if you're new! I can only compare this Swim School to taking lessons at a Rec Center where there was a way higher student to teacher ratio where the instructor did NOT seem as genuine. The water was cold and the price was less. You get what you pay for. I always recommend Goldfish! read more

Goldfish Swim School - Birmingham - Working on those Superman glides! - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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We've been coming here for almost 1 year and my son is still at the same level as he started; actually it got worse ,after a few months my son start being stressed about the class and he would cry before the he would start it; pretty sure the teacher technique did something to frighten him! Really disappointed! read more

Wow. Wow. Wow. Can I be done with my review now? This place is INCREDIBLE! I live in CA and my son has been in lessons since he was 2.5 months old, he is now 13.5 months. While visiting family in MI for 2 weeks I wanted to keep him in the water so I found Goldfish. This place is amazing! The ambiance is incredible. There are diapers and wipes for the babies! Bumbos! A swim suit dryer! Changing cabins! Decorations! Seriously? My pool in CA is a cement building with some water on the floor. I have been to Goldfish 3 times now and we have 1 lesson left before we head back home. The instructors have been nice and were genuinely interested in what my son and I knew since we were visiting from another program. The staff up front is all 14-18 years old (I am guessing) but definitely knew how to run a front desk politely, pleasantly and with experience. The little ones have their own pool in the back so that no bigger kids can ever run into them. The toys and props (and the slide!) all add to the fun and education of the class. The first class is a Free Trial so you can see if you like it before committing. Ok, Goldfish, come to CA with me? Thanks! read more

We took our 16 month old here for about a month before canceling our lessons. The lessons were good, but how the place is run is not, especially for the price. Our first day we weren't given a tour so didn't really know where we could sit or when to go in. We were kind of left to our own devices. Our lessons were Sunday's and they were complete mayhem. The lack of real locker rooms is a huge problem. There is no space to get changed, and you stand dripping wet while waiting. It was crowded crowded crowded. They schedule classes directly after one another so once you jump out, people are immediately jumping in for the next lesson and you feel extremely rushed. Frankly, with such a small kid, it was stressful going here every week. When we canceled, we told them it was because they seemed overbooked and were too crowded. We were told we could switch to another day and it would be less crowded. Um, excuse me? Last I checked I was paying the same for my lessons as kids whose parents could bring them during the week. The final cherry on top was an additional charge for $20 after we had canceled. We were never told we would be charged again, and we didn't use the lesson (we were under the impression when we canceled that meant no lessons the next month). It was super shady, and they said they would look into it at their next meeting and get back to me. Never heard from them again and I wasn't refunded the money. I've been telling all of my mom friends to save their money and go elsewhere. read more

We absolutely LOVE Goldfish swim school. So does our daughter who has been attending since she was 6mo. Our instructor, Ms. Olivia, is THE BEST by a long shot. We have had her for all of our classes since attending and she is so caring, patient, and enthusiastic with her groups compared to others that have filled in for her when she is not able to teach. I would highly recommend Goldfish to anyone looking to have their child be comfortable and confident in the water. Since our family is around lakes and pools often, we wanted our kids to enjoy going in the water and have good swim and safety habits from the get go. The only reason I will not give them 5-stars is the changing/locker room area is a goat rodeo. Never enough rooms, a major lack of any hooks or shelves inside them to hang items, etc. It just seems like it could be better laid out and thought out overall. The staff here are all super friendly! Two thumbs up! read more

What can I say? Jenny and Chris McCuiston have developed a winning formula for teaching youngsters to swim. They offer ongoing small group lessons with instructors that seem to really like what they do. Who would have thought engaged employees would make a difference? Boy, not me. Okay really, their instructors really are very good. Kids are smiling every moment of their lesson. Their facility is well thought out and uses the space very well. On a recent camping trip, swim lesson girl did just fine swimming in the lake. Thanks Goldfish! read more

We signed our 6 month son up for classes after looking at a few options in the area such as YMCA, Troy Community and Macomb County classes. We had heard good things about this place and I am a firm believer that if you do something, do it well and you will succeed, which is what I have experienced for the past 3 weeks my son has attended classes. Sure it is a little more expensive than other alternatives but this is really such a neat business idea and is very well executed. From the cool little 'cabana' changing rooms to the tables stocked with diapers, wipes and bumbo's, you can tell they have put a lot of thought into the business. For the adults who get into the pool with their children, they even have blow drying stations, which I thought was a nice touch. Everything about the atmosphere of the building makes you feel like the extra money spent is worth it. The teachers are very good with the kids and it shows, however, it has only been a few weeks for my son and it is hard to tell long term if he will swim quicker than others but it looks promising so far! read more

My son has been attending lessons for about a month and he's made incredible progress. Six weeks ago he was terrified of being in water after a near drowning experience and he just swam independently and floated on his own today. It's very crowded and difficult to get a seat to watch as there are many classes going on at once. The wait for a changing room can be long and it seems rushed at times. We are also weekend people so I'm sure that makes a difference. The best part of this place is the staff. They are young people but seem to be incredibly invested in their work. My son's instructor, Sam is beyond amazing! I literally could not have hand-picked a better teacher for him. Best tips-They have a dryer for bathing suits, showers to rinse off and hair dryers. A free trial lesson is available in most cases and it's great for the kiddos to see if they like it. It's kinda like a gym membership where they charge monthly until you stop which is okay with me since I'd love for my child to continue here. read more

Can't say enough of goldfish. Staff is amazing and both our children love it here! Clean, cute little changing rooms, showers, blow dryers, snack shack! Love It! read more

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We have loved our experience at Goldfish. We started in September and I wasn't sure how long we'd stick with it, but 9 months later we are so glad that we took our little man for lessons here. First of all, my son loves his teacher. He's a great match! He's funny but also super caring. He is able to read my son's mood and adjust accordingly. He's the best! Watching the progress that he has made had been absolutely amazing. He has gained so much confidence. It is really important to me that he is comfortable in the water and knows safety rules, too. They cover a lot in the 30 minute sessions. I have been so pleased! And, this is important, too -- my son loves swimming now! We went to Florida recently and we couldn't get him out of the pool. So, it's been a success for us. 100%. No complaints here. It is a bit pricier than some other lessons in the area. But honestly, it is worth it. The progress is a lot different from other lessons that I've seen. read more

We were impressed with this facility on our first visit. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. The pool was warm and comfortable and the teacher, Gianna did an amazing job with our son. She had the perfect techniques for getting him excited about swimming and explaining things thoroughly so we could both understand. We signed up for another lesson and we may sign up for more lessons. read more

I would really like to give this place 3.5 stars. We have a 5 month old attending. PROS: - Warm, chemical-friendly pool for infants - Crazy good amenities (suit dryer, bumbos, slide, blow dryers, etc.) - Knowledgeable staff CONS: - Sorry for the pun, but felt like a fish in the sea. The place was a total madhouse. No organization of where to be when, and we had to ask several different people what was going on. - So loud we couldn't hear what the instructor was telling us to do - The price. $25 administrative fee plus 78/month for 1 lesson a week. - lessons are only 30 minutes, and they jammed so many activities into a lesson that we literally were barely halfway done with one before they'd moved onto the next. I thought she was joking at first with how fast she was moving. - If a lesson starts late, they don't go late. Our 4pm class was pushed back 10 minutes, but still ended at 4:30. - Their "free swim" hours are from noon-1 m-thur. Their Friday "free swim" is $5 from 6:30p-8:00. Gee, thanks. All in all, this place has so much potential, but I wanted to come out of these lessons as having fun with my daughter's first lessons, not feeling like a crazed mom that needs some Zantex or whatever that stuff is. I'd recommend this place simply since there is nothing else like it, but be prepared for chaos. read more

Great swim school for kids, I have two kids that go there now and it is wonderful. The swim instructors are and the kids love it, so win-win! read more

I take my 8 month old to Goldfish Swim School and I am very impressed with the classes so far. They really pack a lot of action into a 30 minute class where there's something for my little guy to do while the teacher helps everyone learn. The classes are very age appropriate & he really enjoys the songs and activities. The teacher is always friendly and engaging as well. The facility itself is very clean & decorated in a way that makes it a very friendly swimming & learning environment. There are changing rooms, hair dryers, showers, a snack bar, little shop for swim suits & waiting room with a variety of toys and even high chairs to keep the little ones happy while waiting. They even give out complimentary balloons if you ask! I think it's absolutely worth the price & they are flexible with rescheduling if you miss a class. All you have to do is be sure to call them and let them know you're not able to attend and they give you credit to make up the class at a later date. Overall, I'm super happy with the experience and would recommend Goldfish Swim School to anyone! read more

Goldfish Swim School - Birmingham - Such a great swim school. Great options for all ages of children - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

The staff goes above and beyond to make sure my kids have a great experience. Also, the change in their swimming ability, in such a short period of time, has been amazing! read more

Best swim instructors, gentle and caring! My son was kickinband screaming his way into the pool and the teachers handled him very well, I walked away and they actually got him to calm down and swim, by the second time he was still not happy about swimming but by the third lesson he was running to get into the pool! They really put my mind to ease because they know how to really help the child get comfortable with them and the water! Schedules are very accommodating! read more

My son had no water experience, and now he looks forward to going to "swim school". We changed instructors to find a good match for his personality and his new instructor has tapped his inner fish. read more

My 9 month old daughter has been taking classes here summer and absolutely loves it! The (indoor) pool is warm and the staff manages to keep the whole place very clean - which is hard considering how many littles are in and out every day! The instructors are great with babies and very patient. Getting out to shower can be a bit hectic since the baby class and big kid class end at the same time. I opt to just rinse her under the shower without soap since she is very fussy. I wish classes were more than just once a week but other than that and/or the price was a little cheaper, its a great place for water fun!! read more

My kid loves these classes, I have to get in the pool since he is so young. I typically can only go on weekends and those days are busy. Plan on waiting in lines to change after swimming. If you do not need to go on the weekend, I would recommend picking another time. I know my little darling and I both enjoy the quality time these classes provide. read more

At this present time, I have an issue with a duplicate payment (paid cash) and my credit card on file was utilized 15 days later, I am anxiously awaiting for this issue to be resolved and I will follow up with my review. My grandchildren comes to MI every summer and I had them enrolled for several classes last summer and 2 Jumpstart clinics this summer and I truly am impressed with the services that is provided and my grandchildren love their experience at the Goldfish Swim school in Birmingham, MI. They will be returning to TX in 2 weeks and they will surely share with their friends and classmates their summer experiences and their favorable experience at Goldfish. I truly hope that this duplicate payment issue is resolved expeditiously by the Franchise Owners (Mr. and Mrs. M_________) and the money is credited to my account ASAP. Ms. D. Garnett read more

We love Goldfish! The instructors are great with our daughter and she has learned so much in a short time.

They are efficient and helpful. I think it's worth the money and the time for your kids to learn safety in the water.

My sons teacher is Joey and he loves it there. I enjoy the get in get out time slot I've selected - Very clean place, personable young staff who's always ready to assist when needed I have no complaints. read more

We love it here. My daughter started taking swim lessons here a few months ago and warmed up to the teacher, Mr. Joey right from the start. She just graduated to the next level "junior 2" and has grown so much more confident and capable in the water. I'm amazed at her progress! read more

Great teachers. Any concerns are addressed on one to one basis. My child didn't feel comfortable in the new level but it was addressed immediately by changing the class with a teacher who is more friendly with the kids. read more

We take both our kids here and it's the only school they never complain about. I've been trying to get my daughter (now 6 yrs old) to swim since she was 6 months old, but nothing really worked until we came here. Within weeks we saw a dramatic difference. The staff is amazing and they do not fool around. Kids actually learn how to swim here-not just feel comfortable in the water with some floaties. read more

Called to get pricing on swim lessons for my two children. Shuffled our schedule for a week and picked a time and dates that would work with our schedule, my wife called back a week later to sign them up. Was then informed the price would be $50 more. The lady on the phone nor the manager could care less that we were given a different price and would not honor it. I have no problem paying good money for my children's swim lessons, at the same time honesty and integrity go a long way. Needless to say we signed them up elsewhere. read more

I disagree completely. My child was in a Saturday morning lesson, and I clearly smelled alcohol on the breath of one of the instructors. Goldfish provides a very cute atmosphere, but there is definitely a lack of professionalism on the part of at least a few of the instructors. My child will not be going back! read more

I'm a nanny and I bring the two children I watch here once per week. I've never had a bad experience on site, but just now their mother asked me to reschedule lessons. I Googled them and their Google business page said they opened at 9:00 a.m. I gave them a call at 9:10 and received an automated message stating they were closed. I then went to their website to see what their hours are and as of right now, they're not listed! They occasionally seem a bit disorganized but what I can say is that all the instructors I've met are so friendly and kind, and the people working the front desk always interact with the kids and make them feel welcome. read more