I've been a member of Gold's for over 8 years and the Van Ness location is by far the worst location in the metro area. The staff is unfriendly, rude and too busy socializing to interact with the clients. Now, not all Gold's locations are this way...I actually make the effort to drive into Arlington to workout as the locations in Ballston, Clarendon, and even Bailey's Crossroads are a million times better than this location. If you do have to workout in Van Ness set your expectations low and you will not be disappointing. Also, mornings seem to be less crowded than the evenings and the place is almost empty if you can make it in the middle of the day. read more

This location is the closest to where I live and it's unfortunate that I went all the way to Capitol Hill to get my membership just because of a bad experience I had with the sales person. I tried to get my training plan moved to Van Ness but never heard back from them. The staff is generally not very professional. Machines can be broken for weeks without being fixed. read more

I'm sure there are no surprises when it comes to Gold's Gym -- it's a brand that everyone is familiar with, on some level. I haven't had any problems with my membership or payments, and I've been going to this one for about five months or so. It's much, much less expensive than Washington Sports Club, where I belonged for two years when I lived in Glover Park. I joined with my friend and we got a crazy deal for mere pennies a month. Well, maybe not pennies, but you get the picture. Gold's is also much bigger than WSC. I've never gone to Gold's and had to sit and wait for a machine like I did during peak WSC hours. Not to knock WSC, because I did enjoy going there a lot. Those little TVs in the machines were amazing. I was able to watch Lifetime movies, That 70s Show, Monk ... ahh. OK those little TVs are awesome. But Gold's is huge, and the whole point of going to the gym is to work out, not watch TV (I guess). This Gold's is also a hop, skip, and jump from my apartment, so hopefully my motivation won't waver during the cold winter months. Gold's has two floors, with the free weights downstairs (I never go there) and the cardio and weight machines upstairs. They also sell drinks and one of my favorite foods -- Luna bars! read more

Many of the reviews are on point. The equipment needs to be replaced, not all, but much of it. It is very annoying arriving at 5:00 am and having to remove weights from various apparatus form the previous day. I go when the gym first opens because its difficult to go in the evening and too crowded. However, I spend too much time removing weights or looking for barbells. it is a shame that a pair of barbells is not represented for all the different weights. The guy who opens the gym speaks everyday and seems like a decent guy; however, I would prefer that he re-racked the weights before customers arrived if the night staff was too irresponsible to do so. I am lucky that I get to return home to shit, shave, and shower because the male restroom is disgusting. I am almost positive that if the health department came through and did a fecal matter test they would find it on the wall and elsewhere. Even if the gym is not filled with the newest equipment, it would be nice if it were consistently clean, if the weights were re-racked, if there were always paper towels and hand sanitizer in the dispensers located throughout the gym, and if the wall clocks could be synchronized. These are things that don't required a lot of additional funds; proper management and well-trained staff could fix most of these issues. read more

I joined here for $34 a month on a promo package. Check out the corporate website. They offer plans that the gym itself does not. After paying $85/month at Results Dupont, I am pleased to see that this gym has (for the most part) better equipment and isnt nearly as crowded. The staff is definitely not as nice as Results but I don't really interact with them that much as it is. If you want a no frills gym to lift and use machines, this is your place. If you want yoga, crazy classes, and scented towels, check out Mynt or Results. I would definitely skip WSC altogether...those gyms are pricey for what they offer and CRAZY crowded. read more

I joined the Gold's Gym in Van Ness last spring. The main reason I decided to go with Gold's is because the Van Ness location is less than 2 blocks from my apartment. Although it would have been around the same rate had I joined WSC (via a discount rate through my employer), I just knew that I'd be much less likely to go regularly if I had to travel farther. Location was definitely more important to me than any "extras" or "frills" that another gym (like WSC) might offer. If it's still being offered, definitely take advantage of the 7-day free trial. If it's not, I'm pretty sure you can just stop by, tell them you're interested in joining, and ask if you can try out the facilities free for a couple days. I made sure to go at a couple different times (morning/evening; weekday/weekend) to get an idea of whether the gym would be too crowded at the times I would most likely use it. I also tried one of the classes, which you can do during the free trial period and which are all included in the monthly rate. Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you want about rates, contracts, cancellation policies, etc. Don't let yourself get talked into things that you don't want or need! For example, I didn't need the ability to be able to go to any Gold's I wanted, so my plan restricts me to my "home" gym location - and I pay less because of it. I also had the initiation fee (or whatever it's called) waived and was able to get a month-to-month contract for a lower rate than was initially quoted to me (I pay about $42/month). They are always running promotions, and it never hurts to ask for a better rate, waiver of the initiation fee, etc. The gym is clean and well-lit, the staff is friendly, and the hours are great. I rarely use the locker room, but on the occasions that I have, I have found it to be clean and well-maintained. The gym is great about reminding people to wipe down the machines before/after use, and there are disinfectant bottles/paper towel machines/trash cans throughout the gym to help facilitate this. Free sweat towel service was fairly recently discontinued, which I missed at first, but I just bring my own towels now. It's probably waaay more hygienic this way, too (even though obviously they laundered the towels). I prefer the Cardio Cinema room, which has 3-4 treadmills, 4-5 ellipticals/crossramps, and a bunch of different stationery bikes. It can get crowded in there on weeknights, especially between 6-8pm, but that's to be expected It's great to be able to watch a movie (often a recent DVD release, almost always something within the last decade, and generally an action flick) and work out at the same time. My only qualm is that it seems like at least one of the treadmills is always out of service, and some of the other machines seem in need of service as well. Since I know which ones are rickety/need maintenance, I just avoid them if I can, but if it's crowded, that's not always possible. The main cardio room is a large, open space, with big-screen TVs overhanging. It can get crowded during peak hours, but again, that is to be expected. I've always been able to find an available machine, even if it's not my first choice piece of equipment. In theory, you're asked to limit your use to 30 minutes during peak periods or if someone is waiting - but I've never seen this be an issue. I don't use the weight machines or free weights, but it looks like they've got a good selection of those, too. I don't take as much advantage of the group classes as I should, but I have taken and enjoyed Yoga (with Bernard), and am hoping to try some other classes soon. From what I've heard, the group instructors are very accommodating to "newbies," so if you want to try something new, definitely do it, and don't be afraid to let the instructor know it's your first time! All in all, a good, no-frills/no-nonsense gym. Great location (especially if you live in Van Ness; it's also right near the Van Ness/UDC station and right along several bus lines; I believe they have on-site parking, but I don't know if it's free or how that works - there's street parking too, if you can find it). Good prices, nice staff, clean facilities, varied selection of equipment, Cardio Cinema is a huge plus, good hours, wide selection of classes (included), personal training available (additional cost). read more

Do not use this gym - they try to scam you during cancellation. I wasn't warned about the thirty day cancellation policy, so I was unexpectedly charged for another month. Once I put in the paperwork to cancel it, it was processed incorrectly. They changed the date of cancellation to the day of my billing cycle, charging me a second extra month. I showed up at the gym twice to talk to someone, moved from DC, and have called six times without getting a call back. On top of it - the first few photos on here aren't even of this facility and are completely misleading to the actual shape it's in. read more

This is a Yelp first for me...I've never updated a review for a second time and I'm keeping my 1 Star for these fools. I went in to cancel my plan at the end of my one year contract, I did this 45 days in advance. They told me their cancellation policy is 60 days notice so I had to pay for an additional month after my year membership. This is not an industry standard, this is Gold's taking your money because they can't get it through decent services or products. Instead of paying my $45 payment at the end of my last month that I shouldn't have owed for in the first place, I had to pay an additional $50 in fees and get to look forward to explaining why I couldn't make a payment for a luxury service like the gym anytime I want a loan for a house, business, or otherwise. Some will skip this review because it's to long, some will read it because they're curious what I'm ranting about. If you made it this far, don't go to Gold's. Please tell your friends and loved ones, and if you're bold enough - strangers. read more

This is the second worst gym I've ever been to, and I've been to some bad gyms so that's really saying something. I belonged for a year, and only because it's directly across the street from my apartment and it's rather cheap. Even so, I couldn't take it anymore and broke my contract. My list of grievances: 1. It's HOT! Hot as in warm, not good. Just look at the steamed-up front windows and you'll know what I mean. No other gym in town has steamed up windows, so you know there's a problem. 2. The cleaning crew cleans during the busiest time of day, so you have to dodge vaccums and breathe in Lysol during your workout. Often times, they will spray down the overhead pipes and let bleach drip on people walking below. 3. Despite the cleaners always being in the way, this place is DIRTY! 4. The machines are old. 5. Other members are extremely rude and will use profanity if you accidentally get in their way or try to work in on a piece of equipment. 6. The management does NOT care. When I told the manager why I was canceling my membership, he just shrugged. The fact that this place gets good reviews demonstrates how generally poor gyms in DC are. I highly recommend Results, which is clean, full of new equipment, and run by friendly people. In fact, I happily take Metro to Results rather than subject myself to this crappy Gold's. read more

After my wife received her instructions from the head of the department for sports and rehab from Georgetown as to what equipment and exercises she could do, she went back to this location. My wife has never used the 3 personal training sessions that came with her membership. She has tried several times to ask which the equipment were she was told to use. The front desk folks told her they would get her assistance. They were helpful and never implied they knew. They tried to get her assistance. She never could get one of the trainers to show her the equipment either. She goes during the day and there were trainers standing around. The TVs do not line up with the cardio equipment. We will be cancelling her membership. read more

I like this Gold's. Personally, I find it to be a good option for the members who live in Glover Park. The gym is set up pretty well - sectioned off into two floors. I have been here a few times and never found it to be overcrowded. I always snag the treadmill I want and rarely have to wait too long for a machine. The gym has a free parking at the Tenleytown Giant parking lot - You have to grab a validation ticket from the desk on your way out of the gym. It is nice and is 2 hrs of parking. Small inconvenience that it's a two block walk, but lets get real - If you're going to work out, you should be ok with walking two blocks (exception applicable when it's absolutely freezing). I work in VA and have a gym there and this right by my house so it's not bad. I'd recommend coming to this gym if you're a Gold's member. I'll definitely be back. read more

Pretty terrible gym. Turd management with creepy trainers who gawk at members on cardio machines.

This gym is terrible. They may seem nice in the beginning, but when it comes to your contract ending, it's not actually ended. I have images that show on their own website that my account ended in Oct 2018, and then after that was still charged several times to create a total of over $100. These charges being put on my bank account made it so that I was now short on funds to buy a plane ticket to see my family this Christmas. Their lack of responsibility in handling these matters is disgusting. If you read more reviews on other sites, there are several of us who have had this problem with this gym. Thanks Gold's Gym, I'll now spend my Christmas alone because you guys are complete shit. read more

When I told my friend I was thinking about joining Gold's, she asked me, "Do you own muscle shirts that I don't know about?" Yes, the beefy guy with bulging biceps is the character that comes to mind for Gold's, but the clientele doesn't mirror that image. It's a basic gym with all the usual cardio machines and weights, and the class schedule looks good. The best way to make the most of your buck here is to join with a "roommate." If you're willing to put everyone on the same credit card (at the same address), then family can join for a mere extra $35/mo. The primary card holder likely won't pay nearly as much as the other gyms in the city charge, so this is a steal of a deal! read more

The people who work here are nice, but management is not competent. One example: the equipment there is old, and they rarely bring in new equipment, but recently they brought in several new cardio machines. Good news, right? Except that the new equipment didn't work. So we brought this up to them, and they said they would have someone look at it. Three weeks later, the machines still didn't work. I went back to them and reminded them this has been an issue. They said sorry, but that someone was coming the next day to look at it. That was two months ago. The machines still don't work. After almost four months, they can't get brand new equipment to work. If only someone in management cared. Two months later read more

Should've strongly considered the complaints made below before I signed up. I've lost so much money after trusting the staff. I left another gym because of Golds convenient location and now completely regret it! read more

Just moved to this area from a distant more suburban area in Virginia. I've been using this gym for about 3 months now. It's not too bad if you just want a no-frills gym with weight and cardio machines. They have the weight equipment I need including two squat racks (not including the smith machines) and additional bars you can grab so you can do deadlifts on the floor if the platform is being used for squats. There's a lot of dumbbells too which I think is a golds gym thing. I can tell that space is a premium in DC so I guess they do pretty well for themselves for what they have. When I first came here many of the lockers were broken but since then they've repaired a lot of them. Some other things around the facility are broken or old, like this random ripped couch they keep downstairs or the broken marquee sign that they should probably just take down on the back wall. Never had a problem with the weight equipment though so I won't complain. I signed up with golds at another location so I've only had limited interaction with the staff here but they seem nice. I forgot my key pass one day so the manager showed me how I can scan in using their app which was helpful. Overall not bad, I'll keep coming back. read more

Definitely a no-frills place, which is fine with me. Evenly male/female, not a meat market, and most people keep to themselves in that "don't look anyone in the eyes" gym way. Avoid the 6-7:30 weeknight hours if you want to get in and get out, otherwise you might need a Plan B for your cardio. There are enough weight machines and free weights (new and old) on both floors that you shouldn't have a problem with weight training at this time. As for it being "hot," it's a gym...people sweat and exhale and we don't exactly live in an arid climate, so of course the windows will steam up. Frankly, I don't mind it because then I don't have to look at the fat tourists gawking as they waddle back to the Day's Inn. Rooftop parking is available for $10 a month, I think. Two tanning rooms as well. I've been a member for 3 years, and this past year has seen a lot of changes: new equipment, upgraded locker rooms and staff that is a lot friendlier than the former staff. read more

I've only been going to this location for about a week, but so far I'm satisfied. I go during the earlier afternoon to avoid the crowds that come with rush hour, but I know most people don't have the luxury of a free early afternoon. The staff has been helpful and straight forward. I signed up for a month-long temporary membership, that while slightly expensive ($75) is well worth the cost if you plan to workout regularly and don't live in DC year round. The equipment is new, clean, and in good working order. I've been to gyms before that suffer from outdated equipment and frequent malfunctions, but not here. There is a paucity of dumbbells in the range between 20-35 lbs, so sometimes there can be a wait even during low traffic times. The spaces for stretching or ab workouts could use some improvement. The padding is fine, but the area seems to be an after thought tucked away in the corner. There is space upstairs, but it's right by a walkway. I'm not shy, but I don't like tons of traffic while I'm doing planks or jack-knifes. Location is very convenient for Red Line users. Final Verdict: Very satisfactory experience during middle of the day. Beware of bigger crowds and longer waits during the rush hour. Good facilities. Slightly expensive for a temporary membership. read more

I love this gym. The staff are friendly as are the other gym members. There are enough treadmills and bikes so that I've never had to wait. The class instructors are very professional. They have a white board where they write the current status of any maintenance activities or feedback to customer suggestions. This way you get the feeling they care about keeping the gym in good condition. I've worked regularly with Caitlin, a personal trainer there and she is excellent. She has a degree in a related field, and has worked for a physical therapy office so she understands how to protect the body from injuries. Often, she does the exercises with you so you feel motivated to work hard. read more

Be careful! We've been trying to cancel our membership to this gym for nearly two months; they either lost or failed to file the form that my son filled out the day before he left town (that was early July), and they keep charging us, despite repeated phone calls -- $260 worth so far. I may have to cancel my credit card to deal with this, and I will definitely complain to the DC consumer affairs division. read more

I used this gym for over a year and I have to say that I did not expect the outright fraud that occurred after I cancelled my membership. I have continued to be charged several months after I cancelled my membership even though I was told several times by employees that the charges would stop after two more payments. I had to report this fraud of a business to my credit card company. This is why I am giving it one star. Sadly, the bad taste this experience left in my mouth has more than outweighed my many good memories there. As for the gym itself, the staff was always very friendly and nice. The gym is small but hey, this is DC. It comes with the territory. Aside from some constantly leaky pipes above the smith machine and smelly sinks I have no complaints about the equipment or facilities. It was a convenient place for me to work out. read more

The Van Ness Gold's Gym isn't a bad gym at all, it's spacious, cheap, and it doesn't get too too packed when I go. The staff is always very friendly which is nice. The only thing I'm kinda sad of is the lack of treadmills with personal TV's! All the other Gold's I've been to usually have them! How else am I supposed to get my real housewives of Beverly Hills on while I exercise?! :( Besides that, it's at a convenient location and the membership is cheap. read more

Very rude guy who attended the phone over the weekend. He said he was going to block my number for asking questions really?

Group Ex at this gym has gone steadily downhill. Instructors leave because of poor conditions and pay, and are not replaced. No matter what members do, the management says they cannot recruit instructors, for example, for morning cycling, in Washington, DC-- the nation's capital, a metropolis-- is this possible? Sound equipment often does not work. Often fans, heating, lights do not work. Clocks don't get replaced. Ceiling in the cycling room leaks. Why doesn't the owner take some pride? read more

I love this location. Super low key! Omer that works the front desk is friendly, always smiling and helpful. The showers are clean! The reason why I didn't give this review 5 stars is because the cardio equipment needs some updating. The treadmills are loud as heck! And the elipitical machines needs replacing. Parking sucks in the evening. But that doesnt apply to me really beause I clock in the gym around 6am haha. read more

I would say that I love this place, but there are certain things that can definitely change my mind: a) I decided to join because I wanted to use the cardio cinema on a regular basis. The problem is that the audio is not great and they quite often forget to put subtitles (I've had to ask them to put them 80% of the time). This morning, cardio cinema was completely off. Lights went on, no movie was playing. I knew I could have asked for them to turn off the lights and play the movie, but it would have just taken so much more time. b) When I first went to check it out, they were also pretty aggressive about it. They first offer you an outrageously expensive package, but you can always get the "unique discount for friends." I was a bit upset over the fact that they gave me a one-day pass to check it out and when I tried using it, they gave me an attitude over who had given it to me and took them a while to determine whether I could actually use it. My roommate wanted to use their 7-day pass and, even if the website does not say anything about it not applying at Van Ness, they told her the manager had given instructions that it could not be used. c) I tried using the free session with the instructor, but she initially stood me up. I rescheduled and, after telling her I just needed to know details on cardio, she kept insisting I needed a trainer. I felt pushed to say yes for a second appointment, but canceled it as soon as I got home. read more

The worst gym I have EVER been a member of. I move a lot for my career and so I've been a member of quite a few gyms. -There are two semi-working water fountains. -Some of the equipment is falling apart. -The sauna never worked in my months of being a member. - The restrooms were dirty and poorly kept. -The "management" won't call you back when you need help resolving issues with your account (still no call back). - I "took" a cycling class one day, but the instructor showed by 20 minutes late. That was shocking. People move their schedules around to fit in classes! **There is such a sense of disrespect at this gym, that I really hope you shop around and find better quality for your money. You deserve to.** read more

First of all, I go here because this gym is the most convenient to my home. That being said, it's pretty much the worst golds gym in DC. The equipment is constantly broken and takes weeks to get fixed. No one, and I mean NO ONE racks their weights or puts anything away. The place looks like a dump all the time. And the employees? They're either actively rude or just completely apathetic. Especially the manager, who is a total prick. I actually kinda hope they read this, cuz they need to be aware of the lousy job they do at everything. It won't change their behavior of course, cuz, ya know....rude and apathetic. Go elsewhere if you're able read more

My son enjoyed training with Mirandy Forte and when I had a problem with the gym Crysten Mosher at Dallas headquarters was extremely helpful in resolving. read more

Gold's has everything I need. Lots of weights, lots of cardio equipment, it's decked out with everything I personally need and more...5 stars read more

Very cost effective, decent equipment, great mix of people who use the gym (from serious athletes to senior citizens). No big egos/bs. Great for powerlifters (but could use at least 2 more good bars). If you are looking for a basic/no nonsense gym to get it done, this place is for you. If you are looking for a place to pamper you and get cucumber facials, look elsewhere. read more

My boyfriend goes to this gym. He wanted me to try a class there with him. I signed up for the guest pass online. A trainer called me within minutes and confirmed that I would visit the gym the following day. He asked if I was local, and I said yes. He did not say that I had to live within a few blocks of the gym. When I arrived, the girl at the front looked at my I.D. And said I couldn't use the pass because I live in silver spring. I explained that I work in DC and live on the red line and that no one has told me the pass was only good for people living within a few blocks of the gym. I asked to speak to the manager. He was rude and completely lacked any customer service or business skills. He insisted that I pay to workout and compared me to the "people who come from philly on holidays and just want a free workout." I explained again that I live in the DMV, just a few Miles away, and work in DC and that my boyfriend - a member of his gym- wanted me to join. I asked him again if he'd let me work out with the pass. He refused. The gym was empty, so it amazed me that he was turning locals away when they had been referred by members. I had to go back to my own gym. I will never go to golds gym again. No wonder they're losing customers read more

Worst Gym ever. Do not go here, they tell you that cancelling is free but it's not. It's over $70!!! Worst customer service you can possibly imagine. Do not trust them it's no wonder they've got 2 stars with nearly 100 reviews read more

Washington Sports Club has got nothing on these guys in terms of the hustle and the "bait-and-switch" like Gold's Gym here on Connecticut Avenue. These guys are hyper-aggressive in getting you to join, enticing you with their "Low monthly dues" and "$9.99 per week" promotions. You can do better, my friends. I met with Lamar Tuesday night, February 28th, the last night that they were offering a Free 7-Day VIP Pass promotion. Unfortunately, he informed me that they did not have any more 7-day VIP passes available and so that he offered me a 5-day VIP pass. Allow me to point out, that Foursquare and the Gold's Gym website allow you to get a 7-day pass just for checking in, so the promotion is bogus and the time-sensitive nature is more or less manufactured really that much of a deal above their baseline promotions. Nevertheless, he informed me that by selecting my start date to be March 1st, I would be able to continue until March 5th. On Friday, March 2nd, I went to the gym at 10:15 AM. I was met by the desk girl at the front, who informed me that the pass had "expired," that the start date was 2/28 and that the END DATE would be the "Join date" or March 1st, and therefore, my pass was only valid for 2/28, 2/29 and 3/1 and had therefore expired. She instead offered me the "opportunity" to work out today for the daily fee. Let me also point out that by receiving one of their business cards, it provides you with a "one day guest pass," which I received two: one of Lamar and another of the general manager. In total, I got to tour the gym, which anyone can do, but never got a chance to work out at the gym. Workouts are a great way for me to relieve stress, from the daily grind of being a resident in a high-pressure environment such as the District of Columbia. I count on them and their subsequent release of endorphins post-workout to feel better when I'm having a bad day, one of which I was having the day before, in fact one of the worst days I had had in recent memory. Given the bait and switch and the intentional, unethical practices of Gold's Gym in their promotional efforts to get me to join their gym, it is safe to say that I wouldn't want to spend my money here and would avoid this gym at all costs. How many of you have heard horror stories of national chain-brand gyms continuing to charge your credit card even after you cancel? Of course, I can't speak the same for all of Gold's Gyms in the area. Perhaps others are different, but I would advise staying away from this location. Don't even try to e-mail them at the e-mail address provided on their website either; it bounces your e-mail right back. Furthermore, based on this experience, I will exercise my American right as a consumer to not give my business to this establishment and I don't see myself ever joining a Gold's Gym in my lifetime. In short, chances are, if you're reading Yelp, this isn't your type of gym. They're only interested in being able to trick you. read more

This has got to be the rudest, most abrasive staff in any gym I have ever been to. I wanted a price to join -- so the salesmen starts with his spiel and I cut him off and say I would like the price. Then he says, well, if you want to know the price you need to talk to a manager, the manager says he is not allowed to give out a price before arranging a tour, etc. horrible read more

This place is awful. They do not secure your personal information. All of your credit card numbers and billing addresses are stores on site in a file cabinet. How do I know? Because someone charged $1200 on my debit card. Sure it could have been anyone anywhere but they actually used my billing address! The only thing wrong was the apartment number, which, was the same apartment number I wrote on the golds membership form. Coincidence? Hmm. When I went to the manager to suggest they shred this information, he was belligerent, threatened to hang up on me, and refused to even discuss the possibility of a breech. Guard your Information! They're just plain sloppy. read more

Don't do it. There are other gyms in Washington DC that have more honest and equitable business practices. The one star I give here is less for this particular gym and more for Gold's Gym corporate practices. Setting up a membership is easy, canceling it is unreasonably difficult. I used the gym (which is a run of the mill, mid-range facility) during a summer internship. I moved across the country for a graduate program, and in my haste I forgot to cancel my gym membership. I continued to have the monthly fee pulled from my account. Well that's fine, that is my fault. But the problems began after I had to replace my debit card. I received a call from Gold's Gym asking my to update my information and pay the last month's fees. I realized that I was still being charged for being a member, so I sucked up the last 4 or 5 months of membership fees where I never used the gym, and just asked that my account be canceled. We went around for a little while on the phone, and they were making the cancellation process unnecessarily difficult. But I finally reached a resolution and the employee told me the membership would be canceled. Fast forward to present day, I am being hounded by a collections agency for 75 dollars worth of fees they claim I owe, AFTER I had attempted to cancel my membership with them. After waiting an hour on hold I got ahold of someone at the corporate office who (naturally) refused to budge. He also told me he "could not" officially cancel my membership (even though I begged him to do this) until I paid off the 75 dollars to the collections agency. We went around and around on this point. If he feels there has been a breech of contract, it's his duty to mitigate damages... In any case, my larger point is that Gold's Gym is simply not worth the hassle. They use a combination of deceptive business practices designed to suck extra money out of their customers. You will quickly find that the time and money you thought you saved by going to this location will be completely negated down the road when you try to end your membership and and they try and shake you down for an extra 50, 75, or 100 dollars. DC is full of other decent gyms, and I recommend you forgo Gold's and use on of the other ones. read more

This gym is a DISGRACE. Today, three of the four stalls in the women's locker room were either overflowing, leaking, or filled with someone's soiled workout clothes. Several of the hand dryers were missing. The sauna has been broken for several months. The sinks are leaking. The floor in the main gym room was slippery from rain-soaked shoes and no cleaning people on staff to mop up. Typically, 80 per cent of the hand sanitizers are empty. The spin room has a leaking ceiling and broken bikes stand at the side of the room literally for years. Typically, the mikes in the main group ex room either don't work or have such back feedback that it's better when the instructors don't use them. The gym keeps dropping group ex classes on the excuse that instructors can't be found. How about paying instructors more? Members deserve a rebate for this enduring this mess! read more

Bait and switch specialists. A few years ago, i signed up for a "lifetime" guarantee, wherein i paid an inordinately high entrance fee (i.e., several hundred dollars) in exchange for Gold's fixing the price of their monthly premium at a set amount. A few years into the contract, at the beginning of each year, I started receiving postcards in tiny print telling me that they were raising the fees. The excuse was that costs of maintaining the gym were going up. They didn't mention anything about the contract, or the huge windfall they received when they signed me up. This is a class-action suit in waiting. These people are rip-off artists. And on top of that, most of the gyms are dark and dingy. The people who run these places are slimy. Buyer beware. read more