After the awesome reviews and several referrals to join Starke, I toured the facility and joined. My first week I wish I had not committed myself to a year. Here are the cons in my personal opinion:
I am a avid runner, I come from a large gym w/ a track inside the facility. I come from a small town also so its not as "uppity" as it seems, I am just use to space and being able to do my own thing when I am wanting to. Coming to Starke, I was impressed with the new equipment, however, my first week there I wish I had never joined and to this day I can't stand I pay for a gym I barely use. here are my reasons why and I can't stop the membership because they want to charge you for not liking their place, everything to me seems to be about "money" and I can't stand that aspect also. I also new I would have to down size, I never expected it to be like the gym I came from, but when the gym is so packed you can't even do what you are wanting to do, there is an issue, the machines literally seem like they are sitting on top of each other, just too small for me.
-They charge you a one-time $100 "maintenance" fee your 3rd month there.
-$15 EACH VISIT for a guest, my boyfriend works out heavily, and we enjoy working out together for motivation, well that's not going to happen because they charge for every single guest visit and threaten to close your account if you even think about bringing someone in (I am law Enforcement so I would never do such a thing, but just throwing that out there, they make their point very clear) We drive a little ways out to go to my boyfriends gym, Focus Fit and he pays $20 a month and its a wide open gym and awesome, I love it!
-if you plan to work out after work, GOOD LUCK! Won't happen, I had a lady get pissed off at me while I was attempting to stretch I got in her "space" and I had to move over where there is little to NO room upstairs to stretch before doing your laps or lifting weights. Pathetic! The weight machines down stairs are over-run, good luck finding a machine, which puts me to working out atleast 7-8pm and with someone that has sleep issues, and works full time, the only option is that time, which doesn't work for me so usually I never go anyways.
-they send you these ALL CAPS emails saying that you are being watched on camera, and to not bring guests or you will be caught if you don't pay, just absurd! I understand some people may do that and I get the warning but seriously?
-they charge you extra for any classes they offer, MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY...
-tanning beds do OK, they are funny sometimes, have to sit there and work with them forever to get the timer to come on but once they do, its all good.
-Just overall not a happy customer, and I can't get out of my commitment, which was my own fault, I should have worked out a week or been more observant before agreeing, but I had just moved to the area and was very eager to get back into the gym, and with a commute of only 10 minutes from my home, a nice new facility, tanning beds, and all the great reviews, I couldn't help but join. super my bad! read more