OT: What gym(s) do you guys ball at? OC/LA area

[Speedlot]

TLDR Recommend me a gym.

Man I just.. got... violated at LA Fitness. I walked in with a 3 day pass, with 2 buddies of mind.
Having graduated from college we were ready to get a good gym thing going. So we were like sure let's try this out and see how we like it. I'm aware of how they throw a pitch at you to get you to join right away but w/e. I thought it couldn't be worse than 20 mins. In my dreams.

We walk into the gym and got situated in an office that felt like a porno room in all honesty. Very very uncomfortable. The guy interviewed us about what our goals were. What kind of cash do you have? Credit? Cash? He then toured us around the gym and talked about everything. How new that was, how awesome it is. W/e

Then we came into the front office to yet again another porno room. Here we got harassed for a good 40 mins about joining. My biggest concern of the gym was that they had the swimming pool so hot(I was a swimmer/polo'er in hs). I like my pool in the 70's outdoors. When I asked the salesperson he said it was 82 degrees in door.

I voiced my concern about that and he kept trying to blow me off. "temp doesn't matter, it's all about your own personal strength" WTH?

I simply asked him, well can I at least try it out. Since you know, I have a FREE 3-day pass just like you advertised. He told me to wait and he then got his manager. Sure enough he tells me a story, about how the paint on the walls can't stand 82 degrees anymore. And that the pool is actually 74 degrees. I was oh cool story.. but I still want to try out the gym for the pool. The two of them goes about for a 20 minutes about rates and plans possible. Ultimately i kept telling them that I wanted to TEST the waters literally before I make a commitment. They kept on insisting for me to sign up and that I can cancel in 7 days no hassle. They're like " why not? you can cancel anytime without a burden". I kept repeating that I will make my decision after my 3 day trial is over. They pitched me even more rates that were actually quite tempting. SOmething like 50 bucks a month for 1 + 2 guest. I would've been all over this in all honesty, but at the point, after all that harassing I was through.
They got their GENERAL manager and he came in to talk to me about my wanting to try out the waters. He was well why don't you look at these deals first. 20 mins later I reiterated what I said an hour ago...

Finally he said ok and that he will make an exception. Making my buddies and I few like we're morons or something. That we are getting a great great favor done for us. Holy crap. So my buddies and I went out to our cars to get our stuff to use the gym, and I realized the first guy still had our licenses. So I came back in and asked for it. He was like shocked and did not know what to do. He look at his gm and hesitated then finally gave our licenses back. As I was walking outside again to my buddies I realize that it's been 90minutes, and that the whole thing was soooo sketch that I lost the will to use the gym. My buddies agreed. Stunned. We bailed that place and went go play video games.

[H00PDREAMS]

Good question. I know some dudes in here ball up at UCSB. Who are you dudes?

[EArl]

I play at Rucker park. They call me blink, because im so fast *



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[eseigs]

UCI's gym aka the ARC! Kobe's been known to be spotted for early morning workouts during the offseason too.

[mastermixer]

As you have just found out, all gyms are used car dealerships. The put on the full cout press hard sell. 24 hour, la fit, ballys... It's all the same ****. Just pick the one closest to you.

You have to go in prepared. Do your research online.

And I would stress that when you choose the one you like, sign up for that gym but at a different location. If you live in Hollywood and want to sign up at la fit. Go to Sherman oaks to negotiate. That way you can feel like you can walk out any time, and that you can trulely negotiate without ever having to see the person ever agian.

For what it's worth, I have never heard of anyone paying 50 per month for la fit. It's usually around 25 to 35.
I prepaid for 3 years. And pay around 20 per month averaged out with a +1 guest, any time i go. And after my 3 years. I can continue my contract for a year AT A CHEAPER RATE. And I can renue at that cheap rate every year forever.

Hope this helps, do some research.

[SlavaMedvedenko]

FWIW just don't consider joining Bally's ever. I know a girl who did, the gym close to her house burned down in a fire accident and they refused to refund her yearly subscription and asked her to use a gym that was like 12 miles from her home.

[DEEP3CL]

Speed I can't help but laugh at your story, I myself have a membership at my local LA Fitness. But from reading your story seems to me all they cared about was sucking you up like a 20 dollar hoe.

To me these type of salesmen are nothing but leeches, scum bag money hoes. Half the dudes they have working in those gyms couldn't even show you how to properly use the equipment. I'm a pretty fit guy, been working out with weights for years.....anyway I had one of these brainless turds try to tell me how to do a certain lift I was doing. I said "dude I've been an athlete all my life.....what the hell are you going to tell me that I don't already know" ? His candy ass had to move along with his tail up his ass.

See this is the exact approach you have to take with a salesman, you have to be the aggressor before them. Box them in and their whole approach is useless. On anything you buy in life, do diligent homework. It's just like a coach doing film work.

Just like when I bought my truck, the sales guy is trying to put extras on the ish...I told him man look I know what the hell this truck can do from the torque it puts out to how much it can tow. Let's just talk the numbers. He probably thought I was being a dick, but I wasn't. Fact is I don't need him trying to over state stuff.

Bottom line is this....I annihilate salesmen of any kind. If they sense you don't know what you want they attack like blood thirsty sharks. But I got that harpoon for that ass.......Speed you gotta know what you want.

[Kupchak9]

I see Kobe around sometimes at the gym in my school.

[Speedlot]

Speed I can't help but laugh at your story, I myself have a membership at my local LA Fitness. But from reading your story seems to me all they cared about was sucking you up like a 20 dollar hoe.

To me these type of salesmen are nothing but leeches, scum bag money hoes. Half the dudes they have working in those gyms couldn't even show you how to properly use the equipment. I'm a pretty fit guy, been working out with weights for years.....anyway I had one of these brainless turds try to tell me how to do a certain lift I was doing. I said "dude I've been an athlete all my life.....what the hell are you going to tell me that I don't already know" ? His candy ass had to move along with his tail up his ass.

See this is the exact approach you have to take with a salesman, you have to be the aggressor before them. Box them in and their whole approach is useless. On anything you buy in life, do diligent homework. It's just like a coach doing film work.

Just like when I bought my truck, the sales guy is trying to put extras on the ish...I told him man look I know what the hell this truck can do from the torque it puts out to how much it can tow. Let's just talk the numbers. He probably thought I was being a dick, but I wasn't. Fact is I don't need him trying to over state stuff.

Bottom line is this....I annihilate salesmen of any kind. If they sense you don't know what you want they attack like blood thirsty sharks. But I got that harpoon for that ass.......Speed you gotta know what you want.

Seriously man. I caught all of their BS, but I never call them on it. Learned something with this experience. Thanks for the tip.

[theFRANCHISE]

If you have a costco membership or know a friend that does, 24 hour fitness has some good rates on the memberships deals that costco sells. I got mine 3 years ago it was like $399 for 3 years, which came out to like $11 per month. This included the 24 hour fitness locations that had basketballs courts (24 hour SPORT).

I think if you went to LA Fitness and threw those numbers at them seeing if they could beat or compare it they probably wouldn't give you that run around.

If you are in the OC area http://americansportscenters.com/ is good place. I played in a weekly league there when I used to live in OC. But from what I remember you can just go there and play if no league games are being played.

[Father Time]

I'm in Portland but ball at LA Fitness .