Carolina Fitness

12/20/08

Be smart, and it's the best deal around by Charlie H. at InsiderPages

Contributor at Insider Pages

I've been a member of this gym for over 6 years now. I pay 2 years at a time, as does my wife, always the same price: a little over $400 for 2 years, which is about $17 a month, with childcare and all the classes. That is an incredible deal, considering one yoga class in Carrboro can be $15. The staff members that deal with payments and memberships can definitely be like car dealers, but I give the terms: 2 years, here is what I'm paying, with all the classes and child care, take it or leave it. They always take it, since it is 2 years without any hassle or billings (no extra expenses for them). Even if you leave early, you won't be out much money compared to what you would pay in another gym. Avoid the monthly charges - that could be a big hassle. Some friends have paid more for the same terms, so it is worth trying to bargain them down.

The classes have very good instructors. Carrboro is flowing over with creative, athletic people, and that is reflected in the classes. The yoga is excellent. Our kids have always enjoyed the child care..

This is no fancy place, but they're dealing with a very bad building, and have fixed it up to some degree. The owners live nearby, and this is not a chain anymore, so your money is staying local. Many residents, myself included, have no desire to drive to work out. Save the environment, and walk or ride your bike!

08/29/09

I was tricked

by Tricked2 at Citysearch

Please be careful. I'm *also* one of those people stuck in a two month membership which is automatically debited to my account.

When I was signing up I was told that is the ONLY way to join. I was given NO other option. I have nothing else drafted automatically, and was shocked, but accepted because it was a good deal. I was NOT told that I was in such an INFLEXIBLE two-year commitment. The only way for me to get out of this membership is if I prove that I am disabled or move far, far away. Neither is the case, but I need to quit because I've switched jobs and come home much later and have no more time for the gym.

NOBODY is answering my questions about how to quit and the monthly drafts just keep being extracted from my account. The lady who manages the place maintains that she cannot answer any questions. The contacts that appear on the cancellation sheet are not responsive. You're just left to deal with this yourself, with nobody willing to explain the policy or help you. I'm so worried when I read the other reviews online.

I realize now that this will be a huge many-month ordeal to get out of this for me, which is all the better for the owners, since they can keep extracting their monthly bills from me!!!!

Please, please be careful. Also, please if you're a member, question their policies and help this business turn around their improper practices. More pressure needs to be put on this gym to be more open and honest with their customers. This is a Carrboro landmar, and we need to hold it accountable for what it does to the community members. Please help.

As a final note I have to say the following: I trusted them enough to give them access to monthly drafts from my account. That's my money we're talking about. Now they've turned all mysterious. I do not feel comfortable allowing such people access to my account and funds. The manager who works on location pretends that she has nothing to do with the funds. You cannot get anything done while there. That's a cheap trick to keep you in the dark and give you no options when trying to get membership questions answered. Just like someone else said: everyone refers you to someone else and nobody wants to deal with your problems!

It's a disaster.

Gyms rely on repeat customers. I've been in and out of gyms all my life, and will continue to be. They just lose the prospect of anyone coming back this way.

p.s. Are there ZERO star options?

• Pros: Gym is affordable
• Cons: Scammers. Trick you. Cannot cancel membership