Gold’s Gym

I unfortunately signed up with Golds Gym. Nobody told me that I will be locked in for one year! Yes, we r supposed to read the contract and I didn’t! And yes, they r also suppose to mention that we will be locked in for a year! So if I didn’t read it its on me, but when they didn’t mentioned it how come it’s also n me?
Anyway! They for some reason didn’t ran my credit card for 1.5 month and than I was charged 4 times the amount !!! They r claiming that there was no funds on my card. So I’ve called my Bank and was assured that money was there whole time and NOBODY from Golds Gym even had an attempt to charge my card. I called Golds Gym accounting and those people r rude and won’t hear anything. They think they can pull any amount they want from my card!
I have demanded to show to me where in the Agreement it says that they can pull any amount they want. Obviously they can’t find that clause in the contract! All they r saying that they don’t care about my bank confirming that they never ran my card. They still want to get my money! I’ve canceled my credit card, requested to speak with their manager who was suddenly unavailable!!! Now I have to fight with them so this bogus tramped contract won’t accumulate $ 600 for the time I won’t be going there and won’t go on my record!
They r thieves !!! Camesha, the last from their customer service kept interrupting me and was extremely rude!

Best gym ever — great community and great facility.

I joined this gym last January as an affordable way to take spin and yoga classes. After a few visits (they pressured me into signing before I had even been able to use the 2 week free trial I was sent), I decided I didn’t like the teachers (especially the guy who talks in a cartoon voice and spends the whole class telling us our form is wrong instead of pumping us up like good spin studios do) and stopped going. I knew I was locked in for a year so I suffered through the $ 50/​month payments waiting until 2016 so that I could finally cancel.
On January 2, I called to ensure my membership wouldn’t auto-​renew. The guy that answered assured me that my membership ended on the 7^th and that I wouldn’t be charged again. When I was charged on the 8^th anyway I called to see what happened and get it refunded. The woman I spoke with said she couldn’t do anything and I would have to speak to a manager, who didn’t get in until 2 days later. She took my name and said someone would call me.
Since no one called me, I called back today (the 12^th) and was finally able to speak to a manager. She told me not only would I continue to be charged unless I go cancel through another website (never mentioned before) but that I likely couldn’t be refunded. I would have to call another number to try to get a refund. After putting in my info, the website informed me I would be charged TWICE more before my cancellation would be processed.
Typical gym BS that loops you in and then never lets you get out of your membership. Also, the floors and equipment are dirty (a big deal when you take a class with floor work). They don’t even clean the studio after each class.

I’ll preface this by saying that I have been going to Gold’s for over 10 years. Despite no one ever re-​racking weights or using towels (the machines are disgusting, tattered and constantly covered in sweat), and how often the machines are broken, I still liked it because it was big and had open air. I even kept my membership open for months after I herniated a disk in my back because when I healed up I wanted to return.
My loyalty became a problem.
Apparently a card I had on file expired while I was injured. Since I hadn’t been to the gym in months (despite still paying them), I didn’t know this and no one at Gold’s Venice decided to call me to tell me. INSTEAD, they referred me to corporate who then sicked a DEBT COLLECTIONS agency on me for the $ 32 I owed plus a late fee they tacked on (HOW NICE OF THEM!) of $ 25.
As you can imagine, I was none too happy today to receive the call from the agency, and of course this will ding my credit rating.
This gym can eat my asshole. Great way to reward a member of over 10 years who missed ONE payment because of an expired card with absolutely no consideration or customer service.

How could you not be a fan of this facility? It’s the Mecca of body building for a reason. I arrived at 6 AM, and to my surprise, I encountered a full parking lot. Thankfully, a vehicle was exiting after about a minute of waiting for an available spot. There must be parking spaces for perhaps 30 vehicles. I purchased a one day guest pass. The staff was courteous and shared with me that I will certainly see a few celebrities. I certainly did. Magic Johnson, Arnold, and Paul Rudd were there among others during my 3 hour visit.
Now, as for the gym, it’s an old gym that does not remotely resemble a health club. The restrooms are small and old. The water fountains are outdated and old. The locker room is old and outdated. They don’t have towels and you have to provide pretty much everything for your post workout shower. Also, you must provide your own lock for your outdated locker.
3 large work out areas (rooms) along with an outdoor cross fit working out area. Plenty of options for all fitness seekers. Free wights, ellipticals, tread mills, etc. I will be back to work out at this historic venue next time I’m in town.

Now before I start my review, I must say that I went to other gyms in the area. Couldn’t picture myself working out at a mall so I did skip that Gold’s Gym. I tried the local YMCA and found it to be too small with kids running allover the place. Before I even stepped inside the Mecca, I got a phone call setting up my appointment w/​a free personal training. I arrived, but the front desk people had no idea what I was talking about. Being a direct individual, I asked for a tour in the meantime while they figured things out. I was blown away. There is no pool, no fancy amenities at all. It’s a rough place with a lot of grit. About 90% of the members here are in shape. I felt soo overweight/​out of shape compared to everyone else, and this feeling got me immediately motivated. Due the confusion, I was set to have the session scheduled the next day. Did the «fit test» and was shocked as to how much I could not do. I recently did have a bad experience with the front desk people failing to call me back on the greatest personal training deal ever, but being a direct individual-​I spoke to the manager and she was great! Got me the deal and even added that additional training for the front desk was going to happen. Of course, I am very pleased when Management takes corrective action.
Bottom line: This is a great gym, a fantastic gym that motivates me to push myself – In addition, if you talk to fellow members-​they are upbeat & helpful individuals. Plus you see some really big celebs here time to time – but I never recognize them lol, until someone tells me who they are. (PS, for my people who love the cardio machines-​there are plenty)
Special Shoutout to Kelsey who works in sales-​she answers all of my questions. I try to talk to her when I can. When those bad incidents happened, she wasn’t working. And shoutout to Alex-​great trainer if you want someone to not only push you-​but to do so with a safety first mentality.

Obviously not the newest equipment, or cleanest place in the world, but such inspiration working out here. There’s almost always a squat rack open, which is rare for an LA gym (my EQ has two actual squat racks. WTF). Seen some legends and legends to be training here and always have a great workout myself.

Greatest gym on the planet. Three airplane hangers of the best equipment, plus outdoor area. It’s almost impossible to have a bad workout here.

I’ve canceled my membership after being a loyal member for 6 years.
Golds used to be so special and such a gem in Venice. Now all the employees seem like they were found off of Craigslist. The equipment is so dirty and broken. Everything used to be pretty clean for the most part. The matts in the back always disappear now and this bar thing outside by the bikes almost fell on my head because it wasn’t properly screwed into the ground. Honestly, this whole place is a law suit waiting to happen. The treadmills are always filthy and some shock me. The weights are always all over the place and mixed up. Even when I come when they open its disorganized now. The new manager Jessica is young and oblivious. She should not be running the most famous gym in the world. I’ve tried to complain to her three times and she has blown me off every time. She once was flirting with some guy and would not give me the time of day when I kept saying excuse me and stood there for 5 minutes. She used to work at the front desk, I remember when she was hired, and then got promoted and the promotion must have went to her head because she is rude. There are so many other employees that have worked there longer that would have been better suited for the promotion. The staff at the front desk are now a bunch of air heads. They used to be people who were passionate about working out. Every time I ask them where the matts disappeared, they just look confused and are like «they’re outside.» Not true, I’ll look everywhere. They literally disappear sometimes. Or I’ll tell them a treadmill is not working and the next day I’ll get to the gym and it’s still not working with no sign that says out of order.
Also, in the contract we sign for a membership, it states that you can’t take pictures of people in the gym. They allow camera people in there all the time to film areal shots and people without their permission. It’s so uncomfortable. I just want to work out.
All in all, this place has gone down hill. Corporate needs to step in and find someone worthy of managing the Mecca of Body Building, Golds Gym Venice.
I’ll get my membership back when it’s great again.

The greatest gym in America, maybe the world. You either get it or you don’t. There’s an intangible quality to the gym, it’s legendary– makes want to train harder and harder– it’s very unique and you can put a price on that.
From my perspective if you live within any kind of doable distance from venice and fitness means anything to you there’s no excuse not to go here. Yeah it’s funky, a little run down, no AC, but the «dirtiness» of the gym is overblown. The staff works hard to keep the gym clean, and the equipment maintained. The showers are actually better than a lot of much more expensive gyms. It also has the best equipment in the business.
Miss this gym, there’s really nothing quite like it.

This is an amazing place to workout!
The pro’s
–The place is pretty sanitary
–There’s an outdoor area to workout
–No nonsense workout atmosphere (or atleast feels like it)
— People are motivated to workout
–Good lockers
–Interesting history to the gym
however there are a few cons
— some of the trainer’s/sales staff have an unfriendly demeanor
— sale’s staff really push SALES Hard!
–no basketball court/​racquetball pretty much this place is just to pump iron
— It is very expensive for a day pass

This location is the second from the original Gold’s gym Venice. Your greeted by a small parking lot but a much larger spacious lot across the street. A friendly and professional member of the front desk staff checked me in andI proceeded to the first of 3 humongous rooms with the newest equipment represented by 6 different equipment makers. The equipment is great working order and above average cleanliness. There is a good sized room for classes, although no room for spin classes. There is an outdoor lifting area that is used for tire rolling and dumbbells and pull up bars. Upstairs in the second room is a mezzanine used for stretching and big exercise balls. The locker rooms are above average in space, a just average in terms of cleanliness, there not maintained on a regular basis during the day. The third room which is the largest boasts a huge selection of cardio equipment. numerous TV’s are hanging from the ceiling and on many cardio machines. There is even a posing room to practice your competition presentation in privacy. The pro shop is small but stocked with many protein drinks, protein bars and a nice selection of clothing, lifting belts, wraps and gloves

I used to love this gym but the management is now a bunch of corporate pencil pushers who do not understand how special this gym is.
They have filled up the class schedule with horrible Les Mills class, a boring cookie cutter preplanned class program that gives instructors no creativity. It is now basically McDonald’s.
Management acts like they have complete disdain for the members and any suggestions they present.
I am sure Mr. Golds is not happy with what these corporate wonks have done to the place!

Recommended if you’re a fitness freak like me!!! I have worked out in many gyms on vacation (too many to count) and I had an amazing experience here! For a day pass it cost me $ 20 but it was WORTH IT!!! I don’t understand why this place has gotten bad reviews! Yes, other people who have reviewed this gym have called it a «sweat box» but what do you expect? It’s a gym, not a candle shop!
The place is ginormous and there’s some cool chain powered machines from the 80’s!
The employees and personal trainers were so nice in giving us forms to fill out and helping us! We also met Nico, the manager for the mini store in the gym. She was so sweet when it came to holding our merchandise until we were done working out!
The highlight of my vacation to LA! Now I can say I weight lifted at The Mecca of Body Building!

Alas. I really, really wanted this to work. I live three blocks away and that would have been so wonderful, so easy.
I printed a guest pass from the Golds website, grabbed a water and my keys. I walked over, really looking forward to this. It felt time to move on from yoga.
It was very, very busy: Saturday morning, as expected. I handed my printed pass to the desk and listened in disbelief. The pass was good for those living within seven mile of the Venice location but a drivers license is a requirement to prove that. I explained that I’d walked over only with my key and water and the girl behind the desk shrugged. As did I as I told her I wouldn’t be back.
I know Gold’s is an institution and a great place for bodybuilders and certainly it’s added classes, machines and cleaned up a lot. I also know the very mixed Unilocal reviews, the corporate layers that have billings continue long after a cancellation and the response from Gold’s has essentially been a shrug. Well, on hello, having run into that corporate shrug of abject disregard, I’m completely turned off.
Life is short and I’d rather enjoy the experience of friendly people, courteous treatment and many places strive for that. Alas, Gold’s, you lost me.
Strange that Gold’s is non-​responsive to Unilocal complaints — I didn’t notice even one response offering to resolve any problems. Too bad.

After canceling my membership in person, their employee must have just thrown it away and never completed my request. Realized after two months that they were still charging my card and when I called there was no record of me canceling. They said they’d look into it and call me back, but never did. Went back in person and was told I should just cancel again online…
They won’t refund me for he months they charged, and on top of that I still have to pay for another month. What kind of shit is that?! My mistake for throwing out my copy of the cancelation receipt, didn’t realize I needed to save it that long. Expensive lesson learned.

The Mecca of Bodybuilding. For a reason. NOT Equinox. Not a fu€£Ing health club. This is a weightlifting and bodybuilding gym. If up you want scented towel and a sauna YOU ARE IN THE WRONG PLACE.

It is the best gym that I have ever trained at! I travelled from Australia to train at Golds gym, Venice, and it was the best decision I have ever made.
There is three rooms plus an outdoor training area filled with equipment for every body part. Not forgetting the machines you never knew existed!
The staff are friendly and have been extremely accommodating since I joined as a member a few moths ago. I would recommend Golds to anyone who is a fitness enthusiast or seeking to get in shape. The positive energy alone will make you leave the gym feeling 10x better than when you walked in.

Came here as a guest for the first time 1 month ago. The minute I walked inside golds I automatically became 4 time stronger. It was a dream come true. To be able to workout in the same place were the greatest champions of bodybuilding worked out at. I’ve never felt like a true champion at a gym until I worked out at golds Venice. Has everything you need x3. Everything is just bodybuilding heaven. A bit of old school and new school environment mixed together (although I prefer old school). Staff were alright, but didn’t care much about them I just wanted to contract my muscles, break down muscle fibers and get the biggest pump ever.
This is A GYM not a FITNESS center.
This is my first 5 star review on Unilocal & and a well deserved one. Can’t wait to return to the west coast and workout at the Mecca!

I work out at Crossfit Paradiso and some of the other yoga/​cycling/​bla bla places. But Gold’s is it. I have been going here for 18+ years. I’m just used to it. I’m used to women who have veins bigger than my arms (there are some hard working people at this gym and it’s awesome) and men who sweat androsterone onto the vinyl benches so that I can subcutaneously absorb their investment. Having attended Gold’s for so long, I’m just entrenched.
But it doesn’t mean the place can’t be improved. I mean, it REALLY can.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership and joining is very analog. There are sales people. They call you. They email you. They keep emailing you. I’m not a fan of the hard sell… I want to be left alone. I don’t need a forced «hello» or «goodbye» from the desk staff… I’m in the zone. I’m here to work out.
FACILITIES & «THE SHOCK»
If you’re joining Gold’s from equinox, you’ve got to prepare yourself for culture shock. And bring your own towel too because you’ll need it.
— Antiquated keycard system and has no option for using your smartphone for entrance. You need one of those Vons Club Card thingies on your keychain. Which get lost. And cost $ 10 to replace.
— Awesome outdoor workout area, sadly next to dumpsters so in the summer you’re inhaling garbage. Worse yet, the flooring is made of a petroleum product and on hot sunny days it gets activated so you’re inhaling some serious off-​gassing during your kettle bell swings. (One of the great paradoxes of the health industry is the flooring most gyms seem to use– I found out most are flooring for horse stables)
— The toilets of gold’s gym are a study in sociology. The staff is TIRELESS in their efforts to keep them clean, but the design of the toilets themselves creates an environment of carelessness and stench. It’s not quite 3^rd world, but it rivals… The bathrooms look like they’re from a truck stop and are lit by sterile 6500k fluorescent bulbs. if Golds studied the Broken Window Theory and added a touch of design, I’ll bet people would treat these toilets with respect. Hold your breath and hope for the best.
— The men’s shower stalls are not separated by sexy frosted glass. Grey water spreads between stalls so sandals are a must. The soap is bubble-​gum flavored. It’s kind of funny to walk out of there, totally pumped and veins pressurized to their max, with your balls smelling like bubble gum.
— Jock poop has been so intense in the past that I’ve had to rush out, as the ventilation system is handled by a 1950’s fan on the ground that’s generously blowing from the toilets towards the lockers.
SOME PEOPLE
This place is full of personalities, many hard-​working pro lifters. And a few d-​bags who sit with their car idling in the parking lot waiting for a spot to open up. They’ve come here to exercise but don’t want to walk an extra 150 feet? This is something Gold’s can control but they don’t. Two, sometimes three cars in the middle of the lot, engines running, waiting to get a prime spot for their 1998 E-​class, spewing waste into the air for vanity or using their car as a diesel-​powered bluetooth headset.
EQUIPMENT
Gold’s has everything, even if it’s not the newest thing. But they have some dopey gear as well, the worst of which is the Matrix treadmills. Obviously designed by people who have never run, the Matrix machines don’t have a pace setting or pace read-​out. You really shouldn’t be running indoors anywhere if you live in Venice, but I get it, you want to watch QVC and ESPN at the same time while you smell the heavy cologne of the dude next to you who’s on the phone, sounding important.
Gold’s does not have spinning bikes on the gym floor so you can’t cleat in unless you go upstairs to their dark and sexy indoor cycling room. There are only the standard electric stationery bikes with flat pedals.
I only want the best for you Golds! Start with great managers and some subtle design changes that will stop people from peeing on the walls.