I belonged to a Gold's Gym for a year.
Personally, I had a very bad experience, but know that not all gyms will be like this.
My impression is that this place is a very high pressure sales kind of place. They want to sell the supplments very badly. I bought the training package of 10 session for something over $600. They would not give me a consistent routine - like I wanted so that I could learn to do the weights properly. Might I say, despite arguments from me. Every week they had me doing something different, so I never felt like I could remember the program or do it properly. They put me on the fit ball - which I did not like, and said I wasn't comfortable on it so would not do it by myself. They said I didn't need to do it by myself.
I know their impression was that I would just re-up when my sessions were over - but I couldn't justify it, as I felt their intentions were not to help me, but to keep me dependent.
I admit it has led to a severe distrust of ever hiring a trainer again, so I do not really do the weight portion at the gym, because in the past doing it on my own has never had any effect - probably because I don't have the proper form, but I am thinking - trainers don't want to teach me the proper form.
Anyway - when I started having problems I called the Better Business Bureau number for a report on the Gold's Gym's here and they did have complaints. The only gyms in town that did, and a review done by Employee Health where I work tested the gym (not the personal training) and mentioned the high pressure sales tactics.
Gold's are franchise owned, so I think your experience will depend on the franchise management.
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