Planet Fitness – Champaign

Honestly, I don’t get why this place gets ripped a new one on here. It’s not terrible by any means. It can be argued that the staff isn’t friendly I suppose. However, personally, when I go to the gym, I’m not there to talk to anyone either.
The place is clean and it works. Granted, I’m not a workout fiend. I just want to run through their 30-​min circuit, run on a treadmill, ride a bike, use the elliptical or a combination of said things.
In comparison, it’s not the nicest gym in the area, I get that. But for $ 10 a month (or $ 20) I don’t get how you can complain!

The customer service and the cancellation process at planet fitness is terrible. I asked the staff to process a cancellation and they told me I need to speak with the general manager. I left two messages within a week for the general manager and both were unreturned. Apparently, they wont allow customers to cancel their memberships without appearing in person and signing a cancellation notice. In todays busy environment, its not always easy to make a personal visit for a cancellation. I am convinced their policy is cumbersome intentionally in an effort to continually collect the membership fee. Unfortunately, it has gone on for a couple months.

Equipment was OK. Place seemed dirtier every day. Staff is not attentive and sometimes rude. They seem to have a lot if time to socialize and text on their phones. Hey try cleaning the locker rooms and bathrooms! Nasty! Place is OK for the price but I now go elsewhere and get greeted every day!

I’ve been a member nearly since they’ve opened. Price is great, equipment is just what I need to get in a good workout, and the tanning is a plus. Lately though, the staff has gone extremely down hill. They aren’t friendly, they don’t smile, and just don’t seem happy to be there. Multiple times lately their efficiency on tanning has been lacking. I have sat & watched employees stand around while people were waiting to tan while tanning beds were open & waiting to be cleaned…
Lastly, I came in to work out today. Checked in, signed in to tan while the assistant manager was working with someone else. After she was done with the individual she was helping she just simply walked away without greeting me or to check me into tanning. Now that is just simply rude. In any business you greet someone that is in front of you whether it be, «I’ll be with you in a moment!» Or ‚“someone will be right with you.” If you don’t like your job or people… get a new one!

NAPERVILLE — PLANET FITNESS UNREAL!!! I’, a member at this location and it’s sad to see that in «NAPERVILLE» they have the most ungliest, dirtiest, non eye appealing GYM i have ever saw!!! Even if it’s CHEAP! When I go to the Planet Fitness in Chicago which I have done numerous times different locations it’s like walking into a brand new gym every time! WHY CAN’T THE NAPERVILLE LOCATION LOOK THE SAME? Why can’t we have some of the better ARC machines, TREADMILLS, WEIGHT machines, better AB area like other locations. No paint is dreary the LOCKER ROOMS ARE RAUNCHY! Something I would probably would have expected to see in a Chicago location, NOT NAPERVILLE!!!

Jumped onto the black card membership deal and liking it so far. Coming from UIUC with the ARC and CRCE, this gym obviously isn’t on the same level I’m used to, but I was looking to pay less than $ 30 a month for a gym membership. There are always free machines (bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, etc.) and the weight area usually isn’t too full.
For an average, 20-​something woman, I don’t mind the weight selection and definitely don’t mind the «lunk alarm». Part of the reason why I didn’t like the college gym was the cocky lunks that would prowl around, glaring at girls for venturing into the weight areas. I like the 12 min ab circuit and 30 min express workouts they have as well.
This place is perfect for those who just want to keep fit, possibly lose a few pounds, and tone some muscle. The fact that it’s always open is really nice too (I work multiple jobs so it really comes in handy with my schedule). I see it as an added bonus that I can use the massage beds and chairs, RLT booths, and tanning beds for free (part of the black card membership). I only wish there were aerobics classes, but not a lot of gyms in my budget do.
If you’re interested in trying it, the basic membership is $ 10 a month (plus startup fee) and has no commitment. If it sounds like a good fit for you, you don’t have to commit for a full year.

I am canceling my membership and am completely disgusted about the annual fee.
I thought based on conversation with associate who signed me up the annual fee would be charged if I remained a member going forward. I signed up based on advertised special that had no membership fee, only monthly charges, but I was just charged a membership fee at the end of my membership instead. Completely confusing and slightly deceitful. DONT TRUST THE ADVERTISING OR THE ASSOCIATE GETTING PAID TO GET MEMBERSHIPS!
Additionally, when I inquired about this $ 39annual fee charge the associate was defiant, completely rude, unaccomodating and talked in circles. They prefer certified letter to cancel. Are you kidding me!!! You seriously think I would spend more money on a certified letter to cancel. Ridiculous, is that because you don’t want to speak to all the clients you’ve made mad with $ 39 annual fee charge?! On top of my monthly fee!!! I paid $ 58.99 for this month alone! If I had realized I would have canceled months ago for $ 56 early cancelation fee instead of now getting charged $ 58.99 and paying $ 19.99 for months i’ve not even gone to the gym. Completely annoying to say the least.
Did I mention the reason I quit going? Completely intimidating, unprofessional, unhelpful STAFF!

Never have to wait for a treadmill, but wish they had aerobics classes.

I joined planet fitness at the opening of this facility and have paid my monthly dues, referred five people to the gym and have been an active participator in this gym. Upon joining, it appeared that the staff were disorganized and appeared uncertain of the regulations, rules, and were less than helpful at explaining how to use the red light therapy machines and hydromassage beds. The inconsistency in managment remains a deep concern but not as deep of a concern as the way I was treated tonight.
I came to the gym and like every night laid my coat and bag behind the machine I was using. Never has anyone said anything to me about this prior and I was not given a list of rules or any paperwork upon joining. Tonight, out of the blue, after I had already started my workout, I was asked if an employee could take my belongings behind the desk. My response: no, I would like to workout. My bag has my personal belongings and necessary items for medical issues that I keep close by while working out. This worker walked away. At the end of my work out the manager/​franchise operator approached me stating that he did not like my attitude and he would give me a sheet to withdrawl from my contract. When I asked to take these sheets home for my husband and I to complete and return, he refused to allow me to leave the premises with these sheets and actually snatched them from my hands. Upon checking the website, it states that I would be allowed to return these via certified mail. Once again, another inconsistency.
Due to the buyout fee that comes with yearly contracts and the fact that our contract is up after three more payments, we will continue the terms of our contract and the minute this contract is up, my husband and I will be leaving this gym. In an economy that is falling, it blows my mind that someone would treat their custormer in such an unprofessional way.
Upon my husband contacting the gym and speaking with the associate manager, it was reported that the general manager was visiting the facility this evening. Apparantly, the incompetency of the gym to educate and kindly enforce their regulations on a day to day basis caught up with this manager as he scrambled to save face. Sadly, in the eyes of many customers tonight, he indeed did not save face as I was not the only customer who was bullied by the manager to comply with rules that were never spoken of or enforced prior to the general managers visit. The only comfort that I took was that I saw this same manager treating others in a similar fashion, which as a female, allowed me to feel less threatened by this behavior.
If you are looking for a gym where you can work out, destress, and provide good self care, this town is packed with gyms that can offer you this — this unforturnately is not one of them. If you are on a budget, Charter Fitness offers an affordable package with competent staff who are respectful and professional in demeanor.
Upon placing this information on Unilocal,I had a message on my personal cell phone for my husband. Upon discussing this with my husband, I returned their phone call myself, after all– we are all adults. The manager refused to speak to me and then stated that she was returning a phone call that my husband placed. I knew that this was not true and told the manager that I just spoke with my husband and knew that he did not call and if he did, certainly he would have left his number. The manager refused to speak to me. This manager then told my husband that she did not refuse to speak to me and that I was rude to her. I was hoping for a conversation and was most certainly not rude to her. In my definition, rudeness involves manipulation and lying, which is most certainly what this manager was doing. I was appalled at their inability to speak to me about me and their belief that my husband parents me and would tell me what I can and can not say or do. Upon my husbands contact, I was informed that I could remain at the gym if I removed this post. In review of their membership rules, which I had to scour the web to find, there is no rule which removes my freedom of speech. The only lunks at this gym are the people who operate it, I’m sounding the alarm on this gym. I have contacted corporate offices and was treated very kindly and am hoping for resolve, having cancellation fee removed or in the very least a professional apology and conversation.

I’ve been five times and am about done with it.
They purposely want to keep giant, hulking meat heads out, which is good, but they do it by restricting equipment that even non-​meatheads use. Let me illustrate this in the cons and then I’ll move onto the pros.
Cons
— There’s no long barbell, the type you would see someone doing a deadlift with. The dead lift is used by all athletes and is a great exercise for everyone. This also means one cannot do a bench press, unless it’s on a smith machine. There are many exercise to do with a long barbell, but the long barbell isn’t there specifically so meat heads don’t sign up.
— The short barbells (shoulder width ones,) only go up to 60 pounds. That is not enough weight.
–No medicine balls or kettle bells.
–No resistance bands allowed, and you aren’t allowed to bring them in. These are great for hitting alot of different areas.
–Too many of the same type of machine. There’s a whole wall dedicated to hip abduction/​aduction, why?
–Many of the machines you do want to use are in the «30 minute Circuit Training» area. You’re not supposed to enter this area if you aren’t there to do the whole 30 minutes.
–You’re not allowed to bring in hand straps. The rationale being you shouldn’t be using weight heavy enough to use them? What if you have weak wrists?
–They offer Pizza Monday to «keep people coming in.» This makes no nutritional sense what so ever. They sponsor «The Biggest Looser?»
— No Towels provided. This irks me more and more as I was accustomed to it at my last place.
— No place should advocate UV tanning.
–They don’t allow personal trainers
Pros
— It’s 10 $ a month with no early termination fee
–Good AC
–Plenty of cardio!
–Plenty of Ab stuff… New people to fitness irrationally love tons of ab equipment, and Planet Fitness obliges this wayward thinking. They should use the floor spaces for better machines or a squat rack.
Planet Fitness is a gym for those who don’t want to be intimidated by muscle beach freaks who want to rip your head off. That’s noble, but they dumb down the options so much that they eliminate even the midrange people. What’s left is a place for a person who want’s to get fit, but isn’t given the tools to do it in.

Overall, a decent gym experience with some important caveats.
First, the (very) good:
1. A large, conveniently located, inexpensive place to workout. The basic gym membership costs ten dollars a month, plus a $ 1 one time sign-​up fee. Yes, this gym is very affordable. (There is also a $ 29 a year fee that is first charged on September 25^th (I think), so if you want to check out the gym for the summer simply cancel before then.)
The Meh:
1. The cardio equipment that they have seems to be decent enough quality. However, cardio equipment only includes (many) treadmills and ellipticals, alongside a few stationary bikes. I was disappointed that there were no stair climbers.
2. There are dumbbells that range from 5−75lbs. There are many smith machines, but that is the only place to do any exercises requiring barbells – squats, bench press, etc. They make a big point about not catering to «bodybuilders» (see: «the bad»), but that means a lot of standard weight lifting equipment is not available in the gym. In addition, there are no medicine balls or jump ropes.
3. Checking-​in is a little annoying. Being a misanthrope I prefer as little contact with people as possible. I’d prefer to be able to simply swipe the membership keychain card on the way in. Instead, you show a staff member the number written on the card and they look you up. I know, 5 seconds of additional human interaction isn’t a big deal, that’s why this is in the «meh» and not «bad» category.
The Bad:
1. There are parts of the «planet fitness» experience that I like, especially the focus on being welcoming to people who are very out of shape and would like a comfortable place to begin a new fitness regimen. However, by fostering the idea of inclusiveness, they make a big point about this place not being welcoming to bodybuilders or «lunk heads». To this point, they have placed a «lunk alarm» near the free weights, which I understand will sound if a person is grunting while lifting or dropping weights. While me and my slim frame have absolutely no worry of ever setting off such an alarm, it just seems counterproductive to enact a ban in the name of inclusivity. Any serious weight lifter won’t be interested in this gym because of its lack of equipment, which is fine, but does planet fitness really have to go out of its way to make so-​called «lunks» the bad guys?
2. Perhaps more importantly, while it is great to make people who probably never belonged to a gym feel welcome and excited to begin getting in shape, there is a real lack of fitness knowledge and gym etiquette. (Perhaps this is true of most gyms, but in the few times that I have gone it seems more prevalent here.) I don’t know if there are restrictions due to legal reasons or what, but it would be nice if the staff could be more hands on, offering tips to people who look lost, are performing exercises with really bad form, or are grabbing too heavy of weights. At a minimum, I’d like to see a few signs put up that explain that you are expected to wipe down the equipment you use with disinfectant.
3. Finally, as far as I can tell, the biggest selling point of the «black card membership» that costs $ 20/​month is that it includes free unlimited tanning. Why on earth does a fitness place promote tanning? I just don’t understand why someone would like cancer with their workouts — okay I’ll try and not trip as I get off the soapbox.

This is a national fitness health group that (currently) is a sponsor of the television show, the Biggest Loser as seen on NBC broadcast television.
I expect their facility to be top notch. They occupy a very very large part of the building adjacent to County Market Discount Foods on Glen Park Dr in Champaign.
Their billboards around town (since this facility has been open a couple months) are advertising a pretty good deal to try them out in order to get to know you.