Work Out World

I have used this gym for over 15 years. I agree with all of Anthony R’s remarks in his review and also Damien S’s. For me it’s fantastically convenient, only 5 minutes from my house. The employees are super nice. Since I’m a 5′ 3″ woman and the most I’ve ever bench-​pressed was 60 pounds, Damien’s criticism of a lack of heavier weights doesn’t apply to me. As for free weight availability I nearly always can find the weights I need. Since I work out of my home I can go to WOW in uncrowded hours. True: no swimming pool, no whirlpool, no jacuzzi, but hey, this is $ 10 a month. There’s a no-​frills shower and bath room but I always go home to shower.
24 hours: I love that I can go here at midnight or later if I want.
Disinfectant/​paper towels: as Anthony R points out, they’re everywhere.
Diversity: one thing I also love about the gym — I’m European-​American — is how diverse it is. Lots of African-​American guys (and some women) working out, as well as some Asians. As for the 16 – 26 male demographic that put off one reviewer, I’ve been working out for 40 years and I really enjoy working out surrounded by people of different ages. Signs are posted instructing clients not to grunt, etc., and there is no grunting, no shouting, etc. It’s a really, really quiet place. I see a fair number of older men as well — and a few older women. But I LIKE having young guys around, and everyone in my experience, including the younger guys with whom I occasionally have talked, is friendly and courteous.
Training: in January 2016 I started training with WOW’s former manager, but he was moved to another location. I then immediately began working out with an awesome trainer named Jeff. He really pushed me hard. I had paid for 30 training sessions at a time when I knew I was moving to another city in 6 weeks. I didn’t count on getting the flu, which knocked out two weeks from when I would have been training. That meant that at the time I wrote this review I was frantically trying to cram in as many sessions as possible to complete all the sessions.
Trainer responsiveness: I did have a problem getting trainers to phone me back. The former manager goosed one of them, so that guy did phone me. Another trainer said she would meet with me at a particular time to set up appointments and then wasn’t available when I came. Neither did she phone to apologize and set up another appointment.
In all the time I’ve been weight-​training I have never before had trouble with unresponsive trainers. So that unresponsiveness — and the not-​very-​clean rugs, and the sometimes not-​in-​great-​condition equipment — is why I’ve given only 3 stars.

North Somerville is a dead zone of places to get a decent weightlifting workout, since most gyms are either catering to people who hate exercise, or are pivoting to crossfit/​bootcamps. I’ve been to a few of the gyms in the north Somerville area, and honestly, even though I have plenty of complaints with the WOW, honestly this is probably the best choice if you live nearby and want a nearby place to work out. There are a few major issues I have, mostly associated with limitations in equipment. My logic is that since all of the gyms in the area are terrible, this has a significant advantage in that it’s by far the cheapest. Still, they have enough benches that you can probably complete your intended workout.
The only other acceptable option is Arlington Health and Fitness, which while it’s certainly the better gym, it’s not really that much of an improvement. Not enough to justify the higher price point for me, at least.
Pros:
+ Dirt cheap
+ Open 24 hours
+ Disinfectant bottles and paper towels are everywhere
Cons:
— Dumbbells only go up to 80 pounds (big problem)
— Only one squat rack (can be perpetually occupied at busy hours)
— A bit grungy (but I personally don’t mind this)
If they bought heavier dumbbells and another squat rack, I’d probably rate this place at least 4 stars.

I like this gym because it is in a convenient location, has everything I need for my workouts, and even at its most crowded, there is still enough space and equipment to get through the workouts in a reasonable amount of time. I dropped a star because the bathroom is kind of nasty, but that’s really a small issue, unless you treat the place like a spa.

Decent gym.
The employees are extremely helpful and professional. I am greeted every time I enter, even if they’re helping another member.
The fitness classes are great. Instructors are well versed in their specific activity… You’ll definitely leave sweating and feeling euphoric!
Areas for Improvement:
Cardio machines: most of the channels come in scrambled and the volume simply isn’t functioning properly. This is my biggest frustration and reason for the 3 star rating.
I have notified them on many occasions, even going so far as to contacting the main office.
My suggestion: if you need that extra motivation (I.e. Music or TV) charge up your iPhone becaus you’re going to need it!

Please note, to avoid a cancellation fee, make sure your contract expiration date states: open.
I joined this gym for the winter months, and should’ve stuck to the $ 10 day passes because it would’ve been cheaper. This gym is only worth it if you want to spend $ 11 a month, and pay an annual fee of $ 49.99. Even if you’re a member for less than a month, they still charge that annual fee. To avoid the cancellation fee, make sure your contract says «open» for expiration date. No matter if you join for a few months, you will still get charged the $ 49.99 annual fee. It’s unavoidable. So, that’s why this type of gym is good if you plan on using for 6 months or more. Also, I read horrid reviews of ABC. ABC is the company you deal with if you want to cancel. The gym gave me their business card and said to call ABC to cancel. The customer representatives were nice enough on the phone. Maybe too many complaints from customers caused them to tighten up their business practices. They explained that I won’t be charged a cancellation fee because the expiration is as written «open». The cancellation process is to email a letter to them with the cancellation details (they’ll tell you over the phone). They email back a letter stating it’s cancelled and you don’t owe anything else. Now, after reading reviews of ABC, I still don’t trust that they won’t keep charging the card. I cancelled that card to be on the safe side, and would rather they not have my information.
I give this place two stars because the guy who signed me up was fair and honest. (A younger man who works the front desk). He put the expiration date as «open» so I wouldn’t be charged a fee, and he was good with that. He did explain the annual fee, so I was prepared for that. Like I said though, it’s only worth it if you stay a member for 6 + months. He’s just doing his job too, and I honestly feel he was well intentioned.
I left out three stars because the gym itself smells, is hot and stuffy. The equipment seems dirty, but it runs. I used the cardio machines. If you can deal with the heat and smell, you should be good. You sweat a lot because of the heat. Then it smells, then you avoid touching the equipment for fear of getting germs. I guess this is what you’d expect for $ 11 a month. You get what you pay for!

The staff is very friendly and helpful. I just wish people would re-​rack weights more. Other than that great for the price

I hate traditional gyms. Never want to be in them longer than I have to, and like most teeny-​bopper series on the WB, I only endure them because the hour spent makes my wife happy.
Therefore, if you’re the type who heads to the gym to laze in the whirlpool jets of your personal hot tub, steam out your pores in mentholated saunas, sip chia-​laced coconut water refreshers while cavorting with beautifully flush people, or otherwise use your membership to avoid spending time at home, you’ll hate Work Out World.
But check this out: I walked in during a promo, spent $ 99 on a pre-​paid year of membership at a 24-​hour gym where 95% of the cardio equipment’s TV screens work, and even during the prime post-​work hours, it wasn’t swamped with Swampy Magoos. It didn’t stink (perhaps it’s a summer thing, or they’ve heard your cries of anguish and rectified the smelly situation), and the vending machines were stocked.
Even without the classes (free with an upgraded membership) or the tanning or the free daycare, and with a little bit of savvy timing, you can belong to a never closed gym with newer, functional equipment and a parking lot for less than $ 9 a month, all in.
3.5 sweaty stars. Expectations, set.

After trying BSC and Snap Fitness, I’m re-​rating my local and long-​time Work Out World to 3 stars: 5-​star Cheap, 1 Star Nice, averaging out to a 3 Star «you get what you pay for» (in 2010 I rated them 4)
I’ve been a member since 2005, and so have avoided the «can’t-cancel» nightmare others have described, but also know that I have low expectations to go with WOWs lowest-​around monthly price.
In 2015, the weight floor has finally gotten reliable heat & A/​C after having been stiflingly hot, humid, and stinky the last three summers. Here’s hoping it stays fixed and we don’t need supplementary buckets (to catch condensate) or fans (to move stale air) like we used to.
My kids have outgrown the babysitting (which was «adequate», but mostly based on the immobilizing rays from a Disney video). I don’t see many parents like me on the weight floor. I suspect the grunge and mostly 16-​to-​26 Male demographic is too big a turn off, but maybe they go at times I don’t. Still, for a parent who works out infrequently and not for the «social» stuff, it can be a good value.
The typical self-​segregation of genders applies here: women do classes (well-​attended) and treadmills; guys do freeweights and machines.
Since 2005, the only new equipment I can recall is 2014’s 2 big weight bars that have finally given them 1 bar per weight bench and in 2015, they put numbers on the dumbell rack and replaced a few handles. Unfortunately, the clientele is the kind that doesn’t re-​rack weights and the staff doesn’t care, so both bars and dumbbells tend to be hidden wherever the last guy put them down.
Everywhere there are signs of how low your monthly fee is. Vinyl is cracked. Clocks rarely keep time and never agree. Dumbbell screws are loose. Screws come off weight machines. Machines are old. There’s only one Smith machine. Many of the changeable handles/​grips for the cable machines are missing the plastic/​rubber parts that are supposed to cover the rough edges.

I’ve been using this gym for years. Probably 17, as long as I’ve lived in the neighborhood. It is super-​close to my house — 2 minutes’ drive away. I’ve been lifting weights for 36 years and trained in a gym somewhat similar to this so it has a down-​home feel. I like the fact that it has lots and lots of machines. It also has free-​weights but not enough 10-​lb and 12-​lb for those of us who still like to use those (whether we’re older, like me, or female, like me, too, or what. I don’t like to bulk up, and so I like the 10 and 12 pounders for bi’s and tri’s, and also for flies.) I also like the diversity of this gym. There are black folks, white folks, and a few «others.» Where are the yuppies the other reviewer complains about? OK, I’m an (older) yuppie. But I see a lot of middle-​class working people, and I like that. I sometimes approach the «meatheads» and ask them to spot me or help me with machines and such and they are — so far — invariably nice. I have never tried to train with someone here. I once trained with a guy who was a real Marine sergeant type. He was very good. But I guess he left or was dismissed or something. He’s no longer there. He ALWAYS kept appointments. Sorry he isn’t there anymore. Forget his name.
Why 3 stars? Because as one person said, «It’s a gym.» I don’t expect it to be high-​end because that’s not what you ask of a gym you’re paying $ 240 a year for. (In New York City a really good clean gym with a pool could run you $ 1500, $ 2000. Mt. Auburn in Cambridge runs $ 1200.
But also 3 stars bordering on 2 because: the locker room sucks. It’s dingy, The lockers are rusted out, and I wouldn’t set bare feet in the showers. Anyway, because I live so close I always go home and shower. Also: the lack of 10– and 12-​pound weights.
Also: I hate the smell when you just walk in the door. And the dirty carpet. In fact if you had to choose a gym by its entrance this would lose my vote. Fortunately, there’s the vast space beyond.

It’s a gym.
I hate gyms, but I want to lift weights. For the most part, the people working out there are just there to work out. It’s not fancy, it’s not all testosterone party, people don’t care, they just want their workout too.
I very much dislike the women’s locker room. It’s colder than the rest of the space. The weight area there (when I occasionally feel like getting away from the crowd) is so tiny, with barely enough room to use the free weights. I’d put fewer machines in there, and offer a full length mirror.
On join fees: When I joined, I paid a $ 1 sign up, 10/​month, no contract. after the first 30 days, there’s a $ 40 – 50 annual fee. So that’s about 14/​month to have access to cardio and weight equipment. *Never pay join fees. Just don’t. Walk away if they bs you saying they have to charge one. They are always having specials where there’s little to no sign up fee. Negotiate the annual fee too, if you like, but to me it’s no big deal, as long as you plan on keeping the membership for a year. Don’t keep it for 14 months, that’ll cost you more. Either quit after 11 months, or just keep going.
On personal training: I negotiated a deal for 3 months of training once a week, just to get my workout into a place where I know what I’m doing with free weights and the squats etc. Chris, the manager threw in an extra session on top of the 3 months so I got two from him. I paid for the training up front, in full, so there’s no contract, no obligation beyond the three months, unless I decide to go for more. Note that the personal training people are a different entity than the gym itself. I knew that he was pitching, but I was interested in what deal we could strike; and since then, he hasn’t stopped being friendly and will take the time to talk to me. I’m set up with a well-​qualified trainer, working towards a 30-​min routine that I can pursue on my own. In and out, no fancy stuff.
I originally joined this gym a few years ago and actually did NOT have any trouble canceling my membership. Present *written* letter, with a copy to the club and send a copy to headquarters. Read the fine print of your contract. Maybe it’s 60 days notice. Whatever it is, follow those instructions. If you just go tell the staff you want to quit, you will keep getting charged. Like any gym I’ve encountered — they want it in writing.
Summary!
I like:
— people basically do their own thing, there’s no pretense here
— selection of weights
— helpful and friendly training manager
— cheap, no contract
— open all the time
— close to my house
I dislike:
— cold women’s locker room
— no sauna in the women’s locker room (SERIOUSLY WRONG — tanning booth? noooo)
— not enough areas to stretch
— really unhelpful and unfriendly WOW staff — like, they seem to all hate working there and try to avoid interacting with members
— one time it flooded. Yeah, that was fun.
— crappy music turned up too loud. most people are wearing headphones anyway!
I would love a buddy who wants to lift too. The occasional company is a nice break from the self-​focus of mirror staring and I’m somehow always stronger when someone else is watching. :P

The pricing scam is a Ripoff.
Company claims a $ 10 membership for «gold», which is basic with no classes. They will stick you with a $ 60 sign up fee and $ 50 annual on top of that, essentially doubling the price.
Poor customer service. When Bally (national access) was purchased by WOW, we were told that we could access national wow locations. When we went to visit this wow, our plan was denied. We spoke with managers at porter sq and this location. They indicated that we would have to cancel our current plan (a good plan price at $ 10/​mo total) and start a new plan (as previously described to be much more expensive).
The treadmills and ellipticals are crowded and the place is not very nice or clean. What are we paying for?
Here’s the kicker. Trying to cancel the origin plan is nearly impossible. The managers claim they don’t handle certain transactions and they demand we go to the old location to get a cancel form and send to corporate. Just another step. It seems to be pretty easy for them to START new contracts and auto charge us each month, but canceling is designed to be a huge headache.
We still aren’t cancelled yet, and I am getting charged as I type this review.
Absolutely infuriating and we will be sure to spread the word.

I rescind my previous review about Work Out World. For $ 20 a month, I’m getting a lot out of it. I’m loving the Zumba and yoga classes, which themselves are worth the monthly fee.
I’m still pretty grossed out that only about 25% of patrons actually wipe off the equipment. But hey, at least I’m not spending a lot of time waiting to use the machines and treadmills.

This is a basic gym and you pay for you get. I think it is good for what I need which is some basic cardio machine for after work.
For the price you pay I really dont think you can complain.
The only reason I gave 2 instead of a 3 star is because there is absolutely no data signal for that gym being that it is a basement. I would think that the gym would know to provide basic wifi as who does not stream on their phone nowadays for music or even shows sometimes.
But then again, this can be easily remedied with some downloaded playlist I guess/

Do you like working out in a cave? A sweaty, smelly cave? Then this is the gym for you. The parking lot is horrible. The gym is in the basement of the building. There is no air flowing through the place so it’s humid and hot with so many people packed in so close together. The pipes on the ceiling are labeled «water» and «sanitary» and their condensation leaks all over everything. The weight room absolutely reeks. It’s like mold, sweat and who knows what other stenches all mixed together. They boast a women’s only area. Yeah, it’s in the women’s locker room and it’s minuscule. Every time someone scans their membership card upon entry, an automated voice yells, «Have a good workout!» I can hear it over my workout music. It’s very annoying. They do offer classes, childcare, and trainers– all services which I have never used.
The only time I’m happy there is when they open the door to let the cold winter air in. I guess it’s true what they say– you get what you pay for. I’m sorry, but I paid less than this at Planet Fitness in Revere and that place was a palace compared to this dump. I can’t wait to move away and find a new gym.

This gym only gets 3 stars for the spin studio which i have enjoyed thus far. The black lit room is cool and really lets you stop worrying about everyone else in the room and just pedal your butt off. the two teachers i’ve had so far also seem like they know what they’re doing and give a great workout.
As for the rest of the place, very mediocre, but that’s also what you get for $ 20 a month.
The real disappointing factor, however, was the «free introductory training session» i had with the guy who i think happens to be the head trainer. Before actually working out, we sat at his desk and he asked me my goals, and right away i felt like he wasn’t actually listening, but just waiting for me to stop talking so he could launch into his schpiel. He started explaining the benefits of weight training and quizzed me along the way, seemingly unaware that i had just told him i spent many years playing team sports and have had personal trainers before therefore understand weight training. He continued on with his lecture and quickly i realized he didn’t know how to understand a potential client and lacked some basic social skills.
He finally wrapped up his lecture and then ran me through a 15 minute leg work out that had no rest period and left me sore for days. I really expected at least a 30 minute session, but then again, this place is typically disappointing.
The worst part of this experience came at the end when he really went in for the sell. He was shady in explaining the price structure, had nothing in writing, and I had to ask several times for him to be clear about what i was getting into. After really prodding him, I learned that the price packages seem cheap up front, but you are locked into a year deal and if you cancel any sooner, you have to pay out the rest essentially. It’s ridiculous that I had to drag that out of him. As soon as I learned this, I said no and he immediately dismissed me. Thanks, customer service!

If I could, I would rate this place with ZERO STARS.
The place stinks, figuratively and literally. Be prepared because, you can smell all the sweaty guys as soon as you walk in. You definitely get what you pay for at $ 10 a month.
I got screwed because when I signed up for $ 20 a month and a year subscription, I did it based on a classes schedule that I would be able to join and you can be a part of if you don’t have that membership. AFTER I had signed up, I was told, the «actual schedule» is different… guess what? All the classes are between 9:00am — 5:00pm So for those of us who work, we can’t get to ANY of these classes…
I’ve tried to cancel my membership for other reasons and I’ve been dealing with these people for almost two months now. They keep making things up and refuse to cancel my membership.
Also, I signed up for the training sessions. The «head trainer/​manager» Ryan, told me they were 1 hour sessions, 2 sessions per week at $ 200 a month. If I wanted to cancel, all I had to do is give them a month notice. Guess what?
Ryan was 45 mins late to my first session, another trainer ended up helping me. The second session, the trainer was a no-​show. When I was finally able to be scheduled, the sessions turned out to be 30 minutes only!!!
When I tried cancelling this «contract» they told me I actually have to pay a $ 600 fine for cancelling before the ONE YEAR!!! The trainer Ryan refused to speak to me and my «personal trainer» continues to harass me with text messages about events he’s running. The nerve!!!
ABC Financial, this Ryan guy and the entire Gym does shady business and have absolutely no concept of what is it to run a respectable and professional business. They are all deceiving and I would NOT recommend ANYONE to go to this place.

So yes, it’s dingy and not always the cleanest place. But if you can get over that, it’s not the worst gym in it’s price range. I recently switched here from the other budget priced gym in the area. You do get what you pay for.
For $ 20 a month, you get access to the cardio machines and weights, plus you get classes. CLASSES. This is what drew me in. I didn’t get classes before. Considering how little you pay, the classes are pretty good. I’ve enjoyed pretty much every zumba or spin class that I have attended.
The treadmills are in good shape, some of the ellipticals squeak a little too much. Some newer weight machines mixed in with older, so you just have to time it right. I try to go early in the afternoon or later to avoid crowds. They are open 24 hours.
Oh, and they have babysitting. I don’t have kids so I can’t really review that piece, but it’s a a nice perk.

I would define Work Out World by the old saying– «you get what you pay for» and here you really do. For $ 10 of month, you get decent machines, lots of treadmills and ellipticals, a pretty good sized weight room, a spin room that looks like its in an army barracks (small cement room…) but its DIRTY… dirty floors, dirty machines, dirty locker rooms.
If your ok with other peoples hair, sweat, and stretching on mats with whatever someone dragged in on their shoes then this is your place. It was the ultimate convenience factor for me – its in the basement of where I work but after a while the cleanliness issue got to me. Plus, for me, I would have liked a more extensive class selection so I relocated to BSC.
But for $ 10 a month, if all you need is a cardio machine, it’s a pretty good deal, and you truly get what you pay for.
I had no problem canceling. Called their customer service line, did it over the phone and called ABC Financial to double check that I was in fact canceled – and I was all set! I am still weary of this due to everyone’s reviews and continue to check my bank statements, but so far so good!

This is the worst gym I’ve ever been a member of. Unfortunately since it’s so close and so cheap, I’m still a member. I’ll put up with the basement, dingy-​ness, and dumb yuppies that take up space for $ 10 a month.
The equipment is decent. Hammer Strength, Ivanko iron, and quite a few machines are available, assuming they aren’t broken. There are quite a few cardio machines too, most with TV for the obese, lazy people who come in to eat and watch tv while they bike at 1mph… yea, there are plenty of those.
For the people that actually work out, the dumbells only go to 85lbs, there is only 1 squat rack that some idiot is usually using for bicep curls, 1 Smith machine, and like 3 or 4 bench stations.
The majority of personal trainers, apart from 1 or 2 of them, are tools and obviously get their «workouts» from MensHealth. I’ve seen their clients do the stupidest and most dangerous excercises ever. So for the love of God, find someone who looks like they lift, most of us meatheads are nice and won’t yell at you unless you get in our way during a lift, or use a website and come up with a good workout.
The mens locker room usually smells funny although the staff does clean it. There’s always that weird naked old guy in there who walks around and stares at you. I refuse to use the showers and the one time I used the sauna, another naked old guy came in and sat down way too close for comfort.
Whatever you do, pay up front for your contract. ABC Financial should die a slow and painful death in my opinion. If you pay up front, then you won’t have to deal with ABC if you need to move or whatnot. Otherwise, be prepared to suffer and want to fly down to Arkansas (ABC’s hq) and do terrible, terrible things to them.

The gym is fine, the classes are good and generally not full. Lots of machines that have TVs attached to them. A few are broken, but that is par for the course. The gym gets full around 5 – 6 and the parking lot often gets full, though there is extra parking alongside the train tracks.
The reason I give them 1 star is because of their horrible contract. I was given the runaround by no fewer than 3 people about canceling my account from both WOW and ABC Financial.
Even though it is a cheap gym, I would strongly suggest that you go elsewhere to get your workout done. While canceling, I was threatened with a collection agency and not given the $ 100 buy-​out option. Go elsewhere!