Planet Fitness – Milwaukee – Downtown

My friend & I go on our lunch break at work — it’s never too crowded & there are plenty of machines to suit our needs. The place is always nice & clean, but could be kept a little cooler — you get hot really quickly when you’re working out, that’s for sure!

While I do love this gym because it is a 3 minute walk from my apartment and super cheap… What an ass backwards philosophy this gym has! It’s hysterical! I get the whole judgement free zone I really do, but serving over 20 boxes of free Pizza Hut pizza right by the door!!! Pathetic. People come here to get in shape and be healthy… If they were doing this as a nice gesture… They missed the ball on this one completely. Maybe something healthy like fruit or protein bars? It’s not that hard, but this gym does not promote health.

SERIOUSLY. If you plan on moving any time soon, do NOT get a Planet Fitness membership. This has been an absolute nightmare.
I got my gym membership in February when I had not intention of moving. Come May, I find out my job will be termed as of 2016 and my husband and I use this as an opportunity to move to a new city. The absolute last thing I was concerned about was a gym membership.
Because Planet Fitness is owned individually at each location, I can’t just cancel my membership at my local Madison office, that would just make life too easy, instead I can send certified mail or come in person, neither of which are exactly convenient.
Then, I’m trying to update my financial information with them since I closed my bank account in Milwaukee. I have two options, do it online or in person. Great! Online! Awesome! Except, I previously used another gym before Planet Fitness and set up an account with them. Now every time I log into myiclubonline, it brings up my old gym and not Planet Fitness.
I called the Downtown location, explained my situation, and got the same options. Do it online, or come in person. What kind of business won’t let me change my billing credit card over the phone? What, am I trying to commit reverse fraud? I’m trying to give you money and you won’t take it?
So ungodly frustrating, not worth the cheap rate.

I cant compare it to other gyms as I went to this one and southgate for 9 months. However, I enjoyed the cleanliness and variety of machines. This is not the gyms fault, but it annoyed me that men/​boys would be waiting/​hovering around the free weights and hogging them. There should be some sort of time limit. I would see people take selfies while knowing I was waiting. Also would see a lot of guys not clean and wipe down their machines. YUCK! I wish there were more options for female fitness in MKE.

It’s good for the price and the staff greet you more enthusiastically and more consistently than the staff at the Southgate branch.
They also have $ 1 parking which is good for downtown.

This location is larger than the one on the south side which is helpful now that summer is coming and everyone is trying to go to the gym. The only criticisms I have-​the stretching area also doubles as an ab area– and it’s tiny! There’s never enough room for those who want to stretch to actually go and do so because people are doing ab work, but then there’s not really a designated area where people can do abs! You see the dilemma?
Another thing is the hand dryers in the bathroom that preach the saving of trees yet when we wipe down the machines, we do so with spray and paper towels. So while we dry our hands with air, we kill plenty of trees trying to disinfect the machines… if it’s really all about saving trees why don’t they invest in the cleaning wipes? They would probably disinfect the machines a little better.
Otherwise the gym is kept mostly clean (there have only been some issues with people forgetting how to flush the toilet-​but that’s not the staff’s fault) the staff is friendly, the upgrade to the key fobs is a little more convenient.
It serves it’s purpose: go, work out, go home. You definitely can’t beat the price but be warned there is an annual fee that you pay to be a member.

I’m getting sick of the poor customer service in this place. The children running the joint have a lot to learn. The franchise owner should have a hand in setting up higher standards and training programs for the staff. I’m seriously considering canceling my membership and joining the Wisconsin Athletic Club for twice as much

I don’t ask a lot from a gym. Planet Fitness gives me everything I ask for.
No, there aren’t really any amenities. I’m not even a «Black Card» member, so I can’t tell you about the tanning or hydro-​massage. But I can tell you that there’s a wide selection of machines, and I’ve never had to wait for one, even going at peak times. Everything is very clean, and the women’s locker room is nice (it has fresh flowers!). Your fellow gym members are, as a whole, conscientious — I’ve yet to see someone skip out without wiping down their machine — and I’ve only heard the «lunk alarm» go off once or twice. The walls proclaim it to be a «No Judgement Zone,» and so far that’s true. For the most part, I feel like I’m left alone during my work out, which is just fine by me. The staff is friendly enough and always says goodbye when you’re leaving.
Honestly, all I really want is to use a few cardio machines and a few weight machines a few times a week. I don’t need classes or a trainer or a sauna to be happy. I wish that the lockers weren’t 1-​day-​use, though I understand with the number of members they have there’s no way they’d have the space to offer permanent lockers to everyone. This gym is connected to my office, so I already have parking nearby, but it could definitely be challenging to find somewhere to park down there.

I just joined at the beginning of December and I’ve had the chance to work out at the downtown location quite a few times since I work down the street from it. Break-​it-​down-​now:
The location: Perfect spot. At a busy location in the city, very central to my transportation needs. They have parking which you do need to pay for, but, that’s not a huge negative.
The services: It’s open 24 hours, they have a ton of equipment and they also offer unlimited tanning/​hydro-​massage and some vibration machine with their $ 20/​month membership. The same semi-​personal training included with membership, (e.g. teaching you how to use machines, how to make the best of your workouts, etc.) and I believe I saw that they have small fitness groups for people who want to join. They also have nice (and I mean NICE) locker rooms, ample showers and even blow dryers for those of us who like to workout during our lunch break. For a person with very basic needs, this place fulfills it.
The service: Meh. I wouldn’t say it’s stellar. The folks at the info desk are usually on their phones, talking to each other or sort of in their own little world. I’ve had a couple of questions and got pretty minimal answers or was told «I don’t know». They don’t put much effort in the customer service part of their business model. They have two membership plans: one for $ 10/​month with only access to your home gym, and no «extras», then there is the $ 20/​month with access to any Planet Fitness gym, access to all the «Extras» (tanning, massage, etc.), but that one has a one year contract and no one wants to tell you that when they sign you up. Any time I have tried to ask questions regarding my contract, the employees have been evasive and avoiding the question, which is really annoying.
For $ 20/​month, it’s worth it if you have minimal needs, but I would skip it just because their customer service skills are just awful.

All gym memberships are a scam, and I’m not really sure why I thought Planet Fitness would be any different. I took a tour and asked if the advertised $ 10/​month fee was really $ 10/​month or if there were additional fees etc etc. I was told there were not. I come back to sign up, turns out there’s a $ 50 start-​up fee and an annual charge. Of course. I join anyway. Bad idea.
I specifically ask how easy it is to cancel your membership, and I am assured that it’s very easy, come in anytime etc etc. I did not anticipate moving out of town on short notice, so I did not ask what happens if you can’t come in-​person. Turns out I have to send a letter by certified mail. I just moved; this is a hassle I do not need. When I mentioned on the phone that I felt like someone should have made this more explicit up-​front, I am told that portion of the agreement is underlined and initialed. Of course it is. I am not saying I didn’t agree to it. I’m saying that I asked a question, and I think I was given a misleading answer. Should I have read the membership agreement in full? Of course. Do many people really do that? No. Would it have killed the employee I spoke with (Tom) to acknowledge my complaint and apologize, instead of pointing out that PF was technically right? I know you’re right, but you’ve lost my business because I feel that I was misled at every step of the process and that my complaints were not taken seriously.
I would stay away. Join a local, small gym instead.

I enjoy going to Planet Fitness. I am in the process trying to rebuild my muscles especially in my legs. Trying to work out and relax in the chair massage or hydro massage is very helpful. Very nice welcoming staff.

It’s got all the basics. Decent prices. SUPER nice employees. I don’t feel awkward here like I do at so many other gyms. The only con I can think of is why is that back room by the massage beds so dusty? EEK!
Oh and you better like the color purple if you want to work out here!

I’ve been a member of Planet Fitness for about 6 months now and I am extremely happy with my experience. For only $ 20 a month I get everything I want and more. The machines are clean and in working order, the gym itself is always clean. The staff is super friendly and helpful and I really like the «judge free zone» message.
As a former member of Anytime Fitness — This place wins hands down. I was so unhappy and miserable stuck in a contract with that horribly planned and operated gym.
I am not a fan of downtown parking — but I deal with it, it’s worth it.

I’m going to cut the narrative short and just get down to business: I went the other day with a friend (who loves the place) to see if I would like it enough to switch gyms. Here’s the deets:
Pros: the guest policy is nice, and the sound output on the treadmills is very good. I also like that they had a sheet informing members of peak use times. I saw a few staff members walking around with rags, which led me to believe they were monitoring or cleaning machines. That’s a very good sign.
Cons:
Many machines and two men’s bathrooms out of order.
Lunks. All over the place. The anti-​lunk buzzer in the free weight area rang constantly. The place seems poorly monitored. I saw several people bypass the front desk and just mosey in.
The Situation:
My friend and I got treadmills side-​by-​side. She finished first and went to go stretch or something else, who knows. The important point is that she left her wallet in the drink cup (neither of us thought to bring locks, and at least had the good sense to keep our valuables close at hand… for the most part). I stayed on the treadmill for 10 more minutes, hopped off, found my friend (who remembered she’d left her wallet in the cup holder), returned to our treadmills and found that her wallet was gone. I mean, someone must have been casing us or just got lucky, because we were only away for 1 ½−2 minutes.
So before you crab about «too bad, so sad – she left her wallet» and other versions of victim blaming, let me concede that this was clearly her mistake. She left her wallet unattended in a crowded, downtown, poorly secured gym for 1 – 2 minutes before realizing her mistake. What wasn’t her fault, however, was the rank ambivalence with which she was treated by the staff afterward. They were like *blank stares*. We pressed them for more help – a manager’s name, check the security tape, help us look under the treadmills just in case. Hell – help us get out of the parking garage because her parking ticket was in her wallet. Meh. «Okay.» The guy called the parking people (after we pressed him), but she was charged a feel anyway and has to return to pay it. This is not PF’s jurisdiction, but I was honestly surprised they didn’t give us a validation thing or… care more? I suppose I was looking for some sort of acknowledgement or help with the fact that their inadequate security likely caused my friend a breech in her’s.
Whatever. We asked for the manager to call in the morning. Still no word. Her wallet is long gone, and again, that she left it was her fault, but after this experience I am sure to stay away from Planet Fitness downtown.

Planet Fitness is definitely and entry-​level gym. It caters to many different groups of people. PF does a great job of getting people in the door. The cardio equipment is plentiful and it is typically easy to find a treadmill or elliptical. The weight machines are adequate. The cable machines get a bit crowded from time to time but people are usually cool and let you work in.
You get what you pay for really shows up in the free weights area. This location does not have any squat or bench press racks, only Smith machines. No barbell dead lifts, no barbell rows (without the Smith machine), no barbell skull crushers, etc. The stretching area is tiny and doesn’t allow for much more than stretching and mild abs work for 5 – 6 people. A lot of square footage is taken up by the seldom-​used proprietary workout areas. The locker rooms are adequate and showers are better than expected for $ 10/​month.
Planet Fitness really falls short in they attentiveness of staff to issues in the gym. Equipment is not repaired in a timely fashion. Lockers are rarely wiped out of hair and other grossness. Sinks, showers, urinals and toilets are frequently dirty or appear dirty. Air fresheners seem inadequate to keep up with the general smells present in the locker room.
I was excited about PF when I joined. The lack of essential equipment wasn’t a big deal at $ 10/​month. I figured I could improvise my workout and adjust to the equipment available. Unfortunately, the disrepair of equipment has frustrated my workout. Worse than equipment, however, is the general filthiness of the club. It doesn’t take $ 95/​month dues to get clean lockers and some air freshener in the locker room. Its unfortunate, PF seems to have a pretty good business model. The execution leaves a lot to be desired.

We all have to start somewhere with a gym membership, right? Of course one day I’d like to join an elite racquet (yes, pinky up) club with indoor courts, sauna, hot tub, pool, and a comprehensive workout facility. But today isn’t the day, and it’s likely that this is not the year. And this is where Planet Fitness comes in…
Location: 4 out of 5
From my digs in the 3^rd ward, it’s a .8 mile walk/​jog to the lovely location right at the corner of Wisconsin and the riverwalk. It’s a perfect distance to either warm up for my workout by jogging over, or for just mindless walking through the various streets. While I didn’t see any obvious parking spots right in front of the building, there are metered spots close by which are open later in the day (i.e., non work hours), and they do offer a discounted parking program.
Price: 3.5 out of 5
While this isn’t my year to join Western Racquet Club, I did take the big fish in a small pond approach to join PF. They were running a promotion that’s been extended to August 14 where you can get the black card membership for 20 bucks a month with a 20 dollar startup fee, and a yearly membership of 39 $. The «contract» length is 12 months but you can buy it out early for 58 if you need to. When you take into account the sunk costs of the 20 $ startup fee and the 39 $ annual membership fee, the total comes to 25 $ a month for the first year. Considering the sheer number and variety of machines/​equipment, it’s really not a bad deal, and includes perks like tanning (probably wont’ use this much, if at all), unlimited guest passes, reciprocal privileges nationwide, the hydromassage tables, massage chairs, and half off the cooler drinks.
Selection of workout equipment: 5 out of 5
This is limited to the machines/​stations/​equipment, and not to the amenities. The number of cardio machines (t-​mills, ellipticals, bikes, stair machine’esque contraptions) is quite immense. The first night I went, I went at 8pm and I almost had an entire row of treadmills to myself. And I mean a whole row which consisted of maybe 30 treadmills. There’s a wide array of free weights and weight machines, and as others have mentioned, the two isolated areas: one for 12 minute abs, and the other for an express 30 workout (which has machines that the other parts of the building have, but just in a single circuit fashion). I mean, if you’re the type of person who likes to use free weights or machines (thereby isolating muscle groups for your chosen reason), you’ll feel right at home. If you’re of the school of thought where you use your body weight as natural resistance and rely on body towers with weight assistance (pullups, dips, etc.), you’ll also feel at home. Different strokes for different folks when it comes to gertting in shape, right?
Cleanliness: 4 out of 5
The people who work here do a nice job of trying to keep the place clean, and for the most part — the people working out are good about wiping down their machines. As with any public space though — you have your handful of people who just don’t care, and it’s not limited to what someone below me has labeled as being «ghetto.» There are people of every color, race, culture, and socioeconomic status who may not know or think to wipe off equipment.
Customer Service: 3.5 out of 5
The three people working at the front desk were nice enough. They rotated between checking people in, cleaning equipment, and managing the reservations for tanning/​massage. I had signed up online and the guy that gave me my stuff (key tag, t-​shirt) was nice and quick enough. I did NOT get the grand tour of the facility though, but this is not something that I really wanted or needed. After all, they already had my business, and I am lucky enough to have legs and eyes that work. These guys and gals work pretty hard too because throughout the evening I saw them vacuuming, replacing the paper towels/​disinfectant, and just walking around to make sure everything was ok.
Amenities: 2 out of 5
This should come as no surprise to anyone, but at a less prohibitive price point, you can’t depend on the things that you might have at a nicer facility. Notably, this facility does not include: pool/​sauna/​hot tub; towels for members to use; childcare; pro shop; snack shop/​smoothie bar; areas dedicated only for classes (though there are some classes now that you can sign up for). But, there are lockers for day use (bring your own lock) and the showers and bathroom are clean.
Philosophy: 5 out of 5
The judgement free zone philosophy is great… and affordable fitness should be accessible to everyone, regardless of size or initial shape.
Overall: 4 out of 5

«Bodies like these don’t grow on trees.»
Planet Fitness is a great option for those looking for a cheap (but up-​to-​date) facility to work out and get back in shape. I’ve been running/​lifting here since July 2012 and my experience has been consistent in that the staff is friendly and makes sure that all equipment is in working condition. My experience has also been positive with cleanliness. Staff frequently fills sanitizer bottles around the gym so that members can wipe down the equipment after use. The locker rooms are also frequently clean so that no one is getting any of those gross infections. Oh, and the showers! The showers are wonderful — an overhead rain shower effect with another shower head that comes out of the wall to spray your torso. Best public shower experience ever!
With the motto «No Judgement,» PF makes sure that the facility is welcome to people of all levels of fitness. The gym has a ‘Lunk Alarm’ that is set off when someone slams weights or is ‘bro-​ing’ it out — it’s suppose to be be a way to make not-​so-​serious exercisers feel welcome. Though, depending on who’s working the front desk, it may not always be set off. I personally still caution around slamming my 15 pound weights. I’d rather not have an alarm sound and have everyone look at me.
They recently started providing a limited amount of classes. Be sure to check them out to see whether or not it’s what you’re looking for. Definitely a great place for what you get!

I just started at Planet Fitness. The Price ($ 10/​month) and No Contract! were what attracted me. Come summer I can stop my monthly payment and rejoin next winter — Awesome! It is convenient to my work. They have a lot of machines. So far in the early mornings, I’ve had no issue with waiting for a machine. Everything appears clean and well-​maintained including the locker room. They also have a 12-​minute Ab rotation area and 30-​minute machine rotation area which I’m going to scope out more closely tomorrow. A free Fitness Trainer can be scheduled at any time. They have tanning and hydro-​massage, but those are only available with a contract membership.

Pros:
–Can have a month-​to-​month or yearly membership at $ 10/​month for fitness equipment only.
–Can have a yearly membership at $ 20/​month for fitness equipment + unlimited tanning + hydromassage bed and massage chair access + red light therapy + access to other Planet Fitness locations.
–Have never had to wait for a machine in the five months I’ve been going here.
–LOTS of cardio machines (mostly treadmills and ellipticals but some others as well)
–Free weights and weight machines also abundant throughout the place.
–Nicely maintained locker rooms.
–Brand new as of late December 2011 = facility and machines in great condition.
–Staffed and open ²⁴⁄₇.
–Reduced rate parking for the garage across the street.
–Great mix of people who are already really in shape and people who are just trying to get into shape — i.e., no pressure for gym newbs.
Cons:
–Nothing fancy — no pools, saunas, hot tubs, running track, etc. But that’s part of their whole shtick. So if you’re looking for that, Planet Fitness isn’t going to be your thing.
Overall, I love this place. Friendly staff, great location, clean facility, fantastic hours, and a beyond adequate amount of gym equipment. Good stuff.

This is a pretty no frills gym, there is no pool or sauna. There is a lot of cardio equipment, weight equipment, and even televisions to help keep you entertained while you work out. There is also a schedule of classes, which I haven’t participated in but plan to soon.
Tanning and water massage are available. You can do it for free if you have a special membership or you can pay by the service.
One cool thing is that there are private showers. If you don’t like others having the ability to check out your junk while you are showering this is a good thing. If you go to the gym in order to check out other people’s junk, you’re in for a disappointment.
The best thing of all is the low membership pricing of only $ 10 a month. There are higher memberships which do come with a few perks, but I think most people can handle the basic membership just fine.
Plus, I am near certain that they are open ²⁴⁄₇.