Crunch

Standard gym, with limited space. You don’t go to a satellite Crunch gym expecting amazing facilities, you go there because it’s convenient.
Didn’t join because the staff (save for the gal at the front desk) is just blatantly annoying. I explained up-​front I moved offices and was trying to figure out if this location would work. The response was an aggressive «act now while the cost of joining is lower» then the gal from membership got annoyed and said «if we give you a pass are you going to join? Because people always take these and never join.» Uh-​yeah, I think the Crunch corporate team knows that and built that into their model, hence the reason they have stacks of free passes which look like car fresheners. Was just so obnoxious I decided to re-​start my Equinox membership, pay way more and go out of the way. Again, the front desk girl was lovely.

I cannot get over the number of trainers and employees that work here and do absolutely nothing. The front desk is now too lazy to check you in and put the scanner out for you to do by yourself. This wouldn’t bother me in the slightest if the staff was then actually doing something. About 70% of the time I go to wipe off my cardio machine after working out, there are no wipes! Frequently there are also no towels in the bin and I need to ask someone at the front desk (which is sometimes vacant or they are in the middle of a personal conversation) if I can have a towel. Lastly, they use the walkway to do personal training which means you have to squeeze in between machines to simply move around (and they just decided to move the machines super close to one another which makes it impossible not to bump into someone). Why not do personal training in the group classroom when classes aren’t happening if you’re aren’t using any of the machines. All in all, horrible experience.

I’ve been a member of this Crunch gym for about a year until I made the great migration down to LA. If you work in the Embarcadero area, there aren’t many options out there other than this gym and the YMCA down two blocks. The sales staff here can be particularly aggressive even after you’ve expressed your interest in getting a membership. A word of advice? If you already closed, stop selling! They kept pushing the me all-​access pass, personal trainers, etc. I was very clear that I was just looking for a place to do my own thing for 45 minutes during my lunch break. The whole process took well over half an hour to get me set up. Other places takes 5 minutes.
Facilities:
Please note that this is a small gym! Being a city location, the floor is very small. You’ll find yourself trying to squeeze through for space most of the time, especially during rush hour and when the trainers are doing their sessions. I found it best to go during lunch hour as its the most quiet and least hectic. Showers are pretty nasty with bugs and stuff. Just bring a pair of sandals and you should be fine.
Staff:
Hit or miss. Front desk is very cordial although they don’t seem to be well-​informed with their own gym’s membership policies. Cancellation was a problem with them as they didn’t know what the proper process was to cancel my locker. They also don’t keep track of locker combos accurately so if you want to get a long-​term locker, good luck testing out 4 different combinations in the locker room. As far as the trainers, I think trainers should be properly trained on safety in the gym as some of them do not follow safety protocol on the floor (i.e. slamming weights on the floor and accidentally hitting bars as you are doing your reps). Honestly I just think they get way too excited in their session that they sort of forget about their surroundings.
Signing up and cancellation:
There’s a lot of hidden fees that they don’t bring up until the very last minute when you sign up. Seriously, the sales team here is the shadiest I’ve ever seen. Cancellation is your typical 30-​day (but really 60-​day) policy. The 60-​day notice is pretty standard industry wide with gyms so for all the other gym reviewers who complain about this, you aren’t going to find a gym that doesn’t do this. However, cancellation was a separate pain in its entirety. A lot of places will ask you to mail-​in a notice via snail mail (to make it even harder for you). This place referenced me to their regional manager via email. It took almost a month of back and forth just to process my cancellation request. They asked me for proof that I was moving to prove that I was moving 20 miles away from the gym. Otherwise, a cancellation fee would be added on top of the 60-​day membership I was already being billed for. Also, no one in the entire gym knew how to cancel my gym locker fees. The gym locker fee is billed annually (something like $ 150 per year) and I didn’t want it to auto-​renew. It’s still pretty vague as to whether my locker got cancelled or not. I guess I’ll see in a couple weeks.
Members:
Techie douchebags (Google is right next door)
Overall:
You can do better. Go somewhere else.

They gym at Crunch is pretty standard. Spacious, features a variety of machines, and the ladies’ changing room is clean enough. There seems to be a good variety of classes.
The service, however, is kitschy, inattentive, and geared toward hard-​selling you a membership when you show up with a free pass. My coworkers recommend I sign up for a free pass to check out the gym and join them for a Yoga class. I signed up, and was contacted by a customer service rep from Crunch that evening (a little too late for a cold call and subsequent text, but that wasn’t the worst bit). I made my interests clear to the rep and they assured me that the pass would be «ready to go» upon my arrival.
I arrived to take the yoga class with my coworkers, expecting the pass to be set up and to only have to supply ID. A rep (I am unsure it it was the same one I spoke to the night before) greeted me and, oblivious to my time constraints, sat me down and began inquiring about «what inspired» me to visit the gym and about my «fitness goals.» I reminded him that I was on a schedule and told him that I was told that my pass would be ready. When I offered to visit the gym later that week, when I would have more time, he sort of ushered me on a tour of the facility with no sense of urgency, or acknowledgement of my comment. Again the service appeared totally deaf to the client.
If this gym wants to target working professionals, they need to be respectful of their time.

Been a member here for 10 years, and I can say with out a doubt it’s the worst it’s ever been. It’s so bad it’s funny. Everyone drops weights and then doesn’t put them away. People’s towels and water bottles are left and forgotten. I won’t even go to the locker room… Best part is the «professionals» block all the places you need to walk to get from one area to the other, when they can just use a whole empty room. *There are a handful of good trainers — contact me if I can help with who. The «upgrades» are ridiculous — neon lights, dark paint, «crunch» labels on everything — even a projector that shines «crunch» when you’re leaving… but the music’s even worse. Total room for improvement, but you tell the source –mangers and trainers ideas and literally they tell you «no, we put away stuff» What would I know –only been there 10 years and I’m the one moving stuff out of the way. Every week are a few new people that are trying it out, and no one ever stays there. The only good thing is no one works out there.

I love this Crunch location! Specifically, I think Markus is the best trainer there is! He offers a group fitness class on Friday mornings in which he kicks your butt! Seriously, his classes has given me some of the best workouts… I can barely walk after (which is good)! Highly recommend going to Markus’ class or even doing personal training sessions with Markus!

This Crunch Gym is disgusting. It is like the gym has been closed and forgotten, but it is still open. The showers and saunas smell terrible. Someone spit gum in one of the stalls a few days ago, still there today, flies on the walls, heavy gross hair buildup on the floors, backing up the drains so you have 2 inches of standing water in the showers. Soap and shampoo are often empty. Need I continue?
My next call is to the health department.
Go somewhere else for your own health and safety!

Totally turned off by this place. They are an example of a company that does not care about their clients. From trying to sign up until you want to cancel your membership, they will hound you relentlessly just to get your money. Giving them my credit card info was the worst decision I’ve made coming here. Check your statements for random charges! I’ve had several instances of mysterious transactions from this place and when you call about it they «can’t deal with it right now but will let the manager know», give you another # to call to only be told to visit in store to handle it, and tell you they will refund it but will never follow through, and on top of all of this. They will have collections dept/​telemarketer call you multiple times a day trying to collect money you don’t owe who will refuse to take you off the calling list. I’ve been trying to settle multiple issues for over 2 months now. It’s unpleasant. Overall, it’s not the money I’m upset about, it’s really how they treat you. Their lack of professionalism overrides whatever the gym has to offer.

Why all the crunch gyms close at 9pm so bad never can join one I’m at the gym at 9pm!!!

Machine area is good but stretch area is small. Men’s locker room is kept up but steam room needs better cleaning and some tiles are no longer attached. Nice location with bay views.

DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR CREDIT/​DEBIT CARD DETAILS.
They placed unauthorized charge on my card. Despite having agreed that the charge is inaccurate and saying they will refund it, they haven’t refunded it for almost 2 months. I have no faith in this establishment.
Unless you want them to arbitrarily charge you card, stay away from this place!

If you like step, if you miss the energy of good aerobics classes and love coreographies, Devin’s class is your class.
Join Devin every Monday at 5.45 for a wonderful step class.

Mixed feelings about this gym. On one hand, the space is nice and the machines are spread out which is great, especially around work hours (see previous review). On the other, the service at both this level and the corporate location has been terrible!
Cancellation:
I have been trying to cancel my service. I filled out their online contact form over a week ago, no answer. Then went in person on Saturday (the last day of January) and was told to call a number. Call the number Sat and Sun and the voicemail says call between 9am-​5pm (which I was) and doesn’t mention they are closed on weekend. Finally, get through today (Feb 2^nd) and am told because its February I will have to pay for an additional month. Totally ridiculous because I’ve been trying to cancel for over a week! Asked for a supervisor and was told they would call back; she did, but then just passed me off to an email address for her supervisor. I’ve sent her an email, but I’m not holding my breathe.
Training:
My first trainer was a nice guy, but just super hard to schedule with and spent a lot more time talking than training me. Then he left the gym. Before leaving I had bought a 2^nd set of training packages, and within the first 5 days sent him an email saying I changed my mind and wanted to get a refund. For MONTHS he told me he was «working on it» and it was «sent up to corporate» but with little help. Finally, several months later I was assigned a second trainer who told me I would get some free sessions for the hassle and be able to refund if I still wanted to. He was great and we got along super well! I did tell him I still wanted to refund my last 5 session and after a while, he told me that he also wouldn’t be able to refund the sessions even though he has previously mentioned otherwise.
There are just SO many hoops to jump through with this company if you ever need any customer service. Very unprofessional.

The worst thing about this gym is the trainers, who are the biggest collection of losers I’ve seen in a long time. Seriously, this gym is like the Island of Misfit Trainers. And they all stand around acting obnoxious because they don’t have anything better to do.
Also, the machines are organized poorly, especially given the very small space. The men’s lockers room is nasty.
But if it weren’t for the annoying trainers, this would be an ok place to exercise.

So yeah the trainers do look out for you to see if you need personal training at first. But if you’re not interested they won’t bother you about it. In fact the trainers are fucking awesome. I haven’t once signed up for a trainer, but the trainers are super friendly and they’re actually always looking out for me. Several times they’ve helped me improve my workout. I even train with some of the trainers as I’ve gotten to know them and they’re super helpful; and it’s not even to try to get me to signup for training.
Outside of the trainers, the facility itself is great. I’m able to do my olympic training as well. Best gym I’ve been to in SF so far. It’s better than the other Crunch’s I’ve been to as well.
Shout out to Sam, Stephen and Oliver! You guys are amazing!

THE GYM.
(4 stars)
Been a member for 4+ years and been enjoying it!
Like this one a lot more during the EVENINGS than the usual crunch gyms I go to (Daly City and New Montgomery). This one has less people, less females wearing make up and doing absolutely nothing, and a friendlier crowd. Their classes are not overly populated. It is smaller and the studio is somewhat deattched from the gym, but I like the intimacy and the space. It works! Also it’s close to the waterfront, incase you like to store your stuff in the lockers and do a nice brisk run outside.
THE BEST PART… They sell single hair ties for $ 1. Do you know how annoying it is when you forget a hair tie and have to run to a store and spend $ 4.95 on a 30 pack when you only need 1. I don’t see this nice little perk at the other gyms.
Will I be back? Definitely!

[I am now…“officially” no longer a member of this gym]
That being said… they were very good to me while I was there for this past lil-​over-​a year when I was a member.
Staff are all pretty friendly/welcoming…including the «clean team»! :)…oh…The facility stays pretty clean, with of course, sweat here and there (but hey, it’s a gym)…n that’s mostly to fault the fellow members: P…i kid… not. (ok…yes)
Though the facility is a bit small, they manage to pack in a lot of different equipment/​fitness tools like dumbbells, kettlebells, weighted medicine balls, stability balls, bosu balls, and weighted sandbags… in addition to your standard cardio machines (e.g. treadmills, stairmasters, stationary bikes).
My favorite part… which I will definitely miss the most are the dance classes! I love to dance (next to singing… it’s one of my favorite things to do)…though I have no rhythm. All the dance instructors are very good at breaking down the dance steps and keeping the class «entertaining» with their quirky humor. and… just like with most group fitness classes, you really feed off of the energy around you which means… you «go big»…n sweat your ass more than you would have, had you been taking the class solo.

This place really isn’t cut out for my purposes, but they get a three-​star because it’s a Crunch, and Crunch is really the goldilocks of gyms in SF.
I use this place mostly just to shower. It has the advantage of being right on the beginning of my embarcadero run — perfect! Dump your stuff and then head outside for a jog along the beautiful waterfront. Unless you live in the Gateway or somewhere nearby (strongly considering), this is your only recourse if you want to run outside in the mornings.
Also, in the mornings the studio across the way is nearly empty, and I used it a lot during the good season.

Highlights
— They offer different classes here compared to the Montgomery location, which I am grateful for since it is walkable distance away. Hooray for a warm-​up prior to attending a class.
— Less crowded, since it is further out from central downtown area. I can’t say the same about some of the more popular classes offered here though, since they can get pretty packed.
— Beautiful view of the bridge and embarcadero people watching when running on their treadmills that face the water. Plus and comes in handy when running longer distances on the treadmills!
Improvements
— Some lockers have keys that you can use, others have hooks for you to use your own locks. I really liked the provided keys when I first attended this gym. It made it a lot easier and the new hooks for your own locks are not too user friendly.
— Tiny area for stretching about 3 person area and if it gets filled, there really isn’t too much space around amongst the machinery to lay out your mat.
Tip
— Employees here are a lot more friendly compared to the other location downtown.

Don’t come here unless you want to run into issues with them charging your credit card for no reason, JUST because they can! Looks like from previous posts I am not the only person who has had issues with Crunch! READ ON.
So I cancelled my membership here on April 15. I had gone into the gym on April 15 to fill out paperwork for cancellation and they gave me a copy of the paperwork.
Then they proceed charged me $ 10 in May then another $ 64.99 in June.
On June 14, I contacted the gym and asked why I was charged $ 10 then $ 64.99 after I cancelled. It makes no sense! I asked for immediate reversal of charges. I was pissed off.
Their response for the $ 10 charge then the $ 64.99 charge was that they do not have the cancellation paperwork in their files, nor was it recorded in their system. According to them, the burden of proof of cancellation is put on me. This means I’d have to keep that piece of paper as proof of cancellation for the next 5+ years just in case they feel like charging my credit card again! HOW SLOPPY OF THEM!
Corporate then «clarified» that the $ 10 charge was for «Freezing» my membership.
As per corporate: «The $ 10.00 charge was a freeze fee so it looks as if a freeze was completed, which is an entirely different form (thus not easily confused for a cancellation request).»
Well, NO SHIT — I would hope that anyone who fills out a form and signs it would know the difference between FREEZE and CANCEL!
So I let them know «Had I wanted to freeze my account, I would have filled out a form that froze my account but I did not. I filled out a CANCELLATION FORM to CANCEL my membership.»
WOW — so then I finally was able to dig up the cancellation paperwork that I had in my files and sent it to them, dated ⁴⁄₁₅.
Glad I didn’t send them the cancellation paperwork earlier because now I am able to see what a sorry of an excuse they gave me for charging me $ 10! Freeze Fee –my ass!
Last I sent the cancellation paperwork as proof to resolve this debacle was June 25, and never did I hear back from them.
Today I checked my bank statement. They finally refunded me the money.
A professional would have followed up to let me know that it was resolved and send an apology for the sorry ass mistake they made on their end. SO unprofessional.
Between the time I sent them the paperwork and the time they refunded me, I had to call my credit card company to cancel my credit card and issue me a new # because of misuse of my credit card on Crunch’s behalf. At the rate they were NEVER getting back to me via email (oh by the way, I left a message on the Member Services Manager’s mailbox at Crunch Corporate on June 14 and never got a call back) I didn’t know how many more months of $ 64.99’s I was going to get charged and not get back.
COMPLETE BS and lack of professionalism at Crunch. Don’t sign up here!