Gold's Gym
The first Gold’s Gym was opened in 1965 in Southern California. It quickly became known as the “Mecca of bodybuilding” frequented by bodybuilders Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dave Draper. It was also featured in the 1977 movie, “Pumping Iron.” The movie gained nationwide attention for the sport of bodybuilding, and the gym itself. The culture of heavy lifting, and bodybuilders still exists today at Gold’s Gyms across the United States. Over time, Gold’s has incorporated other fitness avenues into its gyms, making them user-friendly for non-lifters as well. Today, Gold’s is one of the most popular gyms in the country, serving more than 3 million members in 38 states and 22 countries around the world. Whether you are looking for a heavy lifting gym, a fitness center, a fitness club, of a generic gym facility, Gold's has what you are looking for to help you meet your fitness goals.
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The Good
- Equipment
- Cleanliness
- Group Fitness Classes
Equipment
Equipment offered at Gold's Gym includes resistance machines, spinning room, squat racks, benches, Cardio Cinema, cardio equipment/machines, strength training equipment, and free weights. Overall, Gold's equipment is reported to be enough for the crowd that regularly attends with the machines and the company's equipment is in adequate condition. There have been no complaints about machines breaking down and not being repaired in a timely manner the way some customers of competing fitness centers have reported. There are also some competing gym chains that have outdated equipment according to members as well. With Gold's, this does not appear to be a common issue.
Cleanliness
Gold's has a reputation for building large, spacious gyms. Even though Gold's gym can and will be busy at high-traffic times, it feels less crowded and busy because of the design of the open layout. Across the board, customers agree that there is plenty of space and Gold's facilities are clean and reasonably maintained.
Group Fitness Classes
Gold's offers a wide variety of group exercise classes to help you reach your goals throughout the day. Even the busiest member can find a time slot to attend a class at Gold's local gym. These fitness classes provide members an opportunity to get in a good workout with a personal trainer or instructor and to socialize a little bit. Most locations hold their group classes starting at 4:30 a.m. with the last class time starting at 9:30 p.m. Some of the classes the company offers are Yoga, Zumba, Studio Cycle and Mixed Martial Arts. These classes are included in the membership fees. This is not always the case with other gym chains, that may charge additional fees for certain exercise classes such as yoga.
The Bad
- Gold's Gym Membership Price and contracts
- Upfront fees
- Hidden fees
- Trainers and nutrition
- Complaints
Gold's Gym Membership Price and Contracts
Gold's offers a monthly contract or you can pay for the entire year up front. The monthly fee is $29.99/month, which on its own is inexpensive compared to most gyms on the market today. One complaint customers have expressed about Gold's Gym is that its sales representatives are not forthcoming with the membership fees right away. There are countless customer reviews detailing negative experiences with employees/staff when trying to freeze or cancel your membership. While some gyms prorate their fees in cases where members cancel a membership before the month is up, Gold's does not. The company offers many introductory discounts through vehicles like Groupon, which attracts a large percentage of people interested in a Gold membership. Once these new members encounter Gold's sales representatives, members have reported unethical scenarios, such as being quoted misleading prices only for the company to charge their credit card a higher price than promised.
Upfront Fees
Customers seem to run into issues when it comes to Gold's upfront prices. If a member signs up for a basic, month-to-month membership, they're hit with a $100 initiation/enrollment fee plus the first month's monthly dues of $29.99. Therefore, a member who initially thinks they're enrolling in a $30 a month membership will have paid $130. In some locations like California, enrollment fees can get as high as $199. Other members who decide to enroll in a contract plan for one to three years, have the potential of having their initiation fee "waived" depending on how comfortable they feel, and skilled they are at talking to salesmen.
Hidden Fees
Gold's customers should be aware of hidden fees within the first few months of signup. Specifically, Gold's Gym charges members a $39.99 cleaning and maintenance fee two months after signup. We did not find any gyms that charge a cleaning and maintenance fee, putting Gold's Gym members at a disadvantage when it comes to this area.
Trainers and Nutrition
Gold's Gym offers personal trainers at its locations for those who are seeking assistance. New members get a free, do-it-yourself fitness evaluation tool on their website called The Gold's Gym Fit Test. This is a simple, five-exercise test designed to give you a true measure of your overall physical fitness compared to others in your age range and gender. When it comes to nutrition plans, Gold's Gym offers nutritional counseling, although the cost is not easily available without going through a sales rep at a local Gold's Gym. For many people, reaching their health and fitness goals becomes much easier when working with a personal trainer. Unfortunately, training or workout sessions are expensive and can get as high as $449. When compared to other large gym chains, we found some gyms to be more forthright with personal training fees which were more standardized regardless of location. Regarding nutritional coaching, not all gym chains offer it. Certain companies only offer physical training.
Complaints
While Gold's is known for being popular and having locations virtually everywhere, a red alert on the company due to having one of the worst customer service records in the industry. Numerous customers have reported various Gold's Gym's for acting in dishonest ways. Some of these reports cite things such as billing irregularities, contracts being illegally altered by sales members after the member has left, advertisements not being honored, and problems with canceling accounts when relocating, to name a few.
Other Available Amenities
Other amenities Gold's offers is a sauna/steam room, childcare and juice bars. Unlike many chain gyms, Gold's doesn't offer amenities like pools, massage beds, whirlpools or courts (basketball, racquetball and tennis courts). Gold's is more of a "no frills" gym.
The Bottom Line
We cannot recommend Gold's Gym due to the expensive enrollment fees, hidden fees, and additional costs. Customers generally agree that the company has nice, fairly updated facilities offering various classes for people of all fitness levels, along with a strong culture of bodybuilding and heavy lifting, but the negative seems to outweigh the positive. Access to certified personal trainers is limited due to excessive fees and working with staff/employees can be complicated tainted your experience with this fitness center/gym. The lengths to which Gold's goes to hide its fees and questionable ways its sales reps deal with customer issues says a lot about its business ethics and how much the gym values its members.
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User Reviews
Star Rating
213 Reviews
Review Breakdown
Sentiment Criteria
David T
Gold's gyms are nice, some are older. It doesn't bug me though, because I grew up working out in a used facility. The Gold's in Venice is a must workout location in your life if you are into bodybuilding.
AGenes
Had a horrible time trying to get them to cancel my membership. Gave me the run around which made me have to pay for multiple months more than I should have.
Audrey Mitchell
Glods gym is a great place to go with reliable equipment, lots of different machines, and clean atmosphere
Amanda
I’ve enjoyed my time at Gold’s Gym and it is a lot higher of quality and cleaner. I would recommend this place to my friends and family.
Angelina Hamilton
I really like this gym its amazing and it has awesome customer service. They even have tanning available if you want. And a massage chair! Not open 24 hours but still have plenty of time to go! Prices just right too!
terryjamison
Gold gym has everything you need for a great workout and have a great consular for weight lost
Lacey Horne
They were ok. Frustrated that when we signed up, we were told certain amenities were included and we could transfer between locations, which turned out to be untrue.
Reckholdt
I’ve worked out a a few golds gyms over the years and feel like they are very comparable in price to other gyms. Their equipment seemed to be a little dated and worn, however I know there are new gyms popping up and that may not be the case now.
Darbles32
The few golds gyms I’ve been to are a little run down but I feel only because they have been around for so long
Danielle Powell
So expensive for the older equipment. Never felt clean enough and classes were not at good timea
Tori smith
Golds is such a friendly environment and has so much equipment. You can reach your biggest goals here
Mikayla Ralston
I"ve been a Gold's member on and off for a years. Some of the gyms were nicer than others. Doesn't seem to be a standard. And they are usually overpriced. I usually wind up switching to another gym. For the last 3 years I've been with Sport and Health.
SkylarPickens
The customer for service is great. Everyone was welcome. Nice to have a place to go to. All though the equipment was kind of out of date and for the price of the subscription they should be more updated!!
Cam McClellan
I love the golds gym in Venice Beach, the “Mecca”. It is old but reminds me of the gym I worked out at growing up. Lots of good equipment and “famous” bodybuilders working out there.
Christyan Bennett
A very high-end classy gym. Very nice and modern. Very clean. Workers are friendly and helpful.
Luna
A great gym that has amazing equipments and great environment for your body building. They also have many good locations
Ramone Raiford
This is the best gym! I was a weightlifter so there were not any places to go workout at if you weren’t at practice. This gym allowed power lifting and strength conditioning when other places didn’t. This also was a place where you could practice CrossFit. Most gyms only have the basics
Michelle W
Awesome location in Pittsburgh. While it's always busy, the equipment is clean, and the staff are very friendly.
Roman Christiansen
Worked out here for years and highly recommend. Great staff, great facilities, crazy amenities.
Mason Henrie
I seriously blame my weight loss and body structure on Gold's Gym. They had some trainers that really got me committed and I loved it
Tom Gourley
A larger chain of facilites offering typical fitness programs at mid level pricing
Tony
Had a Gold's membership several years ago and really not my kind of gym. More suited to bodybuilding crowd and less so to those just focused on general fitness.
JJ
(Edit: I failed to mention that Gold's Gym has never contacted me for any of the requests I've entered using their support system. ) The contact support option does not allow contact with a person. This would not be bad except they provide no feedback that a support ticket was created. There is no ticket reference number to track or refer to. There is no email confirming you submitted a ticket. There is no phone line to contact a rep for help. It is a false, misleading and abusive member system that no member or user can circumvent or gain access to any form of a solution. Contacting a local office does no help, because they are not the recipients of these help tickets, or at least every ticket that's been submitted by me has never been seen at my gym. This is the epitome of falseness, misdirection and member abuse taking the face of "support". -JJ
Eric Smith
Stocked full of equipment to get a good workout in and plenty of classes to choose from to provide a great experience with keeping up a healthy body.
ave
We used to go to Gold's Gym before it changed management and it was a ok gym. Needed a lot of updating and the equipment was getting run down. I wondered where my membership fees where going, not to getting new equipment I guess.
bailey jo
Decent equipment and good basketball facilities. Little expensive but worth it for the basketball gym.
Amy Boren
I had a free month and after I did not join. The they did not have variety of classes, and was too expensive.
Alyssa Boren
I like how they have places where your kids can play while you work out, it makes it so I am able to come more often.
Rushie Gregory
I've been a couple times, and wasn't too impressed by the cleanliness. I know it's a gym, but the whole place was a mess. The equipment itself was good quality though.
Randy Scoville
I had a Gold's Gym membership for a long time. I loved the variety of equipment and weights. I really enjoyed that I had access to the pool. I was also a student, so they gave me a student discount, so I feel like I got a lot of quality for very little pay.
Caro Brown
Please run for your life, they will rob you, blow your credit if you don t give in the extorsion.... Go elsewhere please... they sent me to collection after charging me for more than a year after I walked in and requested a cancellation per their instructions. To me it was over... nope! Check my credit and it was down 30 points.... it s just horrible
Tracy Womack
I love working out at Gold's Gym. They have very clean facilities and even better customer service.
Sage Robertson
Gold's Gym has really great machines. Their front desk customer service is has always been great as well.
Keeli Hansen
Gold gym has tons of new equipment and their gyms are always nice and clean and the trainers there are great!
Mazi Marcel Womack
Golds Gym, great prices and great facilities, can't really say more. no complaints here.
Rylie Crandall
I liked this fitness center’s variety of equipment and staff, but it was too pricey to keep up. If it weren’t as pricey, I would still love to go here.
Jason
I like Gold’s Gym because they have a huge selection of equipment that I can use to workout.
Sierra Beck
I loved the group fitness classes! So motivating to see so many ladies and a few guys there, sweating it out and learning good form. And the instructor, the one who loved Barry Manilow was just the best.
Haley Baldwin
I used Golds Gym before the one at my house was changed for a Planet Fitness. It was an alright gym. It wasn’t always the cleanest and the staff wasn’t super friendly most days. But it was all I had so I used it. I’m so glad to be going to Planet Fitness now!
Whitney Stanko
Tried it out a couple times. Did not like. Guys were dropping weights and grunting. So many body builders there and all they do was stare at them selves in the mirror. Never was able to feel comfortable or get a good work out in.
matthew
golds gym was an awesome place to work out but it got to expensive for me to work out there. but loved the workers and i liked to work out there better then planet fitness
Marissa
My experience at Golds Gym was meh. I felt like it was all bodybuilders there who hogged all the machines and weights, and definitely felt some serious judgement.
Anne Sainsbury
You want a place where you can exercise, use free wifi, and you're an independent exerciser this is the place! Cheap membership and working equipment!
M eames
The classes are always crowded. Love the teachers they are well trained and make it fun! Hate the weight area
susie
i love golds gym i have always gone to golds gym. the equipment at golds is always very nice stuff. and i love working out.
Courtney Eames
Golds gym changed my life! I have never felt comfortable at a gym but golds offers group fitness classes that have changed my life! The staff is amazing and makes you feel so comfortable and confident!
Brooke Herbon
Wasn’t very impressed with golds, something was always broken and the people working at the front weren’t kind at all.
Tracy Hill
I personally didn’t enjoy my time at Gold’s Gym because I didn’t feel like the atmosphere matched my personal fitness goals. It was also more expensive than I would’ve liked to pay so I switched gyms. I’m sure this gym is great for some people, but I enjoy others better
Dale L Farmer
It was a very serious place for those who wanted a very serious workout. Good free weights at the time.
Beth Farmer
We've used Golds Gym before. I'd say they are overpriced for the very basic equipment they provide. I think gyms like Crossfit with trainers and classes is a much better way to get into shape. I do like that Gold's Gym had different classes you can go to like Yoga, Pilates, Zumba. But, overall it's overpriced for what you get.