I am thinking of joining, since the membership isn’t that much. I’m a little concerned due to all the complaints I’ve seen online about their billing and complications of cancelling…
Anyone have any experience?
I’ve been a member for about a year and haven’t had any trouble with it so far. I assume it varies location by location but the worst I’ve had to deal with is it being overcrowded some nights. Can’t speak to complications of cancelling though.
Don’t ever grunt or groan, otherwise the lunk alarm will go off.
IMO, not a serious gym for serious exercisers, but for $10/month, most people don’t care about that. Their business model is to collect the $10/month and hope members never cancel, because it’s so cheap.
I haven’t had any problems with billing at mine. I’ve only been a member since the fall, though. I love it. My location is new, clean, bright, has good air movement, and has plenty to keep me busy.
I’m surprised to see all the billing complaints online. My husband has been a member for about a year and there is no complaints. He likes it because there is no serious bodybuilder types there. That would really intimidates him.
It is a franchise, right? The billing/cancellation problem must vary by location.
This doesn’t really address the question, but I’m a big fan of Planet Fitness. I have a membership at a different gym near my home, but I travel often and like to visit gyms when I’m on the road. At many gyms a day pass is as much as $20. With Planet Fitness, you can go online and get a free day pass at any location, and do it as often as once every 90 days, per location, which creates an opportunity for a lot of free visits, especially if you’re visiting an area with multiple franchises. In my experience they’re rarely crowded, have good quality equipment, and don’t have muscle bound idiots flexing in your face.
If there were one near my home I’d probably be a member.
I’ve been a member for a couple of years and get there a couple of times a week. I’m not serious about working out and use it mostly for working out stress and following through on things my physical therapist got me started on.
Our local one gets a bit crowded sometimes with 20-something gym rats but I figure if I switched to the one farther away I wouldn’t make the effort to go there.
Apparently they can hassle you if you try to quit. My daughter told me she had to personally deliver a written request to quit. When the counter guy asked why she was dropping her membership she asked him “do you recognize me???” She hadn’t been there in over 6 months and finally admitted reality and stopped wasting her money.
First of all, that’s just an often repeated stereotype. I’ve been in all kinds of gyms for most of my adult life. Second, you can’t build muscles at a Planet Fitness. 
Any gym that offers free bagels and pizza is simply killing its members slowly. 
It’s a little hassle to cancel. My son just did and he also had to go in person and sign a statement. You need to do it before they hit you with the $45 annual fee though.
PF has a facebook page. If you have any difficulty at your franchise, I found that posting on the page is a very good way to get instant results.
That said, it’s worth the money to me. I’m never there when they give the pizza or bagels, and there are plenty of serious gym rats at the one in my neighborhood.
I was out of town for a while earlier this year and joined a Planet Fitness close to my temporary location. I joined for one month, used it well, then cancelled at the end. I had no issues cancelling my membership. I did it at the front desk several days before my month was up and they told me I could continue to visit for 3 more days because that was the month’s end.
What’s the story on PF offering bagels and pizza??? Is this a thing there???
I talked to one of my co workers today who used to go to Planet Fitness. She really liked it, but then changed because she got a gym membership through a program she takes part in for Parkinson’s patients. Anywho, she went in in person to cancel (you can’t do it over the phone). Lo and behold a month later, she notices they’re still charging her the monthly membership even though she cancelled and when she called they said she hadn’t cancelled. I think she got it ironed out with her bank and a company called legal shield. But, still. I read online that someone said to keep evidence of all your transactions with the company.
She said she had no problems with the gym and liked it, but of course her view changed after she cancelled…
I thought 24 Hour Fitness was bad when you cancelled but at least they quite charging your account after you cancel.
The pizza and bagels does sound intriguing! But, that kind of defeats the purpose of the gym!
Yes, it’s a thing at Planet Fitness. Well-known in the industry. And they defend the practice, of course.
https://www.planetfitness.com/community/articles/real-story-behind-planet-fitness-pizza-monday
I love pizza and bagels…that’s why I go to the gym to work them off! Having them at the gym would really defeat the purpose of going to the gym…
Many people struggle with their weight and pizza and bagels obviously don’t help. You cannot out train a bad diet. You can certainly try, but then you cannot out train with injuries for sure. 
@sushiritto exactly!
The pizza is only once/month, as are bagels—separate days. Sounds bad that folks are having difficulty canceling when they want to.
Well they don’t actually have pizza and bagels sitting out every time you come to the gym! One morning a month (bagels) and one night a month (pizza.) I have been a PF member for probably 5 years and only remember seeing food out one time; obviously my schedule doesn’t coincide with the freebies! They also don’t make a big deal about it at all, at least at my location. But still, a once a month tray of stale bagels or cold pizza is not going to sabotage your diet. And not everybody is going because they are on a diet. Most of the folks at my PF are just trying to keep exercising (especially during the winter) and maintain their fitness level. Lots of seniors, high school off-season athletes, college kids, working parents, empty nesters like me.
Planet Fitness is GREAT for those who want/need to get moving, don’t have space or budget for an at-home treadmill, and can’t/don’t want to pay $100 month for a gym membership. I try to walk/run outside when the weather is nice, but when it isn’t I head inside to PF. I love the 24 hour schedule and often go late at night (10 pm) and on holidays. Our PF is pretty busy all day until after 10 pm. I avoid peak times as best I can, just to have a little more breathing room.
PF is a big, public exercise room, not a boutique gym where one pays good money to be seriously challenged and coached. But the average exerciser can improve their fitness, increase strength and lose weight by working out at PF, IF they are focused on progressive goals and have some knowledge of effective work-out techniques. If you need coaching or motivation help, then it’s not the best option.
We have had zero billing/cancellation issues. Have cancelled my D’s membership several times while away at college, and reactivated during summer, with no new membership fee as long as it is within the year the fee was paid. No issues, no pressure, no billing mix-ups. Most of the front desk people are kids who graduated from our local high school (with my kids) and are attending college locally. I know several by name.
PF was a game-changer for me when they opened up in our town. Love it!
A lot of gym chains have huge cancellation issues. I recommend getting their cancellation policy in writing when you sign up. Ask the sales rep to explain it to you. You still may have trouble but if you follow their procedures you will have some recourse if and when you do cancel.