Why does Planet Fitness get such a bad rap?

[Grooveriding]

When I decided to add lifting to my exercise, which had only been jogging up until then, I just went out and bought a power rack, bench, Olympic bar and 300 lbs of weights. Since then I've bought a little over another 100lbs of weights, curl bar and a belt.

Once in a while I'll go to my wife's gym, but it saves so much time just having everything at home. Go home as you normally would, lift there, go upstairs to shower and relax. This gym is useless if it's accurate that you can't deadlift or squat. For that reason alone the place is pointless.

Over time it probably works out in your favour to just initially buy everything and do it at home, plus the time you save having it at home. Obviously if you're living in a condo/apartment I can see how this would not be an option because you'll piss your neighbours off or send a bar down to them through their ceiling.

 

[Aharami]

because they serve pizza and bagels

 

[Rakehellion]

What is a lunk?

 

[lxskllr]

What is a lunk?

I'm glad you asked. I meant to look it up when I read it, but forgot. DuckDuckGo provided this...

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2011/05/gym_rat_control.html

 

[Joepublic2]

Not unlike all those 'regular' gyms selling you bro-science powders, those are much safer then a piece of pizza.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Never thought I would see a /fit/ comic here.

I love it though.

 

[stlc8tr]

They must be profitable, because franchises are opening up like crazy across the country. A lot of people sign up in January (think New Years resolution), then don't show after a few weeks and don't cancel for months. Think oversubscription.

Planet Money had an episode on Planet Fitness a while ago.

http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=371463435

SMITH: This is Chris Anthy. She manages the Planet Fitness on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The gym can hold 300 people. How many members does it have?

ANTHY: It's about 6,000.

SMITH: Wow.

ANTHY: It's a lot of members.

SMITH: What would happen if they all came?

ANTHY: Oh, my goodness. We'd have a very crowded gym, very crowded gym. Thank goodness they all don't show up at one time.

I'm guessing less than half of those 6000 people come more than once a week.

 

[88keys]

That's pretty typical of most gyms. Perhaps not to that magnitude but it's typical.

How many people buy treadmills, weights, elliptical, etc and never use them?
Investments like these will set you back a little more than $10/month if you bought something of decent quality.

 

[smackababy]

That's pretty typical of most gyms. Perhaps not to that magnitude but it's typical.

How many people buy treadmills, weights, elliptical, etc and never use them?
Investments like these will set you back a little more than $10/month if you bought something of decent quality.

Planet Fitness has the added benefit of when you actually do go to the gym (Jan 1st-14th, generally) the only other people there are out of shape people who will exert the minimum effort to get that "I worked out!" feel good bullshit they can post on Facebook about.


But then again, I think enjoying going to the gym just sin't something everyone will have. It could be because I don't do much physical during the day, after a good workout the feeling where I don't think I could possibly lift another set is rather enjoyable. That feeling of having actually used all of the energy you had in that muscle group is amazing.

 

[TheVrolok]

I thought PF was bad, didn't realize it was that bad. Wow.

 

[Maximilian]

Lmao ive never seen the full comic before only the first pic

Zyzz... a real hero and a real human bean.

 

[uclaLabrat]

My hate with PF begins with their terrible ads. I get one on Pandora about evrey 5 minutes and my wrath begins with this line: "We're not a gym, we're PLANET FITNESS! Sign up at the GYM or online! Offer valid only through blah blah fucking blah our marketers can't write shit"

I stab myself in the eyes every time I hear that.

 

[bononos]

Planet fitness looks like a good place for people who are more into cardio workouts. I think their dumbells only go up to 50lb but its enough for most women for a good upper body workout.

 

[TheGardener]

I don't know how anyone can complain about $10 a month. Mine is very convenient to get to. PF keeps the place clean. Mine is in the process of remodeling. They swapped out older TVs with 60 in ones. The treadmills, bikes and elliptical machines are all new brand. PF added in the stair climbing machines, though I haven't tried one. They have a machine to workout any muscle. There are tanning booths, massage chairs, a discount on expensive mystical drinks and guest passes for those who will pay $20 a month. [I shudder at those who use a tanning booth.]

I won't challenge that the ads are as obnoxious, as they are frequent. But I'll put up with them if it keeps people coming in and the prices low. When you go to a PF, you have to put up with them there as well. Only more so.

Planet fitness looks like a good place for people who are more into cardio workouts. I think their dumbells only go up to 50lb but its enough for most women for a good upper body workout.

Their weights go up much higher than 50lb. A number of men and women come there to lift weights. At Golds Gym where I use to go, the fixed dumbells max were about 20 lbs. bononos how much do you benchpress that you believe a PF won't meet your needs? 300 lbs? 500lbs? How large are your dumbell requirements. Tell me Mr Atlas, and next time I go there, I'll find out for you. You shouldn't make a statement like that, unless you have visited one and checked it out. In which case I am sure that you wouldn't have made that claim. And yes, you can get a very good cardio workout at PF as well.

I can't see having a machine like a treadmill at home. Before last month when PF brought in new ones, 2 treadmills a month were breaking down. What do you do when they breakdown at home? How much does a repairman charge to make a house call? It would take a lot of years to breakeven with $10 a month, assuming your treadmill didn't breakdown and you never had to maintain it.

 

[foghorn67]

It's probably better than 24hr Fitness as far as maintenance and upgrades go. I've never seen a 24hr Fitness upgraded. They just build one, let it rot...and open a new one close by. They never replace missing weights, plate pins, etc. Broken stuff isn't repaired for months, if at all.
If PF had more weights, I would switch.

24hr sucks. They never enforce the rules. Too many bros with bags, dropping weights, and leaving their sweat because they are too cool for towels. And FFS, if you are strong enough to bench with 120lb dumbbells, put them back in the 120 labeled rack. Don't puss out and throw them back in some random place.

 

[Nebor]

I don't know how anyone can complain about $10 a month. Mine is very convenient to get to. PF keeps the place clean. Mine is in the process of remodeling. They swapped out older TVs with 60 in ones. The treadmills, bikes and elliptical machines are all new brand. PF added in the stair climbing machines, though I haven't tried one. They have a machine to workout any muscle. There are tanning booths, massage chairs, a discount on expensive mystical drinks and guest passes for those who will pay $20 a month. [I shudder at those who use a tanning booth.]

I won't challenge that the ads are as obnoxious, as they are frequent. But I'll put up with them if it keeps people coming in and the prices low. When you go to a PF, you have to put up with them there as well. Only more so.



Their weights go up much higher than 50lb. A number of men and women come there to lift weights. At Golds Gym where I use to go, the fixed dumbells max were about 20 lbs. bononos how much do you benchpress that you believe a PF won't meet your needs? 300 lbs? 500lbs? How large are your dumbell requirements. Tell me Mr Atlas, and next time I go there, I'll find out for you. You shouldn't make a statement like that, unless you have visited one and checked it out. In which case I am sure that you wouldn't have made that claim. And yes, you can get a very good cardio workout at PF as well.

I can't see having a machine like a treadmill at home. Before last month when PF brought in new ones, 2 treadmills a month were breaking down. What do you do when they breakdown at home? How much does a repairman charge to make a house call? It would take a lot of years to breakeven with $10 a month, assuming your treadmill didn't breakdown and you never had to maintain it.

Most treadmills have a 5 year warranty from the manufacturer.

 

[boomerang]

Most treadmills have a 5 year warranty from the manufacturer.

Those made for home use perhaps. Commercial models typically come with a 24 month that can be extended at a cost for another 12 months. A commercial treadmill at a volume discount typically runs about $4K. List is about $6.5K. Replacing treadmills at a gym is an enormous expense. Cardio in general is an enormous expense. Easily the most expensive equipment in the place.

 

[Nebor]

Those made for home use perhaps. Commercial models typically come with a 24 month that can be extended at a cost for another 12 months. A commercial treadmill at a volume discount typically runs about $4K. List is about $6.5K. Replacing treadmills at a gym is an enormous expense. Cardio in general is an enormous expense. Easily the most expensive equipment in the place.

Commercial model sidewalks typically last about 15 years. They're a moderate expense for municipalities, but they work great for running and walking. Not as good as a nice rubberized running trail, but still way better than a treadmill or (ugh) elliptical.

 

[stlc8tr]

Their weights go up much higher than 50lb. A number of men and women come there to lift weights. At Golds Gym where I use to go, the fixed dumbells max were about 20 lbs. bononos how much do you benchpress that you believe a PF won't meet your needs? 300 lbs? 500lbs? How large are your dumbell requirements. Tell me Mr Atlas, and next time I go there, I'll find out for you. You shouldn't make a statement like that, unless you have visited one and checked it out. In which case I am sure that you wouldn't have made that claim. And yes, you can get a very good cardio workout at PF as well.

The local Gold's have 150 lb dumbbells. The local YMCAs have 100 lb dumbbells.

I haven't been to Planet Fitness yet but the next time I pass by, I'll stop and ask what kind of dumbbells they have.

 

[Ackmed]

My local PF only went up to 65lbs dumbells. Golds has 120lbs. My main grip with PF is still no free bars. Doing squats or bench on a smith machine sucks. There is also no straight bar for pullups. It may be different per PF, that was my experience.

 

[highland145]

I'm glad you asked. I meant to look it up when I read it, but forgot. DuckDuckGo provided this...

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2011/05/gym_rat_control.html

What a bunch of whining pussies. "They made fun of me because I lift. I'm gonna shut down their youtube channel."

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I don't know how anyone can complain about $10 a month. Mine is very convenient to get to. PF keeps the place clean. Mine is in the process of remodeling. They swapped out older TVs with 60 in ones. The treadmills, bikes and elliptical machines are all new brand. PF added in the stair climbing machines, though I haven't tried one. They have a machine to workout any muscle. There are tanning booths, massage chairs, a discount on expensive mystical drinks and guest passes for those who will pay $20 a month. [I shudder at those who use a tanning booth.]

I won't challenge that the ads are as obnoxious, as they are frequent. But I'll put up with them if it keeps people coming in and the prices low. When you go to a PF, you have to put up with them there as well. Only more so.



Their weights go up much higher than 50lb. A number of men and women come there to lift weights. At Golds Gym where I use to go, the fixed dumbells max were about 20 lbs. bononos how much do you benchpress that you believe a PF won't meet your needs? 300 lbs? 500lbs? How large are your dumbell requirements. Tell me Mr Atlas, and next time I go there, I'll find out for you. You shouldn't make a statement like that, unless you have visited one and checked it out. In which case I am sure that you wouldn't have made that claim. And yes, you can get a very good cardio workout at PF as well.

I can't see having a machine like a treadmill at home. Before last month when PF brought in new ones, 2 treadmills a month were breaking down. What do you do when they breakdown at home? How much does a repairman charge to make a house call? It would take a lot of years to breakeven with $10 a month, assuming your treadmill didn't breakdown and you never had to maintain it.

70 pounds is not much higher than 50. It is also a paperweight for my purposes.

 

[inachu]

I was a member at planet fitness for a while.

I got tired of the groans and the OOMPHS when people bench weights.

I never make any sound when benching or lifting weights.


Just a bunch of idiots there.


So I quit and then joined a different place and nobody makes any verbal noise crap when lifting/benching.

 

[dainthomas]

Actually she was kicked b.c. PF has a no mid-rift policy and she was showing hers.

Jesus, that's the main reason I go. If I wanted to see a bunch of frumpy sweatpants-wearing soccer moms I'd go to starbucks. :thumbsdown:

 

[pauldun170]

The local Gold's have 150 lb dumbbells. The local YMCAs have 100 lb dumbbells.

I haven't been to Planet Fitness yet but the next time I pass by, I'll stop and ask what kind of dumbbells they have.

When checking out any gym I check for three things.
Dumber rack, Squat rack situation and bench comfort.

On of the few reasons why I stick with my gym (former golds) is because they have 150lb+ dumbells.
I use them for pullovers (One of my favorite things to do in the gym).