Bally Total Fitness-Albany

Think the gym is well located, handy to Dicks and fresh, healthy food at a nearby cafe. \r I had a good experience with the yoga class instructors although the trainer I truly liked left and I was never able to identify another who was right for me during the daytime hours. I understand there have been many changes since then.\r \r However, there is something that each person who joins should be aware. When I signed my contract, I had an understanding with the manager that when my period of membership ended there would be no more automatic payments from my bank. Well..... they continued to pull monies from my account. When my time was up there was another owner and another manager.\r \r I was told I had to end the payments with the corporate office. Well, getting through by phone is labor intensive. I am hopeful that the letter of cancellation to the Corporate Office will be handled promptly. So, if you join, keep a letter to the Corporate office ready with your cancellation notice for the day you want to discontinue your membership.\r \r ~ maureen more

COMPLETE TATOL SCAM!!\r Which I would have seen this sooner, this place is a complete and total scam, I agree with every body that had complains about it. I just like some of the people above was approach by a muscle guy with a nice guy smile, that later turn into a sorry you sign it grim. The staff is not helpful, the few times I went I got a really bad feeling about it. They talk and talk you into signing the their contract and then use the fact that ""you sign it we have it in paper"" to SLIM, WORK OUT, the money right out your bank Account!! The lying scum bags!\r When I was being talked into this hellishly bad decision, I was not even aware that the contacted had a back until I was told so when I wanted to cancel. They stick the copying(yellowing receipt like paper) on the back of the paper they give you to read and sign. All while they talk and talk and talk. I for one ASK if I would be able to later cancel the membership if I could not longer pay for it and was told ""you wont have to."" My stupid naïve self took that to mean, you could but it wont come to that instead of, ""NEVER MUAH HAHAHA!"" \r My friend, who's live around here for a few years was a victim of the 3 year scam some of the people above mention! more

I met people with similar challenges. Working alongside them at Bally helped me stay dedicated. more

Classes are great, Diane Rocks! more

Love the new tanning beds! more

This is a 3 star gym in what will be for many members a 5 star location. Especially around the holidays, the chance to break up a shopping trip with your choice of a workout is a real luxury, compared with spending a solid several hours fighting crowds.\r The facility itself could be considered average; it is clean with good availability of equipment as another reviewer said. There aren't any extras here though -- there's no pool or sauna such as at many Bally clubs, and certainly no racquetball courts as a few have. Unlike other's possible views, I'd consider this a Planet Fitness class club in an excellent location for people who can appreciate a few hours only of mall shopping at a stretch. The integration of many Bally clubs into the LA Fitness group should prove very interesting and may offer future improvements -- or not. If you like its location, you'll find parking to be not a serious problem; it's reasonable to walk a ways to get to a workout of course, and actually parking is very easy much of the day. You should find this at worst an excellent addition to a set of clubs to visit in a multiclub membership. more

I signed up for the free week long guest pass to check it out. This gym is really clean and there is never a wait for the machines here. The location is convenient (it's in the mall after all) and you can treat yourself to some clothes after working out! It's a two level gym-the first floor has all the weights and mats for weight training and toning as well as the studio for most of the classes. The second level has all the cardio machines-bikes and treadmills and ellipticals-and there is plenty of them! There is also a small studio for the spinning bikes-spinning courses are offered daily. I have taken the yoga morning class which I thought was relaxing but a bit too slow for me. It was more catered to the elderly I'm guessing but it was still calming and relaxing. I also took the powerflex class which woah worked my ineffectual arms HARD. A lot of reps! The zumba class is really fun-lots of upbeat music and it definitely will make you sweat! I have taken a spinning course-also makes you sweat but I really don't like being so stationary when working out. If you take spin though, I find Bernie really endearing and fun. He shouts, ""ARE YOU READY?"" The front desk guys always have a smile on their faces which is a small thing but really goes a long way to making me feel welcomed. I have been to the gym on weekdays in the morning and evening and at both times--there is NEVER a wait for a machine! SWEET! :) more

The best trainer at this gym is Edson! Ask for him if you really want results more

very disappointed in how my situation was handled, as I was hired part time for morning and worked a week. 1st of all the person I was replacing should have been informed, rather than him asking me, and storming out slamming the front door to the mall- apparently he was not aware I was taking 2 days away from him- and although the person that trained me did a fantastic job, never got to talk to the GM, he was sick, and basically just sat there- that is not how I operate. needless to say, went in to pick up my check a week ago, and was told by the owner that ""they"" mailed it out....they who? have left several messages for the owner, and of course no check. I worked the days, worked the hours, not understanding why no one will get back with me>? more

Was a member here 4 years ago and although it was not as bad as some of the other reviews mention it was what I would expect from a gym. On the other hand re-joined after moving back to albany when a they added tanning and love the new staff and equipment. Buying my mother a membership for her birthday... more

Please dont join Bally fitness in Albany..They are complete frauds..They are not professional and are a complete rip offs..They just want your money and will do anything so that you join teh gym and then u will repent your entire life..They are a bunch of losers who just sit there and keep giving false information to teh customers..please stay away from thsi gym..u r better off joining any gym in this world but not bally's for christ sake..There are many better gyms in albnay than bally's infact any gym is better than this gym..There is a guy..i think his name is Jeff he thinks he is teh owner and tells people taht he owns the gym and talks trash..they are all uneducated,uncivilized people..i have had an awful experience joining this gym..most of my friends who joined after me closed their membership as well...please stay away..its not worth it..they make u join and tehn will rip u off by lying... more

I and a friend walked past this gym in the mall one day, was approached by a bulky muscular guy and shown some excercizes and such. I was told about the 30 day trial, and also told that I could just cancel by phone or stopping in if I wanted to. Easy enough. I changed my mind before the 30 days was up, and lo and behold! The contract said otherwise, and what they told me was complete garbage. Dont believe what they tell you as they are complete liars and fakes. Look at the print on the document, not at their smiling commissioned-fueled lieing-to-make-a-buck faces. I declared bankruptcy (them included) because I lost my job in 2009 and still they lie to the credit agencies so as to look as if ""not included in bankruptcy"". Im beginning to fighting this and have a lawyer, but please, anyone reading this, DONT trust them for anything, dont go through the anguish I am going through, there are plenty of great gyms out there just look into them before committing anything, even a signature on paper as thats how unscrupulous, uncaring places such as Ballys get your money. If you are not a member, just walk past the place looking at it with interest. See how fast an employee will approach you to try to hook the bait. Thats all you are to them. bait. I gave this place a 1, which is too high but the lowest I could give it. Try them, and you will want to do the same, believe me. I fell prey to them, please dont do the same. more

I joined, or so I thought, on a month to month basis. Little did I know, my contract surprising listed me as a year long member. I SPECIFICALLY stated I was only joining for a two month period as I was leaving the state. I was assured this was not problem. Well, when it came time to cancel, I was told I needed to present a utility bill from my new home (of which there was none, because the construction is in process) a mortgage agreement, (out of the question, it's none of their business) or I would be responsible for the yearly fee. I told the manager I would just cancel my credit card and did so. Even my credit card advisor said she had a terrible experience with Ballys. The rude, disrepectful manner in which I was treated was incredible. The manager was smug and ""if that's the way you want to play it"" that Ballys could play the same game. How they get away with bullying people is beyond me. Save your money and your time - join another club!!! Pros: Good classes Cons: Unscrupulous pratices more

Signed on after a 3 week trial program. Promised 1:1 training and a ""program"". Within 4 weeks, all staff terminated due to sexual harrassement charges. Replacement staff (mostly kids) cared less about keeping up with the promises made by sellers. They were too busy trying to hook up with members of the opposite gender...Seen time after time from both the male AND female attendants. Appoinments for 1:1 were NOT maintained, No programs were ever provided. Equipment over a 2 1/2 yr time frame was in fair condition, much of the padding and protective coverings are in poor condition. Notified Corporate, and received one phone call back from ""the new manager"" who is gone more than here, and is of course the only person who can assist us. \r The only way to cancel the contract is through death, moving over 25 miles from the facilitiy, or with medical reasons. Have read article after article in the T.U. how folks were helped out of their contracts, This of course AFTER we signed up, and because we tried to use the facility and obtain the services, we were not eligible for a refund attempt.... \r \r Ballys at Crossgates stinks...The facility, the staff the corporate offices. \r I would NOT give this particular facility even a 1 star Rating. IT is NOT worth it. \r Pros: located in the mall- other things to do but come here Cons: dirty equipment, staff who could care less more

I'm rating it a 1 out of 5 No Joke as per my experience with this Bally's.\r \r The Bally's Total Fitness company is a very dirty company.\r \r They lied during the sign up saying that you can cancel in 60 days with no problems, but the truth is you only get 3 days to cancel and also you signed up for a 3 year CREDIT-based contract which you can only get out of if YOU DIE or You are injured for 6 MONTHS with a doctor's note or you MOVE TO a RURAL area 25 miles away from any Ballys. These terms are horrible and nobody should ever trust a gym for 3 years, what if the gym starts to lose quality over 3 years (gets crowded, not taking care of machines, gets dirty, or it gets crowded or you need the $ later)? So after you've signed up they're done smiling at you and making you feel good and instead make you feel like a piece of ....well you know what.\r \r Also the staff have been repeatedly getting into trouble for sexually harassing women and assault charges in the women's bathroom....\r \r The Bally's Total Fitness company is a dirty company just google it and you'll quickly find out more about it. Pros: THE EQUIPMENT IS STILL SORT OF NEW Cons: Staff is dirty and lies and is deceptive, 3 year NON-Cancellable Credit-based contracts more