Peter B.

Homer's Auto Svc

But, do they work on Ferrari Enzos? Can I get a shiny, shiny badge from them if I say "pretty please"? How about some automatic weapons?

What a unique, diversified auto repair shop!

PROS: Swedish Connection
CONS: Swedish Connection

Bodies In Motion

I 've was a member (starting at another branch) from 1998 to 2005. I left because I got fed up. Their staff and management are such scumbags. They treat you well if you're a prospect, but once you've signed on to a long term deal, you're invisible. Complaints? Don't bother..no one cares. Issues..forget it, your voice is silent. Want to cancel? Expect to have your paperwork lost, and get charged again and again and again for months until you threaten legal action. Bodies is a prime example of how NOT to do business. Customer acquisition is what they're fixated on, but not customer retention. That's why they lie to you as simply as they breathe. Employees are disgruntled, underpaid, unqualified, and not motivated. Turnover is very high. There is a long list of employees, vendors, former members suing Bodies. That's just how they do business. Don't get lured by the pretty surroundings. Deep down, the soul of this place is rotten to the core.

FYI, most instructors are not credentialed in what they teach. How 'bout that ballet expert teaching boxing! Wow. No experience in the sport (and it shows), yet instructing people. While no member there is intent on turning pro, at least have an authentic teacher instruct the class. Ladies, would you have your ob.gyn do dental surgery on you, since both are credentialed medical doctors? Hmmmm.....

PROS: Best facilities and locker room
CONS: Far outweighing the good facilities is pretty much everything else.

Bodies In Motion

little else. While some classes are good with qualified instructors (Javier, Tom, Robert, Steven), others are bad. What's with the girls who teach boxing / kick boxing who have never been around the sport before? It shows, and they should not be instructors when they are not at the proper level, because they don't know technique. As a former 5 year member, I signed on at the time they were promoting the "renovation". In five years, it never happened. Questions about the "new locker rooms" etc. were met with blank stares by the staff. "Renovation" talks are a ploy to get you into a long term contract. Also, when you quit, make sure to send notice via certified mail. Their tactic is to try to tack on an extra three months once you've notified the gym (according to a former employee), knowing that most people won't go to Small Claims Court for 150 bucks or so. This happened to many former members, so beware. Generally, this place is poorly managed and has little concern for the members. Other places are more deserving of your money.

PROS: Location, size of facility, open-ness of space.
CONS: Not much else.

Bodies In Motion

This place is the worst. The management is uncaring. Once they sign you up for a long term deal, you are useless to them and they ignore suggestions, complaints, questions, etc. In 2002 many members complained constantly of a raw sewage smell from the shower area of the men's locker room. After hearing this for months, I approached management about it. They ignored me, stating that "Corporate is looking into it." Weeks went by. Nothing happened. So I began placing notes in the Member Suggestion Box with my return e-mail address and phone number. Weeks went by. Nothing happened. After 16 straight unanswered notes, I started placing profane messages in the Suggestion Box to see if that would at least invoke a reply. Silence from Bodies ! Eventually I called the Health Dept. who set an appointment to investigate. Bodies learned of the visit by the Health Inspector, and rushed over a crew in the middle of the night to "flush" the system. It worked for a time, but the offensive odor came back. I quit the gym shortly thereafter. Later, a former manager there laughed and told me that suggestions simply get filed in the waste basket regularly. It's just a ruse. This is unfortunately typical of Bodies. It's from the top down. Another former trainer from there told me that he had 14 General Manager at the Encino branch in 12 months. 14 !!! Now that's turnover, and that's bad management. Run from this place. They are horrible.

PROS: Location
CONS: Everthing else.

High Energy Fitness

(Update: March 2006) Dear Former Members: If anyone knows the whereabouts of owners T or his cousin Bonaventure, please post here in a review. These guys not only shamefully skipped out on innocent members they signed to long-term contracts, but also ran from their landlords, employees, and investor partners. What cowards. Instead of being men, they lied by posting that the gym was closed during Christmas '05 (Dec. 23 to early January '06) for renovation and vacation. Then, they skipped town in the middle of the night. Cowards ! Absolute thieving cowards !

PROS: None
CONS: Owners are criminals