Retro Fitness

About 4 months ago, I enrolled in the personal trainer program which I was told that I would be able to cancel at any point with no repercussions. The contract that I signed also had no termination clause and mentioned nothing about cancellation during the program. These 4 months, I have not been offered what I was promised when I signed. There is a lack of professionalism and customer service/respect for the customer. They tend to cancel my sessions for personal training and have put me behind on my monthly sessions. Last month, I finally had enough and took it upon myself to cancel this program, 3 months in, as it was not fulfilling the standards it stated it would. The branch, however, recently changed management for their PT. The new PT said that I would be charged 50% of the total program fee for canceling before the 12 month period had expired. I reviewed my contract several times to make sure I hadn't missed a termination clause, but the contract makes no mention of any termination clause or fees associated with it as mentioned by the manager. The branch is refusing to let me end my program and is threatening to send my monthly charges to collections if I stop my automatic payments through my bank. The owners are also refusing to speak with me personally. This type of behavior from the company is unacceptable, especially since nowhere in the contract does it state that I must complete the 12-month program or suffer repercussions for terminating early. I am furious that I have not been receiving what I have been paying for and on top of that am being denied the right to end the program. I have spoken to management several times and they are being difficult and unresponsive. The manager is telling me since they paid the commission to the previous PT on the 12 months they won't allow me to cancel because they "don't like anyone canceling", tell me how that's my fault? This has caused me a lot of stress and mentally drained me. I recently had one of my doctors and was given a note to give to the gym regarding my disability, to which the gym replied that they need the note 21 days in advance, however that is stated nowhere in the contract and it also says if one has a medical disability they must cancel there contract right away. They are continuing to charge me monthly while hassling and threatening me on the side because they "don't like to cancel" contracts. This type of behavior from a business is unacceptable I refuse to be treated this way. THEY ARE RUNNING A CORRUPT BUSINESS, AVOID IT!!!

Approximately 4 months ago I signed up for personal training and I was given instructions to achieve my fitness goals nevertheless I worked 1 on 1 with a trainer who promised me a guidance towards my goal and after few sessions I was neglected, 'I don't think' someone like me as a client/gym member is paying wants to experience that, I deserved the all the fitness assistance such as food advises but it was never given to me. I understand that in every place that there is a always a 'Drama' and aboslutely it's none of my business, I was scheduled for a training session at 7:30 PM and I did compromised the timing with Brad and then he texted and told me that he has to cancel it when I'm already 2 stops on the light rail station 'Professionalism' huh? So uncalled for and then never heard from him after 3 weeks and I just found out that he quit? Like really? None of the management reached out to me to discuss of resuming my training session when they are charging my card on file? I spoke to both Steve sent them a message in a diplomatic way to resolve my issue and never got a reply and now where do I stand? All I wanted to get my contract cancelled because it's not worth it and nobody can even come to me explain to me of what is going on just like a normal human being. I left numerous notes and constant follow up to the ownership but he seemed that he ignored my issue, don't get me wrong the front desk has a very good understanding workers but the management sucks and don't care about the service they provide to their members. If you are planning on signing up for personal training please think or never sign up, you'll have a more peace of mind working by yourself. FYI to the owner if I can putp no star because at this point you need consider and prioritize this issues in your business.

Girls in the front are very welcoming! And the instructors are great! I go for the classes! They are concerned, learn your limitations and show you options so you can gradually achieve your goals...been a member for a year, and am planning to renew my membership.

The gym is good but really ask yourself how much privacy do you have in the restroom area. I highly advise the owner to sit on the toilets and answer this question. I don't need everyone to know im using the toilet. I can't work out if I don't use the restroom right before. And also if this problem can get fix maybe we can put flushable paper toilet seat covers (For quicker use). also the treadmills are trippy. What I mean is that I'll go a certain speed and it changes instantly slower by 2mph throwing me completely off goal mindset.

WORST EXPERIENCE EVER WITH THESE PEOPLE. THEY HAVE BEEN STEALING LITERALLY STEALING 500 DOLLARS OUT OF MY ACCOUNT FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS WITH A SUM TOTAL OF 2000 DOLLARS THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN WITHOUT PERMISSION AND WITHOUT CONTRACT. I AGREED VERBALLY TO PAY 500 DOLLARS FOR 20 SESSIONS BUT DUE TO ILLNESS AND SURGERY I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND TO THE GYM. REGARDLESS, I WAS CHARGED 500 DOLLARS FOR SESSIONS NOT USED, NEXT MONTH ANOTHER 500 AND SO ON. PETE ONE OF THE CO-OWNERS OF THAT BRANCH DID NOT GET BACK TO ME ON THE SUBJECT NOR DID HE EVEN SEEM TO CARE. HE WAS MORE INTERESTED IN HIS TEXTS ON HIS PHONE THAN A WELL PAYING CUSTOMER. I NEVER GOT A PHONE CALL BACK REGARDING MY CLAIM WHEN I HAD ASKED TO SPEAK TO HEAD SUPERVISOR. I LITERALLY HAD TO CANCEL MY CARD ON FILE TO STOP THE FRAUD THAT WAS BEING COMMITTED. I HAD TO WAIT TWO WEEKS TO RECEIVE MY NEW DEBIT CARD WHICH WAS A REAL PAIN AND THE LOCAL CHASE BANK FINALLY PROVED THAT RETRO DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE THOSE FUNDS. I HAVE NO PROBLEM PAYING AND MONEY WAS NOT AN OPTION WHEN IT COMES TO GOALS BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO STEAL FROM ME THEN I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW HOW THIS PLACE IS BEING RUN. FORTUNATELY FOR ME I WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE MY 2000 DOLLARS BACK BUT OTHERS MAY NOT BE SO FORTUNATE. TILL THIS DAY NO APOLOGY, EMAIL OR CALL FROM RETRO FITNESS. JUST A REVERSAL FROM THE BANK. UPLOADED ARE PICTURES OF THE REVERSALS.To the response:"I spent considerable time politely explaining to you that you agreed to 20 sessions per month".... unless you are Mike the personal trainer you have no right saying that I made a contract with you. All negotiations were with the personal trainer and not the owner as you were never there and a doctors note are you kidding me?? I wrote a letter of cancellation to you guys with Mike! You never called!!! I never got a call back from anyone at the gym! Why is that ?? Not a call back from Mike, not a call back from Pete nor a call back from the lady that was supposed to be Mike's superior. I went in numerous times asking for the contract which no one seemed to have. I had cancelled with a letter of termination and still had money being taken out. Mike and the receptionist Pete were well aware that I had surgery because I had shown them the operation from my appendix removal. What is the issue? You want me to come in and provide you a notice of acceptance to the hospital? That is not a problem, I don't need to lie. No one explained any options to me about what had happened, Mike kept saying he was going to sell off my sessions. I was already 1500 dollars in at that point that your gym has taken out of my account. Who is guying to buy 1500 dollars worth of sessions? I was very understanding but there comes a point where one has to defend themselves and this is that point. It seems like you have contacted the bank to reverse the transactions because I recently just again have now 1000 dollars reversed from my account. It's like my checking account is a free for all. I had the bank mail me the document that you had provided to them as "evidence" that I had signed for repetitive withdrawals of 500 dollars a month. I will look for a forged signature as I know I never signed a contract. The only signed contract was with the prior trainer Rashad and a letter of termination to the verbal agreement. This is pathetic that I have to write to you in a review. You have my number, you could have called but you rather reply to a review to keep the numbers up at the gym. Unbelievable this situation. This is going mainstream.By the way, I uploaded an attachment of my "medical issue" benefits that paid for my supposed "surgery" on the 19th of July. I can back up all my claims. You sir are just making yourself look bad.

I had great hope when I joined this gym. I left almost a year ago but every time I think about this place I get really upset and here is why. I was in a great gym before I moved to Bayonne and was able to lose 60lbs in 1 year. I wanted to continue my weight loss journey after the move and thought I could do it alone this time. Well I was wrong, I joined planet for a year and instead of losing I started gaining weight. I gained 10lbs back. So I decided to look for a gym that has a weight loss program ( nutrition and training programs) like my previous gym. NYSC was not close to any public transportation and they are quite pricey, forum had a very complicated and expensive membership programs, I wasn't too much into CrossFit, so retro was my best option. It was either that or NYSC. I walked in and I was told that they had everything that I needed. I signed up for the 8 training sessions per month + the VIP membership, to mix my training with other cardio group classes. First month was great, I loved the dance class, kickboxing session, and the zumba group classes they offered. I realized that they didn't have any certified nutritionist on site, but my trainer was fantastic, very professional, knowledgeable and tough and I needed that inflexibility to stop winning ( remember I don't do sport at all, and go to the gym because I have to, if I wanted to live longer). Fast forward, the whole thing went south, when he quit, management changed 4 times in less than 2 years. I ended up with trainers who didn't care much ( I understand, they were not being treated fairly by the company), so they would quit after a month or two, nobody will inform me, and I would go for weeks without a trainer until the new management is in place, or a new trainer is hired. After 1 year and half, I wasn't gaining or losing weight. But because I still had so much faith in them than myself, i didn't cancel my membership. I ended up being paired with Lauren, she is wonderful.She is the last trainer I worked with and was finally getting results. But I got promoted at my work and had to move to another state. And guess what, the program was under new management again, and Retro was trying to take control of it ( it was managed by another company). I had 40 + sessions still pending at that time ( the sessions are prepaid, so every month the money is deducted from your account even though there is no one to train you) They, owed me $600+. I spoke with the new manger, his name was Mike. He said he will look into it, and check with the company if they can reimburse me, because it was too much money, and it wasn't my fault. He suggested that I cancel my retro vip membership before leaving, since there was no retro facility in the state I was moving to. I trusted them so much that I did everything I was told. After, my move I called several times to check on my case, just to be told that he wasn't around, when I finally got a chance to speak with him, I had to remind him of my name and explain my case again which was strange. That should have been a red flag, but I was still too trusty. He said he will call me back again when he hear from them, which he never did. I called him back on his cell, just to hear excuses. He told me that he did all he could, but the company sold the memberships to retro for $1, they didn't give them any money, and since I cancelled my membership with retro, they can't do anything for me or transfer my membership to any gym in my area (and there is no retro in my area anyway), blah blah.I know this is a long post but I am telling my story to warn others. It was my fault for trusting them too much. So please do yourself a favor, and don't make the same mistake I did. I left them in April 2017, I am not sure if things have improved but please read the red flags, don't be blinded like I was.

I do not know if they care about reviews but I will do my due deligence warning other customers. Called in the morning talked with a Guy called himself Peter. I asked about prices and he offered a 3 days pass and tour. Fixed an appointment around 6:30 pm went and a lady at front desk would not honor the pass reasoning my license is from Florida. I explained I recently moved and have not updated license and that she can see my Bayonne public library card . She called the manager and kept me waiting for over 10 minutes no response. Disappointed left the gym. But happy my first impression is the last. Poor management and poor customer service. 1. Why you would ask someone to visit your facility 2. Why you would then not honor your appointments 3. Think logically, am I coming all the way from Florida just to excercise in your circus like gym for 3 days. This means they don't know what are they doing

Relatively new gym with great staff who are always helpfully and friendly. It's very clean most of the time. Lots of space to move around. All equipment is new and high quality. Overall it's an excellent gym and it's definitely worth the price.Only one minor issue I have is with warm room temperature, while almost always the gym temperature is comfortable and doesn't go higher than 70, some days the air feels stale and the AC is not on or not cold enough.

I have to say that this is the most ridiculous gym ever. First of all the place is a mess. The HVAC units leak all over the floor, so instead of fixing them they place garbage cans to catch the water. The machines are usually broken, or drenched from the user before. The funniest portion is that I moved away and was really nice and sincere trying to get them my information so that I can cancel my account. Today, the gentleman hung up on me because I asked why they didn't have a fax machine. He also told me that the manager is the only person that can do this, and he's out until next week. I really hope if you're looking for a gym in Bayonne, you look elsewhere.

I am only writing this review because I think it is ridiculous that the stereo keeps shutting off in the middle of a zumba group class. Back in June I stopped going to the classes because of this. After two months of paying for a VIP membership and not going to the gym, I figured that they should of bought new stereo equipment by then. I was wrong. I stepped into the Zumba class and off goes the music. Why don't they just bring a technician in or buy a new sound system.