What do you want from a gym?

I am a member of Jackie Skelly in both Ashbourne and Swords which is good as i work in swords and can go with my friend after work who lives in swords. I really like this gym as the staff are very friendly and have you at ease. Also it is so clean every time i am there it is getting cleaned it is really spotless.

They have sockets on the machines so you can watch telly or listen to alternative music if you wish.

Also their advertisment is very good for new members they are doing free visits with my job at the moment.

The problem my mam has with Total fitness is the distance she has to come with her bag, i think it would be a good idea to hire a locker for a year so you could leave runners, toiletries etc in there. Also they need to do something about the security in their gyms as stuff is constantly getting robbed years ago my mams towel got robbed by the pool, and my friends car got broken into right outside their door and their attitude was a disgrace.
 
Why don't you set up a virtual gym for the 85% of members who sign up & pay up but don't bother attending. Give them a key fob & a sports bag - charge them just €60 a month.
 
LIVERLIPS said:
I am a member of Jackie Skelly in both Ashbourne and Swords which is good as i work in swords and can go with my friend after work who lives in swords. I really like this gym as the staff are very friendly and have you at ease. Also it is so clean every time i am there it is getting cleaned it is really spotless.

I just have to say that Jackie Skelly Swords is the gym I was referring to in my above post. It's absolutely filthy. The dust balls around the smaller free weights area and the rowing machines are disgusting. A friend of mine stopped going to the classes because there was a mouse in the studio before Christmas! I haven't had a response to my complaint but I noticed at the weekend that there was a bloke sweeping around the rowing machines - he didn't do a great job but the amount of dirt he swept up was unreal.

Another one of my complaints was that they don't enforce the rule of carrying a towel to wipe down machines after use. I also noticed at the weekend that there were a lot of people with wine coloured towels - I think hired - so maybe they're beginning to cop on.

The female showers are full of mould. Before Christmas there was a sign up saying this would be rectified in December - didn't happen.
The cleaners in the changing room should be fired. They don't seem to understand that spraying peoples feet with a hose does not equal cleaning. I also had to complain about them smoking in the toilets.

Unfortunately there aren't really any alternatives so I'll just have to keep complaining until a better gym is built!
 
Have you considred in specialising in one or two activities or a large coverall gym

There is scope to run a very good gym that specialises in certain activities
Depending on your location you could limit it to a womans or mans gym

You could, if you havd the popoulation in the area have a much smaller area and/or much less equipment

(A long time ago) I was in a gym that specialised in weight lifting, body building and wrestling
They had a treadmill and a pair of excercise bikes
More free weights that you could imagine but it was very busy and very cheap
And the facilities for what it was were excellent

These types of gyms are not usually in the suburbs
So there is either no need or an oppourtunity

stuart@buyingtolet.ie
 
Hi Cahir i am in jackie Skelly in Ashbourne and find it spotless and the staff are so nice. Last night i forgot my swipe and there was no problem they just called up my name. They always say hello and goodbye at reception and they make you feel comfortable.

I would follow up your complaint with the manager
 
LIVERLIPS said:
Hi Cahir i am in jackie Skelly in Ashbourne and find it spotless and the staff are so nice. Last night i forgot my swipe and there was no problem they just called up my name. They always say hello and goodbye at reception and they make you feel comfortable.

I would follow up your complaint with the manager


The staff in Swords are fine (apart from a new person who started recently) - it's just the filth I can't cope with! I actually received a voicemail from the manager yesterday but I didn't get a chance to call him back so I'm going to give him a call today.
 
It would be nice if there was compulsory beginners courses on using the equipment and safety at gym's. Its frustrating waiting on equipment that people just don't know how to use correctly. Also, from the newbie's point of view, sometimes they are too shy to ask, it can be hard enough to walk into the gym and join up day one. Most of them appreciate it when they are shown.
 
I also think it's handy if the Gym provides complimentary shower towels. specially if its one in an area that people are going to be popping in to on the way to/ from work as opposed to driving directly to.
carrying around a bulky towel for the day can be a bit annoying
 
I was talking to the manager in Jackie Skelly and he assured me that they're putting a new cleaning regime in place and he has spoken to the cleaners - apparently I wasn't the first to complain. Hopefully things improve. The customer service was very good.
 
I think the two main criteria are 1)something that helps you pass the time so that you are not dreading going-i.e. good music and maybe individual TV screens and earphones so as to keep up the motivation
2) Friendly staff who cater programs for your needs and keep them up to date and moving along so you are constantly getting the most out of your workouts
 
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