FIX IT ALREADY Planet Fitness!!!

A local Planet Fitness (PF) I have been attending since November 2009 has a problem.  OK, I have a problem with their problem.  Maitenance!  

LIGHTS:
After a couple of weeks of using the facility I began to notice their issues.  The ceiling lights above where the treadmills/elliptical/bikes are not all lit.  Some are completely missing, some have one out of the two lights burned out, some have both lights burned out, some are dim, some are flashing and some are of different brightness.  I brought it to their attention and was advised they ran out of bulbs after replacing some of the lights over the free weights and weight machines and have some on order.  Another week passed and I inquired again and this person was unaware of the situation but assured me management will be informed.  A few more weeks passed and again I inquired and this person was also unaware of the light issue.   At that time I went online and sent an email via their website contact form.  I NEVER received a reply. This past week, I again brought the same issue to one of the first people I spoke to over a month ago.  She was (you guessed it!) unaware of the situation and (of course) will let management know about it.

My concern with the lights being out is: 1) It is very distracting while doing your machine to see lights burned, missing or flashing.  2) It makes the place dim and gives a negative workout experience.  3) From a corporate view, I would want to have the place well lit to attract new customers and to keep existing customers.

TREADMILL AREA:
Today (January 12, 2010) as I was on an elliptical, I notice 5 treadmills with do not use signs on it.  It is a usual sight at this PF to see treadmills down.  They did however have enough machines for everyone and since I was not using one, it wasn't a workout concern for me, TODAY.   Seeing the lights out AGAIN and seeing machines down AGAIN really says something about PF.

Furthermore about the treadmills, when I do use them, I usually end up getting one that one or both of the fans on the treadmill do not work or one works slower then the other fan.  These treadmills have a small fan on either side of the head unit.  Back in November, I got on a treadmill that I was using for about 15 minutes before I decided to turn on the fans. The left fan did not work.  After a few minutes of just using the right fan, I noticed an electrical burning smell.  When I was done with the machine I put my nose against the non-working fan and the burning smell was coming from it.   I informed a person at the front desk.  She seemed disinterested in knowing about it.  I has to describe which one it was as they are not numbered.   I then went back on the floor to do some weight machines.  Later on the way out I said good bye and threw a reminder out about the treadmill.  She asked again about which machine was it.  UUGGH!!!  The next day I came back and used the same treadmill and again the same fan was not working and had the same burning electrical smell coming from it.  I immediately went to the front desk and this time spoke to the asst manager Tim.  He was very concerned and grabbed a screw driver and asked me to show me which one.  I moved on to a different treadmill as he worked on that one.  I eventually left and came back in the evening.  I then used that treadmill he worked on earlier and again the fan was out and smelled.    Since then I have used different treadmills there and I am not exaggerating here when I say I usually end up with a treadmill with one or both fans not working.  I mentioned it from time to time to different front-end people but have not said anything for the last few weeks as I have given up on telling them.

TVs:
Today there was a TV not working.  Again, not a big deal as I was not near that TV nor do I use the TV's as I usually bring my own items to pass the time away as I did today.   However from time to time I do like to plug in.  But when I do, I get aggravated so I tend not to plug in.  I usually end up getting the treadmill or elliptical with a listening controller that only one side of the headphones will work.  Or I have to monkey with the jack until I find the correct position for the contacts to touch just right so I could hear both sides of the headphones, but then once I get going on the machine the jack will move ever so slightly so one side goes out.  I have never brought this to the attention of the front desk as past experience shows it does not help.

Speaking about TV's.  Where I live and where this particular PF is located is in an area known to be Conservative.  When I sent the previously mentioned email via the website contact form I also made mention of this TV issue.  CNN Headlines News is one of the channels that is displayed on the TVs.  It would be nice of PF could drop one of the other channels so FOX NEWS can be aired along with CNN.  I understand from other members that they have been to other locations (not sure where) and FOX NEWS is aired in PF.

THE WINDOWS:
This particular PF is on the second floor.  Most of the windows face an outside walk area on the second floor where the buildings patrons can walk around.  This area on occasion has been littered for stretches of time with leaves or bits of papers.  The windows on the outside build up with cobwebs and dust where the sills/windows frames are.  Depending on the angle you can see areas where the glass was not cleaned properly, you can see streaks, wipe marks etc.

LOCKER AREA:
One of the showers leak.  It has been like this for the 2 months I have been attending.  You can hear the leaking of the water while you use the urinals.   The sink faucets are not cleaned very well.  When you lift the level on the sink faucets you can see the crud build-up under the lever.  Not too pretty!

TANNING BEDS: 
Room 2 seems to always have the "NEW BULBS, ADJUST ACCORDINGLY" sign hanging in it.  However, room 3 which I use the most, has never had the sign in there during the last 2 months since I have been using this facility.  I don't recall using the other tanning room.   During the first month or so of using the beds I was never asked if I had my goggles before I entered the room.  Then one time a front desk person asked if I had it.  I was troubled at first (I had them though) and she then explained they are supposed to ask every time.  I told her that question was new to me.  She apologized for the others. If I see this person behind the front desk I show them to her.  Next time she is not there I will test the person to see if they ask me before I go in to tan. 

GOOD STUFF.  Coming from Ranting Thad???
Besides all of that.  I love the PF concept and the price is awesome.  Not sure about the Fat/Sugar/Carb Pizza nights and Bagel mornings though.  I have been to many Brand Name gyms that are so dirty you wonder why the health inspectors don't shut it down and some so clean and proper, they have no members.   I understand this location has been here for almost 10 years and I could see it being a little beat up, but if they just remember to take care of the basics, this club and the entire PF will be here for many, many more years to come.