Consumers Prefer Community Fitness Centers to National Chains

Consumer Reports did the research, and NYT health bloggist Tara Parker-Pope passes along the results: most people would rather work out at a locally owned and run gym than at a national chain. What’s wrong with the chains? Long wait times for machines, problems with contracts or fees, cleanliness issues and inadequate locker rooms were high on the lists of complaints. What’s right with the local joints? Price, and freedom from membership hassles and rate hikes. Parker-Pope reports that while the big chains didn’t score all that well, one advantage is that they often
offer extras like personal training, child care, spa services and
electronic tracking systems that allow members to monitor their workout
progress. Read more from Tara Parker-Pope.