Park Slope Sport Club

emily · May 2005

(Hey, guys! I gave up on finding my old password and started a new account.)

So, I know there must be plenty of members of PSSC here. Am I alone in my frustration with them? I've basically made up my mind to quit now, for the following reasons:

--It's waaaaaaaay too crowded most of the time. I hate having to wait around to work out.
--I hate dressing under the vulture-like gaze of people waiting for lockers.
--Although I actually like their music mix, they play it so loud that it drowns out my iPod.
--They've raised the price to rent a locker beyond what I consider reasonable, especially for a locker that I can barely cram my purse into. I gave up my locker, and I know I'm not going to use the gym as much if have to shlep my stuff back and forth with me to work.

I guess I'm going to run in the summer, but does anybody have suggestions of alternate gyms that I could join next winter?

amyg · May 2005

I've only found two alternatives in the nabe (but that doesnt' mean there aren't others). They are: Eastern Athletic on Eastern Parkway, and NYSC in Park Slope. I belonged to EA for a while, and it was ok, but I opted to renew with NYSC since I can work out in multiple locations throughout Manhattan too. Also, I have a car so it's not that hard for me to get to their Park Slope location from PH. If you needed to walk there, it's a bit of a hike (9th st @ Fifth Ave).

dailyheights · May 2005

This is funny. I was just about to do a bit on your "MY GYM SUCKS" post.

emily · May 2005

Yeah, I figured I'd share the snark with the locals. No one has yet been able to furnish me with a reason not to flip 'em off and leave.

captain m · May 2005

Arent they going to put in a pool and stuff? How much do they charge in general?

Everytime I go in to find out how much it is the first thing they tell me is that "Today is the last day of our super special bargain sale" and I have to sign up right away, which irritates me and I leave and go rollerblade in the park for free.

rita · May 2005

captain, same thing happened to me last year, and i walked out pissed off at their sales pressure tactics.

but i got desperate again this winter, and thought i owed it to my abs to get a membership, so i steeled myself (and my abs) and went in again, and had a great sales experience (and got a decent deal i think).

my advice: tell her you are already familiar with the facility, and don't need a tour. tell her you want the printed rate schedule, decide which program you want, and then tell her you saw a coupon somewhere for a $20 initiation, so can they do that too? (which will save you about $100 or so)

it worked for me. make sure you get the pretty black woman with the southern accent... i'm spacing on her name, begins with an "s"... sandra, i think? she was super nice.

i hear the pool is going to be one of those lap machine tank things, if it happens... not enough room for a pool. the ft. green branch is supposed to have a rock-climbing wall.

anonymous · May 2005

Subject: the slope health and fitness center

Does this place still exist as an alternative? It's listed on some website as being at 7th ave and union but the website appears to be defunct and I don't recall having ever seen it.....

roux42 · May 2005

Subject: Park Slope Sports Club

I am a member. I joined about 6 months before they even opened. They opened 5 months late. It has been down hill since then. They are over crowded. In order to have a decent work out you must get there before 5:30pm. On week-ends late afternoons. And it is still a zoo.

The only reason I have stayed a member for so long is it is cheap and close. So very close!

I am thinking of switching to Eastern Sports. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks!

anonymous · May 2005

Subject: Park Slope Sports Club

I found my experience with them frustrating to say the least. I tried to end my membership last year (got a great deal through work) and had to make multiple trips and phone calls, as the person in charge of billing never was available or called me back. Also, they charged me a late fee when my credit card expired and wouldn't wave it, even though they got the charge through 2 days later. :evil:

anonymous · May 2005

I read my contract very carefully and it said that I had to send a registered letter to quit, so that's what I did. I think because they bill on the fifth, they're going to sock me for June as well as May, but beyond that, I'll argue with them to the hilt.

emily · May 2005

D'oh. That was me.

11238 · May 2005

I got a flyer for a "Pilates Body" studio at 201 Prospect Place.

Has anyone gone? Just wondering......

susan · May 2005

I think that pilates studio is in the pink house on prospect b/t vanderbilt & carlton. I've seen signs in the bay window and wondered about it. Can you post info from the flyer? I'd be interested in trying it out.

11238 · May 2005

Here you go...

Pilates Body Studio introduces Pilates Mat Classes taught by Kathryn Appleby (certified mat and machines instructor).

Group: Tuesdays 7:00-8:15pm
Privates and Duets: Call for an appt

5 classes $70, single $15
718-638-8083

I would definitely be interested in doing a group class or sharing w/ someone if anyone is interested to split the price.

I won't start until June since I am going on vaca next week (heaven forbid I go BEFORE I go away).

emily · June 2005

Park Slope Sports Club is going DOWN!!

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I sent them a registered letter, which they now claim not to have received. The lady I talked to was very "oh, that's too bad, now you can't quit." I said I had the receipt of the registered letter as well as a copy of the letter itself, and she said I could just fax them the receipt; they didn't need the letter. (Silly much?) I have the letter, the receipt, and the fine print on the contract and if they try to charge me for July, I'm disputing it on my credit card.

Let this be a warning to people who are still members...

pensodyssey · June 2005

My favorite gym is the one on Flatbush above the old pavilion.

Not because I'm a member there, but because I can watch all the poor sods on the treadmills when I'm outside Mooney's catching a smoke break.

daveb · June 2005

Great...

I'm planning on cancelling my membership at PSSC in a couple months. Should I show up there with a flame-thrower or something? It's a cruddy gym, most of the equipment is used and looks like it hasn't calibrated/oiled since it was acquired.

emily · June 2005

Honestly? What I'd do is send them a registered letter NOW saying what date you want to quit, and then call them continually to make sure they got it. I mean, they can't even receive mail? Now that's incompetent. Hope you're feeling better!

emily · June 2005

The saga continues... Here is the letter I faxed over today.

Dear [unhelpful person],

Please find attached two pages: one a copy of the letter I sent in early May, the other a copy of the certified mail receipts and the tracking confirmation.

In light of this, please call me to confirm that my membership will end on June 30th and that I will not be charged for the month of July or thereafter. Thanks for your attention to this matter.

We'll see if this works. If not, I may have to endorse daveb's flamethrower idea.

ETA: A few hours later, I got a call from someone saying that my membership would indeed end June 30th. I outmaneuvered them with my ph33r-some bureaucracy skillz, so there you have it.

anonymous · June 2005

Subject: Pilates in the pink house

susan wrote: I think that pilates studio is in the pink house on prospect b/t vanderbilt & carlton. I've seen signs in the bay window and wondered about it. Can you post info from the flyer? I'd be interested in trying it out.

I've been taking pilates there and would definitely recommend it. Katherine really knows her stuff and I think she's a very good teacher, very encouraging

anonymous · July 2005

Subject: Difficulty Quitting

Thanks for the heads up on following up with them. Even though I sent a letter certified mail, I call this AM to double check and yes... they say they never got it. I surely would have been charged another month. These guys either have a real problem with their mail delivery, or its something much more unethical. Meanwhile, I have to make copies and fax this stuff to them again.

emily · July 2005

Yeah, I'm pretty skeptical. The whole point of registered and certified mail is that there's a record of delivery. I suppose it's possible that their paperwork says that you have to send a letter, but actually they do everything by phone, but that would be really lame.

If anyone else showed up having had this problem, I'd find it fishy. Once, sure. Twice, maybe. Thrice? No way.

carnivore · July 2005

I hope all of you are calling the better business bureau about them.

jamesondean · July 2005

Subject: Screw PSSC

I joined there when I first moved to NYC in 2000 and was a member for about a year. It was obvious that they were spending as little as poss on upkeep. The place was borderline dirty, smelled, and frequently was overcrowded.

After looking at EA, the Y (a much cheaper option), and others in the area, I now simply run in Prospect Park, and bike occasionally. PP has been home to Olympic runners. 3.5 miles around the inside road, and 4.5 around the sidewalks on the park's periphery. This is where I'm doing most of my training for this year's NYC Marathon.

Cost: $0

When it gets cold, then you need some technical gear, which still should cost you less than $150. Far cheaper than clubs, and it gets you out in the fresh air.

For those of you who can't run or walk on hard surfaces, there's great biking to be had. Biking over the Brooklyn Bridge, for instance, is one of life's great joys.

emily · July 2005

Hi JamesonVandy! Thanks for the mileage tip; I used to run but it's been a while. Welcome to our amusing boards!

Park Slope Sport Club

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