Another letter to Planet Fitness

Dear Planet Fitness,

I'm writing to you again! Am I the only one who sends these comments? I hope not - just as I hope you're having an awesome day!

We still need different TV channels, dudes. That 'OMG A LIVE CONCERT BY SOMEONE YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE' channel has been playing the same summertime Country-singing blond chick every other day for 3 weeks. We also need somebody to fix the audio on the machines, because it doesn't matter what pair of headphones I use those things are making more crackling noises than a bowl of Rice Crispies.

Today, I'm writing to you about the 30-minute workout area. I was thrilled when I came in this morning to find that all of the steps now had numerical labels to match the labels on the machines. 'Fabulous!' I thought. 'Now people will know they're supposed to use the steps instead of just walk around them and be in the way of people who are doing the circuit correctly!'

I was disappointed, however, when I discovered that although the steps were labeled numerically, they were not placed in any sort of order spatially with regard to the numbered machines. I submit that the purpose of having numbered machines and a direction to go in is to cut down on confusion should there be a person at every machine in the circuit. The way these things are set up, people would be criss-crossing each other in the most inconvenient way. They'd be going from one machine, to a step 5 or 6 feet away next to machines they're not about to use, and then back to a machine, then to another far-away step. This makes no sense. It especially doesn't make sense to people who are just coming in to the circuit - the instructions say that folks can start anywhere they want, and requiring them to look at the step number and at the machine number instead of just where people are in the circuit spatially seems pretty annoying.

It is my understanding that the Planet Fitness staff has the 30-minute circuit set-up prescribed to them by the corporation, and that it cannot be changed without the company changing it. Well, ASK to change it, Planet Fitness staff. That circuit looks pretty from the outside, but it doesn't make any sense for people who are using it, and isn't that who the set-up is supposed to be for anyway? It is ridiculous, and has been ridiculous since I've been going to the Planet Fitness at the Rome location, but when there were no numbers on the steps it was easy to just pick the step nearest you and use it multiple times if necessary. Now you've given me an unnecessary obstacle course to complete along with my morning workout. When I was going to Planet Fitness Vestal, there was no problem because the steps were set up in between the machines - where it makes sense to put them. I understand we don't have room to do that properly, but we certainly have room for some version of that. Be creative. Make an effort. I have some set-up ideas if you'd like to hear them.

In addition, could we put the stop sign outside the circuit at eye-level? I can't tell you how many times I've had to say to people "I'm going to that machine next" so they don't interrupt my workout because they don't know how the friggin' circuit works. This makes people mad at me, and frankly, it's not my job to tell people to get the hell out of my workout's way. It's your job to keep them out of where they're not supposed to be in the first place. Also, the instructions for the circuit are on the worst wall you could've possibly picked - on the right side, PARTIALLY BEHIND A MACHINE. How is this system supposed to work if people don't know how it works? How can people know how it works if the instructions aren't right there for them to see? Put it on the wall with the stop light folks, and then people will stare at it while they're on the steppers, and maybe understand what they're supposed to be doing.

I'm writing to you about this particularly because I've had someone interrupt my workout every single time I've used the 30-minute workout in Rome. Clearly, whatever measures are in place are not working. Today, some punk kid brought free weights in there and ran around jumping on the steps like it was an obstacle course.

Please, Planet Fitness. DO something about it this time.

Sincerely yours,
Heather Montana
Member since Fall 2007