Fitness First Balgowlah Platinum

Fantastic experience: The admin and personal training staff at FF Balgowlah are professional, friendly and caring. I have been training to FF Balgowlah since it opened and can only provide positive feedback on my experiences at this great gym I have used their personal trainers on specific training programs to one off physical queries and have found them exceptionally effective and skilled. Steven and Anne Low

Fantastic experience: Always tidy, good atmosphere, friendly staff love going there for daily exercise

Fantastic experience: I love this gym! The staff are so friendly and the classes all have amazing trainers. Gabi helped me thoroughly with getting started on my membership and I love the vibe when I come into this gym. Love the layout too.

Negative experience: Not a lot of variety of machines. Top floor smells like sweat. Old equipment. My recommendations would be to add hip thrust machine and more free weight area, also calf raises machines and seated fly, none of that exists here. Another gym full of empty treadmills and no variety of equipment. Only older FF I’ve seen apart from this one is Dee why

Negative experience: The men's changing room has 3 showers with soap and shampoo dispensers. In June, the first shower's shampoo dispenser ran out, and in the following months, the others ran out too. I've notified the stuff a month ago that only one shower was left with soap. Today all showers were out of both soap and shampoo. It's already bad enough that to save on cost and increase profits, the machine's maintenance is at the bear minimum, but saving on 10$ of shampoo is simply ridiculous. I'm expecting now the owner's reply that they're sorry for the inconvenience, etc., so I can leave already the reply to such a response: Notify the stuff has not been enough; you have my contact details in the system, give me a call if you need me to chip in for the shampoo LOL.

Negative experience: Honestly I've never been so disappointed with a fitness first club before, like really we don't even have enough equipment to do a good leg workout, the leg extension machine is literally broken, it wobles so much that you are always doing the exercise wrong, I tried to use the dumbbells and bar and it is literally covered in rust! What is going on? This is people health this level of neglect can cause injuries and other problems. I won't even start to go on the other problems, what make this particular club be premium? The other premium clubs have swimming pool, steam rooms and saunas, this one barely have a bathroom you guys have 200 lockers but only 3 showers? Only 2 seats in bathroom? If you want to go to the gym and have a shower then go to work you really need to be lucky because if there's 3 people in the bathroom you can't use it because has literally no space, maybe you guys should reduce the number of lockers and add more benches or showers. What's the point of having that many cardiovascular equipment and so few musculation options? Could it be more balanced? I can see that the majority of the customers that attend to the gym do more cardio and classes exercise but, if that's the case why advertise it as a "platinum club"? Could it be instead be advertised as a "cardio centre" or something like that? Really it baffles me that this club is advertised as "platinum" it is really not and it is not even close!

Negative experience: Very little equipment, no steam room. Laughable that they call this Platinum.

Negative experience: Worst fitness first I’ve ever been too. I only Go here because it’s close by. Machines always break, air con always breaks, layout is horrific and many machines they do not have. - just to add to this. Why as for my feedback online if you guys won’t listen to it in person? Whenever I am at the gym and mention these issues you guys just apologise but do absolutely nothing about it. You already know the issues - spend time fixing it rather than trying to make yourselves look better online

Positive experience: Very disappointing as some of the equipment is not maintained for example I tried a few spinning bikes the seats would just slip down all the time. Also after cancelling my membership I kept getting debit on my account. After speaking to someone that was fixed with out any issues

Positive experience: Hey leg presses machine its broken!

Negative experience: How many other gyms close at 8.30pm? This joint is absolutely run with a focus on minimising costs for their (blood sucking private equity) owners, not with any regard for their customers.

Negative experience: Do not expect a ‘platinum’ gym. Small, doesn’t even have all machines. Will not allow you to cancel to injury. Money grabbing a-holes to be honest. DO NOT JOIN. DO NOT FALL FOR IT.

Fantastic experience: Great club with really good group classes and equipment staff friendly

Negative experience: Not a platinum gym at all. Tiny and unlike the one in St Leonard’s, this doesn’t have a pool or sauna. Very disappointing

Negative experience: Not great. They don’t have some of the most basic equipment (e.g. seated cable row). Small and crowded. But the only option in the area so they’re unlikely to improve their offering.

Negative experience: I like the convenience of the gym, easy to park and access, however the facility has declined especially in the past few months, old/broken equipment, broken air conditioning on the top floor - yes during the summer! and a blind that has been broken and no longer rolls up. It has the feel that no one cares.

Negative experience: Not flexible

Negative experience: Too small and not enough equipment. Gym is also overpriced.

Positive experience: Good gym with variety of equipment, nice group trainings and friendly staff.

Negative experience: A memory of gyms from the past. Small, dated and inconvenient opening hours. All for a higher price than the others. It’s basically the only option in the immediate area and I resent having to come here!

Negative experience: They do not have enough mats! There are like 10 for the whole gym. It seems like you'd need to take your own elements to train ... I have asked 3 times and they do nothing.

Negative experience: I pay a lot weekly and don't have equipment for leg and glute training. They could buy Adduction/Abduction machine equipment and glute machines. I always have to improvise my workouts and waste a lot of time.

Negative experience: Balgowlah Fitness First is considered a “platinum” gym meaning it’s an elite facility which means higher fees. There’s no steam room, no pool, very little gym space and limited equipment. They don’t even have a plate loaded leg press which is a staple in every gym. They just labeled it a platinum club because of Balgowlah’s demographic

Positive experience: Excellent facilities.

Positive experience: Equipment is poor and limited but good price

Negative experience: Staff are incompetent and gym stinks

Negative experience: This has to be the most useless gym I’ve ever been to, period. It’s tiny. Dumbbells that only go up to 20kg, I saw 3 benches and a handful of cardio equipment. Avoid this gym at all costs.

Fantastic experience: FF trainer Helen Pinks is exceptional as its not easy to seveloo training programs to motivafe mother and daughter training together. Sharon and Anna run great classes.

Fantastic experience: Super convenient gym location, affordable membership rates, and friendly staff!

Negative experience: This place has definitively gone down hill as its ownership has gone through multiple private equity owners. They spend as little as they humanly can on the club and opening hours have been clearly been reduced to limit employee costs - example completely closed on ANZAC Day vs being open in the afternoon previously. Any excuse to reduce costs - too bad about the members. Find another/more member focused organisation. Post script: my membership card is deteriorating to the point that the barcode is starting to peel off. So I asked for a new card. No problem the front desk staff says. That will be $5. Not their fault of course. It’s the grubby private equity owners of the joint that set these policies.

Fantastic experience: Great gym, it's clean and has nice equipment.

Negative experience: Small gym with limited equipment and space. No major issue there, but when the personal trainers regularly run multiple circuits effectively using 3-4 machines at a time with a single client thus leaving nothing available for the rest of us?! Where’s the value in that?! Sort your PTs out. Seriously inconsiderate and a consistent problem at this gym.

Positive experience: Friendly staff Some great classes, but not enough yoga options (comparing to Mona Vale or Dee Why) Hopefully the air con will work this Summer!

Positive experience: No fuss or frills but a friendly gym and great Group Fitness instructors. Unfortunately getting hold of the gym by phone is virtually impossible.

Negative experience: Disappointing service. They tell you that they are going to refund your membership payment if you let them know in the first week that you are not going anymore because you don't like the gym. Not only did they not give me that money back, but they charged me 4 more weeks and they didn't give me my money back.

Positive experience: Quite a small gym with none of the usual features of FF Platinum. Changing rooms are cramped with few facilities, there's no full rack, no deadlift platforms, and a singular old smith machine. Definitely feels like the club needs a refresh to justify being a platinum facility. Also the gym isn't open 24/7 and has strange opening hours - closing at 7PM on a Friday for example. If you're looking only for a local gym, I'd go elsewhere.

Fantastic experience: Staff are amazingly nice and helpful. Good location. Equipment can be improved. I really enjoy using this location because it doesn't get overcrowded like most other locations.

Fantastic experience: Friendly and helpful staff

Positive experience: Good

Negative experience: Equipment old rusted and dirty and the gym is very dirty -they have just increased my fees but I can’t see the value -they need new equipment desperately!!

Negative experience: Equipment in rubbish quality. Upstairs smelling trouble because of carpet floor!

Fantastic experience: 6am class. Great stuff, all fit and fabulous b4 work. Clean. Happy co gymers and skilled instructor.

Positive experience: Fitness seventh for me personally.

Negative experience: Unsure why this is a platinum when its as as a shoebox. It's a joke really. Get in early if you want a class..

Negative experience: ten years ago, I wrote letter to the head office asked why/what Platinum with such small, no pool/sauna, little gym equipment but charged more. Be told better class! I couldn't see that .....

Negative experience: Small gym, no pool or sauna, with limited classes and outdated music. Staff member, James, made it clear to me I could cancel my membership at anytime, no fees attached yet when it came time to cancel the membership, due to hardship, I ended up chasing FF to cancel my membership. I never got to speak to the mysterious manager, Jack. He had his staff tell me he was in a meeting every time I called. He also had no email address. Eventually he cancelled it. This tarnished the whole experience by ending it on a bad note.

Positive experience: Local and quick:easy to get too - great instructors and good choice of classes

Negative experience: Super small, not very well equipped, I wouldn't call that platinum...

Negative experience: tiny gym, not much equipment. Better options in other gyms

Fantastic experience: Amazing! Usually is not super crowded so you can do your routine without interruptions.

Fantastic experience: Super friendly staff and very helpful. Classes are great and these PTs have managed so well in the covid conditions - great gym.

Fantastic experience: Great community gym!

Negative experience: fake news

Fantastic experience: Excellent

Positive experience: Significant staff uplift in recent months, actually better under Covid. Given the recent use of booking engine to ensure class admission, the group classes have been more accessible, and right sized to the size of the gym. Solid spinning program/classes, and excellent instructors (e.g Sarah, Lizzie). Major Niggle is maintenance of equipment, especially machines and spin bikes - need a more preventative maintenance program that starts with how equipment is actually used to verify working order e.g. spin bike clamps for seat height need regular servicing to avoid that "sinking feeling."

Negative experience: There’s nothing ‘platinum’ about this club! Limited space, facilities and equipment. Tiny change rooms and bored staff. I can’t see much rationale for the platinum label other than as a cash grab targeting cashed up locals.

Fantastic experience: Great local gym. Love the group classes!

Positive experience: Good place to train

Negative experience: Nothing special at this gym. Standard instructors just text book knowledge. Very uninspiring atmosphere

Negative experience: Took money from my account without my permission absolutely fuming.

Negative experience: If you're looking for a selection of equipment you will need to go to DY or Willoughby. Gym is very small and during peak times doesn't offer you a lot of variety to change up your workouts.

Fantastic experience: love this gym! it has such a nice community feel to it and the members are so so lovely.

Negative experience: Smallest gym ever I seen Temperatures very cold like you training inside the fridge

Negative experience: Very average service at the front desk, who literally don't know the first thing about pragmatic customer service. Absolutely never become a member here.

Positive experience: Friendly staff and good class instructors. The body balance class is the best. The Playzone crèche is excellent, and the staff are warm, caring and fantastic with babies. Would highly recommend this Playzone.

Positive experience: Staff are super friendly, place is clean, and group classes are THE BOMB! Everyone is always down to have a chat, and coffee after sessions. One of the best community vibes you'll find in a big gym. Nothing like other gym chains I have been to :) Thanks FFBG!

Negative experience: Need to stop the hard sell. Virgin Active is much more relaxed and customer oriented.

Fantastic experience: Top shelf gym. Very imacculate and sparkly.... Look out for the manager Neil. Funniest Irishman I've ever met... He's real friendly, knowledgeable and not pushy to try and get you to sign up. He actually gave me a weeks pass, told me try out the facilities, including all extra classes they provide. And after a week. I can do what I want... I obviously signed up... Legend of a bloke.... Love this place...

Positive experience: Nice gym in our local area. Always has clean amenities. Not too busy which is good as it's a small space. Would be great if there were more machines added to the training room.

Positive experience: Love the front door staff

Negative experience: This is a tiny gym with very few machines I have had better quality equipment in home gyms. Definitely nothing platinum about this one. No steam room no pool. Also needs some serious cleaning AC vents covered in black dust and fans in appalling condition.

Negative experience: Convenient location but it is a smaller gym, doesn't seem on the same level as other Platinum locations. Opening hours aren't great either.

Positive experience: 5 star classes gym itself not the best. Body attack with Alli is what brings me back to this gym every time

Negative experience: Staff are terribly rude would recommend avoiding

Fantastic experience: Love this gym They have an awesome PlayZone for kids aged 6 weeks to 12 years. Great professional staff with endless enthusiasm and love for what they do.... Definitely give it a go!!

Positive experience: Very small gym with very basic and dated weights section. Staff were friendly and the place was clean.

Positive experience: Nice gym. It has relatively good facilities. It is not crowded. I have not been partecipating to any class. I would not mind to do a boxing class late in the evening.

Fantastic experience: Good i guess

Negative experience: Very disappointing, I was expecting lots of gym equipment but there was very few machines for a PLATINUM gym, and the service at the front desk was quite poor from some of them, especially the manager he was very rude. (The british guy)

Negative experience: Not sure how this is classified as a platinum. Equipment is mostly old & the range is limited.

Positive experience: Great local gym with dedicated PT staff. They exercise duty of care by calling me when I haven't used the gym regularly, which is great and demonstrates that they're on top of their membership community!

Negative experience: Machines are mostly broken, poor selection of free weights, basically a tacky gym with broken unclean equipment, definitely not a platinum gym. I live local and will be prepared to drive to another gym to avoid this one

Negative experience: Very small gym, always lots of broken equipment and misplaced / lost weights. Definitely in no way a Platinum Fitness First. Head to Dee Why or Mosman for a non Platinum membership with a lot more facilities and room to move!

Positive experience: Good facilities, could use a few more machines, there are only really one of each. But its great for the morning before work or Uni. Or for when you get home. Highest quality machinary and services

Negative experience: Disappointing. Not sure why it's a premium gym in the FF chain. Very few weight training equipment and not enough treadmills.

Positive experience: In general disappointed at the limited class times compared to other gyms. No afternoon classes at all. Limited facilities for a Platinum gym. Dee Why which is not platinum has much better facilities including pool and steam room. Mosman has extensive range of classes.. Not sure why this gym has attained a platinum rating. Is it because of where it is located?