New York Sports Clubs

This club needs better upkeep and a makeover! There is one arch trainer that has been "temporarily out of order" for about a year now. With the size of this gym and how busy it gets at certain times, nothing should be out of order for long. I understand that it may come up where things need replacing and it doesn't happen overnight but either fix the machine or replace it. I looked at the machine the other day and it's covered in dust because it's been sitting around for so long.

Speaking of dust, the machines aren't wiped down very regularly if at all and you can tell. The only machines that are cleaned are the treadmills because my wife was on one in the evening and the staff was mopping the treadmill WHILE SHE WAS ON IT! She told the staff to stop because it was now creating a dangerous wet surface for her to run on and she had to watch her every step now to keep from slipping. As someone that works from home I have been at this gym at many different hours and there are much more appropriate times to do these cleaning tasks.

The weights have always been an issue with me and have brought it up to management without seeing any changes over the years. They are constantly scattered all over and I have to search high and low sometimes to find a 5 or 10 lb plate. Putting signs up telling people to rerack the weights is not working and the staff should have some pride to clean up at the end of the day or throughout the day instead of sitting around and chit chatting. I know this does not happen because I have been there at 6:15 AM and the place is not very orderly.

As I exercise and stretch around the facility, I notice the banged up and old dingy walls/outdated photos, that look like they're there from the gyms creation, it can really use a makeover. I have seen my membership dues go up each year and have seen ZERO improvements to the facility. I realize that $35 is a good price for a membership, but I can get the same service at Planet Fitness in Astoria for $20 and have double the space and equipment available to me plus a wall of tvs to watch. I would hold the NYSC name in higher regard due to their branding, but that doesn't say much about them when being compared to a no-frills gym.

UPDATE!!!! No towels tonight....stellar!!

I understand that most businesses are doing their best to adapt and take care of customers during the pandemic. Unfortunately, NYSC is not one of those.

NYSC is a poorly run company that is far more interested in getting money out of members than taking care of them.

When the pandemic hit, gyms obviously closed down, but NYSC continued to charge its members, promising "credits" when it was safe to open.

Well...they eventually opened back up, but they didn't let members know, and before long, new charges started to appear on my account, even though I didn't feel safe resuming my membership. The promised "credits" didn't even carry over.

So I asked to freeze my account. Due to the pandemic, I was told freezing would be complimentary and carry no fees. That was a lie. I was charged 2 months of freeze fees, which were over half of my original membership cost.

I reached out for a refund and to cancel my membership, but they told me they weren't issuing refunds (which clashes with Covid-related legislation around businesses) and offered to cancel my membership for me. I asked them to pass my credit on to someone else, which they also refused to do, but I eventually agreed to cancellation.

Flash forward to a month later, and I'm charged a whole month of membership because my account was "taken off freeze" to process the cancellation, and I was apparently active for the month of December. No one told me this was happening. No one said there would be yet another charge. No one said my account was reactivated. I'm near 100% positive they just wanted to see if they could get away with squeezing just a little more money out of me.

NYSC LOVES your money, but they don't give a single crap about you or any financial struggle you may be facing in the middle of a pandemic. Don't give them your money or your time. Build a home gym instead.

I really want to give this place one star, but I'll give it two due to convenience and lack of other options in Sunnyside. Otherwise, this is probably the worst gym I've ever been to. It's outdated, dirty, dusty, smells, and to top it off, two things that really bother me:

- They have been out of cleaning wipes for weeks. HOW is this acceptable? The machines are becoming so grimy, I can see sweat streaks all over screens and handles. The club clearly doesn't clean the machines, and if there are no wipes, most people won't either. Extremely unsanitary. Come on guys, you had one job.

- The majority of TV channels on the handful of machines that actually have working TV have also been stuck on a bouncing DirecTV logo for weeks. Maybe 3 out of 20 channels work. Does anyone actually manage this place? Can someone please click any button on the receivers to get out of standby mode? What is going on over there?!

And of course, now everyone gets charged a big annual fee for 'improvements.' I can guarantee this club will not get any improvements any time soon - not to mention some cleaning wipes.

I've recently decided to move out of NYC and I made a request to cancel my membership. The regional director messaged me back asking to keep it frozen but I said that I'm leaving the state, so there is no point. Look at his answer!!! Honestly I'm in disbelief that he even suggested this.. he wants me to mail them and ask to cancel when the gym is CLOSED! I've lost all hope in humanity after his reply.

The amount of dust throughout the entire gym is alarming. It's odd because there's a maintenance crew but he machines NEVER seem to be clean. The cardio machines are filthy as well, the fans they have are filled with clumps of dust. I've seen the staff mop the belt on the treadmills, but never any other part of the machine.
I saw the manager briefly clean with a DustBuster, but that was pathetic.
Paul, please do something...

It's probably unfair, but I'm writing this while waiting for someone to open the gym. There are about 20 people outside and while 25 minutes late isn't the end of the world, 25 minutes cuts into almost half of my workout. It would be fine if it didn't happen often, but this is almost every Friday.

There are a few workers who are wonderful and reliable. However there is one girl who shows up late so routinely, I know who it is before she gets here (if she ever gets here.) It is inconsiderate and during a weekday morning when people have work, it sets the entire day off. We shouldn't have to cut our workout short (so we can get to work on time) just because certain people can't get themselves to work on time.

In terms of the actual gym, it's a budget gym which means it's always packed. The machines are a little beat down but again you get what you pay for. There is only one bench press that lays flat, 2 squat racks and 1 smith machine. This is why I get here early, so I can jump on the equipment. Speaking of, we are on minute 30 of waiting. Five people have left.

I realize I sound like a spoiled brat while writing this. I'm going to go ahead and wrap up this review so I can google other gyms in the area.

I joined the 3901 Queen Blvd branch when it reopened. Yet every single time I work out, members on not in compliance with the NY State COVI9 mask mandate. Members exercise with masks under their chins or not covering their noses. Management will not enforce the regulations and are putting us at dangerous risk. David Vasquez is not doing his job and has dismissed my concerns. This is outrageous - people will die. I will be reporting this brach to NYS for the 3rd time. I hope NYS closes this branch.

My response to Marc on 11/10/20
Thank you Marc, but let me be clear - I have been complaining to the front desk and management at NYSC in Sunnyside, Queens, NY from the very day I joined. The membership continuously flouts NY State mandatory mask regulations and I have complained every single time I am at the gym. I have gotten into arguments with members over this and the manager has done absolutely nothing to ensure that those of us who wear our masks over both our nose and mouth, stay safe and covid 19 free. That the gym takes temperatures and asks questions at entry means absolutely nothing, because we know that one can me asymptomatic and spread covid 19 when they are not properly wearing a mask indoors - it is an airborne virus!  It is unacceptable that NYSC staff are not taking this threat seriously. Your forwarding my concern to the branch is not going to change anything. Please forward my complaint to a responsible official at the corporate office or give me the name, email and phone number of someone I can speak to. If this problem isn't corrected immediately I will cancel my membership and request a full refund. I will not put my life, and the lives of my family members at risk, because of the irresponsibility of NYSC.
Demosthenes

I guess I have low expectations, seeing how other reviewers rated this gym so poorly. I enjoyed it. It's the only gym in the neighborhood, decent space, the cardio machines work, which are the main equipments I use. Unfortunately I never took any classes, despite wanting too. They were filled up and you have to register in advance. The locker room is clean, found the gym itself well maintained. I cancelled my gym membership with no issues, they didnt convince me to stay. I was charged a late fee, despite being told I wouldn't at contract. I called the. To complain about this and was refunded the money within a week. No issues.

I do appreciate the random phone calls offering me deals to rejoin. It reminds me I have to work out. Or that I should..... that's a whole other story... Overall, like the gym, like the staff, like the low monthly fee.

It's high time I review the gym now that I'm actually a semi-regular gym goer for the first time in my life.

Surprisingly, I've come to prefer this location over the other nearby Queens ones,namely, Astoria, Rego Park, Forest Hills, even though it's the smallest of all. Astoria's studio classes are packed and over-booked all the times I've tried to go. And at both that location and the Forest Hills one, you have to walk up hella stairs to get to the yoga studio. At Sunnyside, everything is on one floor, which is a rare blessing of its structure.

Thankfully, both of the A and FH locations have elevators. While I'm all for the exercise, I'm often heading to yoga class having run to the gym or while rehabbing injuries, and so those stairs are just killer on my legs.

Of the locations visited so far, after Sunnyside, Rego Park is my next preference because everything is on a single level and it's certainly bigger. Except there, that level is 3 flights down. All these damn stairs!

For these logistical reasons, Sunnyside has become my preferred location, even though the studio and general state of equipment feels to be in much older condition in comparison to the others. Or at least shabbier, more unkept condition.

There's little difficulty getting into the group exercise classes I want, and they never feel like they get all that packed. (Granted, I've never come on a Saturday yet.) The worst is doing yoga afraid to stretch far enough that you'll smack someone. That'll kill the peaceful namaste vibes fast.

I've never had this problem thus far at Sunnyside, even during peak weekday evening times. I show up at odd and irregular times true, but I've never had to vie for equipment. Maybe this location gets fewer customers overall, which could explain their earlier weekend closing hours in comparison to the other locations.

Either way, I appreciate it for what it is. It would be lovely for the studio to get an upgrade and for the cycling bikes to not live in that same space. But I suppose one can only dream. (3.5 stars)

Decent gym in the neighborhood. One floor with equipment to satisfy your working out needs. May not have everything you're looking for, but will do the job.

Staff is friendly and welcoming. Towels are readily available at the front desk. Bathroom is ok, disinfectant wipes are not consistently restocked. I have yet to use the showers and sauna, but why would I when my house is down the street.

If you're looking for a 5 star gym accompanied with 5 star service and equipment, this is no equinox, sorry. If you don't need all that boujee treatment, this gym has what you would need to burn off some calories or make some gains.

Can't say all members have good gym etiquette, but it works for me.