Retro Fitness Reviews

Read Andrew got aggressive with a member on a credit card and billing issue. Read owner threatened a member who attempted to cancel. They gave a nice reply to the member who complained about the deceptive billing practices of the Retrofitness and the trouble he had with Andrew. They started to make repeated war attacks on my review and repeated false reports and accusations. This problem has been reported. It's been classified as a civil dispute case. On file. Andrew started a fight with me one evening when I brought it to his attention that the movie language had gotten changed to Spanish. He said I would have to watch it in subtitles. He called me a racist and accused me of yelling at him when I got upset. I also overheard Andrew backbiting me to the staff.

My membership suddenly came to an end in June, 2021. It happened after I made a complaint about another incident I had with the night cleaning guy. I received very nasty emails from Andrew and Sam in which they slandered and verbally attacked me. Andrew again called me a racist. After I complained to customer service, they terminated my membership without telling me. Lucky that I did not go back. They also lied to an investigator that my behavior was inappropriate and disruptive. I was a well behaved member who just went there to work out. Being the Retrofitness was privately owned, I was not able to get corporate to help me. I failed to get anyone to save my membership. They were on the cleaning guy's side. The cleaning guy was rude and lost his temper at me. I was no longer able to use the gym without having a problem with him when he was there.

On my last day, the cleaning guy made an approach in front of me at the counter, said something in Spanish and started laughing. A member said to him that he did not understand Spanish, but he knows what that means. A repeated incident. The cleaning guy constantly walked into the ladies locker and bathroom which was next to the showers and changing area. He kept firing the female assistant. Some of the male staff shouted when they spoke to me. I got frustrated with the cardio movie room. Members talked on their phones or to each other. I could no longer watch movies in the movie room when it got moved to the smaller studio. The sound and view was bad. I had to watch the movie on the cardio machine with the HD TV.

I also read 100's of reviews about the bad business practices that went on at the Retrofitness. People complained in the reviews that collections came after them after they cancelled. Former members who I spoke to also had the same problem. They got charged during Covid. A former member was not allowed to sign up again until he paid the unapproved charges. News 12 reported that a NJ bill will require the Retrofitness to provide an online option for the members to cancel their membership. I also read that members who signed up for training programs were subjected to unauthorized and illegal charges.

One member complained that she was charged 1500 dollars. There were bad reviews that Sam was nasty and rude and that her customer service was very bad. I saw the Undercover Boss episode in which the owner fired Jackie. Sam and Andrew are worse than Jackie. I was shocked by how horribly they treated me and the bad things that they did to me.

I tried to be reasonable and professional and explained why we should pay an additional $240 a year for their mistake. You can't get corporate EVER and they aren't ethical in behavior, just empty words. Next step is Attorney General. Shame on them and beware for yourselves. If you try to mark this as "not recommended" they don't let you post. Notice, it's all managed out of Philippines, good luck getting corporate on the line!

I joined over a year ago and I think that has been long enough for me to see whether they will improve. Instead they make excuses and point their finger with blame. As they change, management just keeps getting worse. They blame corporate. Corporate blames the franchise even if it is a corporate operated franchise!! Did they move their headquarters to Florida because they were getting such a bad reputation in the northeast? Well, their reputation in Florida is not looking so good either. This review is my personal opinion and based on my personal experience and observations.

I wrote a glowing review only a few months ago, but it seems that the new corporate owners from Texas did not pay any attention to that review and ignored what actually did make this gym so great. It’s about people, not a multi-million-dollar makeover. People are what make or break a business, something that seems to be lost on whoever is in charge.

I was attending classes at Retro taught by the manager, Alex Taveras. These classes were excellent, advanced, high energy and fun. Every class was full and it was important to sign up quickly to get a spot. Everyone wanted to be in her class. I was also training with Alex for the past year every Wednesday and Friday morning. She developed a special training program for me every month to assist with a long-term shoulder issue, and it was finally getting better. She did this for each of her clients to develop our strengths and weaknesses.

Then one day Alex told me that she was no longer allowed to train me or teach any classes. Just like that. This was not her decision; rather it was one that was forced on her. I was advised that the new Fitness Manager, Jackie, was going to reach out to me about my training. To this day, more than a month later, I have not heard a word from her nor did anyone from corporate bother to reach out.

This did not just affect me, it affected all of those who attended her classes. We are a tight knit community here of very active, fitness-oriented women (and a few men) who are dedicated to our workouts, our personal training, our classes and our instructor. While I am aware that the corporation that owns our little corner of the world has the right to make whatever changes they feel necessary, I do question why they broke what did not need fixing.

My other question is why are people from out of state coming in here presuming to know what is best for us. Why didn’t anyone even bother to talk to us? Is it because they consider us, their customers, so inconsequential that our opinions don’t matter? You took away what was good and real for us for no valid reason. As in any business, the rumor mill is alive and well here at Retro. After talking to a few other members, I was told that the fitness manager is the one that wanted to train Alex’s clients and teach her classes. That seems to explain why she was always watching me and Alex during our training sessions. It always bothered me. Now I understand!

Apparently, complaints were made about Alex to corporate and these complaints were taken as truth. Alex was pushed aside and never given the chance to confront whoever did, in fact, make these allegations against her. Discrimination seems to be a rampant practice here! And, to add insult to injury, I found out from even another member that I have been charged a higher rate for training than other clients!!

In answer to your question Retro, I explained how you disappointed me. Now how can you make things right? Give us back the one person who made Retro the wonderful place it used to be. Let her do what she does best and treat people with fairness, stop the discriminatory practices you have put in place in this gym and give people the consideration they deserve!!

After only a couple of weeks into my membership, I told a staff member at the front desk that I wanted to cancel. He looked up my account and began typing into the computer, stating that it was done. He acknowledged that he saw that I hadn't been a member for long and gave every impression that it was easy to cancel at this stage, and that it had been handled. Fast forward a year later while reviewing my bank statement concerning another matter I was alarmed to discover that I was being billed by Retro Fitness all of that time! I won't bother with the details of how I was mistreated by the arrogant owner. I think the volume of complaints about this cancellation blocking scam speak for themselves. It is hideous that they get away with this but I do plan to inform other authorities. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE. They are thieves.

I have just been texting and on the phone complaining with the manager cc'd in the email for a few weeks and writing negative reviews on Google weeks before that. Maybe Manny could help the company with its problems rather than "recommending" I use up more sessions faster rather than cancel. How am I supposed to do more sessions when they can't meet my scheduling requests now? Draconian cancellation fees - 50% of remaining sessions. So avoid the headache. Avoid this training company like the plague.

"You are a real cranky person. I feel bad for you really I do. I hope you find some peace in your heart. You must have a very troubled life to pick on a female significantly younger than you. I don’t know if this is built up aggression you have and you find it easy to say mean things, then I sure as hope you feel better about yourself. If my child ever turns out to be like you, I will have failed as a mother. Terrible person you are. Shows a lot about your upbringings -- Thank You, Keelin ** District Personal Training Manager Retro Fitness Park Slope South, Brooklyn, NY Retro Fitness Glendale, Queens, NY Retro Fitness Forest Hills, Queens, NY"

I’m worried the gym has my bank information, with this fake/forgery contract and with this District Personal Training Manager: obviously I don’t trust her and insulting my upbringing is not something I will tolerate. She knows I away until November and she’s expecting me to come back and pay for a minimum of 1 year training. She claim to do me a favor by playing the freeze your account game. Well she’s giving Retro Fitness a real bad name, reading reviews about her confirm my opinion.

I proceeded to go to Retro Fitness to close my account, as I entered I was told that a machine had to take my temp (I explained I am only there to close my account and a guy in a red shirt was rude when responding and stated it does not matter) which I found to be inconsistent with how they are trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19 due to the fact they should have allowed me to close the account over the phone if they are taking COVID-19 precautions seriously. I was directed to go over to speak with a girl that worked there. I asked why they do not notify the customer when it is almost time to unfreeze their accounts so we can continue with the services or close the account before being charged. She responded, "You sign an agreement and should know when your account is going to be unfrozen."

I then explained that the agreement is signed a year ago and I can not remember a year later that I will need to close the account, I stated it would courteous and appreciated if they sent out a reminder to the customer and give them a heads up but my suggestion were ignored. Retro did nothing to make things right nor did they seem to care about my dissatisfaction with how I was told I had to come in person to close the account and the fact I was charged to 2 months of services I never used.

Then, in September 2020, they started billing me again even though I was my account was on medical hold. No phone call, no e-mail, no text - just a resumption of billing. Why are gyms so sleazy? This post is not an outlet for anger or frustration - my letters to Retro Corporate, BBB and the Dept. of Consumer Affairs will be *that* outlet. I am sending out a warning: caveat emptor. When you join one of these gyms, be very careful because it seems like their mode of operations is to screw you. EAST WINDSOR RETRO FITNESS IS A FRAUD.

The level of arrogance with these workers is appalling. Finally after scamming me for a long time and 100 calls later they cancelled my account. This was a complete nightmare. I am surprised this scam organization still exists and that nobody has sued them yet. PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE. I am NEVER going back even if this is the only gym on the planet.

I hope this informs others, whom much like myself, assumed there would be no such charge for the use of a facility which has been ordered closed and therefore unusable which have been put on lockdown via state legislations to be seeing a bill on their account for the month of March 2020, again nearly 2 weeks after closing its doors to all! This clearly comes during the statewide, nationwide, worldwide Coronavirus Pandemic.

When I called today 3/25/2020 to inquire regarding this insane act of being charged, I was also shocked since I’d sent in my cancellation notice back in early February which I’d sent in as required following Retro Fitness’ protocols in response to a family member’s warnings, who are in the advanced medical field and who have aggressively warned me early on, on behalf of their eerily accurate correct assertions of the dangers of going to any public gym (albeit being highly downplayed and disregarded as we now acknowledge and have seen played out horrifically by our top politicians).

I have submitted an early close out or cancellation letter to close my account entirely back in early Feb 2020 which was for some “unknown reason” either ignored according to a representative on behalf of Retro Fitness as they do not have an answer. Again that is no answer why they have not received my cancellation letters (plural) sent in via mail and email. 18 days later I was charged for the month of February in continuation and also NOW in March (a month later), when no one should be charged once again due to mass closings implemented by the government, here again I am charged 2 weeks after the fact with yet again no explanation of why and how.

For those who think they were halted for a charge as common sense would imply, think again! If you have not yet seen your account charge for Retro Fitness please take into note to check for the month of March when measures to close all nonessential businesses went into effect! I had only yesterday seen on the news another gym chain charging its members exactly the same by responding that they will be credited when the gym reopens. That may very well be 6 months from now God willing. That is not acceptable. As this is what prompted me to call my gym: Retro Fitness after seeing that newscast bit, for not only the same issue but also why my cancellation 2 months prior was seemingly overridden. I was told and I quote by the rep on the phone “I do not know why your letter didn’t result into your account being closed”.

When I asked why people are being charged for the month of March during a time where members obviously cannot use the facility as it is unfair to charge amidst a lockdown, their further response to that was similar; “I am not sure but I can put you on a 3 month temporary stop”. What? Did he not just hear me allude to my cancellation I’d sent in for the month of February 2020 early on canceling my membership altogether 2 months early? I find this extremely poor business ethics taking advantage of those who like myself not only have lost my job but am myself hoping I have enough funds for food and bills come next month. From the limited information I was able to obtain from Retro Fitness’ rep, he could not even tell me if they are going to continue to charge each month in addition despite not being opened. Absurd!

I had no complaints regarding this gym until now, other than shaking my head in response to the extremely high numbers of other reports left by other unhappy members who seemingly have also have had immense trouble closing their accounts which is absolutely ridiculous. There is a pandemic ongoing. A crisis, whereby services are enforced to close. There is absolutely no excuse for any gym or other closed business to continue to charge people when people who are likely laid off as myself with no known means of any turnaround need money most. If not for the ability to choose zero stars I wouldn’t have gladly chosen 1 star. Extremely disappointing. Please take note and contact your gym regardless of which company before they begin not answering calls which I suspect.

Now a year later one of the original Staff refused to open the locked entry doors 10 minutes to closing while I knocked on the early locked doors. I work 70 miles away one hour plus to use the gym for my heart condition. The Staff Member kept his back to me while another Member twice watched me at the early locked door. The Retro Staff Member totally ignored me turned the lights out and walked away from me. I can pardon even though I lost a workout Partner and Friend too annoyed with Staff and Management to be part and live with my public reputation smear based on a Protected Category from before but tonight 21 February 2020 10:47 pm to close a Franchise early and ignore long time prepaid Retro Members even the acknowledgement after getting the attention of the other Member and or Staff Member who was kind enough to give a look of courteousness is unacceptable.

Eric Casaburi and his brother have built Retro Fitness into a Professional Organization but this attitude is inappropriate. I'm glad my prepaid in full membership is recently with another Franchise Owner one of the nicest ever. All the current daily Staff Members are awesome but it would respectful not to close early without notice or announcement. It appeared that this Staff Member was intentionally ignoring me despite his Friends kind acknowledgment that i was knocking and waving at the front door. Do the Math near $300 @ month including purchases of Smoothies etc over 7 to 10 years minimum $$25,000 investment even when I was unable to participate or slandered so bad or accosted I could not workout in Peace.

Maybe this Staff Member wasn't aware of my presence which I believe he was as he turned away while his Friend acknowledged me waving but I'm sure he was still on the clock while shooting the breeze and not doing his job. I love Retro Fitness regardless as I recently renewed my Membership with another Franchise and will continue my patronage with Southampton but ask that they not close early with no seeming emergency event and no sign notifying Members of early closures. My pictures of the closed Gym are valid.

When I called and spoke to Austin about having me removed from the Auto Pay for which I have never even Authorized Retro Fitness, he says NO he won't be able to do that and the funny part is that he say I will be liable to pay Retro Fitness for one year. I called my bank immediately and filed a dispute and have them removed as a biller from my account. AUSTIN if you read this message, request you to be transparent to your new customers and most important is to be HONEST!!!!

So I went and asked them to cancel and pay the 70% so he told me, "Oh sorry but if you want to cancel you gonna have to pay the whole amount" and I was like "How are you kidding me, didn’t you said before I’ll pay 70% and when I told you why you said it’s in the contract," he said, "Yeah but sorry cuz the owner just changed the rules one hour ago" and here he left me in a chock??? I was but it’s a contract he said but this is the new rules. So guys no matter what you will lose, be careful and stay away from this place, they will take your money and will treat you badly.

The owners of Oceanside, NY location declined to resolve this. Now this inconvenience has lead me to have to take legal actions and has been nothing but a headache. This is the worst customer service I have ever seen and the worst financial scam that my attorney has seen. Beware... they offer you a deal to sign up. Then overcharge your card, their system may put your credit card info into someone else’s account and they won’t fix it. Hours of phone calls and headaches and they still refuse!!! Their offers are not worth this!!! Nothing is!!! Go to Blink Fitness or NY Sports Club!!! They would never scam like Retro Fitness has! They could have refunded me and I wouldn’t be so distraught, but they refuse to issue my money back and leave it on an account that’s not mine!!! But keep my account in past due status. Meanwhile my card was charged every month for 9 months!!!

To finish my membership they offered me to pay more $250! $250 for 2 days of training in a dirty gym! None of these terms were stated before I signed a contract which was on their tablet! I realized that they don't deserve fair treatment, so just cancelled my card. I am still getting emails with demands to pay. But they cannot force you. I just moved to Russia, but they keep sending me increasing debt. Well, I don't think they realize that their company has no weight in Moscow. If somebody ever had the same experience as I did, please let's gather in group and make a petition to end their fraudulent business. Companies like this shouldn't exist. They know that their business is illegal, otherwise they would sue everyone who stops monthly robbery of the card like I did. Let's get in touch and file official complaint on them, their business is rotten and easily can get destroyed if more than 100 people gather together and go to the court.

The girl behind the counter asked me what this was in reference to, I told her that I was looking to cancel my daughter's membership because she left for college, I go to hand her the letter and she puts her hands up in the air saying "I can't take that from you, you need to send it to us certified mail." I think my mouth was hanging open at this point. "I'm here handing it to you, why do I need to send it certified?" totally keeping my composure. She says "because then we'll have proof that you sent it." I said to her, "is that camera working?" while pointing at the overhead camera that was facing us, she said "yes." I said, "Then there's your proof." She says, "sorry, you need to send it certified so we have actual proof."

Trying to keep my composure, I said "so you want me to take this letter over to the post office, address an envelope, pay to have it sent here certified so you can receive it, tear open the envelope with the certification stamps on it and throw the envelope in the trash while holding this very letter in your hand." I continued "I know you didn't write the policy but you have to admit it's pretty stupid." She said "sorry, you have to send it certified mail." I wished her a nice day and left. My daughter was since charged her annual fee of $112.11 and according to other complaints I've read, I'm sure that my certified letter will sit on the manager's desk for a good long time so they can charge my daughter's credit card for a few more months. Never again. Horrible customer service. Horrible policy.