Merritt Athletic Clubs

Been a member for a year-​tried to cancel my membership with no response from the club after multiple attempts to contact them. They have however sent me numerous and aggressive marketing e-​mails Pretty poor customer service and their are definitely better gyms in the immediate area.

This gym is not up to standards to charge such a high membership fee. The staff is not very well trained in customer service friendly attitude and nourishing cocky style behavior with attitude. This is not a customer friendly facility. Many times have been pointed to the management to impose restriction of using cell phones in training areas. Some members take liberty to discuss loudly their gossips and business affairs making a big distraction for other members. Nothing changed and many times you are forced to listen someones gossip on the phone while training.
Trainers themselves think that they are alone there talking loudly not even paying attention on gym etiquette.
Only ¹⁄₃ of the staff is friendly and making you feel welcome, rest of them having unfriendly and unhappy faces most of the times. Staff is not professionally trained and lacking customer friendly attitude policy.
If you happens to have some membership issues prepare yourself for a battle with unfriendly staff which live in absolute denial of their mistakes and will hold their position that they 100% right even though you will proof to them that they are 1000% wrong. I believe that management should replace them all and rethink their attitude toward customers.

Joined this gym back in November and my muscle children have been thanking me every day since! The equipment is new and the weights are heavy. There are classes for the civilians and plenty of free weights to get Swollberham Lincoln before hitting the pool… Which has a bar… With liquor.

This gym is fantastic. The Fort Avenue Merritt is my home gym, but this location is far, far better. The facility is always a comfortable temperature, property ventilated, and filled with natural light. It’s also enormous, so you can almost always find a machine to use; this even applies to peak hours, although those times are obviously more crowded. The pool is lovely during the summer, and has a decent view on the side opposite from the Target. My only issue is that the pool is heavily frequented by families with small children, which compromises cleanliness. It can also make it a bit chaotic. Finally, the lifeguards never reprimand anyone for doing anything. This is the same at the Fort Avenue location; I had an enormous drunk man swim into me head-​on last weekend and the lifeguard didn’t even notice.

I am not a Baltimore native so I don’t know what classifies a facility as an «athletic club» and allows them to charge you 100 $/​a month in this area, but this should not set the bar.
As I write this review from what I can only assume is 1 of 3 functional stand up/​spin bikes in this gym, I see that I have been here for roughly 40 min and am only 24 min into my actual work out. How was the rest of my time spent you ask? I went through 3 spin bikes, 2 made horrible noise once you tried to add gear (someone actually got off the treadmill behind me and moved to one farther away from ear shot) while the 3^rd did not have the option to adjust handle bar height because it was literally jammed into one position.
As I walked around to survey the rest of the place to find a different piece of cardio equipment I noticed that a majority of the machines around me made some sort of tragic «fix me fix me» maintenance cry for help.
After a while I settled on a treadmill for some light jogging which didn’t last long because my shoulder injury quickly flared up in «wtf are you doing you idiot» kind of way. Back to the drawing board. I made my way to one of the stand up bikes that had moving handle bars. Looks cool. Too bad unlike its occupied counter part, this one was dead. At this point is literally where I committed the felony of gym etiquette and actually POACHED one of 2 lifefitness (read one notch better than the rest of the reject 25 year old equipment here) stand up bikes. I stood in my puddle of shame (not sweat) and pretended to browse Facebook while standing a comfortable 2 feet away from the dude that was on this bike and telepathically willed him to wrap it up.
This is not ok.
However, I will have to say there are definitely upsides to this facility.
–open 24 hours a day? Not a thing in Boston.
–friendly and courteous front desk staff.
–ample trx set up. LOVE.
–BURN area – not sure if this is like my treadmill headset class at home, but YEAY!
–large looking group fitness studios.
–pool
–spa area – definitely manicures, maybe massage?
–lots of space. I was there on a Wednesday morning between 630 and 830 am and at no point did it feel crowded. I should note that there was no spin class while I was there which I find really surprising. I’d assume these were peak hours on a weekday.
All in all, I work at (part time) and, therefore, workout at what is considered a luxury athletic facility w the regular membership being $ 100/​month and at no point do we have more than one piece of cardio equipment out of order because otherwise our members would literally go for the jugular.
Bottom line– If I were a local and considering a membership here, I would have to look at all my other options before committing.

Merritt white marsh manager is the worst and has the worst customer service ever… I been waiting for my refund since May and I have called and even went in person smh … Learn how to talk to your customers ;)

I’ve been going to Merritt on and off for over 10 years. This particular location is pretty large on the inside with plenty of machines and weights to use, as well as a large swimming pool. I mainly go because I really like the Les Mills classes. Problem is, even with the online registration and check-​in process you still have to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to most classes in order to get a spot in the room. Add the 15 minutes (at least during peak hours) that you have to circle around the parking lot to get a space, and say goodbye to almost an hour of your life! The biggest reason why I go to the gym is to relieve stress and I find this location mostly causes it.

This is one of the best gyms I have joined. Lots of fun classes. The instructors are great and staff is friendly. Their rates are also nominal.

I love this gym! There are plenty of machines so you always have options even if it is busy. The staff is always friendly and helpful. The lock rooms are large, you can shower, change and put your things in a locker. They also provide hair dryers if you use the pool. I have not used the pool yet but I am happy that they open it up to be an outdoor pool in the summer!

I love Merritt’s group classes! Spin on Thursday night and Sunday morning with Tracy will absolutely kick your butt into shape as well as Jamie’s spin class Friday mornings. Expect awesome music and to feel completely exhausted afterwards. I have also become a huge fan of power yoga, barre and body pump. Merritt offers classes multiple times a day and the teachers are great!

The Merritt is a typical gym. They lock you into a horrible contract that is impossible to leave. They charge 75 dollars an hour for a personal trainer, which for an 80 dollar month membership fee is absurd. They also charge 200 dollars a month extra for there crossfit classes. I frequent the Fort Ave location the most, and in the summer the outdoor pool turns into a scene from jersey shore. Merritt hires a DJ to stand outside and blast the top 20 hits from NOW 57 (or whatever number they are on). At this point someone might ask, why do I continue going there after 2 years, well it is the only gym in the area.

I have been a Merritt gym member as of 2007 and have really enjoyed the fitness offerings and convenience their facilities provide. Living and working downtown I am able to access the three locations within Baltimore based on my schedule and proximity. In addition to having clean, well-​maintained equipment and machinery, the gym is constantly updating the look and set up stay current and consistent as a best in class fitness resource. The classes offered are second to none. There is a wide range of options from yoga to kickboxing to aquatic instruction. The instructors are energetic, engaging and keep you motivated throughout the class and inspire you to keep coming back.
I would recommend Merritt to anyone considering joining a gym, or switching to a better option that offers high quality, wide variety and highly accessible amenities.

Update on my review — which is mostly based on Merritt’s customer service or lack thereof. Received a «rebuttal» to my first review/​opinion of Merritt. I’m sorry they disagree with me but now I will further my review and really break it down for them…
1. «We disagree with you because an La Fitness or Golds does not have a outdoor pool with a café». True. Although I thought a gym was for working out… not lounging by the pool trying to pick up dudes/​chicks?
2. Other gyms «do not offer free yoga or Barre classes with you membership». I didn’t know we all did Yoga? I guess you should charge everyone for classes they don’t take. I see that as fair.
3. Other gyms «do not have basketball courts, squash courts, a spa or large kids club area». False. LA Fitness has a squash court and a large daycare club area and also, I might mention, that they have an indoor track — which is a huge highlight to me and a lot of others when running outside is difficult during the cold winter months.
4. Other gyms don’t offer «free towels and none that we know of are open 24 hours» — ha. I absolutely come to Merritt for the towels, that’s my sole reason for paying $ 70-​$ 80 a month.
Essentially — I understand that Merritt chooses to «pride ourselves in our ammentities that set us a part from our competition,» but I don’t find that their amenities are far superior than any other gym. And I will specifically say that when my roommate went to sign up for a membership, she asked if she could get the discount that I was given and they told her no, when she asked why… the response: «We really don’t need memberships, so we don’t offer discounts for everyone».
Apparently folks are willing to spend so much money at this place, that the gym doesn’t feel that they need memberships to continue operating… yet, I notice Merritt keeps raising their prices? Good to know.

I’ve belonged to Merritt for over 3 years and regularly take advantage of the cardio machines, weights and machines, the amazing pool (at the Canton location), the indoor track (at the downtown location), and the fitness classes (spin, bodypump, bootcamp, yoga, RPM). They’ve recently updated their cardio machines and have always maintained a clean and comfortable setting throughout the Canton facility.
The new White Marsh location looks amazing and will be a great benefit for folks who live or work nearby.
The Canton location is especially spacious and updated, has a lot of parking and bike racks, and is open 24 hours. The fitness instructors all have different personalities and motivational tactics. Especially fun (and still very motivating) are Mysty Edrington (spin), Tracy Newman (RPM), and David Johnston (bodypump in particular). Instructors welcome questions or comments after the class and offer opportunities to improve form as well as give feedback.
The only billing issue I had was with a contract renewal. Once I contacted the correct person (info easily obtained from the front desk at Canton), it was dealt with the same day, fully, and professionally.
Even though I enjoy plenty of outdoor activities, especially once the weather improves, the gym (and especially the classes) offer great opportunities to build strength, cross train, vary exercise, and work out during the winter, bad weather, or after dark.
It may seem pricey but frankly it’s an investment. Notably, it costs less than satellite TV and about the same as high-​speed DSL.

This gym is pretty amazing. The classes are great. My personal favorites are yoga and spin. Plenty of cardio machines, a large pool and 3 fitness rooms where classes are always going on. This gym also has a spa. If you like a little pampering after a hard work out check this place out.

Awesome gym! This place is so much fun! The members here really are into group fitness! The instructors rock! It’s amazing how dedicated people are. I really like the pool bar during the summer. There are so many great amenities included with this place. Well worth it!

As far as Merritts go, this is the best one. Expansive, plenty of treadmills, good classes and a not-​too-​beefed out weight room. Also, there is a nail salon in here, because this is Canton.

I love this gym. I joined over 3 years back, and have been a loyal patron ever since. I understand some Unilocalers’ complaints about the membership costs and «strict» guest policy, but beyond that you can’t beat Merritt Canton when it comes to equipment availability and selection, clean pool and sauna areas, and most importantly (to me): PHENOMENAL group fitness classes. Also, a lot of people may not know (I just found out) but 1^st time guests are FREE, plus they give out free 3-​day/​7-​day/​12-​day passes throughout the year. Just email the club if you’re a member and have never gotten any free passes, they should be able to help you out.
At a time when I hadn’t stepped on a treadmill more than 4 times in the past year, I moved from the county into Canton, and joined Merritt. Talk about out of shape: I remember my first spin class where I was fairly sure I was actually dying, and would need to be escorted to the locker room in a wheelbarrow. Luckily, hard work pays off, and before long, I was cruising through RPM cycle, and graduating onto their power classes: Les Mills Body Pump (weightlifting), Body Combat (martial arts-​inspired cardio), Body Step, Flow, and my all-​time favorite: Body Attack (sport-​inspired cardio… think P90X).
The instructors are absolutely awesome, and the energy in the classes can’t be beat. There’s no motivation like a peppy hybrid of cheerleader/​drill sergeant leading your workout, and an bad-ass“team” to sweat and suffer with you.
The variety of classes they offer makes Merritt approachable for all ages and levels of athleticism, and they do a great job with scheduling at convenient times. Plus, they offer childcare for the mommies and daddies out there! Merritt gets a solid 4 stars in my book. And regarding the price, keep in mind that this is no «gym»; it’s an athletic club. You get back what you put in, so why not take it to a whole new level.

Been going to Merritt in Canton for about 4 years now and I must say once I got over the initial sticker shock on the montly dues I have come to Love this place.
HUGE selection of group fitness classes. I would say there are at least 5 – 10 offerings a day of a wide range of classes. My favorites are SPIN (with Kelly), Body Combat and Body Pump (Devon and Damon rock!)
I’ve also done some personal training with Nick Strong… he’ll kick your ass and make sure it hurts to walk the next day! If you’re looking for some personal training… ask for Nick Strong!
And as far as weights and machines… no lack of them here either. This place is two floors. First floor is mainly weights with a few treadmills and stair climbers. The second floor houses the group fitness classes and any type of cardio machine you could want (treadmills, ellipticals, ARC trainers, rowing machines, stair climbers)
Pool — indoor in the winter, outdoor in the summer. Bring your suit to get a tan (and a drink) in the summer time. Hot Spot for the hard bodies in the summer months!
Dues: I previously lived in Silver Spring and went to a gym with similar ammentities (pool, group fitness, cardio machines, weights, sauna) and I was only paying $ 35 a month. When I moved to B’more I noticed all the gyms in the area were WAY more than the $ 35 I was paying previously. I think I started at 60 a month 4 years ago and now I’m up to 75 a month. So, they definitely increase your dues from year to year… so beware of that if you’re on a budget.

I originally signed up for the Towson Merritt Athletic Club, but started coming to the Canton location when I started a new job that is just down the street. My first thought is that it is much busier than the Towson and parking can SUCK right after work. Although the parking lot is packed, I have only had to wait for a treadmill twice within the past year, and the wait was minimal. Their machines are in good condition and the space is airy.
I’ve attended Body Pump and Body Flow classes here as well, which I thoroughly enjoy. For some reason, the classes that I’ve been to all had different instructors even though I was going at the same time period. I was okay with this as most of the instructors were good and motivating. All of the classes are well attended.
There is an outdoor pool here, which I’ve seen people lounging around and playing in, which is a much different atmosphere than Towson with their indoor pool that has times blocked off for swim team and tri-​practice.
They also have a day spa that is very reasonably priced at this location. I’ve come here once for a manicure, pedicure, and eye brow wax. Staff was friendly and did a pretty good job. Not the best, but I’ve had worse.