In-Shape: Merced

**I’m editing this review based on customer service out reach provided after posting this review. Kioti went out of her way to contact me after hearing about my experience with the company. She immediately found my phone number and worked with me to be sure that I would not only NOT be charged membership dues any longer, but she was also able to find a way to refund me for some of the fees I had previously been charged. She went above and beyond what many would do while also being very funny and personable, making a horrible experience end on an enjoyable note. It took some time (as she had warned), but I just received confirmation of my cancellation, as well as the refund. I really appreciate her help and wish that In-​Shape would hire more people like her. Customer service goes a long way!**

Every time I go into Inshape Felicia is always so friendly and so welcoming. My kids just love to see her when I bring them in. The kids love playing all the games makes me want to work out more;)

This gym is very nice… However the cooling system sucks!!! I attend classes there and in the class room it is so hot you feel like you are going to puke! They won’t turn down the air and the big fan they have doesn’t work and they don’t fix it!

Gym is large and has good equipment! However the men’s locker room is consistently dirty and staff doesn’t seem to take ANY members concerns seriously. Pool area change room & rest room is the same way. Staff doesn’t use the facilities so they seem not to care

So I’m new to Merced, and I had seen that In shape had a great deal and wanted to find out more about joining their gym. Sent an email and almost instantly I receive a call back to set up a consolation. We finally decided on Wednesday evening as being a good time and left it at that. Come Wednesday around 2p I receive a courtesy call in regards to our appointment with the gentleman I’m suppose to meet with, and I thought «cool, these guys are good!» So I’m at school all day at Modesto Junior College, and come 6pm I know it’s time to cut my studying short for our appointment at 7p. I hop in the car and drive approximately 47 miles, just to get there and see that there is no parking in sight! I had to park way over on the other end which is great to get my cardio going pre work out, but what if someone wanted to mug me? That’d be the perfect spot! Anyways I finally walk in and not once am I greeted with a smile or hello. What I do get is a receptionist who is clearly at least 10 years older then me who repeatedly calls me ma’am and cannot remember my name to save her life! While she was having me fill out a waiver form there was an In Shape staff member conversing behind me throwing around the F word like it was friendly hellos, and he would only greet the attractive women! Anyways long story short apparently the guy I had my appointment with had overlapped his appointments and had no clue who I was or why I was there, when we had just spoke a few hours prior to this. That pretty much sealed the deal for me and I took it as a blessing in disguise and left. Mind you I did not receive a follow up call apologizing for the mix up or if I’d like to reschedule. Way too overcrowded and their pool is in door, this is true, however it’s glass windows allow whoever is walking past the front of the gym to be able to see you. Good luck!

This is my first negative review ever, but I decided to post it because I appreciate all the Unilocal reviews that help us choose wisely. This review is for the staff at the gym on G street (not on Yosemite). I think the best description for my experience would be: feels like you are at some bad car dealership. Canceling my membership.

Love this place! Always upgrading & friendly employees.
This inshape is also very clean, offers a variety of machines, has a big spa and swimming pool! I also love how spacious it is throughout the gym!

Just signed up with this gym and I have to say, I really enjoy it. It’s spacious and not too crowded. I had an appointment with the trainer AJ and it was very educational and motivating. I look forward to working out here.

I really love going to this gym me and my husband Phillip Chiero trains here cuz this gym has everything he need to train as a body builder! And a huge thank you to Ms. Hilda for helping us getting approved to do his documentary video with NPC competitors Cane Bishop and Antonio Guzman she was on it to get that request approved in a short notice! And I highly recommend this gym not only it has everything you need? But also they have the best manager and employees who really takes care of the needs of their members!!! Again thank you!!!

I’m not a member at this gym but based on my call today, I don’t think I would. I just called to ask if they have a sauna. Yes or no would be the only answer I wanted except they wouldn’t answer it because I have to give my full name and tel number first. What’s the secret? The guy who answer says he can get in trouble for answering it unless he has my name. What kind of service or company who hides that info? Very disappointing!!!
By the way, I just found out from the website that they have a sauna and yes I shouldn’t have bothered calling. You missed out a potential customer just because of this company’s sneaky behavior of getting someone to sign up.

The pool is a disaster and has gone from an exercise pool to a neighborhood pool with kids and their negligent parents breaking every rule listed. Yesterday boys were running and jumping in with total disregard for people in the pool exercising, screaming and having a ball, crossing lanes playing tag and I think these were the children of an InShape employee.
Today, even more children were there having fun while their parents sat visiting. InShape should have a kids hour for pool use and make people stick to it. That way we would not waste the time driving in there and not get to exercise as we planned.

This gym is clean, family oriented and full of friendly staff! They have summer activities for children, tennis lessons, a clean well managed pool and plenty of new relaxing lounge areas with cabanas by the pool!
Besides the lounge areas there are plenty of tennis courts, workout areas, basketball court, classes, and plenty of workout areas. Great job on all of the special touches, millennium!

Very displeased with the customer service and various fees. I called to cancel one of two memberships and they said I would be charged for a full 30 additional days before it would cancel. They also charged me $ 10 for a change fee. After getting the additional $ 10 fee I called to cancel my remaining membership. They told me again that they would still charge me for an additional 30 days. I would not recommend this gym to anyone. I think they prefer a few extra dollars in their bank account as opposed to giving top quality customer service. My son had a very similar bad experience with them when he moved out of the area. They charged him extra fees to cancel even though there was no In-​Shape gym in the area that he was moving.

I use the gym alot, love going to water aerobics and love the teachers. We had hopes when the gym became Inshape things would improve. It’s like they came in and replaced chairs and umbrellas and then, oops an opportunity came up to open the self service Inshape and we were left with half ass done if done at all improvements. The ladies dressing room smelled all summer becuz of a water leak? The“heated” pool even when it’s obvious to all it’s not heated to temperature on contract, or even to
70, is said to be Heated… and we are left dumbfounded. Th indoor pool on G St has been closed what…8 months? How long really does it take to fix the pool? I’ve known people who have had a whole new pool built quicker than that. You send in emails, they don’t respond. You call the corporate office, they thanks for the call «I’ve elevated your concern to them… them? yup… the people you have already been complaining to. They have the monopoly here, but once another big corporate, like 24 hour comes to Merced… people will be leaving big time. They even had the gall to increase memberships while we who pay premium membership to use all the gyms, cannot access what we pay for, but the ones who have cheap ass memberships at G st, come and use the millenium or atwater pools for no extra charge. Go Figure. during the summer we were promised the «same» class schedule but were lucky to have a teacher show up for water aerobics. When we did have teachers, the classes were whatever, not according to class schedules. The class teachers sub but only know «their» classes… so we come thinking it’s one class and get something quite different.
I am amazed that someone doesn’t get a lawyer but since it’s the only gym and it was summer we kinda have been playing along. 5 years I have been a member and it’s one thing after another. How hard is it to keep a pool clean and at a constant temperature… The new staff is a joke. There are babies in the hot tub at night, and staff not present or willing to enforce rules. Teenagers making out in the pools.etc.
I would not reccomend the gym to any of my friends. If I didn’ t have health problems I’d exercise at home. If all you want is the use of the pool… it’s a hit and miss. The instructors are wonderful, under paid and under appreciated. Join knowing you probably will get questionable service and problems. Oh and if you want to bring «friends’ it’ll cost 12.00 for a 24 hr period. ??? and if you want your «visiting» grandkids to be able to swim. think again. You basically have to have legal guardianship. It’s ridiculous.

WORST EXPERIENCE EVER!!!
the other reviews say it all! Stay away!
You’ll be more FIT being pissed off at this place
than actually working out there.

This place sucks had been there for quite a while and froze my acc when i was working when my contract ended they said it had expanded for another year and a half bunch of lies don’t go there waste of money and time

Don’t even bother to go to this place, i am trying to save you money, gas and your time! And here are my personal experiences and reasons why not to:
Whoever’s running this piece of shit is either stupid or don’t know how to manage their business.
I attempted to join this club prior to recently moved to merced with the 45 days free invitation from a friend. And guess what they told me?
Your promotion is not valid because my driver license saids that i am not around here prior to that i told them i recently moved here. I mean what kind of business refuse people wanting to join? Who give a damn about where my driver license tell me where i live? I am giving you $ 25 a month + who’s stupid enough to pay for a gym member that’s 20 miles away from their home? They be acting like they have plenty of customers, but all i saw was machines just sitting there collecting dusts! The ‘councillor’ then went on telling me that instead of getting my 45 days he will not charge me $ 100 dollar «which people have to pay when they walk in» right of the bat i know he was bullshitting.
And the front desk blonde was rude as f**k, she made a face like she didn’t wanted me there feel unwelcome.
If you want to get a good work out around merced area, it’s better to buy an p90x or insanity video + purchase some dumbbells and practice at home or wait until 24 hour fitness come around. Save you money + gas to have to go to that nasty ass place. If you want to jog just do that around the neighborhood or on Bear Creek.

Liars…
Upon sign-​up, the staffer, Jason, told me that it’ll cost $ 40/​mo basis or $ 30/​mo for two years. When I told him that I’ll consider signing up for the monthly basis due to staying at Merced for only a year, Jason tried to convince me to select the 2 year option and a proof of lease from a new residence 200 miles away under my name would suffice to cancel the gym contract without any penalties.
One year later and with a new lease in the Bay Area, I was ordered to pay a $ 100 cancellation fee by AJ when I was promised no penalties. I would suggest other gyms in the area if at all possible because In-​Shape City Merced are all about the money like bad door-​to-​door salesmen.
As for the gym itself, nothing special but its nice that they keep it clean. The classes are really good. There’s nothing special with all else. I found more use going across the street to Merced High School and using their fields for cross-​fit and their bleachers for pull ups.
Bottom line: Don’t be tricked. Whatever they promise you, take it with a grain of salt or tell them to write it down on the contract as an addendum and have them sign it. I can’t believe that I have to treat a gym membership all lawyer-​ry.

This gym refuses to cancel my membership, even though I haven’t used it for over 2 years. I made the biggest mistake by signing up. I would suggest signing up with any other gym in town that won’t trick you or do whatever they can to nickel and dime you.

***BUYER BEWARE***
While I used the gym, I felt that they oversold memberships and lacked the square footage to allow for a decent workout experience. But I figured I would deal because I would not be in the area more than 6 months.
I joined this gym without fully reading the contract about relocation. I knew I would be here temporarily, and didn’t think there would be any penalty in relocating. When I contacted In-​Shape and spoke with Adelina at corporate, she advsd me about the clause in the contract on cancellation charges. The relocation clause is listed in one portion of the contract, while the fee associated with canceling due to relocation is listed in another section of the contract. This is shady legal behavior. Because I made mention at the time of membership, that I would be relocating and was advsd «oh that won’t be a problem, you’ll just have to submit proof of new residence».
Here is the verbiage from my contract dated 1÷31÷2012 with renewal date of 1÷31÷2015:
Article I Relocation. Should member move further than 25 miles from any facility of ISHC and ISHC is unable to transfer membership to a comparable facility associated with ISHC, member shall be relieved from the obligation of making payment for services other than those received prior to the move and shall be received. Member must submit documentation verifying the relocation within ten (10) days of member seeking to cancel the membership based on the relocation.
**So then the loophole to the above is listed in another area of the contract to obtain additional monies**
Article II Section 4. Cancellation Charges. Upon cancellation due to relocation, ISHC reserves the right to charge a fee of $ 100.00, or if less than half of the contract term remains, a fee of $ 50.00.
Adelina made no mention of «the company reserving the right» to charge this fee… she told me that I had to pay it.
If you’re looking for a gym «above reproach», do your shopping CAREFULLY, and read all of the fine print before committing. I should have joined the pricier gym by Merced College and that way I would have had piece of mind.