Harro East Athletic Club

Negative experience: Shady and unethical business practices— I went through the entire Byzantine process of cancelling my membership, signed forms, multiple phone calls, the whole thing. Still getting charged, and when I called to fix it was basically told it’s my problem between me and my bank. Avoid this headache

Negative experience: AVOID AT ALL COSTS! DECEPTIVE AND UNETHICAL BUSINESS PRACTICES! TL;DR Harro East Athletic Club appears to employ a range of deceptive and predatory practices to trap customers, including deliberately difficult cancellation procedures, abysmal communication, and a total lack of transparency in billing. They manipulate contracts without notice, rack up hidden charges, and refuse to cancel memberships to continue exploiting customers. === In my case, I miscommunicated with their staff, thinking I would no longer be charged. Subsequently, they reactivated my account and started charging me without notice. I was left completely in the dark and discovered they were hiding an accruing balance when I happened to stop by their health club. They callously refused to cancel my membership unless I paid off the fictitious balance first (I tried verbally in person, then through email), a clear violation of New York’s Health Club Services Act, as I had moved more than 25 miles away from their clubs. When I requested a contract copy, they manipulated contract terms after signing, again without my knowledge or consent, as they did not inform me of these contract changes when they happened. The erroneous capitalization in their revised contract language is strikingly similar to the poorly written emails they sent me as I tried to resolve the issue, leading me to believe they very recently added the clauses to keep me trapped after I brought them my issue. The added clauses were that I was required to fill out cancel forms at the front desk and pay off my fictitious balance before I could cancel, seemingly to make it difficult for me as I have moved away. Attempting to resolve these issues with their staff was an exercise in futility. It took 21 days of dealing with an unprofessional and apathetic baby individual who ignored my concerns and refused to act in good faith. When push comes to shove, be prepared for the scammer's last-ditch flail: "I see your point a little. so what are you able to pay for the balance I will just get rid of the others so this can be done"

Fantastic experience: Best Gym in Rochester, Dan the Manager has Greatly improved every aspect of This Facility.

Negative experience: Horrible service from the blonde women in the evening I had a three day pass and was going there to ask about membership so I could pay today she wouldn't take my 3 day pass and refused give me a supervisors name and asked me to leave I had money on hand I will not pay for membership with people like that working front desk they can alittle better with cleaning there personally she smelled of booze I think

Negative experience: Gym was a little outdated but it get the job. But there cancellation policy is horrible you will be charged the month after if you don't give them a 30 day notice. This a fitness center not a job nor a place of residence, to require a 30 day notice.

Fantastic experience: I love the gym there! Very comfortable, & it's barely anybody there. You get a great peaceful workout! Very nicely put together as well

Fantastic experience: In general the facilities are outdated but it's got everything you need from a health club. The biggest knock against it is the lack of a swimming pool. I don't swim so for me that's inconsequential but for others, might be a deal breaker. Hours are limited with respect to other gyms, especially on the weekends, but it works for me because I just walk here after work. I've never seen it busy after 5pm M-F nor had to wait any meaningful amount of time for a piece of equipment to open up. The atmosphere is very low key, so it might be a good place for those who are self conscious or fear judgement. There is no particular "type" of person who goes here. It's sort of just a mix of people of all ages and abilities. I'm aware there are personal trainers available but I have not used this service.

Fantastic experience: I work there one one long ago good gun

Fantastic experience: I love this place!! I've been a member for years! The equiptment is good, it's not brand new, but it all works great. The pool, hot tub, sauna, and steam room are a great thing to have after a work out. The cost of the membership for what you get is GREAT! It's always comfortable and I never have to wait for exercize machines; they have a large number of machines! Managment is good, all but one of the staff members are the friendliest people and so helpful! I would never go someplace else. I've tried other places and they're too expensive, try and sell you stuff all of the time, and you don't get access you do here.

Negative experience: No need to worry about the condition of the pool anymore. It has been filled in with concrete as has the hot tub. The new L A Fitness on East Ave. is wonderful! Highly recommend a change to a REAL health club. 10-15-21 I would strongly recommend NOT getting into the swimming pool unless you like water that is the yellow color of an unflushed toilet bowl. When I complained I was told by Gabby (the club manager) that when she back-flushes (toilet reference?) the sand filters the sand gets into the water and makes it that color. I somehow have to doubt that sand would remain suspended in the water of a swimming pool for 48 hours and not settle onto the bottom of the pool. And why would the pool become progressively cloudy over those same 48 hours? BACTERIA BLOOM, That's why. This pool is a potential hazard to your health and Gabby refuses to recognize the problem and just repeats over and over that the chemical tests are fine. Let your eyes guide you. Joe Blackburn

Fantastic experience: Positive: Communication , Professionalism

Fantastic experience: I love this gym! It's such a hidden gem I almost didn't write this review to keep it secret. It's so funky and unique. Every time period is represented in here from the early 1900's to current and I LOVE THAT! It's so unique and divied up like they added on as they went. It's got lots of private spaces to work out and it's amazing what they have to offer. The ladies also have access to a steam room and a sauna in the locker room. A locker room with a little living room and tv in it! It's just amazing. So glad we found it❤️

Fantastic experience: Beautiful place.

Positive experience: Nice, old gym. This place has been here since I was a child. I'd make this a Rochester historical site LOL. Has a gym, basketball court, swimming pool. Staff is nice. Clean towels. I'd just wish they stayed open later.

Fantastic experience: Great place

Negative experience: Here is my experience and why I would not recommend harro east. I have been to gyms all over the world, even in third world countries, and never had an experience this horrific. It was actually mildly traumatizing. Firstly, I went there because there was a holiday sale advertised online, when I arrived the staff acted like that wasn't the case and tried to charge me full price. I had to debate with them for a half an hour before they honored the advertised sale. The pool was all green and disguisting. The very first machine I got on was broken. Most of the equipment is old school and doesn't seem safe to me, and I hurt my hand on one of the racks. But the worst part was that unlike every other gym out there, there's no rules about gym etiquette here. So the one big bodybuilder there was using multiple machines and not allowing others to share and work in. When I tried to use a machine that he was not using at that point, he told me he was using that machine and that I couldn't use it, and I said "but you aren't using it you are on that one", at which point he came over to me very intimidatingly like he was about to fight me and got in my face and started yelling that I was pissing him off and couldn't use that machine, then physically grabbed the grip out of my hands and pushed me out of the way with his shoulder. When I complained to the staff they went to ask him about it and he did the same thing with them, getting in their face and yelling at them. But they didn't ask him to leave, instead I was asked to leave and so I had to go without finishing my workout, leaving my muscles in disbalance and feeling a bit traumatized. Then later I actually wrote a review and had the owner call me up to try to coerce me into censoring my free speech because he "didn't want to have to get legal on me", throwing words out there like "slander" and "defamation". But I am not going to let them cover up my story, because no one should have to go through this and they are responsable for the safety of the people in their club. I should have never stayed because I never felt comfortable there from the get go. They do not seem to have any rules or standards in place for anything and it caused my safety to be put into jeopardy and to have a nightmarish experience. Even the most macho gyms I go to the bodybuilders follow gym etiquette. But not here. Thats what happens when there are no rules or standards in place. So I hope everyone should be careful and chose a gym that is safe and healthy for you. It's not worth subjecting yourself to this just to save a little money.

Fantastic experience: I cant believe someone would complain about the condition of that pool. I have been a member over 20 years and I can count on one hand the amount of time the pool was a little cloudy. Never Yellow. I have owned a 38 foot pool for over 30 years and you need a chemistry degree at times when allot of people swim to keep it clean. Hundreds of members swim everyday. Makeup, Oils, dirt and just a few things that effect the water condition of that 75 foot pool. Gabrielle does a great job maintaining the high standards of that pool as well as the equipment in the Gym. Its a close family feeling at Harrow East. I tried other Gyms but Harrow East has something for everyone including a beautiful Pool

Positive experience: I visited here and attended a class to see if this health club would fit my needs. I felt the person at the desk to whom I was to refer my inquiries seemed to not connect what I had asked. She asked, "what "level" of membership was I interested in participating?" I had not been given any information. It was assumed I "knew" everything. How how could I answer when she had not told me what "levels" there were as choices?

Fantastic experience: By far, the most complete gym in terms of people and facilities. The staff is professional, highly educated and extremely knowledgeable. The gym itself has been newly renovated and I am always in peak physical condition, compared to other gyms, when I have trained here for extended periods of time. The gym is not over crowded. The members themselves are all great people. This gym has been an excellent place for me personally. I'm always welcomed. In short, it has been my home away from home for nearly 20 years.

Positive experience: The best club in town, many workout machines, and a great "clean" pool.

Fantastic experience: Nice quiet place

Fantastic experience: Great club too bad they stopped taking fitnessmyway

Positive experience: A great place to be part of. And it's clean.

Positive experience: Very dated gym but overall nice environment

Positive experience: Love the aqua aerobics class

Fantastic experience: Great hot tub and pool. Hot front desk staff on monday evening.

Positive experience: Only place to play squash cheaply.

Fantastic experience: A hidden gem in Rochester. Love the sauna pool and hot tub

Negative experience: The wheelchair elevator doesn't work and they didn't have a sign saying it was broken. Sounds like it's been broken for a while when I tried to use it and after waiting for awhile then had to make my way up the stairs slowly. Didn't sound like they would be fixing it anytime soon.

Fantastic experience: My first time at Harro East fitness today was a great experience. Gabrielle gave me a tour. She was very personable and the club has a lot to offer. It has a lot of character and an old school vibe (in the best way possible) down to the iron 45s in the weightlifting area. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a different feel from the national chains and more amenities than the local place.

Fantastic experience: My first time at Harro East fitness today was a great experience. Gabrielle gave me a tour. She was very personable and the club has a lot to offer. It has a lot of character and an old school vibe (in the best way possible) down to the iron 45s in the weightlifting area. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a different feel from the national chains and more amenities than the local place.

Fantastic experience: Great community and really helpful instructors.

Fantastic experience: Great atmosphere.....I can go and workout and not feel crowded

Fantastic experience: Great gym, has everything

Positive experience: Great place to workout with many options

Positive experience: Facilities are a little old. But it's a great club. Feels very much like a NYC health club

Positive experience: Good home feeling nice people no pressure

Fantastic experience: Good place to exercise

Positive experience: I struggle with this place daily. I have a good rate and the facility is usually a ghost town when I workout so no complaints there. The problem is I have locker and laundry service which is starting to make little sense. My clothes have never been returned to the locker so I have to hunt down the housekeeping staff who apologize every time, yet nothing changes. I'm there every day - you'd think they'd something already! Oh yeah, their cardio room is okay. They have an extensive weight room with multiple sets of free weights, plates, benches, machines and the like so you're never in anyone's way. and there's enough mirrors where you can check yourself out from EVERY angle. The men's locker room is a bit awkward. There are two lounge areas - one with a T.V. and couches, the other lined with cube lockers. Another room has the full length lockers, sinks, toilet areas and leads to the showers. There isn't enough room in this area and gets cramped during the morning and evening rushes. Overall, I really can't complain because I still get done what I need to and I'm paying almost nothing. I just wish it were a more comfortable experience.

Positive experience: It's an old building whose age shows, but the people are very nice... especially Tom who is also an amazing yoga instructor. Go see him if you can!

Fantastic experience: Quiet, low-key gym with everything that I could ask for, as far as equipment and amenities. And the staff is friendly and responsive, to boot. They offer tons of classes, included in the price of the membership, so there is plenty to try.