Synergy Fitness Clubs

A no-​nonsense gym with a decent amount of equipment
That said, you guys are in Brooklyn; play some hip-​hop or something. What’s with the weird Albanian techno that’s constantly playing? Please stop, I’m begging you

to compound the sheer mediocrity of the equipment and services, cancellation required me to send them a letter by certified mail. they have a policy that won’t allow for in person or online cancellation. They clearly don’t really care about their customers.

This place is a complete dump. The staff is rude. There is mold all over the locker rooms. The steam room has been condemned by the health department for two years. The equipment breaks and is t repaired for months at a time. They now charge for towels and classes. Of course when you try to cancel you can only do so through a certified letter.

This is worst gym I’ve ever been to, by far. The guy at the front counter completely lied to me. I was told that I signed a contract that ended after 12 months. I was told that I would not be charged beyond this point. That however was not the case. The thing that angered me most was that they NEVER once tried to call me to collect the money I supposedly owed them. Instead I get a call 6 months later from a debt collections agency saying I owed them something like $ 620. I have no idea where they came up with the figure but I’m stuck paying the bill, with a blotch on my credit rating.

Every experience is different, but I would seriously think before joining this gym. If you do, do not sign the yearly contract, as it isn’t worth the ten dollar discount per month to be tied to a place who’s service you may be disappointed with.
Other negatives?
1. The staff will definitely put on the high pressure sell to get you to buy personal training. They are relentless.
2. A lot of the cardio machines are in need of maintenance.
3. I went to two classes there, and both times the instructors were ten to fifteen minutes late. During my free training session, the trainer called to reschedule, and then didn’t show on the rescheduled day of the session.
3. The management (in my case) made promises he didn’t deliver on until I pressured him– including 1 month free, and a bonus for the friend who referred me. The former took three months to happen after a lot of heated discussion, and the latter promise never happened.
Positives?
1. The personal trainers are good at what they do, and during my free training session with a different trainer, I got an amazing work out.
2. It is rarely busy. You will have free reign of the place.

It’s a very affordably priced gym with plenty of space and the equipment you’d expect (squat racks, selection of kettlebells, etc.) but also some more niche gear (trap bar, swiss bar, agility ladder, rowing machines, speed bag, etc.)
During peak after-​work hours there’s the sort of crowd you’d expect, but mornings are generally quiet.
Things are getting a little down at the heels — the sauna hasn’t worked in the years I’ve been a member (an ominous Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene warning closed it) and the showers aren’t what I’d describe as pristine, but certainly serviceable for the price.
They have taken to forcing you to sign out some of the equipment (ab wheel, jump ropes, etc.) and leave your ID if you take one of the harsh, worn-​out towels — still baffled about who in the world would want to steal them. Thankfully abandoned their plan to charge people a ‘Black Card Membership’ for towels *eye roll*.

If you want to play basketball, sit in the sauna, go swimming, have all the dumbbells be the same brand, go somewhere else. If you want to lift, come here. Only complaint is there are only two squat racks.

My experience was bitter sweet. As my job was to find a gym for the entire production team of 25 people; 10 of which are required to do private training. I am unable I to recommend this place to them.
The gym floor was hazardously over crowded; and I am not talking about by ‘people’. There were benches falling apart that needed to be replaced. The steam room was put out of commission by the health department, from what looked like 2014… how can it still not have been fixed?
I was visiting on their «Go4it!» 4 day pass from their website. (As my job is to find out the best times to work out so that it doesn’t hold up the production) Francisco (a sales rep,) saw my Drivers license was from out of state and told me that I could no longer come back on that pass; yet rushed me in to his office to sign a membership. I told him that I was there to try out the facilities, and was rudely interrupted. As I recall correctly his words were, «We do not do that here. You come in, you try out the gym, you sign up. Your looking for a gym? So you sign up.»
Again, the whole experience was very bitter sweet. They have all this amazing equipment to create the aesthetic body of your dreams, but not very friendly, or even good listeners. I had to ask him several times what documents I could bring to show proof that I am a NYC resident; I even emailed George (The guy that responds to all the Unilocal posts on this page). He wanted me to pay for 4 days to tryout the club. Again, I asked what documents can I bring in to prove that I was a resident… He never replied back with an answer. That can’t happen with the team I am working for.
I’ve been a resident in NYC for over 15 years; however due to my job and the contracts I’ve attained, I am constantly traveling; and just happened to get my drivers license out of town during another production because it was required at the time.
If you are interested in creating an aesthetic physique, and the type of person that doesn’t bull around, or chit chat, and just wants to get in and out, this gym may be for you. As I’ve said, they have great equipment; a lot which is falling apart. But for the avid fitness mogul; you’ll easily be able to improvise to get what ever you need, done.
They’ve got great potential, but just need to make a few changes… and fix a few things… and replace a few things… well you get the point.

Very difficult to cancel your membership. You may not cancel in person and there is no cancellation procedure on their website. They want you to write a letter and mail it to them (by certified mail only!). For this reason alone, it is worth choosing another gym.

I have not been a member of this gym since it was Golds gym. My credit card had not been charged since I cancelled my membership right before Synergy took over but yesterday I get a call from a collections agency saying I owe Synergy over $ 700 for membership and other fees. Never did I receive any notification from Synergy about non payment and it has been well over a year since I have moved out of that area. I tried calling today and was told to call later and was hung up on. Absolutely ridiculous. Definitely going to the BBB.

Their business model is essentially to make it as difficult as possible to cancel your membership, then extort you by referring your unpaid balance to a debt collector. Do not patronize this company. If you do, you are subsidizing extortion. I didn’t even sign a contract with Synergy, I joined the Gold’s Gym that used to be at this location. I tried to cancel my membership, and was told I needed to do so in writing. That didn’t work, so I went back and asked what the problem was. The Synergy employee told me I needed to send my cancelation by certified mail, but then confided in me that they weren’t going to cancel it no matter what I did and that I should just cancel my credit card. Low and behold, today I get a call from a debt collector.
Oh, and the reason I wanted to cancel my membership was because I’m an active duty Marine and I received PCS orders.
This company is a disgrace and represents everything people hate about corporate America. I hope their entire management group ends up in jail and I am going to do everything I can to see to it that they do.
For those of you who have found yourself in a similar position, and I see that there are many of you, I recommend filing a complaint with the NY Division of Consumer Protection. Here is the link:

I really would like to leave NO STARS as 1 star is too much for this place (however if I must to review– so be it!). This place is horrid. First, the showers weren’t working for several days — no matter how much I complain, mgmt didn’t care … Second, I had foot surgery and requested a freeze — they did AFTER they took their monthly fee. Also, don’t fall for their sauna trap — they have a nonworking sauna that was shut down by the Dept of Health — its been like that for more than ½ the year but they trick new members with «We will have it up in 2 months» line… Well 2 month came and went — the sauna is still out. When I finally got a hold of mgmt — he demanded that I pay $ 150 to cancel… For what!!? Cold showers at 5am! After the first occurrence, I should of WOKE UP (esp after a cold shower) and shipped out… In sum, I have filed a complaint with Department of Consumer Affairs and Dept of Health — just got my confirmation yesterday that they are investigating the matter. Whether or not anything happens for the report — Please save yourself the headache and Don’t get scammed with any of their deals — run for the hills and go anywhere but here. Its the worst! I think you are better off at Planet Fitness.
«The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for» — Maureen Dowd

I like this gym it’s good for the amount of money you pay and my experience is even better because of a worker named Anthony Cruz who is very courteous and professional and always make me feel welcome !!

Just started working for the mta 3 months ago so transfer my membership to this location! I love all the classes spinning in the morning, Zumba, yoga and Pilates now the new hip hop classes! The staff is very friendly and accommodating! For 20 dollars a month classes towels and all access to all gyms can’t ask for better then this!?!

I have been a member here since January around the time that the gym was Golds and later was acquired by Synergy. The staff is nice and give great customer service. However, I believe that most of these reviews are written based on customer loyalty due to the customer service alone. Although the customer service is great, members should give an honest review so that improvements can be made. In other words, do not give a great review based on kindness of staff or friendship with staff members, knowing that the equipment is run down and needs to be replaced. Its kind of deceptive to non-​members.
First let me start off by saying If you’re more into weight-​lifting, this gym IS for you. It’s great for weight lifting and the gym does provide a variety of equipment and upgrades weight lifting equipment more frequently.
However, If your workout régime includes lots of cardio, I would NOT recommend this gym. The cardio equipment particularly the bikes and step machines are aged and broken. I sprained a muscle using the stepper because it frequently and unexpectedly stalls in the middle of a workout. Out of the 5 ellipticals, only 2 are good. Also, the set up of the gym is uncomfortable. You cannot listen to the televisions. Most cardio equipment are facing the weight room so your only visual «entertainment» is watching other people lift weights because there are no windows to look out of. So prepare for having long and boring treadmill runs. Lastly, it wouldnt hurt to add more variety to the cardio machines such as ski machine.
I signed up for this gym because it is close to my job, but I am considering NYSC since it is also nearby. It cost a little more money, but I have visited the NYSC brooklyn heights location and the quality of the equipment is better and safer.
Also I consider myself a gym rat and have been a member of several gyms in nyc. This is the first gym that I’ve seen with such a low and disappointing turn out for evening spinning classes. I believe that more needs to be done as far as promotion and time that the classes are offered. The classes start to late for me so I pretty much am leaving by the time it starts so I cannot review the actual class but if it was offered at 5:30 maybe 6pm, I would take a class.

Thank you Synergy Fitness for your hospitality during the times I exercised at your facility while I was in the area.
Chris F. from Brooklyn:
When you entered these 3 guys said sure and ushered you in (sounds like red carpet treatment to me).
You had good intentions Chris? Do or do not do, no intentions.
«especially because we had taken our pre-​workouts over 30 mins prior to getting there» — That is an excuse and I just do not understand the relevance.
I highly doubt they were shoved in your face but if you say so.
Due to your monetary concern the coffee comment was relevant and necessary (Health is #1). Good job by Synergy Fitness as it takes a kick in the a** sometimes to have people make realizations come to life and exercising is certainly more important than coffee if there is a choice.
Then you proceeded to create a very awkward situation for the «friendly lady» in front of her colleague. Classy!
Since the rest of your review is just more condescending and nonsensical text, I will finish here.
I believe you created this fictitious disaster in your mind.
Best of luck finding the right gym for you Chris. You may be better off with a high end Spa.
Ivy C:
Love the checklist!
Synergy:
I will be happy to contact Unilocal,just message me.
Just for transparency purposes, currently I am not member however I am familiar with the facility and I have met the workers there.
Looking forward to another daily membership when I am in town again!
Jonathan Spiederman

I’ve been at Synergy for a month now. I really like the facilities, and the staff are super-​friendly. They give the gym a nice personal touch. That’s one thing I really look for in a gym, ‘cuz I like to feel the friendly vibe when I’m in a place where I can improve my health and positive energy.
One thing I didn’t really like is the color scheme. Some of the machines aren’t as beautiful looking as some of the other insanely expensive gyms I looked at before joining this club, but the customer service at this location more than makes up for any minor aesthetic that you could nit-​pick on. It’s the best value for my money, as far as I can see.
I also like the wide variety of equipment available. Any kind of free weight, rack, machine, mat, ball, stepper, medicine ball, or any kind of equipment I can think of using is available here. The trainers are super nice (easy to identify with their BRIGHT RED t-​shirts that say «PERSONAL TRAINER» on the back) and always ready to help out with general advice on form, exercises, or just friendly conversation.

Nope. Never seen so much direct sales pressure from a gym. The atmosphere and sales pressure combined really made this more like a Zero star experience. Is it cheaper than most gyms in the area? Yep, but as they say… You get what you pay for.
I’ll gladly go down the street to the Y, equinox or Nysc. Even those corporate gyms didn’t have the sales pressure of the little brother on the block.
A classic line: «you’re only offered this first-​time customer promotion once. If you leave today, you won’t be offered it again.» What?! Lol I just spent 3 mins in your gym. I’m not ready to sign a 12 month contract WITH personal training.
This gym wouldn’t even honor their own promos they were running. Also interesting the banner they are displaying touts a 24 hour gym— but u go inside and are informed they are the «only» one out of their little franchise that’s not 24 hours. You know what I have to say to that? Welp, you should order your own banner then.

Service — great
Ambiance — ok
They have friendly and personable staff. The place is large and never crowded. They have all machines you can think of. I’ve been a member of the Mulberry Street branch years ago and was happy to see that they opened a branch in Downtown Brooklyn. I came to realize that this branch used to be a Gold’s gym just a few months ago.
They have a sauna, towel service, classrooms, showers, cardio room and two weight rooms, bunch of tvs spread out throughout the facility.
Some of the big guys tend to slam weights a bit too much and not sure why did they got rid of the juice bar? Too bad they are not 24/​7, Bummer.
Overall, I like this gym because it’s clean has what i need and the staff is fun to talk to.

I lift things up and I put them down.
I lift things up and I put them down.
Here’s the breakdown
Cleanliness = Check
Friendly and professional staff = Check
Towel service = Check
Decent membership fee = Check (considering the amenities and the type of equipments in the gym)
Sauna and showers= Chexk
Personal tv = No but really? If this is a deal breaker than just stay home
Fitness classes= Check
Decent amount of weights and equipments= Check (never once did I have to wait for a machine)
Smoothie bar= Check (not a lot of selections but it’s decent)
I was really scared at first to go to this location because of all the negative reviews of all the other locations but I felt that this location was nothing like the reviews in the other locations. Overall, a great gym.