Blaisdell YMCA

3335 Blaisdell Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408, USA

Address:	3335 Blaisdell Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408, USA
Phone:	+1 612-827-5401
Site:	ymcamn.org
Rating:	4.1
Working:	5AM–10PM 5AM–10PM 5AM–10PM 5AM–10PM 5AM–10PM 6AM–8PM 6AM–8PM

Location

Photos 68

Reviews 6

Anonymous User

I joined during a promotion in November of 2009. The rate of $60/month was a little high for what I used it for, but I was told Id have a $20 month discount through my insurance company if I went 12 times a month. Id showed them my insurance card and the manager confirmed the BCBS would do this. However, my BCBS insurance was out of state, this was known by the sales rep at the time, and wouldnt reimburse the $20/month. Snag number 1. In March of 2010, I was short cash for the monthly fee and my debit card transaction was declined. I was told that Id be unable to enter until this was paid. I called back to cancel my membership today and they said I owe a total of $80 before Im able to cancel. The fee for the current month and a $20 nsf fee for the declined transaction. I was told my bank charged them $20 for a declined payment. I know for a fact this is false. If banks did this, retailers everywhere would be hit for a $20 fee every time a card transaction was declined. Im expected to pay for a month of membership that I didnt receive, as I was not allowed to go to the gym. There are no contracts involved in a YMCA membership, so I was not obligated to pay. I was told this will go to collections and ruin my credit if I refuse to pay this swindle. Once again, large organizations using their power scam people. I thought the YMCA would be different, but apparently not. Ill never be a member at any Y again and will advocate heavily against anyone considering membership and current members. I am also reporting this to the better business bureau. There are plenty of cheaper and hopefully better options around the twin cities...snap fitness and fitness 19 are two I can think of...Ill likely be joining one of these.

mark briggs

I have had many Y memberships in multiple states and never had so many issues until this one here at the Blaisdell location. I understand it is a business and you need to make money but when you make it apparent that it is your only concern I would recommend going somewhere else. My wife and I travel due to work for 3 months at a time and when we told them we are moving they said there was no way to be able to go there for the last 3 days we are in town. Even offered to pay for the 3 days, a pro rated monthly fee, and was told that there was no way to do that. Very strange since when we signed up it was on the 10th of the month and paid a pro rated amount for that month. Hopefully you dont want to use the basketball courts because you literally have to call every time to see if it is available to paying members. I was told that dont look online due to the scheduling is always going to be wrong. There are extra paying activities that take up both courts to not allow members to use them. One of them being basketball on Wednesdays that members have to pay extra or you cant play during that time. Makes a lot of sense to pay your dues but have to call to see if you can use the facilities. If you have paying members that tell you all they want to do is use the basketball courts you should inform them of all the obstacles and hoops you have to jump through to maybe be able to use. Here is an idea always have one side open to your members. I really do hope that this feedback will help people make informed decisions before signing up and also open eyes to the people who come up with these ridiculous rules.

Anonymous User

My fiance and I joined the Blaisdell YMCA at the beginning of the year while they were running a special on their joining fee. We couldnt be happier. We brought in our pay stubs and were giving a 25% monthly discount based on our income. I go almost every day and have been really happy with the friendly staff and members, the availability of equipment and the variety of things to do. Im concerned people will be put off by "Mikes" review and I want to say that we have never had an issue with our membership fee beind debited from our account. If you have a moderate or low income, the YMCA offers a sliding scale for membership fees. Any discount related to insurance is solely at the discretion of your insurance company. All the YMCA can do is verify the number of times you visit in a week. While you dont have to sign a year long contract, it is a month-to-month membership and it was made very clear to us (in writing) that they would need 15 days notice to stop payment. Anyone who pays bills online or using an automatic debit should know that these bills are paid by electronic check, not credit card, so the bank would indeed charge a fee, just as they would for a returned check. The YMCA is an amazing organization that provides much needed services to any community where they operate. They are certainly not a "big corporation" looking to take advantage if anyone, but they cant do what they do if members dont pay!

Anonymous User

As gyms go, this one seems decent. Clean facilities, clean locker rooms, etc. I joined up recently, but discovered that my new jobs insurance doesnt do the $20/month reimbursement. $62/month for the membership on top of the fees for special classes (none of the free ones work with my schedule) is way too steep a price, so I went back in a week later to cancel. I wasnt even thinking I might get my money back, but the person at the desk mentioned a 30 day money back guarantee, so I thought "bonus". Not so much. I filled out the cancellation papers and was given the business card of the Membership Services Director so that I could follow up about making sure my bank draft was cancelled, getting my refund, etc. Ive called/emailed every day for almost a week, hes not on vacation, but still no response...not even to say "Im super busy, but Im working on your issue". So....Like many places, once they have your money, beware.

Anonymous User

Use to love using their weigh machines, but in the last year bus loads of high school kids have taken over a room that use to be adults only. They are noisy and take up the machines, extending the time it takes me to get through my workout. I had always viewed my time with the machines as a zen-like experience. Well that is no longer true. Bottom line is while their presence is an annoyance and inconvenience to me, it is also of little value to most teens who would be better served by a brisk walk and/or a game of basket ball.

Nathan Duin

Depressing really because the people that work there genuinely try and are for the most part friendly and knowledgeable. With that said, this was our second try, and the second and final time we have given up. When walking/running on the track in the evening the odds of encountering unsupervised children treating it as their own track are high. Below in the gym the odds of hearing screaming young men always on the brink of conflict are 100%. It is literally the opposite of relaxing and one gets to pay for the privilege.