Should I Join 24 Hour Fitness?

I've been a member of the 24 Hour Fitness facility in Garden Grove, California for about 2 years now. For the most part, it's been good. I go about 3 times a week and usually do strength training. However, recently I've been trying to get on the aerobic exercise machines, and it's nearly impossible. Yes, I go during what is probably the peak time...right after work at around 6pm. But come on...I pay my membership fees and should be able to exercise when I want. I'm not trying to be unreasonable. It's just that there's gotta be a better way than having to wait (sometimes half an hour) almost EVERY time I want to use a treadmill.

The problem is that the signs say that users of the machines are supposed to be on them for only 20 minutes if there is someone waiting. But NO ONE adheres to this rule. What's worse is that the employees don't really do much about it. I've actually told people that they have gone over their 20 minutes and they won't get off. When I go tell the employees, all they do is make an announcement on the speakers telling people of the 20 minute policy. The problem with this is that everyone on the machines is wearing earphones listening to their iPods! Even if they could hear the announcement, they pretend to ignore it. This has been a huge frustration for me when I don't have half an hour to wait for an exercise machine. I could be almost finished with my workout in 30 minutes!

Now I realize that the source of the problem is the refusal of gym members to adhere to the 20 minute policy. But 24 Hour Fitness should do something to alleviate this issue because they own the facility...and that means they are ultimately responsible for the satisfaction of their members.

Perhaps they could have machines that only run for 20 minutes at a time based on the membership number or something. If this is too technologically difficult for 24 Hour Fitness, they could have an employee watching the area. This would at least keep the users from covering up the time clocks on their machines with their towels (this is really annoying)! They should also have an orderly line-up process for people waiting. Currently, people who are waiting just jump on to the closest machine that becomes free rather than allowing the person who had been waiting the longest to get the free machine.

So before you pay your money to join 24 Hour Fitness (or any other gym for that matter), go to the gym during the times that you will be using it. See how crowded it gets and how orderly the staff runs the place. Pay particular attention to people who are using the machines you want to use to see if they adhere to the gym's policies.

I still like 24 Hour Fitness and will continue to go there. I just think they can do things better.