YK
Young-Joon Kim
Aug 23, 2025
The gym itself was fine, but the way the situation was handled felt unprofessional and dismissive.
I’m a recent Hopkins graduate staying in Baltimore until next summer, and since I can no longer use the Hopkins gym, Brick Bodies Rotunda caught my attention. I liked their large windows, so I decided to visit on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 5:40 pm. At the front desk, I explained this was my first visit and asked about options such as a free trial, daily pass, or monthly membership. The staff member told me she had no idea about memberships, could not give me even a price range, and said the only thing she could do was sell a daily pass. I paid $30 each for me and my younger brother ($60 total).
While we were warming up, within 5 minutes of the purchase and before starting our workout, I found on the Brick Bodies website that they advertise a free trial for newcomers. I went back to the counter and asked if we could switch to the trial instead. She said she didn’t have the authority and that I would need to call a number after Monday at 10 am. She repeated that there was nothing she could do and handed me a business card. Later, I noticed the back of that same card also mentioned free trials for local residents. That made me question why the front desk could not provide basic information or any meaningful assistance. I also wonder if it is fair for a gym to refuse a refund requested within minutes for such a reasonable reason.
What stood out most was the way the situation was handled. When I asked for her name, she refused to give it. Instead of acknowledging my concern or offering to report it to her manager, she repeated the same line with an irritated expression, which came across as if I wasn’t understanding her, even though I had explained myself clearly. To me, that was unprofessional. A front desk staff should at least be willing to escalate an issue or provide some assurance that the matter will be followed up, not make the customer feel like they are the problem. After I pointed out that the way she was handling the situation felt unprofessional, her demeanor shifted. She smiled and just listened quietly from that point on, which I did appreciate, but still left a poor impression.
As for the gym itself, the free weight area and platforms were solid, though I wished there were more plates on the racks. The Hoist machines were okay but fewer than expected for a gym of this size. Mats and bands were in good condition. The facilities seemed fine, but the unprofessional front desk experience overshadowed my visit and left me questioning whether this is a place worth joining.