David Barton Gym

01/31/09

Stay away and save your money

by GymBug1 at Citysearch

Don't think that David Barton is a cut above New York Sports Clubs or Equinox. It's not.

At David Barton, there are complaining instructors, late classes, mistakes with the audio system. Once I went to a class where after struggling with the sound system for twenty minutes the instructor gave up and did a class with no music. Once I went for a class and there never was a class and no one was even able to tell me why. Don't expect better service, treatment or atmosphere than you would get anywhere else. Stay away and save your money. David Barton shows no more appreciation of their customers than New York Sports or Equinox, actually less. I guess they think they're hip and don't need to treat customers well. Some "club"!

• Pros: None
• Cons: Snooty and unhelpful staff, unreliably instructors, faulty equipment

01/31/09

STAY AWAY

by TheFitnessGuru at Citysearch

Stay away from David Barton. Go anywhere else instead. The climate is negative and impersonal. The trainers complain audibly and regularly about their low pay and the clients are not seen as people and members but as numbers.

It's just an unpleasant experience, not what you want in a workout.

• Pros: Convenience if you happen to live nearby
• Cons: Lousy atmosphere, non-helpful staff, weak and infrequent classes

04/03/08

Don't Let Them Have Your Credit Card Info -- Ever!!!

by aroydee at Citysearch

While the facilities look good and the clients are attractive and trendy, beware of what lurks below the surface. Overcrowded, poorly maintained, lousy water pressure and temperature, run out of towels... all symptoms of mismanagement. But: what matters even more is that they have shady business practices (maybe that is why the a major customer service agency ranks them as "unsatisfactory"). Constant overcharges on my credit card (not small ones -- like approaching $1000!) with absolutely no effort to make good or resolve the problems despite continuous polite requests.

Avoid this place like the plague -- they give a great sales presentation but they are shady, dare I say it out loud, crooks!!!

• Pros: Trendy and attractive customers
• Cons: Unethical business practices

02/18/08

Check any other place out besides David Barton for Pilates!

by madison78 at Citysearch

One day gyms will actually require their trainers to post their training certificates on the wall so customers can know what they are getting. It is hard to find good Pilates training at a gym when the instructors sit down during the entire lesson. I've been to other gyms before and have sweat during my lesson, all they want to do here is talk. They also can't keep good trainers. The good ones never stay around. Then they try to put you with somebody else and you'd rather be in a dentist's chair. The sales staff is nice to you only when you renew. Next time you go into a gym for Pilates ask them if they have the trainers most up to date certification. I'm finding over my years of experience that there are too many people out there who say they are Pilates instructors when all they took where a weekend or online course and are now teaching what they call Pilates. Also, I've trained with both classical trainers and contemporary or stot trainers. Once you've trained with a classical instructor and actually sweat during your lesson, you'll never train contemporary again.David Barton isn't it for Pilates. You're better off going to a place like Uptown Pilates (which actually has good reviews from Citysearch) even though they have a big window right on Madison which seems intrusive. There is a lot more equipment than what is in the front window. Check any other place out besides David Barton for Pilates!

• Pros: No lines for equipment...
• Cons: Do I have to say it again....

The Upper East Side's futuristic fitness hall high on bodybuilding and low on lines.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
Bodybuilder David Barton, aka 1992's Mr. Northeast USA, created this gym for the well-heeled clientele that strives to look good while working out. The low-lit, 13,000-square-foot facility is dominated by space-agey metallics and amber tones, with leather banquettes for periodic lounging. Top-of-the-line cardio equipment features individual TVs, and classes run the gamut from Brazilian Groove to various types of yoga--including ashtanga, hatha, Iyengar and vinyasa. Men's and women's saunas add to the luxe atmosphere.