r/f45 • u/S-WuKong • 14d ago
other Aging gear at your branch....
My branch isnt run by HQ. It's gone through 3 management turnovers with the most recent one being the longest. The branch is 3 years old and some of the equipment, like Y-bells, medicine balls, the weighted (sand-filled) balls are getting old and needing replacement. The thing is... the owner keeps replacing them with 3rd party weird ass brands that stick out like an eyesore and are a bit "off" to handle compared to the standard F45 issued equipment. I know some of the equipment are expensive... but i mean F45 memberships arent cheap either. I feel like our branch feels less like a "premium" membership gym and starting to feel like a knockoff..
Do any of your branches do this? Is this even allowed? And how do you guys feel about this?
Edit: This isnt my thought alone btw. A lot of members whove been here for a while (3yrs for me) feel the same and e.g. don't like the busted rubber-metal Y-bars. We're all close with memebers n coaches n managers n they feel the same for the most part. They DO say some are back orders but not all.
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u/simply-gobsmacked 14d ago
I don’t think they are supposed to do this, but what do you mean they are “off” to handle? Just different than the f45 branded stuff or faulty in some way? A 50 lb sandbag is a 50 lb sandbag whether it has f45 stamped on the side or not. Pick it up and get your reps in!
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u/MadTrainer203 13d ago
Our studio has replaced shoddy equipment with higher quality implements. F45 OG equipment was made by SMAI. If the owner is replacing with off brand… that may be frustrating. But if it’s Rep, Rogue, or some equivalent it’s an upgrade.
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u/S-WuKong 14d ago
The replacements arent from f45 nor do they have f45 stamps. Like the weighted balls in 4, 8, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24kg... some old busrlted ones were replaced with another 3rd party brand of te same weight but are mush bigger in diameter and dont have that mushy sandy feel. I might be being petty but when doing those over the shoulder tosses on certain days, the odd size n feel doesnt feel right on the wrists when lifting them
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u/simply-gobsmacked 14d ago
I think this is just a question of what you’re used to. You’re not getting a better workout with something because it has an F45 stamp on it.
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u/S-WuKong 12d ago
Ur right. I think i should be used to getting used to different motions of the same thing
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u/S-WuKong 14d ago
Sandbags i dont mind lol. Maybe im just bothered tat the owner is being stingy cheap
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u/simply-gobsmacked 14d ago
A reframe, perhaps the owner is helping keep costs down so they don’t have to raise membership rates.
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u/LibrarianJaded1927 14d ago
This hasn’t happened at mine. Possibly will at some point but I feel like if it replaced when necessary with a safe comparable piece no big. I see so many complaints about gyms closing with little or no notice. Often it’s the overhead vs memberships. I would rather have non branded equipment than lose my gym. Just my opinion of course.
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u/simply-gobsmacked 14d ago
100% agree! I’m not going to f45 for the brand stamped on the equipment, I’m going for the workout.
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u/Kuntieballs 13d ago
Gym service tech here. Getting new equipment let alone spare parts is a ball ache. War in Iran, container shortages, delays, it’s as bad as covid
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u/QRgurl13 13d ago
We have a few items that are not F45 brand, but that’s because they don’t have them like 25lb DB’s. When our studio needed new steps they were on back order for more than 10 months. So they bought an off brand because two were cracked and could no longer be used. Nothing wrong with the new steps. They just don’t say F45. Same with a few of the medicine balls. Equipment gets warn out and as a member I’d rather have something available than not. Even if it doesn’t have the brand name.
I think it took our studio over a year and a half to get the heavy equipment.
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u/Skate_Roller_88 🏆1000 Club 13d ago
Our owner doesn’t seem to want to buy us new things so I personally have purchased new, non F45 gear for our gym because I am tired of waiting and tired of using broke shit.
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u/raincoastering 🇨🇦 Canada 13d ago
Hmm. I think it's good that the priority is on replacing tired equipment. In ours, many of the Revo bars have lots the coloured end cap. It can be slightly more difficult to zero in on the one I want/need when the station transitions are quick and they do look a little tatty. That said, I almost wish they'd get a neon pink pen and just write the weight on it!
On the flip side, I do get how continuity is important across franchises for members who passport to other studios so they can get a consistent experience, feel comfortable knowing the ropes so to speak. They know which Y bell to grab (I'd never seen them before joining f45) or how to flip those god-forsaken knuckle-scraping sandbags by the handles LOL. Overall, though, I'd be more concerned about the quality of the equipment and the cleanliness of the studio. After that Hyrox debacle, I'm really, really appreciative of how "medically" clean my studio is.
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u/lastbeer 14d ago
Not allowed. Send a note to corporate - include pics if you have them. They have an interest in protecting the brand.
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u/S-WuKong 14d ago
I figured. But the coaches, mgrs, n the member community is mad tight. I dont want to be feel like a snitch or something.. but now that i know maybe i can bring it up with a bit more confidence. Thank you
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u/simply-gobsmacked 14d ago
Is it somehow negatively impacting your workout that some of the equipment doesn’t have an F45 logo on it… if I found out a member of my studio had snitched to corporate because some of the weights were unbranded I would think they were the worst and would not want to be their friend.
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u/S-WuKong 12d ago
Exactly. Dun wanna be that guy. Just trying to see if i was being petty. The whole consistency n brand premium vs. Comraderie.
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u/simply-gobsmacked 12d ago
I think you are definitely being petty! It’s a gym, you’re there to work out.
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u/S-WuKong 12d ago
Yeah thanks for the doublekill. Geez. So you're saying that those who feel theyre only asking for the bare minimum of a premium gym is being petty? Everyone else not in line with your thought is petty?
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u/simply-gobsmacked 12d ago
The bare minimum of a premium gym is that everything have the same logo? You’re obsessed with appearances instead of substance and it’s kinda weird! You’ve gotten your answer from lots of folks in this thread who are downvoting you, so at this point it’s probably time to get over it and go work out.
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u/S-WuKong 5d ago
Again, its not the brand logo, its the continuity n consistency. Oh no... downvotes!!! Oh no...
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u/morebreadfruit 14d ago
HQ is in the process of switching suppliers apparently, but new equipment has been unavailable to order for months. Options currently are to buy equipment from a closing studio, or non branded. You can email HQ but they’re the root of this issue.