Gym-goer furious after being denied use of empty equipment as people had 'dibs'

20 May 2023 , 10:34

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The gym-goer slammed people who call 'dibs' on equipment (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/Westend61)

When you're working out in a busy gym, it's normal to have to wait your turn to use the most popular equipment.

Sometimes you'll strike it lucky, but other times your desired machine might be taken. In these instances, most people are happy to wait around for a fellow user to finish their set.

But would you be happy waiting for a machine nobody is on? This is the predicament one gym-goer found themselves in recently, as they explained in a rant to Reddit.

"Started going to a new gym. Twice now, separate days, move on to a rack or a machine with no one on it. No towel, no water bottle, no phones.

The etiquette divided opinion among gym-goers (stock photo) (Getty Images)

"No one standing near it. Twice now, by different people, one a male and one a female, politely told that there’s someone using it," they fumed.

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"The person is literally nowhere near it. Once they were on the other side of the gym and walking back. Another time they had 'gone to get some water'. Both times I asked where the person was, when 'there's someone using it'."

The author added that they responded politely, even though they were shocked as they've 'never come across' this behaviour before. However, they're not happy with the way the situation was handled, on reflection.

"Now that I'm ruminating a bit I'm starting to get p****d," the gym-goer explained. "Both times it was during rush hour btw. Next time I don't think I'm putting up with it anymore."

As such, they were keen to know if people thought they'd be in the wrong for refusing to let 'absent people keep "dibs" on gym equipment'.

"I always thought that if you left the station, it's fair game. And having a random spotter tell you that 'someone is using it' when they're not within 10 yards of it is b******t in my opinion," the post concluded.

Unfortunately, most commenters said they couldn't offer an answer to what they think is a 'case-specific' problem. One wrote: "If someone needs to get water or go to the bathroom, and are back within a minute or two, you were being the a*****e. If they take longer than that, or are using another machine as well, you were not being the a*****e."

A second agreed: "Probably situational to where you are for how long the equipment should be allowed to be unoccupied for. Or for how long it should take the previous person to return, if they do."

Someone else advised: "Talk to the staff about the official policy. If it happens again, remind them of the policy if it goes against what they're telling you. If they're right about it, apologize and wait your turn."

Amber O'Connor