Assuming you don't have an automated system to give away locker keys, wouldn't this be explained by the fact that gym front desk is more likely to give out the lowest number available and as you took X, they will give out X+1 for the next person?
I've never been to a gym where you're assigned a locker for the day (or given a key). Either you have one permanently assigned (rare) or you go in and find one that isn't occupied.
Sadly, my new gym assigns keys in numerical locker order. The Google Reviews are full of lamentations about it. However, the gym is right next door to my new place, so I am inclined to overlook these and other shortcomings.
Logistically, it makes sense for them, as it presumably cuts down on maintenance and cleaning. But it is super-annoying to squeeze past several other sweaty folk when there are two entire locker corridors empty and adjacent.
Ohh, I see! At my gym, locker keys are given to you by the front desk and you put in something as deposit (such as your gym card or whatever you wish) and on your way out you give the key and you get your deposit back.
But why? Seems like it would be inconvenient to gym-users to add these extra steps to getting in and out of the gym. Especially if you have to wait behind other people just to get or return a key. What is the benefit of such a system?
In the case of my new gym (see my earlier reply above), far as I can tell, they are just saving money on modernization. There are similar other penny-pinching measures there, such as treadmills which apparently offer TV and Netflix, etc., but have no channels, no connectivity and no ability to cast over Bluetooth from your phone.
I asked them about the latter issue, and they said that it might get fixed next year; but there are years-old Google Reviews of the gym citing this promise!
It's a relatively small gym so I assume they don't have the resources to improve the system and quite frankly I too would prefer if they spent the money on more equipment
