My headphones never come out. I never walk away from a machine without leaving something on it, and expect to get it back. I never use two machines at a time unless it's nearly empty and if I do, I only mark one of them.

I assign the same rules to others and if I've taken something from someone I will never know, because I'm in my zone. My headphones are on and my eyes stay at the weights. I agree with the last dude.

If no one is on it.... Use it. Period. The proper response to said individual claiming the machine would have been.... Well you were nowhere near it so I assumed it was free. Be polite and use tact but don't get punked out either. I put headphones in and don't talk at the gym so he wouldn't even have gotten a response. Proper etiquette is to use one machine at a time. Use it and get off of it so someone else can. Ear phones and loud music will save a lot of head ache for the serious lifter.

I don't.believing in using multiple pieces if equipment at once. If you wanna superset or run a circuit, go build your own gym. Your schedule is not mine. I always let people work in.

If there were already 2 people on a machine, I would leave it alone and go do something else. If it's just one person I might work in with them. I personally don't play well with others so I hit the gym early I'm the am or late at night to avoid these situations.

If you do find yourself working in with someone that isn't a serious lifter but thinks he is, here is my tactic...
Be sure and do WAY more weight than him and leave the pin there. Make him adjust it down and you will crush his ego. He will usually be on his last set when this happens.

Only time I leave a machine is to hit the water fountain and I'm as quick as possible, I also leave my lifting straps either right next to it or on the seat, this way someone walks up, sees the straps and then looks around aimlessly trying to figure out who's using it. By that time I'm back to it and then tell them they're more then welcome to hop in

IMO, if a person leaves a machine, it is open for others to use. Gyms are too busy for someone to use many machines at the same time. If they want to do that, they need to go at 10PM or some off hours time when the gym is empty.

I can't stand the guys leaving machines, no gear nothing near it, come back all huffy puffy saying they have sets left. Gyms are busy, if your gonna use 2+ machines at a time do it when it's slow. It's something I think gyms should almost run over during sign up. I usually go w a buddy so when they invite to work in it's not even worth it waiting 2 rounds.. if somethings full I go do something else. Always be flexible and you'll never be disappointed.

This happens half the time I try to get on the fly machine. Whenever they are hogging it and l I get a chance to jump in, I just leave it sweaty for them. Only after politely asking and if they're rude about it. And my my, do I get some kind of sweaty.

You just tell them that you need the machine and they have two minutes until they are taxed. Walk away and return in two minutes. If they are still there, drop your shorts and wipe your sweaty ass on whomever is using the machine. This will surely free up the machine. I do it all the time and is accepted etiquette in all middle eastern gyms.

If I need a machine/piece of equipment I ask how many sets he/they have left & if I'm invited to join in I do if not I wait or move on

Best to stay at the machine if you wanna keep it, however working in on a machine should be an automatic. No weights to rack and load, just pin and seat to move. Should never get or give a "no" when someone asks to work in.

Them then you, them then you, etc.

If I leave a machine, I know damn well it can be snatched up and I won't say anything about. Even with a partner, I'm not making him hold it down for me.