Beauty

[phoenixbrd]

Look elsewhere.....fast.  Do not consider.  Do not give them access to deducting your credit card on a monthly basis.  

[casy17]

I go to Hand and Stone. Have been going for over a year.  Easy to make an appointment, never pressure to purchase or upgrade service. I have had facials for years at different spas but find Hand and Stone superior. Referred many friends all have joined

[Effie54]

I'm a member. I think it depends on the franchise owner - on how well it is run. In my area, this owner owns two spas. I just called yesterday to schedule an appointment and had to leave a message. No one called back. Two hours later, I finally received a live voice and was told they "were busy". For myself, I plan on canceling my membership. I don't use it much, and the massages are only 50 minutes long (not an hour). The quality of the massages run the gamut of so/so to great. They hire new graduates out of massage school. I would give it 2 stars out of 5.

[Effie54]

Oh no! I thought as much. I want to cancel and can see a hassle coming up. Thanks for the head's up. 

[HangingTen]

Go somewhere else.  They remind me of a sleazy gym membership program - it's very difficult to leave.

[BabyYoda]

Don't do it! They are a franchise and you have to be a member for at least a year and it's expensive and they use inexperienced massage therapists. They are not cheap either. I received a gift certificate and they made every excuse to not honor it saying they were booked. I went down to the place myself and demanded to speak with the owner. She came out and proceeded to try to get me to sign up to their membership. Wanted my credit card when all I wanted was to use the already paid gift certificate for a massage. 

I finally was able to get my massage after threatening to post on FB and tell people about my negative experience. 

I get in the room and I waited in a cold room for over 15 minutes and then the massage therapist came in late and did a terrible job. She left me there "to relax" for 15 minutes and I was pissed when she came back as I told her I came for a massage not to lay there for all that time. Then she told me I was done I told her no its supposed to be a 60 minute massage she said well I have other appointments to get to and she included the 30 minutes she was late and left me alone as part of the massage time. Never did I go back and she expected a tip from me. No way. 

[sonechko]

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@BabyYoda wrote:

Don't do it! They are a franchise and you have to be a member for at least a year and it's expensive and they use inexperienced massage therapists. They are not cheap either. I received a gift certificate and they made every excuse to not honor it saying they were booked. I went down to the place myself and demanded to speak with the owner. She came out and proceeded to try to get me to sign up to their membership. Wanted my credit card when all I wanted was to use the already paid gift certificate for a massage. 

I finally was able to get my massage after threatening to post on FB and tell people about my negative experience. 

I get in the room and I waited in a cold room for over 15 minutes and then the massage therapist came in late and did a terrible job. She left me there "to relax" for 15 minutes and I was pissed when she came back as I told her I came for a massage not to lay there for all that time. Then she told me I was done I told her no its supposed to be a 60 minute massage she said well I have other appointments to get to and she included the 30 minutes she was late and left me alone as part of the massage time. Never did I go back and she expected a tip from me. No way. 

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What a horrible experience, @BabyYoda!  I'd be so frustrated with such "business" practices...... it's very sad that we starting to see businesses with "services" like these in our communities. These things were almost unheard of before......

[AspenGrove]

I was a member of Masage Envy for a year. I ended it when the contract ended. Any time I found a great massage therapist, she left.  I had some great massages in that year, but some really awful ones, too. So, I was happy to leave.

The good news is that I learned about Elements Massage through a friend. The local one is awesome and there are no longterm contracts at all. One can quit the monthly massage with just 30 days notice. No penalties and no games at all. It also has a high-end spa feel -- from the receptionists to rooms to the massage therapists. I walk out of there so relaxed and pleased, every time! They are nationwide, I believe.

[henderson]

I was a member for a few years.  Absolutely had no problem when I put a freeze on my account as I had a stroke and couldn't get massages.  Only needed to write a letter -- no note from dr.  About a year after I cancelled.  Again, no problem.  My future daughter-in-law gave me gift card from them and again, no problem.  It was good for a regular massage (no frills, no hot stone or aromatherapy).  Maybe it depends on the particular Massage Envy location as they are all franchisees.  I would have no problem purchasing a gift card and they will run a special as you get closer to Mother's Day.  You can also purchase from Massage Heights.  Of course they would like to join but I've had no problem saying no to them.

[Haircut100]

It really must come down to your specific area because I've been a ME member for over two years and I LOVE IT!!!!!

I always schedule my massages ahead of time so I can see the same therapist, plus when I travel to other states, my membership is good there too. I spend half the year in Florida and the other half in Indiana and I have my preferred therapists in each state. If you don't want to become a member, then get the gift certificates. That's how I started.

I speak to my therapists directly and tell them exactly what I want. I only want upper body, not full body, so I have them work on my back, neck, and shoulders exclusively. You are in control of what you want. I do not use the other "services" such as aromatherapy or foot massages. I just want my deep tissue upper back massages! And sometimes I splurge for an extra $20 and do a 90 minute. To me, it's worth it!!!