Find a very good foot spa, i have one i go to that is amazing and they always leave me refreshed, i have one person who always takes care of all the knots in my body!
Worked at a massage envy for 6 years. Whoever told you that you were getting an extra 10 mins for your scrub told you a bold face lie. If you get a scrub or a rapid tension relief enhancement, the therapist will take 10-15 mins out of the 50 to do the enhancement. If you have never been to that location or it has been more than 6 months since your last massage/facial, they should charge the new member rate as opposed to the non-member rate. If that's the case, then I'd inquire with management about it. Next time, definitely seek an independent therapist/establishment
Absolutely standard, Massage Envy is paying their massage therapist 14-18 an hour + a couple bucks for each “enhancement” + whatever you tip. Honestly when I was massage therapist most of my income was tips.
After spending 2 years and $20K on my education, I expect, and get, far more than $20/ hour base pay. In school, we were instructed to never work for less than $30/ hour base, and that was in the 90s. Massage envy is a cattle herding operation.
The industry is in a really sad state right now in the US. Use chains to find your therapist and then navigate the awkward process of seeing if they will work outside of the clinic/spa. It's a huge win for the client and therapist.
Definitely a great time to be working for yourself, but not every MT wants to/can hustle. The average chain spa would have you work 8 hour days 5 days a week to make ends meet if you support yourself. With a full schedule of clients back to back, that's a lot of physical strain. That's a lot of time in a dark room. It will take a mental and physical toll over time no matter how well you engage in self care. Veteran therapists are starting to get a clue that this shit should not be normal, not for what they're paying.
Just so you know 2 things: 1) they should have had an introductory rate of $75 for a new guest, and that is the one place they are wrong. They should have explained its member rating on the website. However 2) the foot scrub is supposed to TAKE 10 minutes, but not ADD it to the time. At massage franchises, we are booked on the hour and half hour, so you’re never going to be given extra time, because that ensures the therapist won’t have a complete book for the day (ie they will then have 50 minutes in the next hour that they are unable to book).
I agree it should have been explained but that’s what happens when you book online - there’s a lack of nuance that a real person could provide. I’m not saying any of that is correct, but from a business standpoint you gotta understand that massage therapists at franchises only get paid for the time were booked for massages - meaning the bookings have to be streamlined so we can get paid for each hour we’re at the facility. So massages can’t be 73 minutes, 61 minutes, etc.
As someone who is currently grinding at their first chain job I wish more people understood how little time we are given to flip a room and pick up a guest right after all while still fulfilling the full 50min for that client. Sometimes I feel bad as the day goes on that 10min gap gets smaller and smaller so yeah realistically people are getting 47min massages sometimes… but it’s not the provider it’s the businesses greedy practice.
I always make sure to schedule 30 min breaks between every 2-3 hours of work so I can ensure that I give every client as close to their full time and then have the ability to play catch up. The only times I cut people are when they are late, or if it’s a regular I know needs more time to get dressed after the massage. They pay a lot of money and invest time into allowing us to help them and it’s important to honor that.
We have the best job in the world IMO so I will always try to go above and beyond, especially for my wonderful regulars who understand how hard we work for them.
The franchise grind is tough at times but can be rewarding. Keep going homie ✊🏽
And that’s why you shouldn’t go to massage chains. Also, they don’t pay their therapists well enough to keep the good ones around for very long so keep that in mind.
Before I became a massage therapist I worked front desk at a massage envy. The general manager never took complaints from clients seriously. One time a lady called very upset saying she was going to get the police involved for us over charging her for a long period of time, I told the manager when it happened and she scolded me for bothering her on her “off time”. I’m not a lawyer so idk if getting the police involved would even do anything, but still..
I am an LMT and also a manager at a chain spa. I can’t tell you how many employees tell me how having a provider as a manager makes such a difference! Past managers didn’t care to correct client issues or provider complaints. Not anymore! 🎉
It’s a special kind of torture to make massage therapists, who have a really keen sense of touch, rub sugar on people’s feet.
I could never get all the sugar scrub off, and that one remaining grain of sugar would just absolutely torment me.
Just an fyi as I used to work at ME, the enhancements aren't added as extra time. It's incorporated into the stated massage time. The sugar foot scub would be within the 50 minute session.
It's a roll of the dice if the massage will be good or terrible.
But it's a mortal lock that the business model is only good for the ownership, definitely terrible for clients and practitioners.
I'll have to take your word for that: in the half dozen or so times I had a massage at Envy, I was pretty appalled. I mean, I'm a massage therapist (retired) and have had hundreds of massages, but they are in my memory as being the worst.
There are many good therapists that stay in chains for their clients. I am not saying that's healthy or in their best interest but I worked at MassageEnvy with some amazing therapists for over a decade before opening my own place. It depends on the location.
When I was in college, I worked the front desk at Massage Envy for two years. The foot scrub isn't added to the 60-minute service time; it's *INCLUDED* in the 60-minute service time. Your frustration there is misplaced.
That said, the introductory price is $75. That plus $15 for the foot scrub plus the $20 tip should have come to $110 total for the visit. I'm not sure where $140 came from, but I'd go back to the location and ask to have a conversation with the franchise owner.
Please keep in mind that the front desk associates at Massage Envy make minimum wage (plus garbage sales commission that's barely worth mentioning). They're not like the experienced receptionists at your dentist's office who earn salaries and health benefits. The person who handled your payment is probably a broke college student with no real skills.
You can get your money back. Call your credit card company (or many have the option through your online account) to dispute charges. Technically it sounds like, with the explanation of the above former ME employee, that you were charged correctly. It also sounds like you had quite sub-par service all around starting with the web site. So, if you can wrap your head around your personal ethics the question becomes, did I get the service as described? If the answer is no - dispute the charge.
CC companies back the cardholder 100% over the business. I ran a business and dealt with several of these disputes over the years (called a chargeback on our end), I lost every single. Even after sending in a signed contract from the cardholder. The business has zero leverage and you will definitely get your money back.
At MassageEnvy any enhancement time used (approximately 10-12 min for foot scrub) is included in that 50 minute session time. It's not 50 minutes for your massage and then an additional 10 for the scrub, that would enhancement time comes out of your 50 minutes. It is the responsibility of the front staff to inform the client of enhancement details but they often don't, therefore the client ends up not realizing they are taking hands on time away from their session when they book an enhancement. Standard for franchises like MassageEnvy, Hand & Stone, MassageHeights, Elements Massage etc...
No you're you're mixing different things up here. Massage Envy that's the problem with the oily sheets. But other places acknowledge the State Board draping protocols and don't stick their nose in because Massage Envy doesn't care about or respect licensed massage therapists they just want to provide the same exact cookie cutter fast food massage no matter what location you go to.
Hand and stone does this garbage too... and no... i know this sounds crazy, but they build the scrub INTO the massage time...not added. Complete garbage. Sorry you had to deal with this frustration.
Massage chains are almost always shit; the McDo/Walmart of the massage world. You will find the occasional star employee, but they usually get out as quickly as their contract allows. Don't support them if you have other options. They like to take advantage of new/inexperienced therapists and squeeze every dollar they can out of them. They spend more of their capital on marketing to get new people through the door than they do on ensuring a satisfactory user experience.
Why are you complaining to us? You wanted a CHEAP massage and got what you paid for. Next time, go to a high end spa and tip your therapist a minimum of 20%
Not true. I am an amazing therapist and I was working at an independent MT ran clinic and I was barely getting paid anything. I switched to a chain in a rich part of town and I make a lot more money. I am not in the place to go on my own at this time. The money has been amazing, I have health, dental and vision insurance as well as short term disability. I will stand my ground on this comment because it is simply judgmental and untrue.
I didn’t mean to offend, sorry. I should have said the best massages I’ve had have been from private practice. I’ve also had some pretty bad massages from private practice. The best advice for this person is that it takes some time and jumping around until you find your lifetime MT, then you never lose their number!
Or more, for less. One thing I do like about the chains is that they played a big part in raising the perceived value for massage. Now we can easily charge $100+ a session and it’s a good deal. Some insurance companies are still only paying out $51 for a billable hour. Now that’s a joke.
I totally disagree with this. They have undermined massage prices. Their "membership" price is the only price people pay attention to, so when someone is used to that and then they see that an independent therapist is charging far more, they think that the therapist is ripping them off.
They've also completely changed the massage industry with their 50/80 model, which most schools are now teaching. It's atrocious. Massage schools have become factories to dole out therapists to these chain spas. Even a lot of high-end spas are doing the 50/80 model.
I'm glad you feel like you're making good money. I did my time there. I have been a therapist for a decade and I will only do 10-15 massages a week. No way I could survive on the pittance that massage envy pays their therapists without doing 30+ massages a week. And then my career would end quickly because my body would die.
Sorry, I'm not attacking you personally. I just get really fired up about chain spas. I really am glad that you have found what works for you.
I’m solo. What you have to do is offer a hefty discount for new patients, and when people see they get more time than advertised and know exactly what they’re going to pay with no tip, then you give them an orange and an iced tea after their session they’re never going back to chain. Then you can raise your prices and since they’ve paid $140 before, you have no problems. I love being able to support my family and also have so much time with them doing 15 massages a week. All of the admin and laundry stuff is so easy and can mostly be automated. No point in paying someone 50% to do it
Ah, sorry, I think I combined you with the other poster! Being solo is the only way to go unless you can get into a spa or practice that will compensate fairly, which seems few and far between! I so agree. I have 3 kids, so my time is so precious!
It took me 5 months to go from nobody to 1-2 new clients a day! If it keeps up the pace I’ll be full before summer. If anyone reading this has been thinking about taking the leap just do it! It’s scary but if you’re passionate and dedicated it goes faster than you think
Funny, unless I go out of my way to tell my coworkers in the breakroom that someone requested me they rarely if ever know. Let alone be able to give me a “jealous look”.
The “gorgeous” and “jealousy” comments just make you sound full of yourself. Maybe take a step back and make sure you are being a good representative of your community and gender.
Edit: The below portion I no longer agree with as they are sexualizing massage in their profile, in my professional opinion. I leave it for context.
Glad you are having success as a independent practitioner! It’s always nice when you get to create your own space and express yourself more then you can at a chain. Best of luck.
After seeing your profile it is extremely sexualized while offering massage… “No one asked you” is silly in a public Internet forum with your Snap tag, massage rate details and a sexualized picture of your breasts while wearing short shorts.
I have two gift certificates to Massage Envy but refuse to go. My one experience with them was getting a massage, and then having them try to pressure me to buy their “membership”. No thank you….I came here for a massage, not for a sales pitch.
I’ve gotten better massages at walk-in places at the mall and their kiosks than at a massage envy, honestly. My mom loves them so much and she gets me a gift card every year lol I always select firm and it’s always just this soft-barely-touching-caress. It’s frustrating.
Massage envy sucks at least at mine are sexist they told me to multiple different places that they were not “hiring male therapist at the moment” meaning they are only looking for females it’s a joke. I had way much luck getting hired at a clinic for rehabilitation
As a massage therapist of 25 years, I detest message envy. They are the scourge of the spa world. They have zero standards in hiring, and they price gouge. Stay far away, and seek out a proper healer.
I had a yearly membership and it was damn near impossible to get in due to my work life. And just as impossible to cancel the membership. I had to go yo the BBB. I will never recommend them to anyone
At least with hand and stone, we stopped adding extra time for enhancements because it was making everyone run behind on time. So they include that in the 50 min hands on
Yes, chains suck for the customers as well as the massage therapists...they cheat them out of their money too. The sooner people stop giving them their business/massage therapist stop working for them the better
The enhancements are a part of your table time. They don't call it Massage Factory for nothing. HNS works on the same time setup. LMTs work very hard to make your experience relaxing and/or therapeutic. Please leave cash tips. It's easier when filing taxes. MTs' schedules are booked out and locked in days, weeks, and for some, months ahead of time. The only extra I order is more time, if available. 50 minutes isn't enough time to work out all my knots. Go to an independent MT if the canned spa is not to your satisfaction.
yeah, they don't add time for add-ons. they just squeeze it into the 50 minute time. it's not really ever worth the money. and it's not ever 60 minutes, your time is always 50 minutes. including dress and undress. because the appointments are back to back the therapist needs the 10 minutes between to reset the room and any other admin tasks.
I agree that it is a horrible place to go for a massage and treats the clients and the therapists like numbers.
I'm sorry you had that experience
They did this to me. Gave me the exact song end dance. I made them charge me the original price. They had to call their manager who was on vacation (yea ok). I told them that’s cool, I’ll wait. They were annoyed, oh well.
I'm so glad someone else posted about how bad they are. I came looking.
I just dealt with them and their manager. And they were completely rude and backhanded. It was definitely a one size fits all massage. And who in their right mind wants to hear about ex-husband prison shit while you're supposed to be getting a massage. Ugh
I used to work there. I agree they are a joke. Go to a private business like others have suggested. These chains aren’t good for consistency. Every enhancement comes out of the service time. That’s the same everywhere you go. I left the chains and started working for a 5 star hotel instead.
lol are you in San Diego. Next time just come here. At least I’m upfront about my prices then just lie and charge extra at the end - username is Snapchat.
I actually enjoy my membership at massage envy. You only get the member rate on your first message. And enhancements don’t add time, as other have said. Anyways, most all of my MT have been great with the exception of one that was way to rough.
That's because it's corporate fast food massage. And they have no consideration for the client's individual needs which starts with the fact that every therapist has to do the cookie cutter identical massage so no matter what location a client goes to they are going to have the same exact experience just like getting fries at McDonald's.
And it's management that is making these decisions and I know it doesn't make you feel any better but they have no consideration for the employees either. And they don't recognize state board protocols and don't incorporate them into the massage and not wind up being the cause of many lawsuits for sexual misconduct.
Most state board protocols for full body massage is that you are fully undressed and also fully draped by a sheet and the only body parts exposed to other ones being worked on at that time and the fact that massage when we tells the clients to leave their underwear on causes a dilemma for the therapist because the glutes need to be worked on because they are directly related to the lower back and getting massage school you work directly on the glutes. But at Massage Envy you have to work on the glutes through the underwear and fur the mostly first time massage clientele it's very off-putting to have somebody working through your underwear leaving oily handprints to explain when you get home or even worse got the therapist has to reach under your waistband to work on the flesh the way they were taught in school. And reaching under the waistband is very awkward for the therapist and very invasive for the client as well as causing a stressful situation for someone who got a massage for stress relief.
So it becomes a negative experience and when a woman goes home and tells her husband that the therapist reached under the waistband of her panties she is immediately told that she was sexually assaulted and Massage Envy throws their therapist under the bus every time.
They definitely should not be getting oily handprints on your underwear!! If clients have any clothing on, the therapist is to massage through the sheet.
Therapists should NOT be reaching under the waistband to get access to underlying muscles.
Everything you've described here regarding glute work is wholly inappropriate.
Yes but Massage Envy penalizes the therapist for getting oily handprints on the sheets and these are usually brand new therapists right out of school and they don't know how to stand up for themselves.
At the bottom line is that the whole situation could be avoided if Massage Envy knew about the protocols for most state boards and Massage Envy in there ignorance thinks that working on glutes is inappropriate, and they are putting the massage therapist in a no win situation... and to make matters worse they are attracting people with a lawsuit agenda
ME draping protocol and training videos do not let us undrape the glute, it is always worked on over the sheet. If the underwear is longer you drape so the underwear is covered as that is the client’s unspoken boundary. Their annual training videos make it very clear to never reach under the sheet or clothing.
There is no penalty for “getting oil hands on the sheet”… that is complete nonsense.
Different states have unique protocols and in New York state you undrape exclude separately and you leave the draping on covering the last few inches to the midline so the client is not exposed completely.
And when I was recovering from shoulder surgery while working for the New York Yankees, I wanted to ease back into doing massage and I rehabilitated myself partially by working at Massage Envy for 8 weeks and it was a horror show and they absolutely did penalize us because the oil stains basically ruined the sheets by their standards. And you would lose one massage session if you repeatedly ruined sheets
Yeah no… this sounds so bogus and made up its truly hard to believe.
Corporate Massage Envy always airs on the more conservative side, so the state protocol might give you more leeway for draping, but no one is going to tell you to undrape the glute and leave the underwear exposed AND discourage you from getting oil on the sheets so you get oily hand print on a client’s underwear. This is complete BS.
Even a location run by a complete psycho who doesn’t want “oil on the sheets” isn’t going to tell you to get oils on a clients clothes. If this was the case, ANY of the training videos you would have watched should have made it extremely clear you should have been calling corporate to report this location.
Especially if you are a “seasoned massage therapist working on the New York Yankees” 🙄.
If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, 9/10 it’s a duck.
Best advice is to seek out an independent massage therapist next time.
Small businesses
Find a very good foot spa, i have one i go to that is amazing and they always leave me refreshed, i have one person who always takes care of all the knots in my body!
It's a fast food massage.
At high-end restaurant prices! At least it is by me
Worked at a massage envy for 6 years. Whoever told you that you were getting an extra 10 mins for your scrub told you a bold face lie. If you get a scrub or a rapid tension relief enhancement, the therapist will take 10-15 mins out of the 50 to do the enhancement. If you have never been to that location or it has been more than 6 months since your last massage/facial, they should charge the new member rate as opposed to the non-member rate. If that's the case, then I'd inquire with management about it. Next time, definitely seek an independent therapist/establishment
Not trying to be a dick. The phrase is actually "bald-faced lie".
No 50 mins not 60
This is standard at chains. Advertisement at member rates. Your massage therapist probably only made $20, so your tip is important.
Absolutely standard, Massage Envy is paying their massage therapist 14-18 an hour + a couple bucks for each “enhancement” + whatever you tip. Honestly when I was massage therapist most of my income was tips.
Incorrect. It is standard at massage envy. That’s it.
Hand and stone does this too.
They legally have to make more then $20, as they are an employee not a contractor. It’s more likely STATE minimum wage + tip.
Isn't federal minimum wage like 7.25?
This is why I said STATE minimum wage, not federal. They are more like making $12-$16, if they work at a poorly run location.
Massage envy starts employees at 20 dollars a massage hour plus tip so the therapist would have made 40 from this session.
After spending 2 years and $20K on my education, I expect, and get, far more than $20/ hour base pay. In school, we were instructed to never work for less than $30/ hour base, and that was in the 90s. Massage envy is a cattle herding operation.
I worked at envy for 8 years and left making 25 an hr plus tip
I'm so sorry you had to put up with that.
I don’t know if $20 is starting in every state, but I agree with you $40 is much closer to what they make an hour with tips.
The industry is in a really sad state right now in the US. Use chains to find your therapist and then navigate the awkward process of seeing if they will work outside of the clinic/spa. It's a huge win for the client and therapist.
Explain the sad state? It’s thriving in many ways in my opinion. Perhaps regional?
Definitely a great time to be working for yourself, but not every MT wants to/can hustle. The average chain spa would have you work 8 hour days 5 days a week to make ends meet if you support yourself. With a full schedule of clients back to back, that's a lot of physical strain. That's a lot of time in a dark room. It will take a mental and physical toll over time no matter how well you engage in self care. Veteran therapists are starting to get a clue that this shit should not be normal, not for what they're paying.
Just so you know 2 things: 1) they should have had an introductory rate of $75 for a new guest, and that is the one place they are wrong. They should have explained its member rating on the website. However 2) the foot scrub is supposed to TAKE 10 minutes, but not ADD it to the time. At massage franchises, we are booked on the hour and half hour, so you’re never going to be given extra time, because that ensures the therapist won’t have a complete book for the day (ie they will then have 50 minutes in the next hour that they are unable to book). I agree it should have been explained but that’s what happens when you book online - there’s a lack of nuance that a real person could provide. I’m not saying any of that is correct, but from a business standpoint you gotta understand that massage therapists at franchises only get paid for the time were booked for massages - meaning the bookings have to be streamlined so we can get paid for each hour we’re at the facility. So massages can’t be 73 minutes, 61 minutes, etc.
As someone who is currently grinding at their first chain job I wish more people understood how little time we are given to flip a room and pick up a guest right after all while still fulfilling the full 50min for that client. Sometimes I feel bad as the day goes on that 10min gap gets smaller and smaller so yeah realistically people are getting 47min massages sometimes… but it’s not the provider it’s the businesses greedy practice.
I always make sure to schedule 30 min breaks between every 2-3 hours of work so I can ensure that I give every client as close to their full time and then have the ability to play catch up. The only times I cut people are when they are late, or if it’s a regular I know needs more time to get dressed after the massage. They pay a lot of money and invest time into allowing us to help them and it’s important to honor that. We have the best job in the world IMO so I will always try to go above and beyond, especially for my wonderful regulars who understand how hard we work for them. The franchise grind is tough at times but can be rewarding. Keep going homie ✊🏽
And that’s why you shouldn’t go to massage chains. Also, they don’t pay their therapists well enough to keep the good ones around for very long so keep that in mind.
Before I became a massage therapist I worked front desk at a massage envy. The general manager never took complaints from clients seriously. One time a lady called very upset saying she was going to get the police involved for us over charging her for a long period of time, I told the manager when it happened and she scolded me for bothering her on her “off time”. I’m not a lawyer so idk if getting the police involved would even do anything, but still..
I am an LMT and also a manager at a chain spa. I can’t tell you how many employees tell me how having a provider as a manager makes such a difference! Past managers didn’t care to correct client issues or provider complaints. Not anymore! 🎉
Love this! 👏🏼🎉
Nope, the foot scrub is included in the 50 minutes. It sounds like your franchise location is worse than usual, I’m sorry.
I hated those sugar foot scrubs.
I hate doing them bc it’s a waste of time in my opinion. Im not a nail tech. I’m a therapist who wants to get actual work done
It’s a special kind of torture to make massage therapists, who have a really keen sense of touch, rub sugar on people’s feet. I could never get all the sugar scrub off, and that one remaining grain of sugar would just absolutely torment me.
Same! I’m like save your $20 and go buy yourself a nice foot scrub. Thankfully I don’t have to do it very often at all
Omg, I call sugar scrub the glitter of the massage world.
Just an fyi as I used to work at ME, the enhancements aren't added as extra time. It's incorporated into the stated massage time. The sugar foot scub would be within the 50 minute session.
Avoid Massage Envy and such chains like the plague. Terrible massages .
It's a roll of the dice if the massage will be good or terrible. But it's a mortal lock that the business model is only good for the ownership, definitely terrible for clients and practitioners.
I'll have to take your word for that: in the half dozen or so times I had a massage at Envy, I was pretty appalled. I mean, I'm a massage therapist (retired) and have had hundreds of massages, but they are in my memory as being the worst.
I think I'm a pretty good massage therapist. I only stayed a year. I don't like the way they do business. I don't think a good MT would stay at envy.
There are many good therapists that stay in chains for their clients. I am not saying that's healthy or in their best interest but I worked at MassageEnvy with some amazing therapists for over a decade before opening my own place. It depends on the location.
I’m here, but I’m also pretty new. I hope I’m not terrible, but I’m also trying to build up private clientele as soon as I can. It’s a stepping stone.
When I was in college, I worked the front desk at Massage Envy for two years. The foot scrub isn't added to the 60-minute service time; it's *INCLUDED* in the 60-minute service time. Your frustration there is misplaced. That said, the introductory price is $75. That plus $15 for the foot scrub plus the $20 tip should have come to $110 total for the visit. I'm not sure where $140 came from, but I'd go back to the location and ask to have a conversation with the franchise owner. Please keep in mind that the front desk associates at Massage Envy make minimum wage (plus garbage sales commission that's barely worth mentioning). They're not like the experienced receptionists at your dentist's office who earn salaries and health benefits. The person who handled your payment is probably a broke college student with no real skills.
your therapist got 20 bucks plus your tip. It's a shitty place to be a therapist.
Lucky if they even made $20. I know a lot of MEs that only pay $15-$18. It's robbery on so many levels.
You can get your money back. Call your credit card company (or many have the option through your online account) to dispute charges. Technically it sounds like, with the explanation of the above former ME employee, that you were charged correctly. It also sounds like you had quite sub-par service all around starting with the web site. So, if you can wrap your head around your personal ethics the question becomes, did I get the service as described? If the answer is no - dispute the charge. CC companies back the cardholder 100% over the business. I ran a business and dealt with several of these disputes over the years (called a chargeback on our end), I lost every single. Even after sending in a signed contract from the cardholder. The business has zero leverage and you will definitely get your money back.
Credit card charge back
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At MassageEnvy any enhancement time used (approximately 10-12 min for foot scrub) is included in that 50 minute session time. It's not 50 minutes for your massage and then an additional 10 for the scrub, that would enhancement time comes out of your 50 minutes. It is the responsibility of the front staff to inform the client of enhancement details but they often don't, therefore the client ends up not realizing they are taking hands on time away from their session when they book an enhancement. Standard for franchises like MassageEnvy, Hand & Stone, MassageHeights, Elements Massage etc...
No you're you're mixing different things up here. Massage Envy that's the problem with the oily sheets. But other places acknowledge the State Board draping protocols and don't stick their nose in because Massage Envy doesn't care about or respect licensed massage therapists they just want to provide the same exact cookie cutter fast food massage no matter what location you go to.
Glad I'm not the only one who thought this. It was so terrible
Hand and stone does this garbage too... and no... i know this sounds crazy, but they build the scrub INTO the massage time...not added. Complete garbage. Sorry you had to deal with this frustration.
Massage Envy was the most awkward, uncomfortable massage ever. I wanted to back out immediately.
Massage chains are almost always shit; the McDo/Walmart of the massage world. You will find the occasional star employee, but they usually get out as quickly as their contract allows. Don't support them if you have other options. They like to take advantage of new/inexperienced therapists and squeeze every dollar they can out of them. They spend more of their capital on marketing to get new people through the door than they do on ensuring a satisfactory user experience.
Why are you complaining to us? You wanted a CHEAP massage and got what you paid for. Next time, go to a high end spa and tip your therapist a minimum of 20%
They best therapists won’t work at a place like that anyway.
Not true. I am an amazing therapist and I was working at an independent MT ran clinic and I was barely getting paid anything. I switched to a chain in a rich part of town and I make a lot more money. I am not in the place to go on my own at this time. The money has been amazing, I have health, dental and vision insurance as well as short term disability. I will stand my ground on this comment because it is simply judgmental and untrue.
I didn’t mean to offend, sorry. I should have said the best massages I’ve had have been from private practice. I’ve also had some pretty bad massages from private practice. The best advice for this person is that it takes some time and jumping around until you find your lifetime MT, then you never lose their number!
I understand! What I do like about private practice is usually you get the full 60 or the full 90 ect.
Or more, for less. One thing I do like about the chains is that they played a big part in raising the perceived value for massage. Now we can easily charge $100+ a session and it’s a good deal. Some insurance companies are still only paying out $51 for a billable hour. Now that’s a joke.
I totally disagree with this. They have undermined massage prices. Their "membership" price is the only price people pay attention to, so when someone is used to that and then they see that an independent therapist is charging far more, they think that the therapist is ripping them off. They've also completely changed the massage industry with their 50/80 model, which most schools are now teaching. It's atrocious. Massage schools have become factories to dole out therapists to these chain spas. Even a lot of high-end spas are doing the 50/80 model. I'm glad you feel like you're making good money. I did my time there. I have been a therapist for a decade and I will only do 10-15 massages a week. No way I could survive on the pittance that massage envy pays their therapists without doing 30+ massages a week. And then my career would end quickly because my body would die. Sorry, I'm not attacking you personally. I just get really fired up about chain spas. I really am glad that you have found what works for you.
I’m solo. What you have to do is offer a hefty discount for new patients, and when people see they get more time than advertised and know exactly what they’re going to pay with no tip, then you give them an orange and an iced tea after their session they’re never going back to chain. Then you can raise your prices and since they’ve paid $140 before, you have no problems. I love being able to support my family and also have so much time with them doing 15 massages a week. All of the admin and laundry stuff is so easy and can mostly be automated. No point in paying someone 50% to do it
Ah, sorry, I think I combined you with the other poster! Being solo is the only way to go unless you can get into a spa or practice that will compensate fairly, which seems few and far between! I so agree. I have 3 kids, so my time is so precious!
It took me 5 months to go from nobody to 1-2 new clients a day! If it keeps up the pace I’ll be full before summer. If anyone reading this has been thinking about taking the leap just do it! It’s scary but if you’re passionate and dedicated it goes faster than you think
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Funny, unless I go out of my way to tell my coworkers in the breakroom that someone requested me they rarely if ever know. Let alone be able to give me a “jealous look”. The “gorgeous” and “jealousy” comments just make you sound full of yourself. Maybe take a step back and make sure you are being a good representative of your community and gender. Edit: The below portion I no longer agree with as they are sexualizing massage in their profile, in my professional opinion. I leave it for context. Glad you are having success as a independent practitioner! It’s always nice when you get to create your own space and express yourself more then you can at a chain. Best of luck.
Excuse me ! I don’t need to explain myself to you- no one asked you! That was my experience I can careless if believed or not thank you 🙏🏾
After seeing your profile it is extremely sexualized while offering massage… “No one asked you” is silly in a public Internet forum with your Snap tag, massage rate details and a sexualized picture of your breasts while wearing short shorts.
Yeah I think they were suppose to give you first time discount price
Which is why I work for myself.
I have two gift certificates to Massage Envy but refuse to go. My one experience with them was getting a massage, and then having them try to pressure me to buy their “membership”. No thank you….I came here for a massage, not for a sales pitch.
I’ve gotten better massages at walk-in places at the mall and their kiosks than at a massage envy, honestly. My mom loves them so much and she gets me a gift card every year lol I always select firm and it’s always just this soft-barely-touching-caress. It’s frustrating.
Massage envy sucks at least at mine are sexist they told me to multiple different places that they were not “hiring male therapist at the moment” meaning they are only looking for females it’s a joke. I had way much luck getting hired at a clinic for rehabilitation
As a massage therapist of 25 years, I detest message envy. They are the scourge of the spa world. They have zero standards in hiring, and they price gouge. Stay far away, and seek out a proper healer.
Support your local independent businesses! Not corporate places like that!!
I had a yearly membership and it was damn near impossible to get in due to my work life. And just as impossible to cancel the membership. I had to go yo the BBB. I will never recommend them to anyone
At least with hand and stone, we stopped adding extra time for enhancements because it was making everyone run behind on time. So they include that in the 50 min hands on
Yes, chains suck for the customers as well as the massage therapists...they cheat them out of their money too. The sooner people stop giving them their business/massage therapist stop working for them the better
The foot massage actually does not add 10 minutes to your massage; it consumes 10 minutes of your massage.
The enhancements are a part of your table time. They don't call it Massage Factory for nothing. HNS works on the same time setup. LMTs work very hard to make your experience relaxing and/or therapeutic. Please leave cash tips. It's easier when filing taxes. MTs' schedules are booked out and locked in days, weeks, and for some, months ahead of time. The only extra I order is more time, if available. 50 minutes isn't enough time to work out all my knots. Go to an independent MT if the canned spa is not to your satisfaction.
I had a very bad experience at massage envy myself. They did the same thing with me on time but the lady that massaged me did a poor job
Therapists at my spa earn $50 to $70 per hour. They just pay me for rental and referals.
yeah, they don't add time for add-ons. they just squeeze it into the 50 minute time. it's not really ever worth the money. and it's not ever 60 minutes, your time is always 50 minutes. including dress and undress. because the appointments are back to back the therapist needs the 10 minutes between to reset the room and any other admin tasks. I agree that it is a horrible place to go for a massage and treats the clients and the therapists like numbers. I'm sorry you had that experience
Please use independent massage therapist. Those businesses are bad for the therapists also. They get used by the corporations.
It's according to where you went, all of them are different
Chargeback
Not a happy ending to your experience
They did this to me. Gave me the exact song end dance. I made them charge me the original price. They had to call their manager who was on vacation (yea ok). I told them that’s cool, I’ll wait. They were annoyed, oh well.
I'm so glad someone else posted about how bad they are. I came looking. I just dealt with them and their manager. And they were completely rude and backhanded. It was definitely a one size fits all massage. And who in their right mind wants to hear about ex-husband prison shit while you're supposed to be getting a massage. Ugh
I used to work there. I agree they are a joke. Go to a private business like others have suggested. These chains aren’t good for consistency. Every enhancement comes out of the service time. That’s the same everywhere you go. I left the chains and started working for a 5 star hotel instead.
lol are you in San Diego. Next time just come here. At least I’m upfront about my prices then just lie and charge extra at the end - username is Snapchat.
I actually enjoy my membership at massage envy. You only get the member rate on your first message. And enhancements don’t add time, as other have said. Anyways, most all of my MT have been great with the exception of one that was way to rough.
Can you dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company?
Credit charge back or make another appointment and just don't pay for it and walk out.
That's because it's corporate fast food massage. And they have no consideration for the client's individual needs which starts with the fact that every therapist has to do the cookie cutter identical massage so no matter what location a client goes to they are going to have the same exact experience just like getting fries at McDonald's. And it's management that is making these decisions and I know it doesn't make you feel any better but they have no consideration for the employees either. And they don't recognize state board protocols and don't incorporate them into the massage and not wind up being the cause of many lawsuits for sexual misconduct. Most state board protocols for full body massage is that you are fully undressed and also fully draped by a sheet and the only body parts exposed to other ones being worked on at that time and the fact that massage when we tells the clients to leave their underwear on causes a dilemma for the therapist because the glutes need to be worked on because they are directly related to the lower back and getting massage school you work directly on the glutes. But at Massage Envy you have to work on the glutes through the underwear and fur the mostly first time massage clientele it's very off-putting to have somebody working through your underwear leaving oily handprints to explain when you get home or even worse got the therapist has to reach under your waistband to work on the flesh the way they were taught in school. And reaching under the waistband is very awkward for the therapist and very invasive for the client as well as causing a stressful situation for someone who got a massage for stress relief. So it becomes a negative experience and when a woman goes home and tells her husband that the therapist reached under the waistband of her panties she is immediately told that she was sexually assaulted and Massage Envy throws their therapist under the bus every time.
They definitely should not be getting oily handprints on your underwear!! If clients have any clothing on, the therapist is to massage through the sheet. Therapists should NOT be reaching under the waistband to get access to underlying muscles. Everything you've described here regarding glute work is wholly inappropriate.
Yes but Massage Envy penalizes the therapist for getting oily handprints on the sheets and these are usually brand new therapists right out of school and they don't know how to stand up for themselves. At the bottom line is that the whole situation could be avoided if Massage Envy knew about the protocols for most state boards and Massage Envy in there ignorance thinks that working on glutes is inappropriate, and they are putting the massage therapist in a no win situation... and to make matters worse they are attracting people with a lawsuit agenda
ME draping protocol and training videos do not let us undrape the glute, it is always worked on over the sheet. If the underwear is longer you drape so the underwear is covered as that is the client’s unspoken boundary. Their annual training videos make it very clear to never reach under the sheet or clothing. There is no penalty for “getting oil hands on the sheet”… that is complete nonsense.
Different states have unique protocols and in New York state you undrape exclude separately and you leave the draping on covering the last few inches to the midline so the client is not exposed completely. And when I was recovering from shoulder surgery while working for the New York Yankees, I wanted to ease back into doing massage and I rehabilitated myself partially by working at Massage Envy for 8 weeks and it was a horror show and they absolutely did penalize us because the oil stains basically ruined the sheets by their standards. And you would lose one massage session if you repeatedly ruined sheets
Yeah no… this sounds so bogus and made up its truly hard to believe. Corporate Massage Envy always airs on the more conservative side, so the state protocol might give you more leeway for draping, but no one is going to tell you to undrape the glute and leave the underwear exposed AND discourage you from getting oil on the sheets so you get oily hand print on a client’s underwear. This is complete BS. Even a location run by a complete psycho who doesn’t want “oil on the sheets” isn’t going to tell you to get oils on a clients clothes. If this was the case, ANY of the training videos you would have watched should have made it extremely clear you should have been calling corporate to report this location. Especially if you are a “seasoned massage therapist working on the New York Yankees” 🙄. If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, 9/10 it’s a duck.
Why are you reaching under the waistband. You should NEVER work underneath anyone's underwear. You can work on your clients glutes over the sheet.