Okay, I realize there are far more important things to worry about, but something really irked me yesterday, and I wanted to see if it was just me, or if I have just cause in being a little PO'd. I want a massage. My back is really starting to bother me, and Tylenol acts like candy, it does nothing, so I started shopping around. Well lo and behold, I found a coupon for a 1/2 price massage, and thought I'd died and gone to heaven! So Friday morning, early, I left a message for this place. You know, the standard, "Hey, saw your ad, would like to schedule a massage, have a few questions, give me a call". I didn't get a call back until Monday (which in itself bugs me, but thats another topic for another day). So I ask this lady, do you do pregnancy massage? She says yes, and goes on to tell me how she's certified and such, great! How much is it? $60 for an hour! Great! So I am about to book an appointment, and I say, well look, I have this coupon for 1/2 price, so that makes it $30, right? And she says no. Huh? She says the coupon is only valid for sweedish massage. Okay first, for those of you who don't know, the only difference between sweedish massage and pregnancy massage is that with a preggo massage, you lie on your side for most of the session, and the massuese doesn't stimulate your hands and feet the way they normally would. That's pretty much it. Secondly, here is the wording on the coupon, exactly: "1/2 price 60 minute massage (valid on first massage only) with this coupon. Not valid with an other coupons or specials. Expires 02/23/07" It doesn't say it's only valid on Sweedish massage, and her ad specifically list at least 4 types of massage she offers. So I'm really irked, and I am considering calling her on it. What do you think?
Her coupon should have been more specific and she should honor it. Sounds like a potential topic for you next column. :lol:
Eh, I don't know about putting it in my column. I really try to avoid listing specific people or businesses (well, except for really nasty resturants) so that I don't get sued. But it just really bugged me, and the more I've thought about it, the more it irks me. I just wanted to know the general consensus opinion of everyone else....
Jen~ I've thought about this since yesterday. I'd call her on it. Bottom line is it's false or misleading advertising. She should honor the wording in her coupon. It'll be a business lesson for her, and she may pick up some good clients by it. She could even tell the people "Look, I meant for that to apply to Swedish only, but since I left that information out I'm honoring the coupon for any type of message I give." That lets them know what here intentions were, but that she's an honorable business person. It'll build her credibility. Honestly, I'd probably tell her all that after I called her on it. Frogger
Oh I did not mean mentioning her specifically ... just the topic of doing good business ... customer service.... At Strawberry Festival last spring I got a coupon for Fantastic Sams @ 40/42. I thought I'd try them out and use it. When I went they said the manager decided they were no longer offering that special...even though the coupon was good for several more weeks. They did not get my business.
She should honor the coupon. The service you were requesting is certainly included in the language on the coupon. It's just good business. I don't think you're being overly sensitive at all, expecting a business person to honor their ads is completely reasonable. On the other hand, are you sure you want her to give you a massage under the circumstances? Isn't there somewhere else you can get the same type of massage?
Ditto, bad business. I would cancel that "massage" and fast. A good massage is worth the money esp if your back is killing you and Tylenol is candy. It must be in the air though. I am super sensitive these days too. Good luck.
I don't know. There is something distinctly different between a news story (Bob's Steakhouse scored a 79 on it's last inspection) and an opinion column (Bob's Steakhouse is a nasty resturant). I know there is a fine line there. I'm just not sure what it is, and I don't want to cross it.
that is exactly what you should tell her, offer her some advice that maybe next time she ought to specify, but in this case she didn't so she should honor it. Otherwise, it's bad business and you'd hate to call her on it in your column.
I'd just skip it and go check out the massage school that SB posted about a few months ago. BTW, WTH is SB?
I second Cleo...the fact that she said no first and then you push it with her to get a massage just insures that you're gonna get a crappy massage. And then you'll be pissed for the $30 bucks you'll be out of.
Jenn, I agree with everybody else. I wouldn't do business with her. I have heard that the spa at Johnston Medical Mall in Smithfield does good massages. I sure could use one right now...
