Massage Parlor Reports

**E2304** · 03-14-17 10:47

Had a lovely deep tissue Massage on the north side by a hard working MT who worked up a sweat by the end. While working on my back she paused, took a cleansing breath, and told me that I smell wonderfully. (I showered the night before and use deodorant appropriately.) she made a disgusted sound and told me of her other client. On my way out I saw a monger in the foyer hunched over in his parka. It was 30' outside and sunny. He looked like a homeless Jerry Garcia.

As mentioned by others it doesn't take much for us to be presentable. Clean, Polite, pay. We expect much. We should be deserving.

End of rant.

**E2304** · 03-14-17 10:27

Originally Posted by Lurker01 [View Original Post]

So you are overworking your best CMT while undercharging to ensure the pace does not lighten?

You are eating your seed corn.

Mei is proud, honest, strong and independent. Change takes time. This is a start up with growing pains. They are also looking for another 4-leaf clover to hire. Not an easy thing. This is Mei's business. Burnout is a concern.

Bob: feed the girl please.

"Pigs get fat. Hogs get slaughtered. ".

- proverb.

**GunnerMagnum** · 03-14-17 09:54

That's why I said find another MT. I think the price is an introductory rate and would go to "normal" price structure at some point. Bob, the task master, LOL.

Originally Posted by Lurker01 [View Original Post]

So you are overworking your best CMT while undercharging to ensure the pace does not lighten?

You are eating your seed corn.

**Lurker01** · 03-14-17 09:47

So you are overworking your best CMT while undercharging to ensure the pace does not lighten?

You are eating your seed corn.

Originally Posted by Bob521 [View Original Post]

Pricing:

Mei and I deliberately set the price $10 below market to get people "in the door" to build up a customer base. At some point we will change pricing. Maybe some legacy deals for our long-term customers. I started advertising in January and it had a major impact on business. CL, BP, FB, Google, and Yelp. Also a loyalty card. I was nervous about advertising until I had more people to fill in the gaps. Part of the problem is the "lumpy" flow of business. Yesterday (Saturday) we had 8 customers for Mei and another woman. Today, nobody has come in at all (yet). Maybe I should have "rush hour pricing" or a $60 "walk in" vs a $50 "appointment rate". Appointments help us manage the business and the staffing, plus I can add clients to the contact database. I also want to continue to give a good price to our loyal customers. A final observation is that most of our regulars give Mei a good tip, thus equalizing the apparent low price. I agree 30 minutes is too short for a real massage. Actually, Mei's idea of 30 minutes is 40 minutes. 60 minutes is 70 minutes. And 90 minutes is 100 minutes. I keep telling her to stick to the actual time and she will help herself. I'm not worried about $49.95 and of course everybody understands. Exxon does it also. LOL.

We have a man who is excellent and helps the female clients and a woman who is also excellent but has limited time. Hence the need for a new worker who can fill in for Mei. She needs rest and also a day off each week.

**Bob521** · 03-12-17 19:03

Pricing:

Mei and I deliberately set the price $10 below market to get people "in the door" to build up a customer base. At some point we will change pricing. Maybe some legacy deals for our long-term customers. I started advertising in January and it had a major impact on business. CL, BP, FB, Google, and Yelp. Also a loyalty card. I was nervous about advertising until I had more people to fill in the gaps. Part of the problem is the "lumpy" flow of business. Yesterday (Saturday) we had 8 customers for Mei and another woman. Today, nobody has come in at all (yet). Maybe I should have "rush hour pricing" or a $60 "walk in" vs a $50 "appointment rate". Appointments help us manage the business and the staffing, plus I can add clients to the contact database. I also want to continue to give a good price to our loyal customers. A final observation is that most of our regulars give Mei a good tip, thus equalizing the apparent low price. I agree 30 minutes is too short for a real massage. Actually, Mei's idea of 30 minutes is 40 minutes. 60 minutes is 70 minutes. And 90 minutes is 100 minutes. I keep telling her to stick to the actual time and she will help herself. I'm not worried about $49.95 and of course everybody understands. Exxon does it also. LOL.

We have a man who is excellent and helps the female clients and a woman who is also excellent but has limited time. Hence the need for a new worker who can fill in for Mei. She needs rest and also a day off each week.

Originally Posted by SmileySam [View Original Post]

Sounds like Mei is working very very hard. 7 days a week & 11 hours a day giving legit intense massages. Wow that must be brutal! She's going to burn out at that rate.

I would highly recommend she raise her rates. Her clientele should understand. Also maybe she can focus more on 30 min and 45 min massages and have breaks in between each massage.

Good luck!

**ReadyForRub** · 03-12-17 16:54

Originally Posted by Bob521 [View Original Post]

So the predictions a few of you made were true. We brought in additional people. They just don't compare. Mei ("L") has been swamped with business. To be more accurate, everyone conspires to arrive at the same time. Mei gives 200% of the energy of the average therapist. 400% of the energy of those who pretend to be massage therapists. So 4 or 5 90 minute massages back to back with no food and she can barely stand. Seven days a week. 11 hours a day.

Mei tried introducing our best customers to the "new girl" and nobody is satisfied. Mei gives (as many of you know) a super strong traditional Chinese acupressure massage. Forum Members can add their own comments. The new one gave a weak Swedish massage. Today two people walked out on the "new girl". If any of you tried the new one, please PM me and I will give you a half price massage with Mei.

With that preamble, if you know anyone who has excellent massage skills, let me know. Must be legit. Must have transportation. We are in Buffalo Grove Deerfield and Weiland, SW corner. Here's the website: http://massage0110.wixsite.com/sunshinehealthmassag Thanks in advance. Bob.

I don't know a legit MT, but your pricing doesn't look right.

90 minutes $79.95 $10.00 too low.

60 minutes $49.95 $10.00 too low.

30 minutes $29.95 30 minutes shouldn't be offered. Legit needs some time. All 30 minutes will do is get you off at a discount.

The $0. 95 pricing might fool 'them at the discount stores, but people looking for a legit massage know they are NOT going to get $0. 05 in change.

**E2304** · 03-12-17 16:00

Originally Posted by SmileySam [View Original Post]

Sounds like Mei is working very very hard. 7 days a week & 11 hours a day giving legit intense massages. Wow that must be brutal! She's going to burn out at that rate.

I would highly recommend she raise her rates. Her clientele should understand. Also maybe she can focus more on 30 min and 45 min massages and have breaks in between each massage.

Good luck!

First three rules of Medicine: eat, sleep, excrete. You cannot take care of patient if you don't take care of yourself.

I prefer my 90 minute with Mei. Very beneficial.

**GunnerMagnum** · 03-12-17 15:49

I don't believe raising prices right now is the solution. The solution is to find a MP as good as Mei so Mei gets a break. I assume as time has went on and goes on the dik beaters / crotch grabbing clowns have been / will be weeded out.

Originally Posted by Lurker01 [View Original Post]

Bob.

If she's that good, raise prices. Do the math and determine how much to charge to make the same daily rate with one fewer massage. Then build in buffer time between clients. This will not only reduce her fatigue, but also weed out the chaff that are just using her up. If she's that busy, then a standard supply / demand equation is the solution. If a 2nd girl isn't as good, charge normal rates for her and premium rates for Mei. This gives incentive for cheapskates to give the 2nd girl business and incentive for the 2nd girl to improve enough to charge the premium rate. I've been to hair salons where the owner charged more, because he was simply that much better.

**SmileySam** · 03-12-17 15:48

Originally Posted by Bob521 [View Original Post]

So the predictions a few of you made were true. We brought in additional people. They just don't compare. Mei ("L") has been swamped with business. To be more accurate, everyone conspires to arrive at the same time. Mei gives 200% of the energy of the average therapist. 400% of the energy of those who pretend to be massage therapists. So 4 or 5 90 minute massages back to back with no food and she can barely stand. Seven days a week. 11 hours a day.

Sounds like Mei is working very very hard. 7 days a week & 11 hours a day giving legit intense massages. Wow that must be brutal! She's going to burn out at that rate.

I would highly recommend she raise her rates. Her clientele should understand. Also maybe she can focus more on 30 min and 45 min massages and have breaks in between each massage.

Good luck!

**Lurker01** · 03-12-17 15:32

Bob.

If she's that good, raise prices. Do the math and determine how much to charge to make the same daily rate with one fewer massage. Then build in buffer time between clients. This will not only reduce her fatigue, but also weed out the chaff that are just using her up. If she's that busy, then a standard supply / demand equation is the solution. If a 2nd girl isn't as good, charge normal rates for her and premium rates for Mei. This gives incentive for cheapskates to give the 2nd girl business and incentive for the 2nd girl to improve enough to charge the premium rate. I've been to hair salons where the owner charged more, because he was simply that much better.

Originally Posted by Bob521 [View Original Post]

So the predictions a few of you made were true. We brought in additional people. They just don't compare. Mei ("L") has been swamped with business. To be more accurate, everyone conspires to arrive at the same time. Mei gives 200% of the energy of the average therapist. 400% of the energy of those who pretend to be massage therapists. So 4 or 5 90 minute massages back to back with no food and she can barely stand. Seven days a week. 11 hours a day.

Mei tried introducing our best customers to the "new girl" and nobody is satisfied. Mei gives (as many of you know) a super strong traditional Chinese acupressure massage. Forum Members can add their own comments. The new one gave a weak Swedish massage. Today two people walked out on the "new girl". If any of you tried the new one, please PM me and I will give you a half price massage with Mei.

With that preamble, if you know anyone who has excellent massage skills, let me know. Must be legit. Must have transportation. We are in Buffalo Grove Deerfield and Weiland, SW corner. Here's the website: http://massage0110.wixsite.com/sunshinehealthmassag Thanks in advance. Bob.

**GunnerMagnum** · 03-12-17 10:16

Good luck finding one Bob. Doesn't Mei know anyone good from the other places she worked?

Originally Posted by Bob521 [View Original Post]

So the predictions a few of you made were true. We brought in additional people. They just don't compare. Mei ("L") has been swamped with business. To be more accurate, everyone conspires to arrive at the same time. Mei gives 200% of the energy of the average therapist. 400% of the energy of those who pretend to be massage therapists. So 4 or 5 90 minute massages back to back with no food and she can barely stand. Seven days a week. 11 hours a day.

Mei tried introducing our best customers to the "new girl" and nobody is satisfied. Mei gives (as many of you know) a super strong traditional Chinese acupressure massage. Forum Members can add their own comments. The new one gave a weak Swedish massage. Today two people walked out on the "new girl". If any of you tried the new one, please PM me and I will give you a half price massage with Mei.

With that preamble, if you know anyone who has excellent massage skills, let me know. Must be legit. Must have transportation. We are in Buffalo Grove Deerfield and Weiland, SW corner. Here's the website: http://massage0110.wixsite.com/sunshinehealthmassag Thanks in advance. Bob.

**Bob521** · 03-11-17 23:12

So the predictions a few of you made were true. We brought in additional people. They just don't compare. Mei ("L") has been swamped with business. To be more accurate, everyone conspires to arrive at the same time. Mei gives 200% of the energy of the average therapist. 400% of the energy of those who pretend to be massage therapists. So 4 or 5 90 minute massages back to back with no food and she can barely stand. Seven days a week. 11 hours a day.

Mei tried introducing our best customers to the "new girl" and nobody is satisfied. Mei gives (as many of you know) a super strong traditional Chinese acupressure massage. Forum Members can add their own comments. The new one gave a weak Swedish massage. Today two people walked out on the "new girl". If any of you tried the new one, please PM me and I will give you a half price massage with Mei.

With that preamble, if you know anyone who has excellent massage skills, let me know. Must be legit. Must have transportation. We are in Buffalo Grove Deerfield and Weiland, SW corner. Here's the website: http://massage0110.wixsite.com/sunshinehealthmassag Thanks in advance. Bob.

**Walker333** · 03-11-17 00:03

Originally Posted by JamesNoper [View Original Post]

Went to what was formerly Elegant Massage on Grand.

Great lineup here. Walked in, 2 beautiful girls sitting down and 1 older provider working the counter who I assumed was the mamasan. Paid for 30 minutes, went back, and then in walked in old gal! I wasn't happy with this.

I asked her if either of the other 2 girls were busy and I had one of them last time I came and she was great and I wanted to repeat (figured it was an easy way to let her off the hook).

But then she lied to me, told me the other 2 girls were "busy. " Bullshit, I saw them playing with their iPad 2 seconds ago liar. So I told her that's fine, go get my money back and I'll go somewhere else. She said "OK" and huffed out. Then I got dressed, and in walks one of the two girls. Then I had to undress again.

All went perfectly after that though. Girl's name was Saki. Not the best face in the world, but beautiful petite body. Paid $. For naked old fashioned. I know some of you will balk at that, but I'm paying for the girl not the service. Sure I could have gotten Suzy Oldhands for less, but I don't mind paying a little extra for a beautiful woman.

I think it was correct, and overall good, right move to demand service for your money that you expected to obtaine at the time when you paid.

It's your consumer's right.

Now speakers about price, each of us pays what we believe is fair unhder circumstances.

**JamesNoper** · 03-10-17 16:56

Went to what was formerly Elegant Massage on Grand.

Great lineup here. Walked in, 2 beautiful girls sitting down and 1 older provider working the counter who I assumed was the mamasan. Paid for 30 minutes, went back, and then in walked in old gal! I wasn't happy with this.

I asked her if either of the other 2 girls were busy and I had one of them last time I came and she was great and I wanted to repeat (figured it was an easy way to let her off the hook).

But then she lied to me, told me the other 2 girls were "busy. " Bullshit, I saw them playing with their iPad 2 seconds ago liar. So I told her that's fine, go get my money back and I'll go somewhere else. She said "OK" and huffed out. Then I got dressed, and in walks one of the two girls. Then I had to undress again.

All went perfectly after that though. Girl's name was Saki. Not the best face in the world, but beautiful petite body. Paid $. For naked old fashioned. I know some of you will balk at that, but I'm paying for the girl not the service. Sure I could have gotten Suzy Oldhands for less, but I don't mind paying a little extra for a beautiful woman.

**E2304** · 03-10-17 16:22

http://chicago.backpage.com/Therapeu...rvice/40215792

A1 is frequent advertiser. It has active RM activity. Hard to search here but I find no entries. Was written up as nice HE Spa on some blog a couple years back. Anything to report? UTR or DOA?