Nov 15, 2006
Posted by SylG in AromaTherapy, Directory, Massage, Spa-reView | 21 Comments
Massage Envy – Camarillo
I’m a pretty happy camper right now – I just subscribed to Massage Envy’s 6 month massage plan. Check it out – it’s $59.00 a month, which is good towards a 1 hour massage, and then every massage after that is discounted member pricing at $39.00 for a 1 hour or $21.00 for a 30 minute massage. Can you believe it?? And…check this out – the facilities are actually super nice, with heated beds and lovely aromatic scented massage lotion. Fabulous!
THIS IS A FALSE AD.
I WENT TO MASSAGE ENVY AND THEY DO NOT DO AN HOUR MASSAGE, ITS ONLY 50 MINUTES.
THE ACTUAL PRICE FOR 50 MINUTES IS $44 (BASED ON FOUR MASSAGES PER MONTH).
MY PERSONAL MASSAGE THERAPIST CHARGES $50 PER IF I BUY WEEKLY MASSAGES (SHE IS $2.00 CHEAPER) FOR A FULL HOUR.
LAURA
well actually I believe that ‘an hour massage’ at a spa is actually always 5 minutes for prep and 5 minutes to get dressed again – but they call it ‘an hour’…perhaps like a ‘baker’s dozen’. I’ve never actually been to a spa that did an hour massage that was 60 minutes. Call it Spa-litics I suppose, but I suppose if you do add the additional $10 or so for a monthly membership it does come out to $44 bucks each massage, which is STILL a deal these days.
I do know that thier introductory offer for a “one hour’ massage is actually only $39.
This place is a DUMP! Rude front desk staff, cheap oils/ lotions that smell like they are from Rite Aid, substandard masseurs.
If you want a McDonald’s massage, then you will be happy – but this is in NO way a “spa”.
And yes, their ads are false and membership is a SCAM – Don’t fall for it, like a timeshare..if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
I bought the membership September 2007 and then after the 1st service (one week after I sign up for the membership), I called up to cancel the service and the woman that I spoke to said “OK! But I would have to pay for the following month’s service”. With that said, I assumed that my membership was cancelled. They kept my credit card information and it was supposed to expire 10/2007. In 01/2008, I was charged 3 months worth of service (Nov, Dec, Jan) on my new credit card. When I called up to tell them my service was already cancelled, they told me I needed a doctor’s letter or if I had moved more than 50 miles away from any Massage Envy. I am still dealing with this problem. If you have any advice, please leave me some….
I went there (Camarillo) one day to check it out. A friend had recommended it. My massage therapist did not start out with ANY oil and was pinching my skin. She did not put any music on and I could hear everything going on in the hallway and at the front desk. Also, she had FINGERNAILS, which is a HUGE no-no in massage. Everytime she did my feet and hands I could feel her fingernails and I would tense up. She didn’t even ask me any questions that you would normally get asked when you go to a new massage therapist. So, after, when the front desk person asked how was it? I told him. He offered me another massage at the introductory price (not free!) I asked if he could recommend another therapist. He did, and said this one had many years of experience. Not sure why, but I took it. Came back at a later date and had just an “ok” massage. I did ask this girl how long she had been doing massage and she said she had JUST graduated from massage school. So, the front desk guy just plain lied to my face. Never went back. Never will. I will pay $50-$70 for a GREAT massage at a spa.
Hey Miss “Got Scammed,” what you need to do is see about getting a copy of the contract that you signed. If you have it in your personal records, go through it with a fine-toothed comb for anything that gets you locked in for certain period of time. If you found such language in it (i.e. 50 mile radius, doctor’s note, etc), then you’re basically SOL because you signed for the services + the small print. This is why you should never just sign and smile: Sit there and make them wait the 10-15 minutes to make sure everything that the two of you (the recruiter and you) agreed upon. If there is no language in the signed agreement that stipulates anything the person on the phone stated to you, then you should hire legal counsel immediately and investigate the situation leading to filing a civil claim. I hope this helps.
Lets all start a civil action lawsuit with Massage Envy.
I agree!!!!
I agree. I am in Arizona and am having a difficult time getting the massages owed to me. They said I need to renew my membership to be able to get my massages owed! How do you start the civil action lawsuit?
That explains why there were actually people protesting outside a local Massage Envy that had recently opened up near me. Glad I didn’t fall for the coupon and get scammed into the membership.
I am so ready to participate in a class action lawsuit with massage envy, In fact I stumbled on this site while looking for “how to file a class action lawsuit”. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and they closed my case with out even investigating Massage Envy. I think it is time for someone to (or a group of us) to stand up to them. Please contact me (amcannon@mail.com) of you are serious about this. I am going to talk to an attorny.
I just went to Massage Envy for the first time today and felt so duped when in my relaxed state after my introductory $39 massage I was being pressured into this membership. The massage was good, but not great and they definitely skimped on the time – starting a few minutes late and then ending at 3:52 when it should have been 3:55 and every minute certainly counts!
I am so glad I declined the membership because it was tempting given the good price and the employee told me that the monthly massage can roll over if I don’t use it, but I just didn’t feel comfortable committing to $50 a month for a so-so massage in a so-so environment.
I AM ALSO READY TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MASSAGE ENVY. My story is similar to all of the above. I wish there were a way to warn people about this scam.
I WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE! E MAIL ME at Stothoff@mac.com and I will be happy to join y’all. We have had the same terrible experience trying to cancel our membership, and not being able to use the massages that we paid for!!
I really am not suprised at the backlash these places are getting. If I am charged for an hour I better get an hour! If they print one hour service they better give one hour service.
That membership angle is crap. I spoke to an overworked massage worker from massage envy at another location and he said the average member only gets one massage a month.
Do the math on that one SylG.
If anyone wants a quality massage in SB area check out Massage by Jerry, Montecito Body Works or Lia Suzuki.
If you want a cheap massage go to one of the massage schools in SB or “the massage place”
Wow — I was about to call them for a massage and read all these reviews.
I can’t believe they are in business. I won’t even call them.
That being said, I never do membershis – tan, spa, internet, whatever. It always ends badly for the customer. Loyalty programs, good prices are teh way to build a business, not milking another month or two off a bogus membership.
Terrible business model for the long term.
Thanks all!
“Scammed” never mind what others told you – call the Better Busines Bureau. Seriously. They took advantage of you. Your word against theirs that you canceled. And why would they charge 3 months at once – if they made you sign something that egregious as a 6 month minimum in the fine print, then they should at least be reported and watched.
BBB may be able to negotiate on your behalf.
I agree something needs to be done. I have only used 2 massages and i have 10 left, they are telling me i need to pay another $400 dollars to use the 10 massages i have already paid for. We should sue!
Massage Envy is NOT a scam. I’ve owned a Massage Envy – had to sell due to personal health issues. (disclaimer – I am no longer affiliated with Massage Envy is any way, and receive no benefit from them). Some very frustrated people here, so I thought some explanations might help. Every one is a franchise, separate ownership. Some are MUCH better than others, but all contracts are the same. Even the classy salons take time out for undressing/dressing, however it does say in the paperwork and flyers that it is a 50-minute treatment. If you are getting less than that, you have a valid complaint. Well over 50% of the masseuses have many, many years of experience. That being said,sadly I’ve found many people do not read or understand the terms of their contract. You do NOT have to agree. You can still come in monthly. Of course they would like you to sign, but I do have to tell you it is the best deal around. That being said, you should ALWAYS be satisfied with your massage, and I can assure you that MOST people are. It’s only the ones who aren’t that make a noise. There are around 600 clinics in the U.S. and most are still thriving, even in this terrible economy, so they must be doing something right. Nevertheless, I do agree that some clinics are not as well run as others, but don’t trash the whole company because of it. Try and speak to the owner of the clinic, and if that doesn’t work, ask to speak to their Regional Developer – who receives a commission on the clinic’s sales. You should be able to get their name from their corporate website,www.massageenvy.com or phone the head office. If you have genuine complaints, they need to be heard and dealt with, but trash-talking doesn’t get you anywhere. I also have a law degree. A class action suit requires that each individual has been “damaged” in exactly the same way. All the complaints here seem slightly different. However, if there are a group of you from the SAME clinic, who have an identical problem, you might have something to go on. All the clinics are supposed to use the same recommended, high quality massage oils. No masseuse should have long nails, smell bad, etc. If they do, you have a legitimate complaint.
Hope that info helps.
In reply to Laurel – you make it sound so easy to get the Regional Developer and Corporate information – it’s not. I signed up at a clinic in NJ when I was visiting my mom and needed a massage. I was told that if I joined there I would have no problem using and managing my account in TX where I live – well that’s a lie. I had fulfilled my 6 month obligation and was on the month to month when my credit card was replaced by my bank. I tried calling the massage envy where I joined in NJ and kept getting a message that the phone number was disconnected / no longer in service. This went on for a week. No big deal, I figure I will update my information when I went in for my massage in TX that week. Went in 20 minutes early only to find out that they can’t update my billing info – only the NJ location can because that’s where I signed up. So I told them about the number being disconnected. They try calling and sure enough they get the same message. They call the corporate office who tells them they have no idea if that location is still in business or not. They then tell me that my account is suspended and I can’t use the pre-paid massages in my account until I can straighten everything out with the NJ office – well how to do that since no one can contact them? So next the manager finds out the name of the regional developer – and gives me their number. I call and leave a message – no response, leave another message – no response. I get the corporate number from the local massage envy manager – who basically just wants me out of her lobby at this point – and leave messages with no response. Unlike what Laurel says above, there is no contact phone number on the corporate website. Only ways to send them email messages – which they don’t respond to. So after a week of not being able to reach anyone, I send a letter to the original location – since that’s the only one I can deal with – cancelling my month to month membership and telling them why. I never hear anything (that was May 11, 2009. Today (July 23, 2009) I receive a letter from them stating my account is past due and I owe them $315.65. Assuming they are charging me 3 months of membership + sales tax + 3 $10 late fees, that’s still more than $96 over the amount that could be due according to their own agreement. I called the location immediately upon receiving this “bill” and was told the manager was out and they have no idea when she’ll be in again. I have already written and faxed a response of the letter to the manager and copied the Better Business Bureau on it. Perhaps they hope by increasing people’s stress levels with these business practices we’ll come running back in for a stress busting massage.
I GOT SCAMMED BY THE MASSAGE ENVY, CAMARILLO, CA! I treated my friends to the place on November, 2008 for their early Christmas presents. My massage was terrible and I even expressed my dissatisfaction to the crew! Today, as I was going over my spending, I was shocked to find out that they have been charging me $59.00 every month starting on March 2009! What the hell? It is August, 2009 and I just found it out? I called my credit card and disputed the charges from March onwards. SCAM! SCAM! SCAM! I am calling the BBB tomorrow and the massage place. This business need to be reported really bad! Taking advantage of people is never okay!
RESPONSE TO LAUREL: Laurel! Sorry to burst your BUBBLE, but it is a SCAM! I can’t believe that this business takes advantage of people, and it is alright with you? We work hard for our money and we need no scammers to take it “by charging consumers without their approval”. Ridiculous! I already filed a complaint to BBB Santa Barbara, and called my credit card to dispute. They have changed management in Camarillo in November as I have read the complaint in the BBB SB website. I urge you all to file your complaints over there. I am calling them tomorrow morning!