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Original poster

Spa day spoilt before it has begun

64 replies

MrsDylanBlue · 07/05/2018 17:46

Ok this is not as Princessy as the title suggests.

My 3 lovely children and DS1 gf bought me a spa day for my birthday on Groupon at a local quite “posh” hotel.

I booked it 3 weeks ago for tomorrow and once it was confirmed booked a days leave and invited my friend who lives 60 miles away who also booked a days leave.

It was spa, 25 minute treatment each and an afternoon tea.

In T&Cs it says if you cancel with less than 72 hours notice you lose the voucher basically.

Spa left message on voicemail yday asking me to call. I did but left phone ringing for 5 minutes and no answer (this also happened when I booked). Today got another message saying basically therapist is not available tomorrow (even though I booked the treatment 3 weeks ago when I booked it) and we can rearrange or have the day with no treatment (which is probably the nicest part of the day).

I phoned back and was told basically the therapist is injured and the treatment is not available unless other people rearrange their spa days and I can take it up with Groupon (got distinct impression anyone with Groupon got cancelled first) which I have done. Guy was really unhelpful and almost sarcastic.

Obvs very difficult logistically to rearrange due to work and friend already in her way down here.

I have complained to Groupon but there is nothing else I can do is there? Sad Obvs friend and I will have a nice day together anyway but so feel bad for my kids that what they bought me has been somewhat diminished Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsDylanBlue · 07/05/2018 18:29

What has annoyed me is that other people haven’t had their treatments cancelled and he immediately referred to the fact it was Groupon.

My friend is pretty skint and works shifts and us getting time off together is tricky so for her to have to drive down again to receive a 25 minute treatment is not going to happen.

I understand that shit happens but it seems the Groupon voucher people were the first to be cancelled.

OP posts:
Uniquack · 07/05/2018 18:29

Groupon is shite - I never use them any more. Most of the products they offer, if you Google them, can be found at the same price or cheaper elsewhere, like Amazon.

I ordered a king size duvet cover from Groupon a couple of years back in purple. I received a double duvet cover in red. The company supplying them refused to communicate with me or reply to my e-mails. I contacted Groupon - they weren't interested. They said I need to contact the company directly. Never did get the correct item, or a refund.

RomeoBunny · 07/05/2018 18:31

Tell them you want to rebook it for later in the year when the therapist is available.

Original poster
MrsDylanBlue · 07/05/2018 18:35

Rebooking isn’t really the issue.

It’s the waste of a days leave and a 60 mule journey - not a waste we will have a lovely time but that’s not the point.

OP posts:
RainySeptember · 07/05/2018 18:37

You don't know that Groupon customers were cancelled first, you're just guessing and then getting yourself annoyed.

ThePants999 · 07/05/2018 18:39

I bet if you left some heavy stuff at home you could make the journey with only 40 mules.

Original poster
MrsDylanBlue · 07/05/2018 18:42

As soon as I asked what compensation they would offer he kept referring to the fact it was a Groupon booming and was rather derisory.

I asked if people who weren’t Groupon had been asked to rearrange and hecwoyod no give me a straight answer. Just said if other people decided to cancel or rebook he would ring me back (shockingly I have had no phone call).

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsDylanBlue · 07/05/2018 18:42

ThePants999
Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsDylanBlue · 07/05/2018 18:42

*booking

OP posts:
mindutopia · 07/05/2018 18:45

This doesn’t happen to be a spa in Dorset does it? If so, I can probably guess which one, or maybe lots of spas are this crappy.

AgentHannahWells · 07/05/2018 18:46

I bet if someone else enquired they could book a full price massage. I reckon they're bullshitting because they cba with Groupon people.

Original poster
MrsDylanBlue · 07/05/2018 18:49

mindutopia

Yes - which one?!

OP posts:
nibblingandbiting · 07/05/2018 18:49

So it’s no t just you that they have cancelled with.
Maybe the others are thinking it will still be a nice day without that treatment. Or they have additional treatments booked.

Kezzamo · 07/05/2018 18:53

Can you call and pretend to make a booking for your treatment under another name, but full price version. If they say ok then you've got them! Cheeky buggers

Original poster
MrsDylanBlue · 07/05/2018 18:54

Kezzamo

Ooh that’s so sly but I love it!

OP posts:
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 07/05/2018 18:56

I will 2nd the 'groupon are a bit sht' view. If it's any consolation OP, these 25 minute treatments (often the inclusive deal, not necessarily Groupon) are often not great IME. Therapist often uninvested in anything more than a mediocre treatment, as they're not relying on repeat business. I would be tempted to go and have a great day, maybe with another charm-offensive about compensation but having the idea that you may well not get anywhere, and not let it spoil your day anymore. You can always try* Groupon later, if you don't mind the extra hassle. I don't book Groupon stuff anymore, cos they often have 'the attitude' about people who do. Wrong, but there it is. I shall be hoping you have a good day.

MyGuideJools · 07/05/2018 19:02

Same thing happened with DS and his gf. was a Groupon deal in a Bournemouth spa hotel. They turned up on the day, (both had taken a days annual leave) and was told the 2 treatments they chose wernt available. After DS kicking up a fuss they agreed to let them use the pool and have their afternoon tea, then booked the treatments in for another day.
It was a pain but at least they got the deal eventually.
I've only used Groupon once myself and never received the item. I've not bothered since!
Good luck OP. I don't see how they can say it's Groupons fault if the therapist isn't thereConfused

Original poster
MrsDylanBlue · 07/05/2018 19:06

Ok - is it the Royal Bath Hotel?

OP posts:
drquin · 07/05/2018 19:13

Set aside the Groupon part for a second, if they'd genuinely had a last minute illness / injury to a member of staff, how were they supposed to notify you of that any earlier than last-minute? That could happen to the classiest & professional of establishments. They've offered to re-arrange .... of course you'd need to work out another date you could manage, but they couldn't give you 2 weeks notice to cancel if she only had her car accident / mystery illness last night.

In terms of a refund / compensation ..... who is your contract with? Were Groupon a middle-man, or did you pay Groupon? That gives you your answer to who to pursue.

Cancelling Groupon customers first isn't necessarily a big problem. They'd probably not cancel regular customers first, so not unreasonable they cancel the infrequent visitors first.

HesterShaw · 07/05/2018 19:15

It's a real pity that business get sucked into doing business with Groupon, as the extreme discounts they offer and the total pittance they pay their suppliers tends to result in situations like this. Our business was approached by them and they offered to sell our product - which we sell for £70 for two - and give us £20. They seemed surprised that we said "No way", telling us that it would bring customers flooding to us, who would then book direct. But if they can get such a good deal (for them at least) with Groupon, why on earth would they book with us direct? The whole thing didn't add up and we wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

I'm sorry your day was spoilt :( But bear in mind Groupon do really screw their suppliers over in the same way supermarkets do to food producers.

NapQueen · 07/05/2018 19:17

Oh yy to trying to book a dummy treatment!

DeadGood · 07/05/2018 19:19

“I'm sorry it's happened but if the therapist is injured - and you really don't know that she hasn't been in some sort of accident - then they can't do much more than offer you another day, or the same day without the treatment”

Or they could do what every other business has to do - hire a temp to cover for the employee who is off sick.

IRefuseToAgree · 07/05/2018 19:20

Get them to book you in for a 50 minute treatment on another day. You could go after work or on the weekend.

RainySeptember · 07/05/2018 19:23

I think mentioning 'compensation' was probably a mistake as it suggests you want cash.

Tomorrow I'd turn on the charm and say you've both booked the day off, any chance of a bottle of fizz or product from the shop to make the day special.

willdoitinaminute · 07/05/2018 19:24

From what I’ve been told ( from a business who were approached by Groupon to supply cosmetic services) the business is paid the amount you pay groupon less an admin fee. The business is then able to try and sell you further products. It is not a discount voucher where Groupon make up the difference for the service.
So in the case of a spa day the spa are discounting you,if another customer wants to book a treatment and is paying full price the spa are probably going to bump the Groupon client so they actually get full payment for the 25min treatment.
Essentially Groupon charge the business for introducing a new customer. It’s the business who discount the customer.

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