To be annoyed with massage therapist

[leafygreens211]

Agh so I might be being massively U but if you book a 60 minute massage how long would you expect to actually be massaged for?

I’ve been having awful back/neck pain due to a chronic health issue so splurged on this at a new place that is supposed to be very good. I got there 15 mins before my appointment time. Weirdly there is no reception, just a waiting room so I wasn’t able to check in or anything. At my appointment time I rang the mobile number twice listed on the website but no answer. Eventually the therapist comes to collect me and by the time I’d finished answering questions it would have been about 5/10 past. Massage was very good, but glanced at the clock when she’d lef the room for me to get dressed she was 5 to. So I would’ve had the actual massage for around 45-50 minutes. I checked my booking and it def says 60 min massage (rather than 60 min appointment).

I’m a mature student so this was a real luxury spend for me. If it’d been a 30 min appointment cut short I would definitely complain but it seems a bit petty otherwise!

As you can probably tell I feel a bit aggrieved aibu?

I work in a spa and we have 1 hour appointments, that time includes getting undressed and dressed and out of the room for the next client in for their 1 hour treatment. So massages would usually be 50 minutes. Please also take note that you might be paying a premium for an expensive spa but that therapist is on minimum wage and doing back to back treatments everyday. That isn't far on her or you as a paying client. If you are wanting a massage for back pain, you need to go to an Independant therapist or a deep tissue massage from a physio. Spas are good for those on spa days and having a whole relaxing day but they aren't the right place for just wanting a good firm massage in my opinion. Staff are too overworked and underpaid to give you what you want.

That sounds entirely normal to me. Have booked plenty of 60 min massages in a variety of places. Massage lasts around 45/50 mins. Other minutes are time for changing/sometimes a health questionnaire or whatever. I would guess the next appt starts straight after mine so I need to be dressed and gone in the hour.

Thanks for informative reply @HitsAndMrs

So this place isn’t a spa, it’s a tiny run down place above nandos
I chose it because the people who work there have training and qualifications. My consultant is happy for me to have regular massages by non-medical professionals (won’t explain further as illness is quite outing!)

The reason I posted it that the manager clearly isn’t on site as well as no receptionists, so wouldn’t be aware if therapists are cutting appts down

I would assume the treatment time would be the actual length of time you're getting the treatment, ie 60 minutes. Presumably that's why lots of places do 25 and 50 minutes, to allow for dressing etc

I think I’m going to echo Hitamd Mrs.

Sounds like you went to a solo therapist who is therapist and reception. I’m afraid it sounds all very normal. She left you 5 mins at the end to dress, turn the room around, clean towels and wash hands, take your money for the next person back to back. So if your appointment time was 10am, her next was 11am. If she’d given you 60 mins massage time then she’d have overrun by 15 for the next client. Multiple that several times a day. Some salons have receptionists, and allow 90 mins appointment time, so 60 mins massage. But you are paying for the 90 mins and the two members of staff.

How do you know the therapist isn’t the manager as well.

It’s definitely a company rather than solo person as they have website, 6+ massage therapists listed etc. There was at least one of person being massaged when I was there

60 minute appointment is usually ~50 minute massage + time to get undressed/dressed and have a quick discussion.
That is standard.
You pay for the therapist's time.

As well as manager details listed alongside staff

50 minutes is pretty standard

Hmm ok I will bear this in my mind for next time! The previous place I went to regularly was always 30/60 mins massage plus consult/dressing time

If they are all working hard above Nando’s. You said it was a good massage. Please don’t complain, they will be on minimum wage. It’s hot and massaging hot bodies in the heat is no fun. Take it that you had a good massage, think that next time you go they won’t need to ask medical questions at the start so you’ll get an extra 5 mins massage.

Mind you, you could always put in a complaint about their advertising - tell them that they should be advertising 60 minute appointments, not 60 minute massages.
I had a leaflet explaining exactly what would happen in the appointment - and had appt times from 15 mins through to 1.5h.

Did it say

Full Body Massage £XX - 60mins

Or

60 mins massage -£XX

What does being on minimum wage have to do with things? The OP isn’t trying to take advantage of the therapist just- quite rightly- questioning that the service she paid for wasn’t as advertised.

Just had a look @Spam88

Exact wording is;

Massage - 60 min
£xx

Being a bit dense here haha, but what’s the difference?

I get a sports (deep tissue) massage from a very experienced therapist who works from home. Her 60-minutes appointments sometimes run for 90 minutes! But she only does 1 or 2 massages per day. I'm pretty sure that 60 minutes usually covers the entire appointment.

Well OP in that case I would expect it to include consultations / changing time etc. Sorry.

Yes, that’s telling you the time to allow for the massage. So in and out in 60 mins.

This is why I have stopped going to a couple of places. I do understand they need to take time out of the 30/60 mins etc for getting dressed undressed but I am in and out of my clothes and a minute. One place I went to stopped after 45 mins in a 60 minute massage. .

Yeah, that means the whole appt is 60mins, not a 60 min massage.
They're not false advertising, not really.

Yeah, that means the whole appt is 60mins, not a 60 min massage.
They're not false advertising, not really.

I’d take that as a 60 minute massage.

However every massage I’ve is always around 50 mins.

It’s shit advertising but I probably wouldn’t complain - just not go back 🙈

It should really state
‘60 min appointment’

It's where the phrase "a 50 minute hour" came from.