Discounts don't work.

[just my opinion]

I've never been one to offer discounts/run special promos or anything of that nature to get new clients.

I decided to give it a try last month and see if I could "hook" some new people that would be willing to pay full price in the long run. I didn't get too many new people, mostly old clients I hadn't seen in a while came back (and tipped me very well pretty much making up for the discount I was offering anyway)

I think I read a thread on here where someone mentioned that discounts only bring in people who are looking for a cheap massage, when the discount expires, the client moves on to the next therapist offering a special promotion.

Well, I experienced this for the first time. I did obtain one new client who actually came to see me three times during the month long promo, only paying the discounted price plus a five dollar tip. He told me that he wanted to reschedule when the promo expired so that I wouldn't think he was a cheap a$$! (these were his words exactly). Well, tomorrow was to be his first full-priced session and I even told him I would continue to give him a (small) on-going discount if he maintained a standing appointment of at least one session per month.

Guess what? He cancelled today. He's suddenly got a job that is making demands on him that he has no control over and he'll call back when he's ready to reschedule! I was under the impression when I met the guy, that he didn't work much, if at all. Its an excuse. He doesn't want to pay full, or near full price.

So I guess its true. Giving discounts and running specials only attracts clients who are looking for a cheap massage! And you know what they say... You get what you pay for! I will no longer be selling myself short, my rates are what they are and I'm sticking to that!