gas prices

[Dragonsking91]

Has the cost of gas etc.. hurt anyones business? I wonder...I have many clients starting to complain of the prices and saying they are having troubles financially, and I'm just waiting for clients to slow down...

 

[vball07]

Yes, definitely... I have almost thought about going to a sliding scale, just to have some income coming in...

 

[Mindy joy]

wow - we've noticed it but still, overall we're doing better this summer than last summer. i was REALLY sweating how things would go this summer. we've had a few groups of people that came weekly stop all together, i've had some people push their sessions back a week, but i'm still getting a steady supply of new clients and our retention rate has increased as well. we're at $3.99/gallon here.

 

[Tom Graphics]

We're at $3.99 too. Last week it zoomed up at one station to $4.05... but it came down again after a day or two.
Still I live in a tourist area, so prices are not going to go back down on gasoline until after the kids go back to school... if then!

I don't know whether it has affected business compared to last year... my work is only down .5 hr off last year's total for the week, and they have hired an additional MT this year. Last year we had 4, this year we have 5 on staff.

So I can't really say how much impact it's having here yet. But I do know it's on people's minds!

 

[Miss Lou Lou]

Count me in as one who is doing better this summer than last summer. I go to my clients rather than them coming to me, though. It doesn't change their budget much, but psychologically probably has a bit of an effect.

 

[yasmin h]

Maybe everyone is so stressed about the gas prices and financial stuff they need massages more often! Just a thought!

 

[Young Genuis]

Yes, it's effecting most of the lmts around here. With us being so rural, there's a lot of driving that gets done just to live life --- not a train, bus, taxi, or subway anywhere close to help take up the slack if you would prefer not to drive/burn gasoline.

Most of us have had regulars slow their schedules way down.... better a longer time between massages than no massages at all.

Gasoline here this am [rural central Ohio] was a the lovely price of $4.17/gallon.......... WHEEEEEE!!! Walmart had it at $4.12/gallon - if you put money on a gift card it goes down to $4.09/gallon when you pay with the card...........


WHEEEEEEE!!!!!!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Back up to $4.06 today...
Tourist season and a major holiday... I knew it was coming! :roll:

 

[one shot]

$4.06 would be a dream here. I just paid 4.92 a gallon.

Yech.....

 

[Bell Bell]

YIKES! Where do you live???

 

[Lesley]

Gas is $4.55/gal in my neighborhood, but the other day I was in another part of L.A. and premium was $4.99. Seforum.xxxgering.

I'm mobile, and I raised my rates a few months ago because I did a reality check on what the gas per session was costing me. Most of my work is specialized, and sometimes I drive quite a ways to see people. My rates were a bit on the low side anyway, so it was time.
I suspect I have lost one very regular client. She used to buy my package plan which was a good savings for her, but the time driving and the gas cost made it unworkable for me, so I had to discontinue my package plan for home visits, and I have not seen her since She also has a membership at Massage Envy. Oh well, I won't ever match their fees. When she's ready, she's call, I'm sure.

 

[hantsgirl53]

I am like RoS: it hasn't impacted my schedule, mainly because I drive to 70% of my clients.
I am thankful, so far I haven't seen any reduction in my clients scheduling.
If I drive out of my way I can find gas for 4.06, I've seen it as high as 4.34.... UGH!!
How many are starting to condense their errands? I try to do as much as I can in one road trip and ideally I try to run the errands to and from clients' homes so I can take advaneforum.xxxe of the tax write off.

 

[=(emoislove)=]

YIKES! Where do you live???

Hollywood, Ca.

In Southern California we always pay more than the rest of the country.

 

[ishes]

Soaring energy costs, shrinking consumer confidence and political uncertainty have placed many pressures on our economy and decisions have to be made, Massage or ??????

The gas is killing me, not only directly but indirectly by food and everything that is transported....which is everything. People in my area have to place priority...getting to work or getting a massage, buying groceries or paying for a massage, etc. I live in eastern Ohio, right across the border from West Virginia, we are in the so called "rust belt" The area is in a slump! Average combined household income $36,000.
You can go to work in the morning and when you come home, the price at the pump has gone up as much as 25 cents in that time. You can not plan and/or budget.

If any of you out there have suggestions I would love to hear them.

 

[Pompal 09.]

We just came back from Britain, where gas is approximately twice what it is in North America. They just seem to drive smaller and smaller cars, and everything is so compact anyway.

If I work out the UK price correctly (1.32 GBP per litre x 3.785 to get US gallons and then x 2 for exchange rate), the approximate price (per US gallon) in the UK is now $9.99 per gallon.

We are in Canada and our gas is higher than in the States, but we have to drive to Colorado next week and I am not looking forward to the gas at $4.00 plus per gallon.

 

[The New King of Pop]

We just came back from Britain, where gas is approximately twice what it is in North America. They just seem to drive smaller and smaller cars, and everything is so compact anyway.

Just always keep in mind that in Europe, most fols don't drive near as far to work as we do, and usually have public transportation to get from one place to the next a lot easier than most of us.

Family member was European until a few years ago, so I know at least in his country that was the case.

Example here: I commute 45 mins. to and from work each day.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I think the whole gas price crunch will just make us more creative and responsible for our actions.

I personally haven't seen any drop in clients - quite the opposite with so many stress related conditions but my work is about half insurance work right now which helps even though it can be a pain. I am busier than I ever have been actually and added another day when I was only working 2 days a week for the past few years because of writing for my websites.

My website adsense income is down somewhat but that is making me think differently too!

Julie