How do you sell gift certificates?

[martinrcota]

deleted

 

[Serious Answers Only]

Transitioning gift certificates - services and $$ to onl

If I do this, would it be accetable to have a special once in a while? For instance, selling a gift certificate for an hour plus a foot treatment for a lower price.

I don't like to offer a discount in the form of GC sales, I end up feeling resentful towards the recipient and that's not a good attitude to be giving a session in.

 

[Christine]

Transitioning gift certificates - services and $$ to onl

If I do this, would it be accetable to have a special once in a while? For instance, selling a gift certificate for an hour plus a foot treatment for a lower price.

Whatever you choose, I think you should be consistent. Either choose to offer gift certificates for monetary amounts or services, not a little of each.

I also think you should consider stopping (or cutting back) on the many discounts you offer your clients anyway. Your rates are already low. (I know....the rates for massage in your area overall are low.) But you have to make a living, and when you offer discounts on already low rates, you have to do a LOT of massage to pay the bills. I know you're strong and seem to be fine with doing 20-25 massages per week, but I wonder how much you'll enjoy that long-term. Wouldn't it be great to do 15-20 massages per week for the same income?

 

[FL410]

I let the buyer choose whatever dollar amount they would like and I set it up on my Spaboom account this way. There is not a problem. I do not run specials or discounts ever, but I'm sure you can just go into your Spaboom Setup page and figure out how to do that if you wished.

 

[Tamprio]

I think some people like to buy a gift without people seeing the price, the whole take the price eforum.xxx off the gift thing. I think a massage gift is often a bit more personal than giving someone a gift certificate for a meal. I just say 1hr treatment or whatever, or 3hr treatment, can be used as 3x1hr treatments I charge the same for almost everything (except hot stones), so it's not a problem. I do include an expiry date on the certificate. If my rates change before the certificates expire I don't worry about it, there are not THAT many gift certificates floating around, if they want to use the certificates after they are expired and the rates have gone up, I tell them they need to pay the difference, or have a shorter treatment. Sometimes I say that even if the rates have not gone up but they've been a pain to deal with :shock: (lots of "I want an appointment tomorrow", or cancellations, and then the certificate expires, or if they are just a challenge to deal with for some other reason)

I don't do ANY discounts on gift certificates, 1 3hr gift certificate is the same price as 3 1 hr gift certificates, I don't offer discounts on packages. I've had hardly ANY gift certificates become regulars (the few that have have become regulars usually have used a 3hr as 3 x 1hr fairly close together - they feel good after one treatment, but they REALLY notice how much better they feel after the 2nd or 3rd if they are only a week or so apart)

 

[blahhh]

I always offer both versions to my clients ($ and service). As a gift I often would not want the recipient to know what the $$ amount is. I ask the purchaser if they would like to include a gratuity in advance and I let the client know everything is covered.

Normally quite a perceneforum.xxxe of gift certificates are never redeemed and that should cover any price hike, especially if you make sure the GCs are not valid for more than a year.

Although not too often, GCs do offer a way to get a new client with the purchaser doing all the legwork for you. Any additional effort and cost should be well worth it if this client becomes a regular visitor.

I would stay away from discounts in general and for GCs in particular and pursue packaging treatments instead as a way to remove myself from competitive pricing. You can add mini spa treatments (Foot Makeover, Moisturizing Masque etc) to you regular massage treatments.

Many therapists make the mistake of pricing to low. Not only does that make a statement about the quality of work, but if less than sustainable ends in them giving up on their career. You always need to charge what you need to make and focus on getting those clients that can afford the service. if massage in itself does not generate enough revenue consider adding other revenue streams such as product retail, spa services and specialized services.

Health and Harmony

 

[Jen[Chocolate Burn]]

... especially if you make sure the GCs are not valid for more than a year...

Unless of course this is illegal in the state you are selling the gift certificate in.

 

[Tyko]

http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10253

there is a thread I made about the law in WI and gift certificates