What if a gift certificate recipient has contraindications?

[Ana C]

What do y'all do if you have someone come in, to redeem a gift certificate, and they have contraindications?

 

[campus cutie 09]

I have never had someone come in who absolutely could not be touched. I've had some who had conditions that were contraindicated for what they were asking, but I was able to explain why a different massage was needed, and all was well. The most fragile of my geriatric clients can receive massage, even if it is a comforting scalp/hands/feet massage with very little pressure.

 

[Baden]

Let'em use their gift certificate for retail and send them on their way.

 

[Keegzz]

All my gift certificates are transferable.

 

[Tattooed]

I have never had someone come in who absolutely could not be touched. I've had some who had conditions that were contraindicated for what they were asking, but I was able to explain why a different massage was needed, and all was well. The most fragile of my geriatric clients can receive massage, even if it is a comforting scalp/hands/feet massage with very little pressure.

Dh had a lady come in yesterday who, he said, had contraindications for even light Swedish massage. He said he couldn't even do reflexology on her feet (I am not sure why, he didn't go into that). He ended up giving her a hot stone treatment instead, with some head/scalp massage and used the Jeanie Rub on her a bit. And, I am sure, also did some energy work on her. She absolutely loved it!

 

[Ranger4402]

Let'em use their gift certificate for retail and send them on their way.

I thought of that, but we don't do retail at this time.

 

[juliaa(:]

All my gift certificates are transferable.

Transferable, how? To be used by another party, you mean?

 

[buildermantn]

Dh had a lady come in yesterday who, he said, had contraindications for even light Swedish massage. He said he couldn't even do reflexology on her feet (I am not sure why, he didn't go into that). He ended up giving her a hot stone treatment instead, with some head/scalp massage and used the Jeanie Rub on her a bit. And, I am sure, also did some energy work on her. She absolutely loved it!

I don't mean to hijack the thread. But I am curious, since I don't know too much about hot stone massage. How could the client be contraindicated for light Swedish massage, but be ok for a hot stone treatment?

Overall, it sounds like he listened to his intuition and gave a very client centered session.

 

[tlworkroom]

Dh had a lady come in yesterday who, he said, had contraindications for even light Swedish massage. He said he couldn't even do reflexology on her feet (I am not sure why, he didn't go into that). He ended up giving her a hot stone treatment instead, with some head/scalp massage and used the Jeanie Rub on her a bit. And, I am sure, also did some energy work on her. She absolutely loved it!

I don't mean to hijack the thread. But I am curious, since I don't know too much about hot stone massage. How could the client be contraindicated for light Swedish massage, but be ok for a hot stone treatment?

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe it was a coneforum.xxxiousness issue & he felt safer using tools to massage, instead of his hands?

 

[unboundedjoy]

I'm not real sure; he didn't elaborate on what exactly her contraindications were. He did say that he didn't feel comfortable giving her a Swedish (or more therapeutic, which is what people generally see him for) massage, but he felt that the stones were fine. I do know that there were some emotional issues involved. Oh, wait- he said that when he touched her (demonstrating the level of touch- VERY slight, barely making contact with the skin), she said it was too painful. Not as though it was a nerve issue, she was too tender in some way. She loved the stones, though, and he felt that that accomplished for her what he could not have accomplished with his hands. At any rate, she did leave satisfied, which is the overall point, I think.

You are correct, Brian, in that it was a very client-centered session. He is extremely good at that... "intuitive", "prophetic", whatever you want to call it, he usually knows exactly what to do to not only make a client feel at ease, but also get right down to what they need to help whatever issues they came in for. (I have a right to brag on my own dh a little, don't I? )

I was just wondering what others tend to do in case there is a major contraindication.

What if there were a reason why he really COULDN'T even touch someone at all? I wanted some feedback, so we can have a policy of sorts in place just in case it ever does happen. Has anyone ever given someone the "cash value" of the gift certificate in a case like that? Since these particular gift certificates are sold to another business at a reduced rate, I would not want to have to give the recipient cash back....

 

[VFKNerd]

My GCs are transferrable too. They could give the GC to someone else. I really doubt I would give them cash for the GC though - they didn't pay for it.

 

[missAZ]

Ok, so how would you word that? "I'm sorry, I can't touch you; would you like to pass the gift certificate on to someone healthier?" doesn't seem like it would cut it......

 

[some girl]

Well it hasn't actually happened that I can remember! But let's say it happened much like you described and the client and I determined together that I offer nothing she can use. "I'm so sorry that this GC isn't going to be useful to you at this time. We can try again in a couple months to see if your sensitivity has changed, or do feel free to pass this GC on to a friend or family member who you think will find it useful."