When, exactly, is the 40 minutes we pay for?

[zoea]

Apologies that this topic has been previously dealt with here and there but I'm not sure if this has been definitively confirmed... in particular I would love to get some input from various MP managements on this topic:

At any of the major MPs (e.g. SRM, Allure, Muse, AGS, Plats, etc. etc.) when you book a session for 40 minutes (or 30, 60, etc.) when specifically does that time start and end?

Typically when I get to an MP, either the receptionist or the girl I've booked shows me to the room and leaves me alone while I shower. After my shower the MPA comes in, and it's always been my understanding that when she walks in the door after my shower, that's exactly when my 40 minutes of time begins.

First I would like to know is that when the clock starts? Second I would like to know if the entire 40 minutes is meant to be massage time only, and does not include the exit shower either? So for example if I book an appointment at 6 pm, and my MPA walks in after my shower at 6:10 pm, even if we're just finishing up at 6:50, and then we get our showers right after this, I'm still on time, right? Have I got this straight??

 

[Golf]

At the "better" spas, the 40 minutes starts when the MPA enters the room. It does NOT include shower time.

Therefore if your MPA enters the room at 12:00, your massage goes to 12:40, and the MP generally "assumes" you'll take 10 minutes to shower after.

Therefore, you'll be out the door at 12:50. Your example above is correct

 

[ladypam60]

However there is no Massage Standards Institute enforcing SOPs. Individual MPAs and spas will have their own, and will stick to them as they individually see fit. You can also imagine what a rush of guys waiting in the lobby does to the 'not part of the session' intervals.

As always with service businesses, your best bet is to talk politely to them if you're unhappy.

 

[RexRomanus]

I would like to share my MPA opinion. Lets say that your appointment is at 12 for 1/2hr. You arrive ontime and shower. I usually give 5 min for you to shower then come in so lets say 12:05. Your session is now from 12:05 -12:35. You have 1/2hr from when I walk in the door and till I walk you to the front door. So your 30min with me includes the brief chitchat/ buisiness pleasantries, massage, shower and walk to the door. Most MPA's leave 5 minutes at the end of the session to allot time to shower so your massage typically is about 25 min. The rooms are usually booked up after so to avoid running behind, we time it to fit.

 

[maziahsteel]

Perfectly said PP

 

[See]

Hey, this is a lot better than my RMT. Her meter starts running when she greets me in the reception room. She leads me into the room leaves and comes back in 10 minutes (probably spent the 10 minutes talking to her BF on her cell). Then she leaves 10 minutes before the end time to allow me time to get off the table and get dressed.

 

[~mrs. sanford~]

IMO, session time should be all naked time. Pre- and post-session stuff should be factored into the buffer between clients.

Of course, if a client is late for an appointment, the risk of lost minutes is at his peril. Otherwise, a decent spa shouldn't be cramming appointments so tight that turnover cuts into client time.

 

[Illyria]

Very interesting thus far... AZN Lover and TP say the time you pay for is (or should be) massage time only (which is also my belief); PP and MPA Squared say that the time includes both massage and the final shower; and Old Jones says it depends on the circumstances.... no wonder I'm confused!

I think the reason spas have very specific pricing for specific time increments and yet are reluctant to specify what exactly is included in the purchased time is because they prefer to keep this ambiguous for the reasons that Old Jones suggests: then either the spa or the attendent can short customers on their time when it is convenient. But given the money we spend for the room and the MPA, as a service business I think they should make more of an effort to have a clear policy about what is included and then make sure it actually happens for every decent client that spends the money.

 

[Exodiafinder]

My experience at the better spas has usually been the same. It has varied depending on the MPA.

 

[John K]

No, not nessisarily does it count withing ur session time. The spa books appointments with a 5-10min buffer to allow for shower time, room cleanup, and the attendant to have a few moments. The session begins when the MPA enters the room and ends when nature says so lol. A good MPA will add more massage/fun if time remains. If not, off to the shower, and au revoir. As with most things human, there will always be grey area. Some guys shower in 2.5seconds flat. Others. Diddle-doddle for 20mins. We try to get to know our regulars and adjust bookings accordingly.

 

[fly with me:)]

So if I have good self control and can end my session 40 minutes after the MPA enters the room am I still on time? From the sounds of Porcelian Princess, with whom you were originally agreeing with, I would be five minutes over time. And my guess is if Porcelian Princess was my MPA she would be doing everything in her power to finish me off at after 35 minutes (or earlier). And so the answer seems to be "it depends on the circumstances," and it's my experience that except for really conscientious, professional MPAs and spas, the "it depends" approach often works to the client's detriment. It shouldn't given the expense.

 

[Wiseman]

Open Wide I dont know where you come up with a 40 minute session as I have never heard of one. If you have a 45minute session, then yes when the clock is coming up to the 40minute mark I will do everything i can in my power to make sure that you have a wonderful mindblowing finish in a timely manner... then off to the showers and out the door not a minute too soon or too late.

 

[Maddy]

Tease Please is totally right: time should always remain after a session if the spa allows for time before and after the time you've booked to shower... so do they or don't they? If the client arrived on time, what reason could there be no time remaining that would justify shorting the client on the time he paid for?

 

[mad hatter]

These spas, and many more, have 40 minute sessions...


http://www.royalspa.ca/rates.php
http://www.airportgoldenspa.com/site/rates
http://www.torontoplatinumspa.com/rates.html
www.utopiamassage.com/rates.php
http://www.alluremassage.ca/services.asp

It sounds like for yourself whatever amount of time I book, the last 10 minutes of that time is shower time... is that the spa policy as well or is it really the personal preference of the MPA?

 

[Sohail]

I'm sorry. I stand corrected regarding 40 min sessions. In my 2 1/2yrs in the business I have never worked anywhere that has had 40 min sessions.
The first place I worked at your 60 min session included an accompanied shower at the beginning and end of the session. The mp in question is one of the buisiest and more upscale locations in Vancouver and I have never read anything about anyone complaining about lack of massage time due to shower time.

 

[Old Hippie]

An accompanied shower is a different matter entirely. It's been a rare pleasure for me, but extremely appreciative when it has happened. In any case, it would count as naked time in my books.

 

[Carly123]

Allow me to play devil's advocate for a minute.
Let's face it, the door fee is really just a room rental fee.
With that in mind, we should be in and out within the amount of time for which we rented the room.
This would mean the amount of pre session shower is up to the MPA. Not a perfect scenario for the customers, but the goodwill of the MPA would certainly play into repeat business.

This is a topic that has been discussed many times and it seems there is no right way to do things. The important thing is that the customer knows what to expect and the provider delivers on that expectation. And yes, it may be different from place to place.

 

[totallyjay04]

By that logic, the clock starts the minute you step into the room.

Like threads about mileage, the implicit assumption here is that all guys are reasonable and behave appropriately. Exceptions exist, like the douche who takes 20 minute showers before and after a 30 minute session, or guys who want to yap an extra 20 minutes with the MPA to "catch up". The key is to manage problems rather than upset all customers. I think that was what Emily was getting at - getting to know regulars and adjusting accordingly.

 

[Caiden]

This thread is making my head hurt

It seems to me we're not delivering pizza's here.
IE> out the door in 30 minutes or it's free.

OK, let's try this again:

12:00 start time, 30 minute appt
12:30 client has happy smile and into the shower
12:35 - 12:40 client is out the door
12:45 next booking.
If 12:45 client arrives early he's placed into another open room to shower. Yea, yea, I know sometimes all girls are busy, but many times they're not.

What am I missing in all of this? Why does the client need to be out the door in 30 minutes upon pain of death or the apocalypse?? The only thing I can imagine is that the MP's are booking back to back but that's not OUR problem, that's THEIRS.

We can always take our $$$ elsewhere, where 30 minutes equals... well, 30 minutes.

 

[Barragan L]

Nothing against you personally AZN_LOVER, but I get oh so tired of viewing this infamous and done to death 'threat' - "we can always take our $$$ elsewhere".

Have you ever considered the converse: "They can always take the next client"?

It's a two-way street, and while I know the North American consumer believes in the power of the All-Mighty Boycott, let's not delude ourselves - this industry thrives because there are enough Johns of all types/mindsets such that even if an unofficial policy pisses YOU off, the next horndog might lap it up just fine.

Besides any MP worth its salt usually only starts the clock when the attendant enters the room, and I've never had an attendant rush me out the door for her next client. Every room I've been in had a clock, and I put the onus upon MYSELF to watch it (i usually just keep my watch on). I choose to pop when I get to about T-minus 2-5 minutes before my paid time is up, and I've never been rushed during the attendant's loving clean-up, and they usually clean the room while I grab my quick shower (then they rinse that area out too). Would 2 extra tug minutes make or break my universe after 20-30? Wouldn't even notice.

So what's everyone having a stroke over?