your opinion on the master massage brand tables

[Hong Kong Mike]

i'm still a student and don't know yet if i'll be practicing on my own or working for someone else. not only do i not have the money for the tables my instructors recommend, but if i did i'd hesitate to spend it as i'm not sure how much use it will get.

costco has a master massage brand table for about $160. it's 29" (maybe 30") by 72" with a padded face rest and 2" high density foam. the padding folds over the top of the table so if i press down hard on the edges of the table they still feel pretty well padded. it feels very sturdy and has a maximum capacity weight of around 1600 lbs. the frame and legs are a hard wood and it comes with a lifetime manufacturer's warranty. it weighs in the neighborhood of 30lbs and comes with a carrying case. (i'm reciting these details from memory as my notepad is in my car)

bottom line - i can afford this table right now and am eager to have one (i really want to be able to practice my body mechanics and technique on my guinea pig, i mean husband). it seems to me to be a decent starter table, but that's just my lay opinion. what do you think? should i go with my gut and jump on it or wait....?

thanks!

 

[deelell]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

It's totally ok to buy a less exspensive table as you start out, I just recommend that you pick up a few things to make it more comfy. A foam pad ($20-$50), faux wool padding w/ face padding ($30), An electric blanket ($20-$30), decent sheets and a soft top blanket will make a world of difference! =) You can get the faux wool padding from massagewarehouse.com pretty cheap, but there are lots of other sites you can shop around at. The rest of the stuff you could get at walmart or target. As you continue you can buy a fancier face rest, different size bolsters, table extenders, etc to enhance your practice. Best luck to you girl!

 

[Preggo]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

you might check out mhpinternational.com -- the company's website.

Their prices overall are very competitive vs. Oakworks/Earthlite, etc -- all that slave Chinese labor!

you can probably get the same table with the 3" padding and deluxe headrest for not much more than Costco

We use their tables in many of the hotels -- they even have models with built-in heating elements which the clients love

 

[MIL HOUSE MD]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

Their prices overall are very competitive vs. Oakworks/Earthlite, etc -- all that slave Chinese labor!

Hm, almost sounds like you Don't like the company R&R... I must be getting the wrong impression... I thought you said your company uses them too.

Laura, here are some other threads about the company and it's products:

Tables suitable for shiatsu and massage:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=8909

costco strato lite table, reviews???
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=14738

Tables from best massage/tao trading any good?
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=14660

Sam's Club lightweight portable table?
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=10700

Looking for used light massage table:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=8534

Costco massage tables:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=114

HTH

 

[ryuzog]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

wow - thanks for all the info! i feel a lot better about starting off with a less expensive table that can be supplemented with things to make it more comfy and upgrading later if my practice calls for it. and thanks for all those links!! aren't we thorough

for the record - as a consumer i often beat myself up over where products come from, the environmental impact of their production/transportation and the rights and treatment of the people involved in their production from the farmers and laborers to the retail clerk. we do our best in my house to buy local and organic and when we can't get local we try to buy fair trade, etc. (and we often simply go without) i'm not proud of buying a mass produced product made with cheap foreign labor. but today, it's my only option - i can live with it. anyway, my point is i appreciate your sentiment and totally agree t109

 

[Dr. Kyron MD]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

costco has a master massage brand table for about $160. it's 29" (maybe 30") by 72" with a padded face rest and 2" high density foam.

I have a client who has this table in their home. It is not a bad table, but the face cradle (in my opinion) sucks. I have done my best to add two - three layers of egg crate to it (cut in face cradle shape and placed under a wool type cradle cover) which has helped.

If you aren't doing a ton of massages I think it should hold up fine.

 

[Helios]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

We use their tables in many of the hotels -- they even have models with built-in heating elements which the clients love

When you get time, would you please let us know how these built-in units hold up. I am wondering about daily use, 5 clients / 5 days a week, for a period of 2-3 years.

I have noticed that a table warmer pad usually has a lifespan of 2-3 years at this rate and am wondering about comparison.

Thanks.

 

[RN2B]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

Hm, almost sounds like you Don't like the company R&R... I must be getting the wrong impression... I thought you said your company uses them too.

I am all in favor of cheap, Chinese slave labor. keeps our costs down and capitalism is what will finally free a billion people from the red-devils that have enslaved them.

Plus, a little lead never hurt anyone!

 

[Pompal 09.]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

Have you looked on Craigs List for a used table or the school? Lots of people leave the field and need som fast cash. Just be mindful of the cheap tables bc the face cradle always seem to break on them. I bought my table by save my change for a year

 

[meerkat]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

craigslist - i have looked. the problem i'm having with CL is that there's a "big box" massage school in my area that lures people in by making big promises, charging big tuition fees that automatically include an $800 table and handing out student loans to anyone willing to sign their name to a contract. the school has a low graduation rate - because its real source of profit is in selling the loans. therefore CL in my area seems to be flooded with "barely used" tables being sold by people who are suddenly smacked with the reality that they have a large loan with a high interest rate - and are trying to get as close to retail value for their tables as possible.

sad, right?

 

[HFN]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

I'm responding specifically about the Master massage table itself. I have no idea about where it's made, warranty info, or anything, JUST the table itself.
We've had one for a few years. There are pros and cons, the biggest pro being the cost.

Mine was purchased at Costco about 6 or 7 years ago. It is HEAVY! It is also hard to set up and take down, as it is more complicated than most. But if you are mostly using it in one place, who cares? The face cradle that comes with it is not adjustable, so that might be an issue for some people, but most will be ok with it, especially while you are a student. The foam isn't bad, but like everyone else said, if you get stuff that you can make it more comfortable with, that will be fine. Again, people won't really mind for a free massage.

HOWEVER... NRG is another inexpensive table. It is more comparable to the better known brands as far as weight and portability, but doesn't have as good a warranty (or reputation). So that's something to think about. Plus, they have a bunch of packages you can look at that includes things like the table warmer, better face rest, CD's, sheets, stools, etc. Just something to think about.
Here's an example (there are others): http://www.massagewarehouse.com/products/ultimate-business-starter-package/?F_All=Y
That has just about everything you would need to get started! Some of it is good enough that you'll use it for a long time to come (like the Kur face rest, carrying cart, jars/bottles, bolster, holster, sheets, and CD). Plus the table is decent.

I recommended the NRG package to my friends who started massage school after me. I've never recommended the Master table.

 

[higs4477]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

Oh, and by the way, in the long run, I'd recommend Oakworks. A friend of mine has had an Earthlite table break (with a client ON the table!) twice! We've both had Oakworks with no problems, for years.

 

[Nas J]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

Oh, and by the way, in the long run, I'd recommend Oakworks. A friend of mine has had an Earthlite table break (with a client ON the table!) twice! We've both had Oakworks with no problems, for years.

Any chance that table that broke was the Luna?

 

[stormer_xxi]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

Any chance that table that broke was the Luna?

No, it's not the Luna. I believe it's the Avalon. They replaced the first one with the Avalon XD, because that's what they have. It's all wood, though.

 

[Ross G.]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

Any chance that table that broke was the Luna?

No, it's not the Luna. I believe it's the Avalon. They replaced the first one with the Avalon XD, because that's what they have. It's all wood, though.

Interesting. I've heard so much good about Earthlite, but I had a Luna break w/a client on it the first day I used it. The replacement broke within a very few months - also with a client (ELDERLY!!) on it. The third one I insisted on a different model, which I have been happy with. It is very scary to have a table break under a client.

 

[nonyaaa]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

I have an Earthlite Avalon, it's 13 years old and still working fine! I had to replace a screw on it (quick trip to the hardware store)... otherwise no problems.

 

[michelle a]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

I have the Earthlite Avila as well and have been using it for 12 years, got it in massage school so was using it while in school and then after graduating continued using it. There's no reason why you should have to pay $800 for a massage table! I think mine cost around $550 including shipping-- really have good tables gone up that much? Anyway my Earthlite is still good, no problems (knock on wood) and I've worked on a LOT of big clients, including heavyweight boxers for a time on that thing!

My husband bought that very Costco table mentioned and I would not use it professionally. It seems okay for home use but already squeaking and stuff and I was only working on my husband. To be honest, I feel like if I took a sledgehammer to it, it would break in a heartbeat. Now, it's in my garage b/c I work on him at my office now. Not only did it seem weak but the face cradle isn't comfortable and to be honest the more egg crate and crap you have to put on the table, the more work you are going to do as it will absorb your pressure and you'll just be working harder. And, hardwood doesn't mean the wood is really hard, hardwood and softwood are terms used to describe the seed of the tree. Hardwood just means the seed had a hard shell as opposed to softwood which means the seed had a soft shell. Don't let those terms fool you for the quality of the wood itself.

Earthlite and Oakworks are both reputable companies. It might be best if you can find the cheapest of one of those.
The one thing you shouldn't scimp on is a massage table, think of a table as though you were a mechanic and that was a tool you need to get the job done. If that's really all you can afford right now, then that's what you have to do but get a professional one A.S.A.P.

 

[A guy with too much time]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

Oakworks and Golden Ratio are two of the best quality brand names out there. Earthlite is good, too, as are some others. If you look, you can find good starter packages in these brand names for $600 or less. These typically include the table, face cradle, bolster, case, and sometimes additional items. A well-made table may last through many years of heavy use without a problem. I know people that have used their Oakworks tables for nearly 20 years, and they expect to keep using the same tables for years to come. Over the long run, spending a little more to get a quality table is probably the best strategy.

If you opt to buy a cheap table for $350 or so, you will probably have to replace it within 2-5 years. In the long run, it will cost you more. However, you need to do whatever makes the most sense for you right now.

NOTE: Face rests that are not adjustable will not be popular with many clients and will probably make it more difficult to build a clientele. No one wants to lay on an uncomfortable table.

 

[Ashlei]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

My first table over 6 years ago was a Master, it was a gift, and before I knew about this site. ;-) I broke the first one, (fairly early on) but Costo replaced it (standing near the in built face cradle, I cracked it). The table is still in use, and still comfortable too.

I agree the face cradle sucks, but if you get a Kur face cradle pad it works wonders.

I did get another better table from Oakworks after I started working and I love it. But the Master is a faithful standby!

 

[Ivano]

your opinion on the master massage brand tables

i have the metal leg table from costco, i ordered it on line and love it. light weight to carry, higher working weight, stronger, a little less padding but i havent had a client complain yet.
I have had other standard costco tables and they are fine for 2 years then break down quickly, at wich point i sell them to patients for ther own use for $100.

Buy the metal one on line!!