Requesting a Massage Price Reduction

robbyn

Before I put my foot in it I thought I would see how imaginative this board is on negotiating price reductions.

A woman is advertising a therapeutic massage at £40ph. This is more than I want to pay and I am assuming that she does not have a full book. I am not very good at this type of letter because I can put someone's back up and so although I propose to write to her saying the following I would appreciate any comments on the best way to achieve my objective, but without lying about ability to pay or giving untrue hard luck stories

I noticed your advert in .... and would very much want to attend your practice on a regular basis. However I would like to pay less than your standard rate in exchange for me coming to your practice at very short notice, filling in for a cancelled appointment or an empty booking. I live within short cycling distance of your practice and can call round at an hour's notice. Would you be prepared to give me 2 hours for £40, if it was on this special basis?

R

ali-t

I would think you were a cheeky !!!!!! but probably would not be offended if you phoned and asked if there are any special deals for bulk booking a course of treatments or any other incentives for booking more than one.

alison999

ali-t wrote: »

I would think you were a cheeky !!!!!! but probably would not be offended if you phoned and asked if there are any special deals for bulk booking a course of treatments or any other incentives for booking more than one.

that sounds better:beer:

Mojisola

Think of it from her point of view - she has paid for a three year course which would have cost thousands of pounds and done all the work necessary to pass it while holding down a full-time job, she has bought equipment - a table, uniform, oils, towels, etc, and she has joined a professional body and paid annual insurance. She might be paying rent for a treatment room and, if she works from home, will be paying to heat it well. She would no doubt like to earn a wage for her work - and theraputic massage is physically tiring when done properly.

If you were her, how would you respond to someone who wants the service offered but doesn't want to pay the charge?

Many therapists will come to some arrangement if you are really short of money - either reduced fees or some payment in kind - but can't have too many patients like that or they don't earn enough to live off. She may be willing to make a reduction for a short-notice client but I think asking for half-price is optimistic.

bumble-bee_3

I'm a massage therapist and I think they will be open to a discount if you pay for a few in advance. I charge £30 an hour, I offer regular customers discounts on some treatments, but never a massage because its such hard work.

I worries me when the first thing people ask is the price obviously looking for the cheapest, you can become a massage therapist by correspondance, you need to know how they qualified, when, how good they are etc. A less experienced therapist and you could be going there for weeks costing more in the long run. Ask if you can pop in first for a chat about what type of treatment you are looking for and see if you are happy.

robbyn

Your replies were exactly what I wanted. I needed a sense of perspective. I now have a better approach . Thank you.

R

absolutebounder

well dont come to me . what i charge is my perrogative. Whether you want to pay it is yours.

nappentass

robbyn wrote: »

I noticed your advert in .... and would very much want to attend your practice on a regular basis. However I would like to pay less than your standard rate ...

As I read this I take it to effectively be saying - 'I haven't even bothered to have a treatment from you yet but have already decided you're not worth it'
As a nearly qualified complementary therapist I think that is out of order especially in a written format, so open to misinterpretation

May I respectfully suggest that you speak to this lady directly and ASK if she does any special offers or discounts, or ask around for someone that charges less. It depends on their costs, like materials and particularly room rent.overheads, as to what the therapist can offer.
Also try look around for local 'fayres or holistic type shows' where the exhibitors may offer treatments and show special deals.
Another thought check out the local college/training schools - therapy students will likely need case studies or folk to practice on - it might be worth your while asking.

HTH
Jill

~daisy~_2

can i also add that as a massage therapist i would be highly insulted by this

now if one of my regular clients had problems with paying then i would prolly offer something but not to some stranger who didnt even know what my treatments were like

i just think its really rude imo

lauren_1

I would put the phone down to be honest.

Many do discounts for block bookings, discounts for clints who recomend a freind (only after their freind comes for a treatment) some dont charge for consultations for new clients, if a client has been with me for a while i will offer them a 10 min taster of a new therapy i have just qualified in

Some also tailor massages to suit clients and i personally give discounts for missing limbs (my mums an amputee and gets narked when she doesn't get a reduction on a pedecure!)

But there is no way i would do 2 hours for £40 on the same therapy, its hard work massaging.

Most therapist dont conform to the 9-5 agenda, if they did they would waste away to a size 0 and die of exhaustion, maximum amount of massages in any one day would be 3-4, i can only manage 3.

Just because people see them charging £40 an hour it doesn't mean they are loaded

shazrobo

just seen this thread, and thought i would reply, my aromatherapy massage costs me £30 an hour, suppose depends on area,. it is well worth the money, and my therapist offers discounts for block booking, i usually pay for 8 up front and get an extra one free