sales pitch at the end of massage?

[rbork]

What's up w/ the sales pitch at the end of a massage? I loved to get massages BUT hate the sales pitch at the end. I don't even like talking during the massage. It it just me?
I have gotten a massage on every cruise I've gone on, but I am reconsidering my upcoming disney cruise. A massage is already priced high and w/ gratuity even more. I am just turned off totally by the sales pitch!
Is it just me?

 

[rbork]

forgot I was in cruise line reports. wrong thread place. sorry.

 

[nycmom]

I talked about the sales pitch in my cruise report...maybe that's why you posted it here.

It felt a bit 'high pressure' to me...and along with the talk about eating healthy and not putting toxins in your body a la caffine and alcohol...I felt a but stupid and slovenly sitting there naked under the sheet listening to this...when all I had done for the previous 3 days was gourge myself.

I kept trying to cut them off by saying "Well, you sell it at the spa, don't you? I'll look into your product when I get back on the ship." (yeah, right...) but they kept going on...the stuff they were trying to sell (I think it ws the massage oil) they swore cured everything...they sounded like old time snake oil salesmen. Cures headaches, indigestion, put it on a bruise, cures colds, etc. I mean, gimme a break!

It was too much...and they sounded really pushy.

My opinion...the massage wasn't worth the price. I am from NYC, where they have spas and massages available on every corner, so maybe if you are from a place where this is a novelty...but I thought it was expensive even by NYC standards.

And by the time we left (about 3:15) , the only people left in Serenity Bay was a woman at the bar arguing about why couldn't she have her kid there with her...weird. Defeats the prupose! I would have preferred to stay at the family beach. But that is just my opinion.

 

[flexsmom]

2 DCL cruises, 2 massages (1 on CC) and no sales pitch thus far.....

 

[nycmom]

Maybe it's a new thing? Or just the particular therapists we got? Dunno...

 

[laura12581]

We had a couples massage on the ship (Wonder) on our 9/25 cruise. At the end, they had about 8 products that they wanted us to buy and I thought that they were a little harsh about it... "your skin is SOOOO dry you need this $65 bottle of moisturizer." When I told the girl that I had some moisturizer I used at home, she told me that the one I use probably only goes to the top two layers of skin, the $65 one goes deeper. I am in the medical field and I demanded that she provide research to support this, she could not. Anyway, I did not like the sales pitch and I don't think the massage was that great, so I probably won't return on our next cruise.
Laura

 

[nycmom]

Anyway, I did not like the sales pitch and I don't think the massage was that great, so I probably won't return on our next cruise.
Laura

Sorry that you had the same 'not-as-great-as-it-could-have-been' experience as I did.

 

[Tia]

It is a bit "pushy." I think they should tell you that if you are interested in any of the products they used on you that they are available for purchase and leave it at that. This is the sales pitch you expect when you have a "complimentary" make-up application but not after you spend this much for massage and gratuity!- Donna

 

[auntie k]

I just returned and had the cabana massage....and I use the term massage loosely...it was more of a spa sales pitch!
Too expensive, too pushy and not a complete massage.
I didn't like how they ask you personal questions when the MT and the person on the other side can hear you.

Plus, as I was trying to relax, the MT and person on the other side were chatting and they lady brought her child with her for her massage! YES, a child chatting on the other side of me!!! And other children on the bike trail.... Hello, this is Serinity Bay!!!!

Would consider another DCL...but will forgo the massage. I should have listened to the bad massage thread.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I read about the annoying sales pitches on these boards before we cruised last year, and another poster stated to write 'no sales pitch, please' at the bottom of the form you fill out before the massage. That's exactly what I did, and they remained silent.

Now, we DO have another massage scheduled for November, and are HOPING for the same treatment (pun intended.) I'll write it on the form again.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

The sales pitch has been around for quite some time (we got our first with a cabanna massage when we sailed on the Wonder during its inaugural year... 1998 perhaps?).

And yes, its been reported that including a note about "No Sales Pitch" usually avoids it.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Cures headaches, indigestion, put it on a bruise, cures colds, etc. I mean, gimme a break!

Just tell them you use WINDEX!

 

[kymma]

DH and I did the couples massage on our cruise last month and we didn't get the sales pitch. They didn't try to sell us a thing.

 

[castlegazer]

Its not just you - but I haven't sailed DCL yet. I have had massages on prior non-DCL cruises and its always the worst experience due to the sales pitch during and after the massage. I bought and I never buy because I was that cajolled into it.

I choose not to do massages while cruising. I will be doing the Rainforest room, though.

 

[Jsme]

We had a couples massage on the ship (Wonder) on our 9/25 cruise. At the end, they had about 8 products that they wanted us to buy and I thought that they were a little harsh about it... "your skin is SOOOO dry you need this $65 bottle of moisturizer." When I told the girl that I had some moisturizer I used at home, she told me that the one I use probably only goes to the top two layers of skin, the $65 one goes deeper. I am in the medical field and I demanded that she provide research to support this, she could not. Anyway, I did not like the sales pitch and I don't think the massage was that great, so I probably won't return on our next cruise.
Laura

I have done several treatments at the spa and I always here this pitch...pitched the same way. I try to answer as you did and I have gotten the same results. I am at the point I am going to stop doing treatments and save my money for other things.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Tell them you were on the ship a few months ago and bought some then and you still have alot left.....That may shut them up!

 

[barkley]

i personaly like some of the elemis products and since you can only get them on board a "steiner" cruise spa, at altlantis or via the internet it's no pitch for them to sell them to me (i save by not having to pay tax or shipping costs).

we live near the land of massage therapists (napa california) and i've known several who have either worked in cruise spas or looked into it. they get LOUSY pay (much better than the cruiseline staff, and much better hours/working conditions cuz they are contracted by an outside vendor) but still LOUSY pay. if they want to make anything substantial they have to sell the products. this is what turns off alot of experienced spa staff from considering this type of employment. so the cruiselines get a whole lot of unexperienced staff and a high rate of turnover. we did have a great massage on our last cruise (non disney) and she was one smart little cookie-she went to massage therapy school before starting college and would do only short term summer month contracts with the cruiselines. she figured that even with the lousy pay she ended up ahead by having her living expenses paid during the cruise, she got to travel and see new places, and she would take all the text books for the next semester's classes to read through in her spare time.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

i
we live near the land of massage therapists (napa california) and i've known several who have either worked in cruise spas or looked into it. they get LOUSY pay (much better than the cruiseline staff, and much better hours/working conditions cuz they are contracted by an outside vendor) but still LOUSY pay. if they want to make anything substantial they have to sell the products. this is what turns off alot of experienced spa staff from considering this type of employment. so the cruiselines get a whole lot of unexperienced staff and a high rate of turnover.

I didn't think about the low pay. It really IS sad that they earn so little for what they do.

I, however, don't need help in deciding most of what I buy. If I'm interested in a product or have questions, then by all means, I'm eager to hear their pitch.

I buy cosmetics at Sephora, because I have the freedom to browse without being pressured by sales people. (I quit shopping cosmetic counters at Macy's and Nordstrom's for those very reasons.)

 

[Evil Queen 2]

I've had spa treatments before on Disney and had some sales pitch going on when all I wanted to do was have quiet to enjoy the "de-stressing" time. I'm cruising again in January 06 but don't plan any spa treatments.

I have a wonderful person here in the hometown that does fabulous massage and body treatments. I've already made appointments for body treatment, massage, manicure, and pedicure during the few days before I fly out. I figure it will start to get me in the vacation mode (days at work before leaving are always nutsy!), will cost me less money, and I will know what kind of service I'll receive!

Figure I can spend that saved money on the trip!

 

[nycmom]

Yeah...exactly.

Maybe someone should alert Disney... few want the massage again because of the sales pitch.

And also, what was so weird...they said at the beginning 'okay...so half the time is a massage, and then the other half, you can have a facial or a scalp treatment (I think those were the choices). Well, I had just had a facial a few days before and whatever the other choice was didn't appeal...so I said "how about just a scalp massage?" because I LOVE this and the girl who washes my hair before my haircutter cuts it does an amazing job...

Anyway, I only got like a 1/2 an hour massage and the guy did my scalp massage and it did not feel good at all.

I felt kind of ripped off because I had signed up for an hour long massage...not 1/2 hour massage and something else.

I read that it's not Disney, the Spa, it's some English company. No doubt Disney makes a whole lot of money off of them...but someone should alert Disney.