Spas on board--are they pushy on sales?

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My other cruise experiences with spas are on carnival and they try to sell you the products (much different from spas on land)...I had a seaweed detox once and after it was over--instead of relaxing from the effects--i was naked and wrapped in my towel hearing the sales pitch of the different products used and as the spa-lady was writing a ticket of recommended products. ANNOYING!!!!

What are everyone's experience in the spas on DCL--I would only want to spend the money if they didn't do such a thing.

 

[webray]

We didn't think so, either time we have cruised this past year.

A lot of people say so..but, we just don't see it.

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

I have not had that experience either. On our last cruise, they just showed me the products they had used, very low key.

 

[tbuot]

I have used the spa on both of my cruises. My experience with the Magic was less of a sales pitch than the 3 night Wonder. The young woman that gave my massage didn't try to sell but the young woman that did my facial was VERY aggressive. She left the room at one point (this is usual) BUT she was gone way too long and came in apologizing?! This made the facial about 30 min. over the time. We had early seating which I told her several times and she just kept pitching the entire line of skin products. It was very uncomfortable/awkard and was never a good time to interrupt without being abrupt. I should have just been abrupt and left. Long story short-- I was 45 minutes overtime which gave me about 15 min. to dress and shower for dinner. When she began the facial I would have had at least an hour before dinner.

 

[candleonwater]

Remember the spas are run by Steiner and both times I've been in - DCL and RCCL I've found them to be rather pushy. The first time I just gave in to get the girl off my back... but this most recent time I just told her, it was fine if she wanted to write down the products for me, but that I don't buy anything "spur of the moment"... that worked. One of these things was a $70 ITTY BITTY jar of eye cream!

 

[CAMICKEY]

Do they give the sales pitches to the guys as well? Can't wait. Rarely do I buy anything "spur of the moment" (except disney pins and T shirts) - Mike

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

We did the cabana massages in March and I was not even offered anything to purchase, but my husband came out of the cabana next to mine with a $35.00 small pump bottle of Elemis liquid bath soap. Apparently the gal told him he had dry skin (yea.....we've been sunning, sanding, swimming in salt and chlorine, showering 3 times a day, etc. for 7 days at this point!), AND he's a body lotion FREAK, so I know his skin, and it's not overly dry by any means....anyway, he buys this soap, which now sits on the shelf in our shower, unused, because "it's too expensive to waste". ?????????? He's a weirdo, I know, but I still love him. He said there really wasn't pressure (or he just doesn't want to admit to being strong armed by a woman!), he just thought she made a "good point". Men.

 

[CAMICKEY]

Thanks mrsfuzzmo - I will watch out for the "dry skin" sales pitch. LOL Thanks - Mike

 

[KAMLEM]

On our first cruise I had a facial and found the girl very pushy. She was trying to sell me $600 worth of facial products. I finally told her that I could not spend that much money without speaking to my husband first. On the second cruise the girl asked if I had ever had the facial done before and I told her yes. She then said "good - then you are already using our products". I told her that I wasn't because they were much too expensive. At the end she just gave me a list of what she recommended but she didn't give me the sales pitch.

 

[krhardy]

also, remember that you can either: 1)write "no sales pitch" on the comments section of the little form that you have to fill out ahead of time, or 2)you can ask for "no pitch" at the beginning or end of your cruise. Remember, it's YOUR indulgence, and if you don't want the relaxation ruined by the pitch, just tell them.

 

[CAMICKEY]

Thanks Krhardy - I didn't know I got a form to fill out ahead of time. Will definitely note it there. This is my first spa visit and I just want to relaxxxxxxx. - Mike

 

[herrbeeb]

i'v had 2 facials and the technicians (i can't spell the correct word) were somewhat pushy but not intolerable. otherwise i wouldn't have returned.

i use their products. they do a great job and when you are my age you need all the help you can get. i order them on line. i've started getting facials locally so i will not be doing that this year. i'm going to try thr rain forest.

 

[Rence]

I'm not a spa person, but my partner is. We did the 4 day Magic back before they did 7 day cruises and he commented that he got a lot of sales pressure at the end of his massge to buy the products.

We did the 7 day magic in December, he did the spa again and commented that there was no heavy pressure sales tactics this time.

Prior to going on the trip, I posted a message on here about some of the negatives from our first cruise, including the pushy sales in the spa, and asked for comments about whether things had changed.

We got several responses, that for the most part the sales pitches in the spa had been toned down.

I think they got a lot of complaints and told the spa folks to cool it.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

The first time we ever did any spy treatment was a couples cabanna at CC.

After spending over $100 to get a massage, I was quite suprized (and offended) to be given a sales pitch. Of course the wife says yes to two of these small bottles of products they were pushing. But then we found out the cost was $50 EACH.

It's sad that after all these years, the first thing that always comes to mind is the unplesantness of the sales pitch.

 

[QueenTrident]

I got the sales pitch too during the couples Cabana massage, after the woman doing my facial said (quite loudly) something about it being obvious that I wasn't taking care of my face and at my age I should know better. Then, she just added the products to my ticket and gave me the you should know better speech again. I caved and bought another $125 products that I still don't use.

DH also got the pitch and the dry skin bath soap and something else at an earlier massage.

What can I say, we're both non-confrontational. Next time, I know to be more upfront about not wanting a sales pitch.

 

[elemusing]

Oh yeah - both time we have cruised we got the pitch!! Our first was the cabana massage - and we got the dry skin speech. And DH was a bit sunburned and got a tongue lashing! ha ha (all in good fun)

Then this past cruise I got the reflexology and was talking into buying a $40 foot rub. I have only used it twice. Oh well.

I didn't know I could write "no sales pitch" either! Next time I will look for that! I have read that one should just tell them up front - and be firm, but I didn't even think about it this past time. oh well. Next time I will know better.

No matter what the pitch - the spa treatment are worth every penny IMHO. I would never pay that unless I was on vacation!

Angie

 

[dtuleya]

Being the assertive person I am, I think I'll give them the pre-massage "Don't ruin my massage with a pushy sales pitch at the end and you'll get a better tip" speech.

 

[CAMICKEY]

dtuleya - Now that's a good line to use. I think the tip part will solve the issue. - Mike

 

[Sandy297]

We just got back from the 4/29 Wonder & my husband & I did a Reflexology w/a back massage. I was third in line. When the doors opened we where made to take a tour. The other 3 ladies & 1 gentlemen knew what we wanted to do but where still made to do the 15 min tour. By time we were done w/the tour there where 4 other people in line & when I asked for an appt for the day at sea I was told that it was already sold out. Now please tell me how that happens????? I had read on the boards how some people where able to make reservations prior to sail date but when I called I wasn't able to. So, be aware of being made to take the tour. They recommended products that we should buy but not big demand to buy.
Sandy

 

[JerseyMom]

Originally posted by KAMLEM
On our first cruise I had a facial and found the girl very pushy. She was trying to sell me $600 worth of facial products. I finally told her that I could not spend that much money without speaking to my husband first. On the second cruise the girl asked if I had ever had the facial done before and I told her yes. She then said "good - then you are already using our products". I told her that I wasn't because they were much too expensive. At the end she just gave me a list of what she recommended but she didn't give me the sales pitch.

Shari,

I think I had the same girl when I had my facial. She was very pushy. She even insisted that I need a neck firming cream - I didn't even think I had a problem there!

On the other hand, the girl who did my pedicure didn't push any of the products. The only thing she suggested was using tree tea oil for practically everything which she told me I could find in any health food store.

All in all, I think it depends on who you are working with although I am sure they get a commission for product sales. Even the pushy ones, though, will take "No" for an answer or "Let me think about it."