So here's the story. I treated myself to a birthday massage a few months ago. My massage was great, and I loved the masseuse. She was fantastic. BUT after my massage, the women at the front desk not only reversed the relaxation from the massage, but made me so tense that I ended up crying in my car on the way home. I had been there one other time (over a year before) with a gift card, so because this was my first time paying, I called to ask if I could get a first-time discount when I come in. The representative said yes to that, and then when the time came to pay for my massage they refused to give me the $30 discount. I explained that it had already been approved by someone, and the two women there were so condescending and demeaning to me, essentially saying that nobody would've said yes to me. After some back and forth they finally looked up the person I spoke with sand said she didn't work there anymore, I guess to void her word. (To clarify, there were two women at the desk. One was clearly a new hire, and and the other- I believe named Julie- was more seasoned. Julie ended up heading the rest of the interaction.) They said the best they could do was have me buy myself a giftcard to pay for the massage, which would save me $20. I agreed in the end, and when they swiped my credit card it was denied. This has never happened to me once in my life, and I immediately knew it was a problem with their card reader. They just blankly stared at me as if I personally broke their machine. So I asked them to try again, and they didn't want to, but I insisted. Denied again. I tried another card, and it was denied too. It was clearly their card reader. I then asked them to switch to the other computer and try there, and, I kid you not, they said that "the same thing would happen." I said I would call my bank to verify that that cards were working and while I was in the process of calling they finally agreed to try the second card reader. Well, it accepted my card immediately. I was appalled that I had to ask them to try the other card reader. Who wouldn't immediately try that? I was visibly upset by the end of the interaction, and the main woman helping me (Julie, if I have her name right) looked at me as if I was a vermin. I asked if a manager could call me in the coming days, and she said that a manager wouldn't be tell me anything different, but again I insisted. To my surprise, I did receive a call from the manager in the coming days. I was at work and couldn't step out, so I had to give a shortened version of the events. The manager was nice enough, and said that in this type of situation, they should've put the charge on hold and consulted with her first. She ultimately refunded me the extra $10, but in truth the whole ordeal made me so upset that any effects of the massage were gone before I walked out the door. What I tried to reiterate overall is that not everybody who books a massage is affluent. At the time I was working a minimum wage labor job, and constantly had back pain. I saved up to treat myself for my birthday, and now consider that money and time wasted. Although I loved my massage experience, I don't think I'll ever go back to elements in Ridgefeild, because I was so poorly treated by the desk staff. I work in customer service myself, and I can say from the heart that even if challenges come up where I think the customer has it wrong, I would NEVER treat them so unkindly. Sadly, I spent my drive home crying, because massages open up my emotions and I was basically bullied by Julie immediately thereafter. (This sounds like an exaggeration, but there are more small details I'm leaving out for the sake of time.) Whoever goes to elements, I'm sure you'll get a good massage, and I hope the rest of your experience there is better than mine was. read more