I want to start by saying my attendant was very nice and didn't appear to have anything to do with…read morethe marketing that brought me in. Based on my experience in marketing and branding, she was clearly following a script she was trained on. The moment I asked questions off script, there were no answers--and no one else stepped in to help. That alone told me this may not be an isolated situation.
This location is actually great--right near the LA Fitness I use, surrounded by other health and wellness businesses. On paper, it's the perfect spot for a place like iCRYO.
The issue is how I was brought in.
My daughter came across a social media ad offering a $349 package for $47 "TODAY ONLY" with a countdown timer and limited availability. Obvious red flags--but we still gave it a shot. As adults who are active and into fitness and wellness, we genuinely enjoy supporting local businesses that align with that lifestyle. I signed up, paid the $47, and within minutes got a call to book same-day. I was told to expect about a 30-minute visit including a tour.
When I got there, everything started off normal--check-in, paperwork, quick tour. I've done cryotherapy and compression therapy before, so I was familiar with most of what they offer. For context, I had knee reconstruction surgery at 18 and have dealt with chronic pain ever since. Managing it through fitness and recovery is just part of my life at this point. So trying something new for $47 is typically worth it in the aggregate.
The service I received was red light therapy, which I hadn't tried before. It was presented as part of a "$379 weight loss body contouring package." Screenshots of the actual advertisement and messages are included in this review. The attendants description was read off of the brochure posted in the therapy room. It listed about 20 ailments you can treat by changing the settings of the machine (interestingly, weight loss wasn't even one of them). Stress, hormone balance, pain, autonomic nerve balance, and soft tissue repair were some of the options. I chose "athletic recovery," since I had just come from the gym. A pic of that chart is also included. I was told the session is 12 minutes of therapy and was given basic instructions on how to start the machine after disrobing. It lasted about 8 minutes (I timed it while listening to a podcast). It's similar to a tanning bed, flatter and less comfortable.
Afterward, the attendant (again, very nice) went into the membership pitch, which I expected. You advertise to get bodies in front of your pitch person, I get it 100%. After hearing the different plans and memberships, I asked one simple question:
What would that exact session cost if I walked in off the street?
Answer: $39.....?
So I clarified--just to be sure I wasn't misunderstanding--that I had just paid $47 for something that normally costs $39.
She confirmed that was correct. No other words spoken.
I asked about the $379 package I supposedly purchased, and she said that was a third-party promotion and she wasn't familiar with it. (Insert awkward silence)
No one stepped in. No one tried to explain it. No one seemed surprised.
I turned down the offer to pay more money for additional sessions and walked out the door. On my way to my car, I remembered I grabbed a screenshot of the advertised package for reasons lole this...... Surly if I show her I was telling the truth I would get a different reaction. That was a negative ghost-rider.... neither her or the other two employees in the room acted concerned or suprised that I was baited with a "$379 package for only $47" offer, and the off-the-street price is $39. There was still no explanation or attempt to reconcile the situation. Just more awkward silence and stares.
At that point, it felt less like confusion and more like a disconnect between the marketing and what is actually being delivered in-store. It seems like this is their intended model. To continue to be fair: the staff I interacted with was polite, and the facility itself is clean and well-located. That's what makes this more frustrating--because the underlying business seems solid.
What I would have liked to reasonably understand (and would still welcome):
What exactly is included in the advertised $349 package? How does that differ from the $39 walk-in service I actually received? Why didn't the staff know about the package or advertisement? Does that promotion and result represent their brand the way they intended?
The silver lining in this story is the opportunity to share the experience with the review community so others don't get scammed. Beware when you see an iCRYO promotion or advertisement. Over time, you are usually on the receiving end of warnings and praise for businesses and services. Today, I am a giver! My $47 investment will hopefully help another member of the community. In the meantime, my search for new technology that can help manage my pain continues.
