Changing my review. I had booked a session at 6PM because I had such bad back pain and needed a…read moremassage ASAP. I called and they were able to get me in at 6PM.
I got there early to make sure I had enough time to get settled and do check-in--no one was at the front and I was confused since last time there was someone. It seemed they were just chatting the whole time in the back despite me and one other person entering.
It became past 6PM and I finally get settled in. I had my watch on and finally I was helped at 6:20. At this point I was just in so much pain and desperate so I waited. They finally started for maybe 10 seconds, only to leave for like 5-10 minutes to chat in the front, then come back. I was hesitant to just get up and leave but I had already waited so long.
Massage was okay. Hated it to be honest. I asked for hard pressure and I feel like the person who did my massage last time did a lot better. It was difficult to communicate so I just didn't want to try. I appreciate that even though she wasn't fluent in English, she still tried. However, I think they should provide a whiteboard/pap similar to what other places do where you circle what kind of service you want, pressure, and focus areas.
Anyways I finished the massage, feeling kind of meh about my whole experience.
It was still $65 for 60 minutes and I was going to tip 30% which is $19.50. This was already pretty generous and what they usually ask for considering I had a delayed and poor service. I just wanted to leave and the therapist kept asking about the tip and insisted I pay an extra $6 because my back and shoulders were "tight". First off, isn't this what massages are for? I don't get a massage because I'm not tense. I get massages because my shoulders are tense, my back hurts, I worked from home, I'm in pain. Massages are literally meant to treat this.
Also, I have NEVER had this experience where a therapist asked me for a tip because of that. I've gotten massages multiple times where they have no issue, and do wonderfully, and I always compliment them. This was horrible and I'm left feeling like this was not worth it. I should have just waited a day to get an appointment at Arisa Thai Massage.
Anyways, I just wanted to leave because I was so sick and tired of my experience and just ended up giving her the $25 tip that she insisted on. I'm pretty pissed off. Insane. Literally never going here again. I thought I'd give it a chance since it is walking distance and I just really really was in so much pain and desperate. Now I'm out $90, still in pain, and regretful and wish I just had stayed home and slept it off. I thought that my experience would be similar to my last one, but this time I just had a really bad experience and unfortunately it seems my last visit was a 1-off thing. Left feeling like crying because it just wasn't a great experience and that I had wasted so much time and money.
I reached out to the owner about my experience and he offered to give me a free massage at the Sunnyvale location. Unfortunately, it had slipped my mind since I was brought into an escalated meeting for work. I was flabbergasted that he said me not showing up was losing money, but I lost money during my horrible massage and experience. I just hung up at that point and didn't want deal anymore. I feel I gave them a fair chance, but nothing will take away from the experience I had at my last massage session. "Losing money".. no.. at least the business got $90 out of me at my last session. I lost money. Honestly wish I just requested a refund.
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Edit in response to owner:
As for the follow-up: yes, I had scheduled a free session, but unfortunately had to miss it due to a work escalation. It happens. I reached out to explain, yet your response was to say that you lost money because I didn't show up. Please understand: I lost money first--$90 for a delayed, uncomfortable, and ineffective massage. And your concern about your loss over my missed free session, rather than any real acknowledgment of what I went through, only reinforced my frustration.
I came to you in pain and left feeling worse--physically and emotionally. I genuinely wish I had never returned after my first visit. While I acknowledge you tried to rectify it by offering another session, your handling of this situation afterward makes it clear this is not a business I can trust with my well-being again. I stand by my review.