Money back guarantee?

[Searcher 5.0]

I've been reading Marketing Massage by Monica Roseberry and I'm ready to start using some of her ideas. One of them is offering a money back guarantee. To avoid clients taking advaneforum.xxxe of this offer she suggests that at the half way point of the massage you can check in with the client if they are happy for you to continue with the session and if not you can stop and they don't pay. I am confident with my massage skils so hopefully there won't be any/may takers. I think this is a good idea and wondered if any of you already do this in your pracitce.

 

[jan]

Honestly I don't think this is a good idea, in theory yes, but that is part of the practice. I have had MANY bad massages until I found my MT, but every person deserves to be paid for their time, including yourself. Worse case scenerio, they don't like your massage, they won't come back! I would never give this as an option, I need to get paid, I need to pay bills, we all do. Any person who takes you up on this does not respect you or your time. And to interrupt them in the middle to ask them if they want to continue. If they are that unhappy they would have gotten up on their own.

 

[Emily Yetman]

Thank you for your response. I look forward to hearing some more opinions.

 

[Evelyn]

I agree..sorry, I wouldnt do that either..they still took a spot where I could have accepted another client..it still took your time you know?

 

[bubbleyumm]

I agree that this is not a good idea. I am certainly confident enough that if I offered a money-back guarantee that nobody would take me up on it for any honest reasons. If anyone did take me up on it, it would be the type that just wants their money back. I don't want to open myself up for that. I always ask people about their experience once they are done and ask if they liked it, etc. I have never had anyone appear to be dissatisifed. If anyone ever expressed that they were completely dissatisfied, I would not charge them.

I am certainly not trying to say that I'm the best therapist in the county and that everyone who has ever been on my table has found me to be the best massage therapist they've ever had. However, I do believe that everyone has left having a very good and positive experience. If they did not, then I believe it was their fault, as I always try to make them feel comfortable and invite them to give me feedback at any time during the massage, and I also check with them periodically to see that all is going well. If they have not said anything and then complain at the end, there's not much I can do.

I give them my time, my skills and the best that I can offer them. I always feel that they are getting a good, quality massage and have never had anyone say anything to the contrary. As I said, if anyone did express great displeasure, I would not charge.

I can't recall many restaurants having a policy listed on their menu that says "Money-back guarantee", however, there have been a few times that I have had an awful meal and have not had to pay. That being said, there have been other times when whatever I ordered was just not quite my cup of tea. Perhaps it was too spicy of a recipe for me or maybe I found that I really don't like buffalo. That does not mean that the restaurant did not do its best and serve me a fine meal. It just wasn't a good match for me. I still expect that I should pay for my meal. As well, your clients should pay for their massages.

I don't think that advertising something like "IF you don't LOVE your massage, then you don't have to pay" is going to drive any more clients in the door. And, it may open you up to some unscrupulous types who will take advaneforum.xxxe. In my opinion, it's not worth the risk. Do a good job by providing them with a clean room with a nice atmosphere, keep it a comfortable temperature or get blankets, etc. to adjust for some clients, keep things quiet, dress professionally, be sure your breath is fresh, your nails appropriately manicured, your equipment in good condition, be on time, listen to their requests for more pressure, or specific areas to pay attention to, keep your skills updated and if you do all these types of things, most clients will have a good enough experience that they will be willing to pay you for your time, even if your skills have not measured up to their expectations.

 

[spotlite28]

Hi there!

I would definitely offer it! I would twist it up more like this:

With our money back guarantee, the only thing you have to lose is your tension!


Utilizing this guarantee will let your clients know that you are offering a quality massage and very professional at that. Using a money back guarantee is definitely bold and brings forth your confidence. Clients and potential clients respect that.

I have the guarantee on my brochure. It's there and listed, but I don't think about it or fear that clients may abuse it. Honestly, if they don't want to pay and they found it to be an unsatisfactory massage. I would definitely question them, so I could get some feedback on what the massage was missing. If they are honest they will let you know what they expected from the massage.

I haven't had clients read the guarantee as a gimmick, they have read it as something kind of funny.. The only thing they have to lose is their tension! If and when someone is unsatisified, I would stand behind it 100% for the ligitimate unhappy client.

Just my :2cents:

 

[thegreaterescape]

I'm of two minds of this, if I did offer it, I certainly wouldn't ask in the middle of the massage if they wanted to proceed, to me that is very disruptive.

If you feel the need to offer one, make it an subtle comment on your intake form or brochure. That way its there if need, but not in your face.

 

[Kitty kat]

kneadedmassage,
funny you should say the part about Restraunts offering that..I actually worked at a mom and pop restraunt when I was in High school and we did offer that "if not completly satisfied you get your money back or a different sandwich" we actually had a few people who would bring the sandwich up 3/4 gone and they would say "i didnt like this" so they could get a freebie..it was ridiculous..I mean they would have devoured MOST of the sandwich and say that so they could get freebies..ug..

 

[Dewayne]

MBG's are all about integrity. The marketing people who tell you to have a MBG will tell you those that take you up on it will see you as an honest person and tell their friends about you. Now, if they have friends just like themselves, you might have a line up of people asking for their money back.

The truth of the matter is, few people will take you up on a MBG. I had one since I opened almost 3 years ago and no one ever took me up on it. I have pretty much since fazed it out. I thought it was a good idea for a while, but I did some thinking about it. I feel it doesnt really fit into massage or any type of health care setting very well. When is the last time you heard of an MD or a chiropractor offering a MBG?

I would much rather be lumped in with MD's and chiropractors rather than hamburger joints, which is one reason I dont offer a MBG any more.

And no, MD stands for MEDICAL DOCTOR, not MC DONALD'S.

 

[napvapDuacY]

I do know one practitioner, who does strictly structural and pain-relief work, who offers one. "If I can't help you, you don't pay me" is what she says. Of course because of the nature of her work, she can immediately see if she has helped, and her clients are usually in such severe pain that they are exclaiming in joy, so it's not like they could fake it!

I know an acupuncturist who does this too. I guess it depends on the type of work you do. I have been tempted, twice, not to pay an MT who clearly didn't listen to me and hurt me, but I was too chicken. (I didn't see any guarantee listed for them, either!)