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We need some input for our Round the Table column in the next issue of Massage & Bodywork magazine. Reply with your answers and you just might see it printed in the next issue!

 

 

The question this time is:

As a massage therapist, what are some of your professional pet peeves? 

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One thing that drives me absolutely nuts about this profession is the amount of unlicensed people there are.  In NY state they are changing the continuing education requirements and fees but they refuse to do anything about the people practicing without licenses.  It makes me so crazy when people come into my office and say, "I tried the healthy feet place around the corner.  You know, their prices are half that of yours and they are always so busy in there."  As if to say that I don't work hard for every penny I charge.  I charge fair prices and these people are throwing it in my face that they are getting a cheaper massage.  It's even worse when I politely mention that I don't believe they are licensed and they say, "yeah I didn't think they were."  

My biggest pet peeve is when a client makes an apoointment weeks in advance, my online scheduling send them a reminder e-mail. The day of the appointment, they either call 10 minutes before their appointment to cancel, or they just don't show up. And if this is an appointment to use a gift certificate, they call later wanting to reschedule, yet they could not show enough respect for my time to call and cancel within the 24 hours required time as per our cancellation policy.

The most annoying thing that potential clients have done is to tell me they have lost a gift certificate for which I have no record. I tell them I keep careful records and if they can tell me the approximate expiration date I will look it up for them. They usually back down. One lady asked for repayment for a gift certificate that she had given to a friend who did not show up for our scheduled session.  Another wanted to cash in her gift certificate instead of receiving a massage. Gift certificate goofs are by far the most recurrent problems from clients that are not regulars. For this reason, I do not sell them to anyone except established clients. I also do not appreciate being asked to give volume discounts. Unlike a distributor of dry goods, the amount of work I do is the same for the number of sessions booked. 

One of my biggest is when someone calls on Friday with a real "emergency." Big story of how long they have been in pain and so thankful that you can see them. They book for Monday and then call on Sunday night or early Monday morning and cancel the visit.

JH

Thanks for all the great responses so far, keep 'em coming!

I extremely dislike it when someone leaves a tip on the massage table instead of giving it to me in person.

My pet peeve is.....When a massage therapist runs to a Chiropractor or a Medical Doctor when they think they have carpal tunnel.

I recenly had a college student schedule an appointment to use her gift certificate. She called about 8 hours prior to her appointment to reschedule, and I happily did so for her. The day of the 2nd appointment, she did not show up. She called 3 days later to say she totally forgot all about her session, and needed to reschedule. I was 'HOT" and knew if I called her right back, it would not be a friendly conversation. She text messaged me about 4 times saying she needed to reschedule as she did not want to lose that $60..... what about me having to set up the session & have the room all ready for her, when I could have easily found someone else to fill that session (not to mention the fact that I have a child at home that I could have been spending time with)..... so frustrating! She has called several more times saying she does not want her GC to expire...



Ann Hibbard said:

The most annoying thing that potential clients have done is to tell me they have lost a gift certificate for which I have no record. I tell them I keep careful records and if they can tell me the approximate expiration date I will look it up for them. They usually back down. One lady asked for repayment for a gift certificate that she had given to a friend who did not show up for our scheduled session.  Another wanted to cash in her gift certificate instead of receiving a massage. Gift certificate goofs are by far the most recurrent problems from clients that are not regulars. For this reason, I do not sell them to anyone except established clients. I also do not appreciate being asked to give volume discounts. Unlike a distributor of dry goods, the amount of work I do is the same for the number of sessions booked. 

My professional pet peeve is when people write false, negative reviews in order to "get even" with me/my business because they either allowed their deal voucher to expire or their voucher was redeemed and rendered unusable due to multiple missed appointments and late cancellations.  I have had two negative reviews since I opened my business three years ago...both written this year by irate discount coupon clients who never made it to my business and never even experienced my services. Drives me nuts :-(

Happy Friday,

I just thought of another pet peeve. When a new client comes who has just moved to your area and has had the same MT for years. So, I hear about how great this MT was, how nicely decorated their office was, and the killer-the former MT was so good that he was " a hard act to follow."  Many times this is followed up by ranting about how bad other MTs were.

These type of clients are so difficult to please that I exhale deeply when they leave and am so happy when they move on.

jh

Oh yea, thats a good one... lol

Jody C. Hutchinson said:

Happy Friday,

I just thought of another pet peeve. When a new client comes who has just moved to your area and has had the same MT for years. So, I hear about how great this MT was, how nicely decorated their office was, and the killer-the former MT was so good that he was " a hard act to follow."  Many times this is followed up by ranting about how bad other MTs were.

These type of clients are so difficult to please that I exhale deeply when they leave and am so happy when they move on.

jh

One of my pet peeves is the "intuitive therapist".  Intuition is a big part of how we might craft our sessions for our clients...but it doesn't relieve one of SOAP charting, listening to what the client is asking for and professionalism in the interaction with clients and other professionals.  I did have the experience of an "intuitive therapist" that included all the above...and  I made the decision that that was the only time I needed to go there.

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