We had the good sense to name our business Richmond Massage Therapy before anyone else in this city ever thought of it. Everyone else who practices Massage Therapy here in Richmond, VA has chosen to name their businesses "frou-frou" names thinking that would attract clients.
Our thought process was this: we wanted a no-nonsense name for our Massage Therapy practice because we're very serious about providing the best care possible for our clients. Our no-nonsense approach has gained us the kind of excellent reputation that everyone should always expect when putting hard-earned money on the line in exchange for a therapeutic treatment.
We did such a great job naming our business that other businesses in the area are trying to steal our name, our reputation and our clients. We have noticed several businesses in the area using Richmond Massage Therapy as the title on their Google or Google Maps listing, even though their URLs are for a different business name.
Those businesses are unethical because they are stealing. While what they are doing may not cross the line into "illegal" land, they are attempting to use the name of a business, our business, to fool the public into thinking that they have the same kind of excellent reputation for which we have worked so hard.
As consumers, we all have a choice regarding whether we want to use certain businesses based on what we feel that business does for us or for the community. Often, we choose to give our business to those companies that demonstrate ethical standards we admire. Likewise, we may choose to avoid other businesses due to practices that are deceptive. We feel that a business should build a reputation on its own and not through deception based on the sterling reputation of another business.
The value of free choice when it comes to the businesses we choose to meet our needs is of extreme importance. Our choices send messages to our communities, our children, our colleagues, the colleagues of the businesses, the politicians, and the people who get things done. Our choices help to build the world in which we live. Businesses who steal will continue to steal if encouraged to do so through the choices of the consumer. If a business will resort to deception to gain the clients of another business, how do you think they will treat the clients who walk through the door? With more lies, to be sure.
Be wise in your choice of Massage Therapist. Choosing Richmond Massage Therapy will result in the choice of the highest ethical standards and the highest quality service every single time.
E. M. Hershman, Richmond, VA
www.richmondmassagetherapy.com
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
BEWARE OF MASSAGE THERAPY CONTRACTS!
http://www.richmondmassagetherapy.com/
Massage therapy contracts are popular nowadays, due to the recent appearance of massage chains nationwide. These chains--known as "Massage Mills"--offer contracts requiring 6 months to a year commitment from the client. The contract seems appealing to the client because of the lower rate per massage. Let's examine these contracts.
First, remember that there is a motive behind the massage contract that provides more benefits for the massage mill than it does for its clients. The terms of the contract are similar to these:
*a commitment of 6 months to a year are required of the client
*the massage mill retains the client's credit card number and withdraws the massage fee from the client's account each month, even if the client cannot make it for her/his massage that month. Some massage mills will allow one missed month without charging, but that is not always the case.
*the client is forced to visit the massage mill monthly for the duration of the contract, or lose the amount for that visit. The client is charged, regardless.
The massage mills typically hire brand-new therapists, freshly graduated from massage school. The mills have a large number of therapists employed, and pay them a minimum per hour rate, which is considerably less than what the therapists could make per massage on their own.
The massage mills' bottom line counts on the client not showing up and being charged anyway. This is similar to the gym membership business model, where members pay a monthly fee, but do not go everyday. This deal does not reward the therapists who are actually treating the clients; only the CEO benefits. The therapists move on as soon as they can. Additionally, each therapist employed by the massage mills is required to sign a "no-compete" contract. This means that the therapists are not allowed to see a client outside of the massage mill---ever.
Massage mills do not allow the client to choose which therapist will be treating them, and the client will never see the same therapist each time. This is because the mills do not want the therapist to develop a following that would be willing to follow that therapist to another location or private practice. This practice is unfair to the paying client, because it limits free choice. The CEOs of the massage mills do not legally have the right to place limits on the choices of the consumer, yet the practice leads to such restrictions.
A company that operates in such a way has only profit in mind, and has no concern for reputation or a loyalty of choice. Their clients return only because they are forced to by contract. When the focus is on numbers only, quality suffers; so do the rights of each client.
Beware of massage mills that offer massage therapy contracts!!
The mills do not have the best interests of the client at heart. If they did, they would not strategically keep you from seeing the therapist that is best for you. They also wouldn't charge you without rendering the service first.
There are better choices out there. Choose wisely to get the best quality for the best price. Choose your own massage therapist, one who has the proper training and knowledege for your individual needs. Only you can make that kind of choice, not a massage mill.
Richmond Massage Therapy has a policy of working with clients who have been victimized by massage mills. If you show us your contract, we will happily match the rate the massage mill offered in its terms. We will never charge any client for a service that is not rendered.
http://www.richmondmassagetherapy.com/
Massage therapy contracts are popular nowadays, due to the recent appearance of massage chains nationwide. These chains--known as "Massage Mills"--offer contracts requiring 6 months to a year commitment from the client. The contract seems appealing to the client because of the lower rate per massage. Let's examine these contracts.
First, remember that there is a motive behind the massage contract that provides more benefits for the massage mill than it does for its clients. The terms of the contract are similar to these:
*a commitment of 6 months to a year are required of the client
*the massage mill retains the client's credit card number and withdraws the massage fee from the client's account each month, even if the client cannot make it for her/his massage that month. Some massage mills will allow one missed month without charging, but that is not always the case.
*the client is forced to visit the massage mill monthly for the duration of the contract, or lose the amount for that visit. The client is charged, regardless.
The massage mills typically hire brand-new therapists, freshly graduated from massage school. The mills have a large number of therapists employed, and pay them a minimum per hour rate, which is considerably less than what the therapists could make per massage on their own.
The massage mills' bottom line counts on the client not showing up and being charged anyway. This is similar to the gym membership business model, where members pay a monthly fee, but do not go everyday. This deal does not reward the therapists who are actually treating the clients; only the CEO benefits. The therapists move on as soon as they can. Additionally, each therapist employed by the massage mills is required to sign a "no-compete" contract. This means that the therapists are not allowed to see a client outside of the massage mill---ever.
Massage mills do not allow the client to choose which therapist will be treating them, and the client will never see the same therapist each time. This is because the mills do not want the therapist to develop a following that would be willing to follow that therapist to another location or private practice. This practice is unfair to the paying client, because it limits free choice. The CEOs of the massage mills do not legally have the right to place limits on the choices of the consumer, yet the practice leads to such restrictions.
A company that operates in such a way has only profit in mind, and has no concern for reputation or a loyalty of choice. Their clients return only because they are forced to by contract. When the focus is on numbers only, quality suffers; so do the rights of each client.
Beware of massage mills that offer massage therapy contracts!!
The mills do not have the best interests of the client at heart. If they did, they would not strategically keep you from seeing the therapist that is best for you. They also wouldn't charge you without rendering the service first.
There are better choices out there. Choose wisely to get the best quality for the best price. Choose your own massage therapist, one who has the proper training and knowledege for your individual needs. Only you can make that kind of choice, not a massage mill.
Richmond Massage Therapy has a policy of working with clients who have been victimized by massage mills. If you show us your contract, we will happily match the rate the massage mill offered in its terms. We will never charge any client for a service that is not rendered.
http://www.richmondmassagetherapy.com/
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