Elements Massage

I came here because I was looking for a couple’s massage as part of a birthday gift for my partner, and I live really close to White City, so it seemed the most convenient. The first place I looked at had average pricing ($ 70/​hr/​person), so Elements was second on my list to call, as I was hoping to find some sort of package deal. When I was told on the phone (I didn’t catch her name) the introductory pricing was $ 59 per person and $ 10 more to add another person to the massage, I was like «Cool, book me now!» The woman on the phone was super nice, and they take your credit card info when you book, even though they don’t charge you at that time, which was new to me but I didn’t question it. I was totally wooed by her talking about the «levels» of the therapists there and asking me all sorts of questions about how deep we’d want our massages and our pain/​injury history.
We got our massages a few days later (I had Nikki, he had Shirl), and they were pretty good. Not bad, but I’m not going to rave to my mother about it either. (I used to have a personal masseuse in my early 20’s and to this day he remains my yardstick for evaluating all massage therapists since, and so far no one has rivaled him). I realized I forgot to get cash before the appointment for the tip, so I went to the desk to ask to add the tip to my card. This is where things stopped being good…
Ok, so, in my defense, I was post-​massage hazy and wanting at least 2 hours more massaging, therefore presumably more open to suggestion (aka pushy upselling) than normal. That is the only reason I can think of that I got set up with a «follow up» massage appointment at the now-​regular rate that I would never ever think was worth paying (something stupid like 89 or 99 an hour) because Leo sounds amazing and I wanted to try him out. Whatever.
Then she talked me into signing up for the Wellness Program, which honestly even days later still sounds like not a bad idea. No contract, cancel anytime with no cancellation fee, and the massage rolls over if you don’t use it that month. Cool.
THEN she finally got around to finalizing my checking out of that day’s appointment. She said «Alright so that will be (I forget exactly the amount she said but it was between $ 150 and 200) to the Visa» and everything in me froze. I. Did. Not. Have. That. Much! Talk about getting doused with a bucket of ice water. I’ve never had this happen before! I told her «Uh… The woman on the phone told me it’s $ 69 for the couple’s massage» and she said «Okay our rate is $ 69 per person for the couple’s massage» and I said «The woman who booked me told me it was $ 59 per person and then ten more to add another person to make it a couple’s massage» and she replied «$ 69 *per person*» and at this point her face and tone of voice suggested that she was highly aggravated by this back-​and-​forth. I’m panicking inside because I simply didn’t have that much money left in my account to pay what she was stating. I gave her my card and told her to charge x amount to it, which was everything I had left in my account, and I had to tell my boyfriend that I didn’t have the rest. He ended up paying the difference on his own card. I was so mortified, that he paid for part of his own gift!
My receipt says «Noberini» for «sold by.» Whoever she is, I do not want to deal with her again. And based on the other reviews here, apparently none of the desk people are easy to deal with.
*Annoyingly, I didn’t know until I read the paper later at home, to cancel your membership you have to actually fill out a paper form (which they conveniently don’t give to you) and HAND IT IN to the studio manager, whoever the hell that is, so you can’t just call them to cancel. Ugh. I bet the studio manager is never in the building when anyone wants to submit that paper, right? AND, the paper says «prior to the final withdrawal date» which if I’m reading the correct info, was set up less than 30 days from when I was in the office. For real, this place just sucks.*
Once I cancel, I’ll try to come back to add that to this review.
Lesson learned, READ THE Unilocal REVIEWS FIRST.

Front desk and phone is the worse part about this place. I really wish that I didn’t have to talk to them or be pushed to give someone a tip. I have the monthly setup, but I really am getting frustrated that when I call I can never get through.
The massages have always been amazing. They are the only reason that I go back. The company should pray that I don’t get another massage place.

Sooo… if I were you I would NOT become a member. They offer you a «free massage» with your membership. Tell you it’s complimentary but it id NOT free. If circumstances arrive where you must cancel your membership like moving away or anything else they will charge you 59 dollars for the «free» massage that they offered you in the beginning. You have to be with them for 6 months get the «free» massage that they offer you. The staff at the front desk are sooo rude and cold. not helpful. Only met one nice staff while I was there. They get really cold and mean when you want to leave. If your not in it for the long haul don’t join. My suggestion is to try it out first to see if it’s worth it. And it really isnt.

I was a member at elements for almost a year. After difficulties of receiving gift certificates from parents and trying to use them with a membership I was told to cancel my membership and just use gift certificates. I was fine doing that however elements does not have good customer service. they do not care about your time. all they care about is receiving your money and them not losing money. Their reasoning for me not being able to use my gift certificates as well as being a member was because they were going to lose money. Being a previous business owner myself, I realized that making money is important. Customer service should always come first. Time is time. In my opinion if friends and family but gift certificates you should be able to use those gift certificates based on the time. Therefore, if you have a gift certificate for 60 minutes you should be able to use minutes as opposed to dollar amounts. I do not suggest going to elements I give it a bad review.
Bottom line:
To have a healthy and thriving business there must be healthy relationships. for example if customers are leaving and going to the competition there is a relationship problem. Elements is not identifying and meeting the client’s legitimate needs. Rule number one for successful businesses is that if they do not meet the needs for customers someone else will.

Agree with you on front desk staff, I as an adult, and any other person going do not need to be asked if I want to give. A gratuity to my message therapist! I was asked that as I was handing over the tip! I said that really isn’t something you need to ask and she said my therapist recommended I come back in 4 weeks that’s bull she never saw or was handed anything after my message from the therapist. I just hate bull%#%. The therapist was good.

The owner is a doctor from UMass who just got fired today for taking pictures of a woman in a bathroom stall. He had a similar situation when he was in medical school, was suspended for 1 year. Google it, wonder if he has hidden cameras…

BUYER BEWARE — when you come out of first appointment feeling all relaxed the sales people will hard sell a membership. Be for warned. They require six month commitment to cancel or a $ 59 PENALTY. Also they require a 30 day notice. So it will cost you at least $ 120 to get out of this «deal «when you decide you can’t afford it anymore. They say the first massage is FREE when you sign up. Nothing is free. They will get their $$$. Do yourself a favor. Wait for a few sessions before you sign up… Just say NO to the deal
Otherwise the massage was good enough I suppose.

Great massages. Leo is amazing and has very skilled healing hands.

Professional massage staff, but customer service is «fake cold smile», some enforce setup appointment, with some Fake discount to keep real market price, pushing rushing for next appointment, and so much private information take for each customer. Massages Therapist are professional and very friendly, Front Desk for my opinion is Junk sorry abt language im rude sometime