Spa Sales Pitches

[snyderc635]

My husband and I do the same thing. I blame him for not purchasing the products and he blames me! "My husband told me I was absolutely not to buy any products." "My wife told me not to buy anything!" It works great and takes the heat off the person in the room with the person making the pitch. hehehehehe

[Guest cruise_agent_annie]

That is just to funny! I think I will use that ! haha I am trying to find Dec 10 28 day with Holland .. anyone here no where the post are ? Thanks Annie

[mek]

I do the same thing. I also tell them that I work for a derm(not a lie) and I have all the skin products I will ever need.

 

 

Well, I work for a cosmetic company,(really) and tell them the same thing. That is the end of it.

[KAYEF]

Yes, Elemis and La Therapie, isn't it?

Boy! This reminds me............a few weeks ago I answered a question regarding IF products are in the cabins of HAL..............saying how wonderful they are, etc. (I LOVE them............especially if you've had to try to tear open a tiny cardboard "shampoo" while in the shower on a Princess ship :()...................and did I ever get flamed. People said they are allergic to Elemis ..............and on and on ..................

Glad to see someone else likes them!!;)

[SALMARK]

On the 7 HAL cruises we have done so far I have had at least one massage on every one. I had the best stone massage ever on a cruise. As on shore, some therapists are better than others. The very first time I bought products but now I just say "no, thanks" using my mother voice and never have any problems. Just dig out that old, firm mother voice and enjoy the treatment.:D

[RoseMarie]

I am very glad to hear the warnings about the sales pitch, I plan to have a plan before my cruise in 3 weeks. I have been looking forward to a massage as is my husband and it will be best to be prepared. If one of them tried to tell me how I look old and need this stuff to look younger I would be inclined to tell them "there goes your tip". I don't believe you insult someone to get them to buy their product. I love the comment about the product or your tip. I think I will be using that one. :)

[esther e]

Other than my post about lying, I think I'd say I am old and no product would ever make me look any better/younger/firmer than someone's hand attached to a knife for a surgical procedure and if I wake up breathing every morning, I'm not going to worry about my skin.:p

[Miss Fig]

You could always preface your treatment by a statement "I am doing this treatment for relaxation so please don't stress me out by asking if I want to buy any products afterward. I will let you know if I am interested in any of the products." :) :)

 

I speak up too & say something similar, even at home. Or sometimes on the pre-service questionaire they have you complete, I write on it, "I am not interested in purchasing any products. Thank you." So much less stressful to be upfront about it, rather than how I used to be - trying to relax yet being on guard waiting the dreaded sales pitch.

[mtnmommy]

Thank you for all these great tips on deflecting the sales pressure! I've been turned off on the spa ever since I got a massage on HAL about 8 years ago. The therapist told me that I had cellulite and fat deposits and needed a product to dissolve them. Now, I'm no Twiggy, but I certainly was not overweight at the time--not that that makes it any better. When I declined to buy it, she wrote me a "prescription" (listing the product) for when I decided I was ready to lose weight!

 

Thinking back, I never should have put up with that, but I was young and naive (ah, the good old days!) and just slunk out, mortified.

[fatcat04]

The worst thing about the aging skin comment that was directed at me is that I'm in my thirties. I was around 31 then. So telling me I had aging skin at that age really hurt my feelings!

 

Tell me about it!!

 

The hard and rather rude sell I received on our last cruise left a nasty taste in my mouth and I am a spa rat!! First day out I scheduled a manicure with hopes of adding a massage and facial later on in the cruise. I have a great many of the spa products from previous cruises so I know they are good and use many regularly. The manicurist I had was so rude and insensitive about my "aging", my wrinkles, my yellow teeth, my dry skin, those dark circles under my eyes, the list went on and on. I was 34 and last time I checked not quite ready for the recycle bin!! :p I felt so miserable about the experience when I left I decided to forgo other treatments and simply stuck with the thermal suite/hydro pool (that is an "on your own activity" so no sales pitches.) Who needs to be told you are old and ugly on vacation, especially when you are not!!!??

[Jade13]

I have a question.

 

Now that spending on HAL (with the exception of at least the Casino) can go towards additional points towards Mariner status, do the Spa treatments count towards the $300.00 to get an extra point?

 

Thanks.

[Laurie S.]

Yes, they do.

[knitlady037]

Seems like everything you spend except for casino goes towards getting the extra days. We had $800 shipboard credit which was applied. We spent an additional $1200 Also the $200 we left with the FCC toward our next cruise also counted, which put us at 7 extra days each.

[Nancyquilts]

That is just to funny! I think I will use that ! haha I am trying to find Dec 10 28 day with Holland .. anyone here no where the post are ? Thanks Annie

When you join Cruise Critic, you will be able to see the roll call threads. Look under Holland American, then the name of your ship. As you scroll down the list, you should be able to find your roll call.

[cavecreekguy]

I've never been to a spa myself but how sad that you can't go and enjoy the experience without having to deal with pushy and insulting sales people trying to sell you stuff you don't want.

 

I hope those of you who felt insulted or uncomfortable let someone in authority know. It won't change unless management is informed that they are losing business due to the tactics mentioned in this thread.

 

I was actually thinking of having my first massage ever on my next cruise but now I won't be going near the spa.

[Laurie S.]

All you have to do is say "no, thank you." That's not that hard to do.

[LuckyLoon]

Hi Cavecreekguy,

 

Don't let the sales pitch deter you. I had my first ever massage on the Statendam in March and it was great. Usually if you wait for a port day they have some spa services on special.

 

The masseuse was very mild mannered and when she finished the massage she recommended some oils etc. and wrote them down for me. She never pressured me to purchase them though. I just said I might think about getting them later. And that was that.

 

So enjoy. And if your masseuse pressures you, just put your hand and say stop. Don't let it ruin your experience.:)

[bulgargirl]

All you have to do is say "no, thank you." That's not that hard to do.

 

 

I did say no thank you. I did not think that part was hard. Being told I was 31 and had the skin of a middle aged woman and that it was only going to get worse if I didn't buy the products, after saying no thank you was what bothered me.

 

I can say no. I don't want to be made to feel like crap after saying no. Of course, that was NCL so that why I was checking to see if the services were better than that on HAL.

[Gablin]

I don't get massages or facials, so if a nail technician or hair stylist starts telling me I look old, I'm going to agree with her and say something like "that's what happens." Then, I will lie about my age (upwards) by about ten or fifteen years and mention the two kinds of cancer I've survived, before saying "I guess I'm just lucky to look old and be old. Not getting old means being dead, I think."

 

I might also repeat that old saw about "I've traveled a lot of roads, and not all of them were paved."

 

I will complain if the behavior is too rude. And rudeness will reduce the gratuity to 5% exactly, with an explanation.

[fatcat04]

I've never been to a spa myself but how sad that you can't go and enjoy the experience without having to deal with pushy and insulting sales people trying to sell you stuff you don't want.

 

I hope those of you who felt insulted or uncomfortable let someone in authority know. It won't change unless management is informed that they are losing business due to the tactics mentioned in this thread.

 

I was actually thinking of having my first massage ever on my next cruise but now I won't be going near the spa.

 

Well... I will say that even after my rather nasty experience on my last cruise, I will still go to the spa again. I think you can get the general vibe of the staff from one treatment and I had only ever had one other spa employee (and that on another line) than treated me so rough. Spa time on cruises is a biggie for me and one bad apple will not spoil me on it for life. Just for that cruise. :p Some of the employees I have encountered have been perfectly delightful and I have requested them over and over. I have tipped them well and bought their products happily. And the products are, for the most part, very good. So don't let my one experience color your whole opinion. I encourage you to try it for yourself... maybe take advantage of one of the many many specials they will have. You probably will have a lovely time.

[fatcat04]

I did say no thank you. I did not think that part was hard. Being told I was 31 and had the skin of a middle aged woman and that it was only going to get worse if I didn't buy the products, after saying no thank you was what bothered me.

 

I can say no. I don't want to be made to feel like crap after saying no. Of course, that was NCL so that why I was checking to see if the services were better than that on HAL.

 

LOL... I likened my manicure to being set under the interrogation lamp for an hour being asked every possible question than might break me down and get me to buy the whole Elemis catalog. Yes, she actually did pull out the Elemis catalog btw and wanted me to sit with her and go through it page by page.... to which I said "no thank you." :p

[fatcat04]

I don't get massages or facials, so if a nail technician or hair stylist starts telling me I look old, I'm going to agree with her and say something like "that's what happens." Then, I will lie about my age (upwards) by about ten or fifteen years and mention the two kinds of cancer I've survived, before saying "I guess I'm just lucky to look old and be old. Not getting old means being dead, I think."

 

I might also repeat that old saw about "I've traveled a lot of roads, and not all of them were paved."

 

I will complain if the behavior is too rude. And rudeness will reduce the gratuity to 5% exactly, with an explanation.

 

True true and wise. Every year I have to tell myself... It is better to keep having birthdays. However disagreeable I may find them, the alternative is far more permanent. :D