If you are a regular spa goer, I’m sure you had been approached many times to sign up for spa packages or spa membership at the spa you are patronising.

It can get irritating. Especially if they hard-sell. One goes to a spa to enjoy and relax and not listen to some pushy ‘membership consultant’. Other than being irritated, should you even consider such packages?

Many spas will tell you that membership or packages will save you money at the end of the day. You may also enjoy preferential treatment. Maybe even receive birthday cards/cakes.

Well, personally, I’ll never sign up for a spa package. No matter how attractive the terms are. My main reasons are:

1. A spa is a very human-based business. A good spa today may be a bad spa tomorrow simply because therapists skills deteriorate or service quality drop. Without a package to lock you in, one simply look for the next good spa and move on.

2. You normally pay upfront for a spa membership or package. This can start at a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. The moment you sign on the dotted line, you are at the mercy of the spa.

Some spas are known to spend all their effort in recruiting members and then treat members badly. Some oversell their slot availability. Some go bust and keep your money. Check out what happen when spas go bad…

Has Wellness Village Spa left its customers in the lurch?
By Alicia Wong, TODAY | Posted: 10 November 2009 0704 hrs

SINGAPORE: For over four years, it operated at the Pan Pacific Singapore hotel. But over the course of a day, the Wellness Village Spa left customers and the hotel in the lurch when it suddenly shut down, disconnecting its phone lines.

At its Pagoda Street outlet in Chinatown, the premises were empty, with the doors wide open when MediaCorp visited on Monday. Neighbouring shop owners said they saw movers shifting equipment and furniture on Sunday afternoon. In the quiet of the night, the same scene was seemingly repeated at the Pan Pacific outlet.

A nearby shop owner said the spa began retrenching workers last month. He noticed remaining staff packing up late last week, and believes that customers were told it was “fully booked” to keep them from coming down.

This was certainly the experience for one customer.

Ms Elaine Ong had been trying to make an appointment, but the spa kept telling her that it was fully booked.

The “first hint of trouble” came last Thursday when she called the Pan Pacific outlet and an employee told her only two therapists were being employed, said Ms Ong who is in her 30s.

As she has recently signed up for a $600 package, Ms Ong said she was a “bit alarmed”.

At Pan Pacific on Monday, a hotel employee told guests the spa had closed without informing anyone. Dutch businessman Laros, 39, who had been peering through the spa’s glass door, said the hotel’s reception pointed him to the spa for a massage when he checked in.

The hotel told MediaCorp the spa “leases and operates the premises independently”.

It “sincerely regrets any inconvenience experienced” and is now re-directing guests to nearby spa facilities. It will “continue to attempt” to contact Wellness Village Spa, it added.

Checks with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority showed that Wellness Village was incoporated in June 2004 and is still a “live company”. Permanent resident Lia Meyrina is listed as its director. MediaCorp could not reach the company.

Wellness Village Spa and Fitness, a limited liability partnership with Ms Lia and a Mr Christopher Tan Khee Howe listed as partners, was struck off in September. It was registered in 2007.

Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) executive director Seah Seng Choon was “not surprised” by the spa’s actions.

“Don’t be fooled by the location. Spas are generally small businesses, unless they have an international chain … Consumers have to be careful when transacting with them,” said Mr Seah.

Since last year, CASE has received five complaints, including unsatisfactory services and difficulty in scheduling sessions, against Wellness Village. Four were made this year, with the latest complaint in October. CASE is trying to contact the company.

Article credit: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1017097/1/.html

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