'“Pay what you think it’s worth” massages – guilt trip pricing?' blog discussion

A question about : '“Pay what you think it’s worth” massages – guilt trip pricing?' blog discussion

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's Pay what you think it's worth massages - clever guilt trip pricing? Blog.

Please click 'post reply' to discuss below.

Best answers:

• They suggested an amount, but locally it's cheaper, so either split the difference or give the local norm?
  Me, I wouldn't do it unless I could see a clear pricing structure. Been caught before when it's a menu for haircutting, thought it would cost Ј15 - Ј20 actually cost Ј30!!
  Always ask first now! lol
• I think it's clever marketing. I'd certainly overpay. It's similar to the way you still give a tip to the hairdresser even when you're unhappy with the cut!
• The same booths were at an event I attended a couple of months ago... I was tempted by the massage as my back was killing me but the pricing concept was what put me off using the service - if they'd just said "it's xyz" it'd have been much more appealling to me!
  My issues were largely the same as the ones mentioned - it's guilt trip pricing and I'd feel that tense over paying too much or too little it would NOT have been relaxing lol!
• What a con trick yet again!! Ј10 for 10 minutes is outrageous for a massage and as Martin surmised most people will be too embarrassed to pay less. That is the nature of the British public! Perhaps all sellers should try this - I'm sure they would be surprised at the outcome!! We are so "not savvy" that the majority will pay anything we are told to!
• Frankly I think this is a clever technique and full marks to them for trying something different. You're not obliged to take up their services, so I don't see anything wrong with it.
  A parallel example: A friend was running a charity stall at a convention and was selling books and videos to raise money, but the videos simply were not shifting even though he'd dropped the price on them first to Ј1 and then to 50p!
  Eventually he started telling people that they were free, but it would be nice if people made a donation to the charity if they took one.
  He worked out at the end that the videos had gone on average for about Ј1.50
• I like Grahamms comments about the videos... Clever fund raising idea!... anyway about MSEs question.. I will not buy something someone doesn't price.... Suggest a minimum donation then I may give a little extra if I think it's value. Did they get much take up?
• Oh there's no denying it's a clever technique, and it clearly works - but there's no way I'd use it. I prefer things to be explicitly stated so we all know where we are!
• It looks pretty naff to me. Very public and not relaxing. It looks like no oils or equipment are used, so I wouldn't consider paying more than Ј2. i.e. Ј12 per hour and that's generous for a tacky product.
• I saw massage angels whilst in Australia several years ago and there they actually used to go around bars and clubs offering hand massages or back rubs for a 'donation' although they did have a clear suggested pricing policy on the leaflets again it was all a bit underhand. Only 'attractive' women (and a couple of men) all under a certain age and very much targeting their customers (the drunker the better!) lots of flirting going on as far as I could see too presumably to get maximum amounts. A work mate of mine who was not the most attractive of blokes was homed in on by a young attractive 'angel' giving him the puppy dog eyes and flirty smile making it very hard for him to say no she even suggested he 'treat me' and I was quickly approached...by one of the men strangely enough lol. This was an another awkward situation for him as if he said no he yet again could risk looking 'stingy'. I wasnt really interested in being 'karate chopped accross my shoulders whilst sitting on a bar stool whilst several curious onlookers watched anyway but still asked if they were trained in massage, the 'yes' was quickly followed by a 'not really' after I explained I had a muscle problems that could be flared up if not treated correctly, so would be interesting to know what 'training' the UK angels have if any as you may as well just get your partner / one of your friends to do it for free
• My sister used to work for this company. They made outrageous claims as to her earning potential and took a huge percentage of her wage as commission. They told her she could make up to Ј200 a night, when the most she ever made was Ј30 for a 7 hour shift (that's way below the minimum wage for London). She had been trained in Indian head massage previously and did receive some basic training at the start of the job, but was then left to wander round clubs in Soho and Angel with one other girl to support her. She had to fend off drunken advances all the time and only lasted in the job about 5 weeks. These type of companies (and I include the 'shot girl' ones too) pick on the most vulnerable young girls to make them money. They often have to pay money upfront to join them for Uniform and expenses too.
• About a year ago I encounter a firm offering a similar service but this was on the P&O Dover to Calais cross channel ferry. They did back, arms and neck for a guide price of Ј5. They were 2 young (late teen/early twenties) attractive women.
  As I had a problem with a trapped nerve at the time I had ago and it lasted about 15min and was happy to pay Ј5.
  Looked like they were kept busy most of the crossing doing both men and women.
• You could negotiate a fixed price for service.
  Consider that there are four idle women there. Costs being paid but no income being generated. As much use making money as an empty hotel room is at 2AM. And not even a couple of happy customers getting a back rub to encourage others to give it a try.
  The question is, what should you charge to be advertising models for them and help them to drum up some more business? What are your normal rates?
• The trouble is anyone can offer massages for payment. I have spent five years training in various massages and it is very annoying that these girls can offer massage and suggest such extortionate prices when they have been given a very basic training. They probably haven't been told of any circumstances where massage is contraindicated and probably have no idea where the various muscles are and that they shouldn't massage over the bones. And do they advice their clients of problems which could occur after the massage? I would stay well away from them.
• I came accross these people at the Ideal Home Show. I walked on because of the embarassment of it all... I hate tipping (although I do it!) because of the anxiety about how much is too little/too much etc so there's no way I could relax through a massage worrying about how much to pay. I also didn't like the semi-public nature of the booths... again not very relaxing for me!
• If I saw something like that and was after a massage I think I would ask for a guide price, see how the actual service was and then pay accordingly, I wouldn't be embarrassed to put 50p in the jar if it was awful but don't think that I would pay more than Ј5 for a ten minute massage even if it was really good if there was massage 'touts' involved!
• I pay Ј40 for regular 1 hour massage treatments for my stressed out shoulders and neck - but it has taken me over 6 years to find a masseur who has actually made me better instead of worse... please be very careful who you trust with your muscular health!
• Not as extortionate as those women in the pub toilets handing you a bit of soap/towel etc, and expecting a quid!!
• Put it in the context of what you earn in 10 mins.
  If you're on an average salary of Ј25k you'd earn Ј2 in 10 mins. OK they have their overheads etc, but I'd probably pay Ј4 and tell them "that's twice what I earn in 10 mins!!"