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Have You Been Negatively Affected by The Corporate Franchise?

It's time for LMTs to recognize the demise of our industry due to these corporate franchises and to find ways to protect our profession's worth. Massage Therapy has become an adjuct profession for many because of the low balling by these corporate franchises. Aside from the inadequate pay scale that these franchaises pay their therapists, the very fact that they can charge so little for such a vital health service doesn't say much about what these businesses feel we are worth. Let's join together as therapists and find ways to address this problem in the industry. Start by signing this petition and letting these franchises know their practices are unethical. Then join us to find out more about what we can do together to make change happen. https://www.change.org/petitions/the-massage-franchise-increase-pay...
 

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You crack me up!

 

Why do give a rat's rectum what anyone thinks you - let alone an entire industry you are associated with - are worth, either finanacially or otherwise?

 

Why do you care what others are paid?  Those are their choices and their lives, what business is it of yours?

 

What, pray tell, is the least bit unethical about the practices of the franchise massage industry?

 

Why do you care what another business charges customers for a good or service? That is THEIR business.

 

I guarantee you 90% of the MTs charge less for their services than our spas charge for ours. Should I be starting a petition about their lack of ethics?

 

And what on earth is wrong with making VITAL HEALTH SERVICES affordable for everyone? In the age of ObamaCare, Massage Envy should be getting the Presidential Medal of Honor for making VITAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES more affordable when the rest of the world is increasing them radically!

LOL   Like I said before.  I work in an up market spa. It cost more to get a massage where I work compared to the local franchises, but we are still busy.  And as far as I know, they are too..  I think, that for a lot of people, they just want a good massage.  

Relax & Rejuvenate said:

You crack me up!

 

Why do give a rat's rectum what anyone thinks you - let alone an entire industry you are associated with - are worth, either finanacially or otherwise?

 

Why do you care what others are paid?  Those are their choices and their lives, what business is it of yours?

 

What, pray tell, is the least bit unethical about the practices of the franchise massage industry?

 

Why do you care what another business charges customers for a good or service? That is THEIR business.

 

I guarantee you 90% of the MTs charge less for their services than our spas charge for ours. Should I be starting a petition about their lack of ethics?

 

And what on earth is wrong with making VITAL HEALTH SERVICES affordable for everyone? In the age of ObamaCare, Massage Envy should be getting the Presidential Medal of Honor for making VITAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES more affordable when the rest of the world is increasing them radically!

I'm glad you got just as much of a laugh out of my post as I got out of yours. 

You probably frequent McDonald's as well and think they should get the presidential medal of honor as well for feeding millions crap food  for $1 and pay their workers minimum wage as well huh? 



Relax & Rejuvenate said:

You crack me up!

 

Why do give a rat's rectum what anyone thinks you - let alone an entire industry you are associated with - are worth, either finanacially or otherwise?

 

Why do you care what others are paid?  Those are their choices and their lives, what business is it of yours?

 

What, pray tell, is the least bit unethical about the practices of the franchise massage industry?

 

Why do you care what another business charges customers for a good or service? That is THEIR business.

 

I guarantee you 90% of the MTs charge less for their services than our spas charge for ours. Should I be starting a petition about their lack of ethics?

 

And what on earth is wrong with making VITAL HEALTH SERVICES affordable for everyone? In the age of ObamaCare, Massage Envy should be getting the Presidential Medal of Honor for making VITAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES more affordable when the rest of the world is increasing them radically!

Well done...don't answer a single question to defend  your point of view and resort to hyperbole as a reply.

 

Try answering a question to show your idea is anything more than an irrational response

 

  • what on earth is wrong with making VITAL HEALTH SERVICES affordable for everyone?
  • Why do you care what others are paid?
  • Why do you care what another business charges customers for a good or service?

R&R, you have a really good head on your shoulders.  Do you have a degree in Economics or have you learned "the hard way" what it takes to run a business?

It matters not to me what other MT's are charging.  I charge a fair ($50/hour) price for my work, do a good job for my clients and they recommend me to friends and family.  If we had an ME here in town, I doubt that would change anything for me.

I have my own business. I worked hard to fund the start-up - buying all of my own equipment, forming an LLC, and developing myself into the kind of MT that people want to go to.  Those are the choices I made.  It's hard work but I love it!

Because exploitation is explotation no matter what brush you use to paint it.  Seeing as how you are using the term "our spa" I take it you are part of a franchise which is very interesting because your response is basically mind your own business and that is a very defensive response.  Why would your franchise underpay, skilled and licensed therapists and why would you underpay and exploit people when you yourself are saying the treatment is much needed.  If you want the medal of honor, start with integrity not sweat shops.  At the end of the day, it is not a laughing matter, this is a very serious issue and if you have that kind of a callus attitude you shouldn't be in this industry.

You wouldn't have a problem because you work for yourself and collect the total amount for your massage, you also charge the same price as the franchise which is below the standard price for massage and you don't have a problem because there isn't a franchise in your vicinity.  You might feel differently, however, if you were directly effected. 

Therese Schwartz said:

R&R, you have a really good head on your shoulders.  Do you have a degree in Economics or have you learned "the hard way" what it takes to run a business?

It matters not to me what other MT's are charging.  I charge a fair ($50/hour) price for my work, do a good job for my clients and they recommend me to friends and family.  If we had an ME here in town, I doubt that would change anything for me.

I have my own business. I worked hard to fund the start-up - buying all of my own equipment, forming an LLC, and developing myself into the kind of MT that people want to go to.  Those are the choices I made.  It's hard work but I love it!

Except that I have expenses involved with running a business that are considerable.  Just because I collect the whole fee doesn't mean I get to keep it.  And I have a lot of time invested in scheduling people, doing laundry, etc.

I wouldn't feel differently if I had a franchise close.  Actually, I don't charge the same as a franchise - I'm more expensive.  Last I knew, you could get a package at ME for around $37 a massage. My massage therapist just extended a similar offer to me, BTW, if I bought a year's worth of massages from her.  My choice was to pay more and pay as I go.  I'm different, apparently.

You still have the option of having your own business.  People don't have to work for ME or any other franchise.  It's a choice.

ME's intro rates vary from having an intro rate of 39.95 to 49.95 and monthy memberships from 49.95 to 59.95.  I don't think you would have difficulty at this point because you have already developed and established a following, however, for therapists who are just getting started with their own practice and in the business it is a lot more challenging.  In anycase, I am happy that you are prosperous and you haven't had to bare the burden of what many have.  In the end people do have a choice, I choose to travel an extra 2 hours per day to work for a place that pays me what I am worth rather than work for a local franchise but not everyone has that luxury of choice; I also run my own business on the side so I understand what you mean by scheduling time and investment.  Sometimes people may not have a car or may have a family to consider and so if they want to practice they end up settling to work for a franchise close by for less and that's what corporations like these count on, monopolizing the business so in the end everyone is drawn to not only buy from them but work for them.  I have seen the median rate for massage in the US drop considerable because many have lowered their prices just to stay in business because they love what they do and that is what they are skilled to do.  Knowledge is power, when you do the research and start to hear the stories it is definitely an education.

LOL     Both good come backs.   LOL      I see both points of view... Massage Envy has not hurt my business at all.  It's just made more people get and think about massage.. And thats good for me as a professional massage therapist.  However , I would not make enough money to pay my bills working for them. 

Gina A. Liccardo said:

I'm glad you got just as much of a laugh out of my post as I got out of yours. 

You probably frequent McDonald's as well and think they should get the presidential medal of honor as well for feeding millions crap food  for $1 and pay their workers minimum wage as well huh? 



Relax & Rejuvenate said:

You crack me up!

 

Why do give a rat's rectum what anyone thinks you - let alone an entire industry you are associated with - are worth, either finanacially or otherwise?

 

Why do you care what others are paid?  Those are their choices and their lives, what business is it of yours?

 

What, pray tell, is the least bit unethical about the practices of the franchise massage industry?

 

Why do you care what another business charges customers for a good or service? That is THEIR business.

 

I guarantee you 90% of the MTs charge less for their services than our spas charge for ours. Should I be starting a petition about their lack of ethics?

 

And what on earth is wrong with making VITAL HEALTH SERVICES affordable for everyone? In the age of ObamaCare, Massage Envy should be getting the Presidential Medal of Honor for making VITAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES more affordable when the rest of the world is increasing them radically!

I am lucky, and I know it.  I've worked hard, too, and have positioned myself to do things that literally no one else in town does (MFR, Advanced CranioSacral Therapy, Lymph Drainage Therapy, Bamboo Fusion Massage, and more).  Not everyone has the opportunity to do as much continuing education, and I get that.  

I hope that you have done the math on how much it costs you to drive back and forth, and also include that drive time in your hourly rate when figuring it out.  I used to drive all over creation when I was first getting started.  I charged a small trip fee, which helped.  Now I don't drive to anyone; they all come to me and that is great.  Driving gets really old!

Gina A. Liccardo said:

ME's intro rates vary from having an intro rate of 39.95 to 49.95 and monthy memberships from 49.95 to 59.95.  I don't think you would have difficulty at this point because you have already developed and established a following, however, for therapists who are just getting started with their own practice and in the business it is a lot more challenging.  In anycase, I am happy that you are prosperous and you haven't had to bare the burden of what many have.  In the end people do have a choice, I choose to travel an extra 2 hours per day to work for a place that pays me what I am worth rather than work for a local franchise but not everyone has that luxury of choice; I also run my own business on the side so I understand what you mean by scheduling time and investment.  Sometimes people may not have a car or may have a family to consider and so if they want to practice they end up settling to work for a franchise close by for less and that's what corporations like these count on, monopolizing the business so in the end everyone is drawn to not only buy from them but work for them.  I have seen the median rate for massage in the US drop considerable because many have lowered their prices just to stay in business because they love what they do and that is what they are skilled to do.  Knowledge is power, when you do the research and start to hear the stories it is definitely an education.

When I was referring to the car, I was referring to others that live on LI not myself.

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