NY Renewing Spa 2 — Local services in New York

I recently visited Renewing Spa 2 for a 90- minute massage. The person I spoke to on the phone to book my appointment was very friendly and helpful, and when I arrived I was immediately given a cup of cold water. Things went downhill from there.

First, I was asked to pay before my massage, which I’ve never experienced in any of the many spas I been to. It’s impossible to know what kind of tip is appropriate before the massage. Inside the cubicle, there was a sign: "We are a legitimate service. No hanky panky," which made me very uncomfortable. What is going on here if that sign is necessary?

The massage therapist did not introduce himself or ask any questions before starting: "Do you have any injuries? What would you like to focus on? Are you in pain today?"

Initially, the pressure was good but gradually diminished. At one point, the therapist left the room without saying anything, returning a few minutes later with hot stones I hadn't requested. These stones were painfully hot (I don’t know how he was able to hold them), and the time spent using them was shorter than the time he was out of the room.

During the leg massage, he massaged one spot with one hand for several minutes, making it clear he was using his phone with the other hand. This one-handed technique continued for about 15 minutes on my left leg. When I lifted and kept my head out of the face cradle, he abruptly switched to my right leg, massaging it vigorously with two hands for only a couple of minutes.

The massage ended with him repeatedly pulling on my feet, then lifting and dropping my legs, leaving me with ankle pain that has persisted since the session. I experienced no relief from the sore muscles that prompted me to book the massage.

Upon leaving, the reception area was empty, and the door was locked. A woman finally appeared but then blocked my way while the therapist rudely asked “Cash or card for the tip?”. Given the poor quality of this lackadaisical massage by someone who was obviously distraction by his phone, I had no intention of leaving a tip. It was several minutes before I was allowed to leave.

I do not recommend Renewing Spa 2 and will not...

I’ve been to this place four times, but the last two visits made me regret giving it another chance.

On my most recent visit, the masseuse (Sofia) told me it would be an extra $10 to use oil. I had never been charged extra for oil before, but I agreed, assuming maybe they had changed their policy. I booked and paid for a 75-minute massage — 60 minutes body and 15 minutes feet.

During the session, she did a full-body massage for 1 hour and 10 minutes. I wasn’t keeping track of time since I was lying down and trying to relax. When she said she was done, I asked about the 15 minutes of foot massage that was supposed to be included. She immediately said “no no no,” insisting that she had already done 1 hour and 10 minutes of body massage and that if I wanted feet, I’d have to pay extra.

I showed her my phone with the booking confirmation clearly stating 60 minutes body + 15 minutes feet. It’s not my fault if she spent extra time on my body instead of following the package I purchased. She became rude, claimed she didn’t speak English, and said she could only do 5–10 minutes more.

I had to speak with the woman at the front desk to explain what I paid for, and only then did she agree to do the foot massage — but even then, it lasted just 8 minutes.

To make things worse, I later found out the oil she charged me for was CBD oil, which explained the extra $10, but that was never made clear when she offered it.

I still gave a 20% tip, but I left more stressed than relaxed. After this last visit, I’ve decided I will never return and will take my...

My wife and I were regular customers of Renewing Spa 2 for three years since it's close to our apartment and surrounded by a lot of good restaurants. The pricing is standard for the area and the facility is somewhere in the middle. What made Renewing more competitive than other places in the neighborhood was their loyalty program - one stamp for every massage we buy. Collect 10 stamps, get a free massage. At least, that's what we were told our first time here.

Last week, we tried redeeming our fourth loyalty card. As was the case the previous two times we tried to redeem, the "policy" suddenly changed. Even though we'd end up with 11 stamps that day, the front desk attendant denied us the free massage redemption. When we asked why, she replied that "her family literally owns this place," as though that justifies the inconsistency. We pushed back and had her call the guy we normally speak to. He told her to give us the free massage, which resolved the immediate issue. However, this is the third time we've had to negotiate what should be a straightforward incentive. Renewing Spa 2 clearly hasn't written down an actual redemption policy or communicated out how that policy should work.

There is also is a high turnover. I have had a few sports related surgeries and as I get older, it's much easier for me to have the same masseuse instead of having to reexplain my injuries. Every time I find a masseuse I like, within months, she's no longer working at Renewing. For these two reasons, we're taking our...