ZENARA DAY SPA — Local services in New York

Beware of Aggressive Sales Tactics and Poor Customer Treatment I used to enjoy coming to this massage place, but my recent experiences have been extremely disappointing and stressful. Back in 2019, I was aggressively pressured by the owner to purchase a 10-massage package for $1,630, even though I repeatedly explained that I rarely get massages and didn’t want to buy it. I was assured there was no expiration date on the package, so after 15 minutes of relentless pushing, I eventually agreed to purchase it with the understanding that I could use it over several years. Since then, my significant other and I have occasionally used the package, but starting in 2022, things began to go downhill. The owner claimed not to have a record of my purchase, and I had to repeatedly show my receipt to prove I bought the package. It was a frustrating experience, especially since they marketed the package to me so aggressively. In 2023, things escalated further. The owner's son became involved in the business and, when my significant other went to use the package, he rudely insisted it had expired after one year—despite the fact that we had used it multiple times over the course of several years. After a heated discussion where my significant other tried to explain the original agreement, he yelled at her in front of other customers, asking, "Who would allow you to use a package years after purchasing it?" He was unprofessional and disrespectful, which left her feeling humiliated. He eventually called me, and the conversation was equally frustrating. I explained to him that his mother had been the one to aggressively sell me the package with the promise of no expiration date. His behavior made me feel that the business was operating in a predatory manner, switching the terms on customers after they had already committed. Despite this treatment, he allowed us to continue using the package, but every subsequent visit was met with hostility. The final straw came when my significant other went for the last treatment. The owner's husband rudely implied he was doing us a "favor" by allowing us to use the package, even though we had paid in full for it. They even interrupted her massage session to ask for my phone number, when she was willing to provide it to look up my package, prior to the massage and despite the fact that they knew who we were. The masseuse Wendy is fantastic—kind, professional, and excellent at her job. Unfortunately, the owner's family is ruining what could be a great experience. The business plays loud music, disorganized, and treats customers who have prepaid packages poorly. Their tactics feel like a classic bait-and-switch, and the way they handle customers is completely unprofessional. I would not recommend this place. The stress and hassle of dealing with the owner's family outweigh any potential benefit of the massages themselves. It's a shame because the massage staff, especially Wendy, deserves better. Follow up response:

Thank you for your response, but I’d like to clarify a few points.

I did not "take advantage" of your services. When I bought the package in 2019, I was assured there was no expiration date, which is why I agreed to it. I also mentioned that I don’t get massages often, and the owner reassured me I could use it as needed.

Suggesting I misused the package is frustrating, as I followed the original terms. It’s disappointing to see conditions change after the purchase, especially when I’ve always complied.

We never asked for special treatment; we simply used the services we paid for. Any misunderstanding about expiration should have been communicated upfront, not after years of usage.

While I appreciate redeeming some services, I don’t appreciate being harassed while using what we rightfully paid for. Businesses should honor their promises, and to suggest otherwise contradicts what was initially told to us.

Thank you for your time, and I hope this...

Warning! DO NOT get your hair cut here, especially if you have grown your hair out after losing it to chemotherapy or pregnancy. The hair stylist at this location, Miguel, doesn't know how to properly brush fine hair and will rip it out. He also doesn't know how to cut and style hair. Here is what happened to me after I visited this salon:

After my hair finally grew out from hair loss, I came here two months ago for a simple one inch trim and ended up with uneven layers, thin hair, and bald spots. Normally, I only share positive reviews, but I am traumatized and have decided I should warn others about my experience, so the same thing won't happen to them.

Miguel couldn't even brush my hair properly. He ripped it out, and it was painful. After that, he decided to thin my hair with thinning shears. I have no idea why, never asked for it, and didn't even know that this was a technique. He used the thinning shears on top of my head, my parietal ridges, and temples. He started cutting near the roots and even trimmed my baby hairs. Keep in mind, I only came in for a minimal trim. I told him I wanted to keep my hair long since it took about 2 years to grow out after pregnancy. Now my hair is uneven in all directions, it looks frizzy, thin, and cannot be styled or fixed until it grows out. It will take at least 2 years for my hair to grow back to how it was before I entered this salon, and that's only if the hair that was ripped out is able to grow back at all. I will never...

It's a nice salon with good quality products and a variety of services; however, as a person who travels the world and gets these types of services done all around the world, I don't think the quality of the manicure and pedicure services I have got today was good quality, specially for a New York salon! My toe nails were trimmed with a nail clipper but not filed to shape, left with uneven and crooked toe nails, it actually looks funny!! The tough skin around my toe nails and finger nails were not cleaned sufficiently as I have uneven splintering skin around the nails. Oh well, it was worth a try but I won't be a repeat customer as the nail technicians don't have the rigour and motivation to be there. They look like they're not happy to be there which makes the customers uncomfortable. The price paid was far too much for the low quality...