I visited the Stress Less Step in Scottsdale AZ the weekend following Valentines Day 2002 with my girlfriend. Although this was not my first visit to the Stress Less Step, it had been well over a year since my last trip; and things sure have changed! The atrium has become a fake-tree-um as 40 horrible plastic trees adorn the lobby area, the Russian Sauna has been removed and replaced with additional service rooms and massage therapists gather by the juice bar laughing and chatting thus spoiling what should be a tranquil and peaceful environment.
The intent was to get away' for a few hours and relax however I found myself getting continually stressed while at the Stress Less Step. First the Russian Sauna had been removed so you ask what's the big deal companies make changes all the time. Well, at the time of my visit, their web site, in-house marketing material and on-hold music all bragged about Arizona's only Russian Sauna. One is thus left with a 5x5 steam room that did not get very steamy and a 5x5 sauna that did not get very hot to soak in before ones massage. My one hour massage lasted for 50 very noisy minutes as the massage therapist and client in the next room chatted and laughed away completely ignoring my therapists requests for peace and quite. Now add in the fact that prices have increase from $65 to $80 for a massage.
I decided to call a few days later and spoke with Hilda the spa manager. She listened diligently as I described my experience, and then started to cover.
She explained that the Russian Sauna was removed due to cost of maintenance and that she did not control the marketing material, that they were in the process of changing the website and they did not know how to switch the on-hold music. She told me that their one-hour massage is actually a 55 minute massage and that $80 was for the massage only and all other services (sauna, spa, shower, locker, juice bar) were free. She said she would talk to the therapists about the noise level but did mention that she was giving a massage at that exact time and did not notice any noise.
In consideration of my experience, she however credited my account $10 thanks, Hilda.
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