massagefan320

I am very direct in my first message, typically asking for the rate and are you available today.  A lot of these providers are free spirits, they literally don't know where they will be in two weeks.  Some of these people are here today, gone tomorrow.  If you are thinking of booking an appointment like you do your doctor, very few providers act that professionally, and you are better off going to Massage Envy.  I read reviews here to get the lowdown on their massage, I wouldn't want to play 20 questions with a potential client either when I know most people in general aren't serious about booking an appointment.

Very few providers are literally available now when the status says so.  Most need at least two hour notice (which is fine).  Some say they are not available for the day, after I inquire.  I wish there were more specific statuses, like available today, for instance.

Whenever it is dark in the room after the massage, and I can't see well, I always ask for the light to be turned on.  I want to make sure I don't leave anything behind, for instance.  Also, I always count the money at least two times before handing it over.

17 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

That's normal with him.

If I wanted conversation, I'd go to my hair stylist, not my masseur.

He's a quiet sort. That's true. But I rather like the zen quality he projects.

I don't even like it when my hair stylist tries to strike a conversation with me, but at least say a couple of sentences to me.  I may go back, it's just extraverted people maybe turned off by him.

3 hours ago, Nyc2 said:

Saw him last week at his east village place. His place is very small and I honestly didn’t get the best feeling being in there. He wasn’t very friendly or communicative or even if there’s any particular areas that’s bothering me. Massage cream was SO greasy and didn’t even offer a towel afterwards. After the release he just went to the bathroom, not a word. So I was just lying there wondering what’s going on - is it over, is he going to continue? He ended up shorting me 15 mins. 
When it came to actual massage technique, he was fine. It was an okay therapeutic massage - no sensual elements. 
Sure he’s an attractive guy, but honestly wasn’t worth the $200. 

I had a similar experience with him last week as well, but I had sensual elements, and he did not short me on time.  I enjoyed it, but he literally said about ten words to me the entire time.

On 1/22/2023 at 6:25 AM, BenjaminNicholas said:

Too many people sign up for cards based on what perks they THINK they'll use (or, the cachet of the card).

You've got to be realistic about your spend and how valuable a card's perks are to you, specifically.

I read through a ton of posts on reddit's CC subs and it's telling to see people drop the card in one year, usually as soon as the yearly fee hits.  It's nearly a churner's mentality, but without really fully exploiting the points or perks.

I'm not usually a spreadsheet kind of guy, but for the credit cards I use, it benefits me in keeping up with getting the most out of the plastic I'm using.

Re: Amex...  I've never had an issue anywhere with it being accepted.  They also have some of the best customer service in the industry.  Amex's concierge has pulled some rabbits out of hats for me when it comes to last-minute reservations and tickets.  I consider it a card I'd never not have in my wallet.

Some places overseas will not accept Amex, I have encountered this before.

On 4/23/2023 at 6:06 AM, JEC said:

My primary accounts are at Capital One.  The Capital One QuickSilver card earns 1.5% cash back on everything (+no annual fee), they also have many offers for much higher rewards (i.e. 8% on Priceline for travel).  There is also a CapitalOne shopping plug-in which helps you make sure you are getting the best possible price inclusive of rebates.  I'm interested in the CapitalOne Venture X which is comparable to Amex Platinum for a much lower annual fee ($395), VentureX includes a free subscription to PriorityPass airport lounges and CapitalOne is starting to build their own airport lounge network.   Anyone else have CapitalOne VentureX?  

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review - The Points Guy - The Points Guy

THEPOINTSGUY.COM

---

Venture X, Capital One's first foray into the world of premium travel rewards cards, knocks it out of the park and is nearly a no-brainer for luxury-seeking travelers.

 

Disclosure, I work for Capital One.  I just got the Venture X card, and it is not comparable to Amex Platinum.  The Amex lounges are better than the Priority Pass lounges in general.  Amex's other benefits trump the Venture X.  Is the Platinum worth the $695 fee?  Only if you travel a lot.

I saw him the other day and enjoyed the massage.

Services look like only bodywork.

On 10/14/2022 at 12:45 PM, Medin said:

It sounds like I'm likely in the minority, but I won't wait more than 10 minutes for an escort if they hadn't notified me well in advance they are running late.  Nowadays it only takes a quick text or email to notify someone.  They either learn some basic business etiquette or they don't need my business.  I usually have to adjust my schedule to meet them and sometimes have a long drive as well.  I expect them to be on time.  Sorry if the provider overbooked, was at the gym, wanted to eat breakfast first, etc.  They are essentially telling us our time has no value.  My own clients don't accept the excuses so why should I accept them when the tables are turned and I'm paying $300+/hour?   

I would rather be 20 minutes early than 5 minutes late.  I am in my early 40s.  My outcalls are always at least half an hour late.  I do live uptown and the subway by me is slow.  I tolerate the lateness up to a point.  Do people arrive routinely late to incalls, I surely don’t.

I feel the same way and I live in NYC.  I will stick to my regulars.

When I see "available now" and I don't get a response, I don't get upset, but I think it is in poor form.  There is no obligation the person gets back to me.  I wish the sites had an "available today" message in addition to "available now".  (People also don't turn it off when they are not available anymore).  I literally think "available now" means, available in the next two hours, but that is not how many people view that message.  I get upset when I book an appointment, am waiting outside the person's apartment, then they cancel, like what happened to me yesterday.  I also don't like to schedule too far in advance because of the number of cancellations I have experienced for various reasons, which all amount to, someone or something better came along...One masseur in NY does use a Square calendar that lets you schedule appointments.  He still has to approve the appointment, but at least I know when he is not available for sure. 

I had two messages recently, each masseur voluntarily told me they were slow...

13 hours ago, Jim_n_NYC said:

I'm not sure we are supposed to be able to schedule it ourselves.  The 2nd shot button on the site has been greyed out this entire time, but I was told when I got my shot that I would be contacted for my second one in 3 to 4 weeks.  So maybe they are just scheduling the 2nd one manually?  Dunno.

I was told yesterday I would be getting an email to schedule a second shot here in NYC, the technician made me verify my email address carefully for this reason.

He had a girlfriend/fiancee when he massaged me years ago.  He lived very close to me at the time.  Nothing worth repeating for.

I went recently in NY.  Hotel room massage, lasted 35 minutes, not trained, not outgoing, would not repeat.

On 5/19/2022 at 12:43 PM, dutchal said:

Anybody tried him as a masseur?

He was very good as a masseur.  Better looking in person than his photos.

On 3/12/2022 at 12:12 AM, JQ915 said:

How much for grooming?

His website has all of his prices.  You can even book your appointment on the site.  His new location is better than his old space.

On 1/16/2022 at 10:30 AM, ontheroad said:

I think $200 unless it’s changed again. It’s not outrageous imo.

It was $200 for me.  He used to be $160 I think the time before I went to him.  $200 is pretty much the norm here now, like it or not, for many masseurs.

I had another massage with him recently.  It was better than the last time I saw him, but it wasn’t at “another level” for me, especially at his current price point.

At least in NYC, lease renewals are going up dramatically.  I am being increased 15% next month, I have read of higher like 30%.  I have noticed the trend too.  The ones that were not $200 are now approaching it.

14 hours ago, ontheroad said:

I agree on last minute or pretty close on masseurs I’ve never tried. Yes I agree that some will jump to a better opportunity but honestly I think most just have poor executive function skills. It’s probably one reason they do massage. They don’t operate like the type of people who successfully work in a structured office environment and if they don’t have someone to help them manage their day, chaos often follows which is misidentified as the client being considered an after thought or a dime a dozen.

You may be right, but I can’t be shlepping all around town for nothing, especially when the subway seems to take forever for me, and I don’t live in Hell’s Kitchen.  The person I was talking about cancelled on me before, but had a legitimate excuse.  Someone else cancelled on me recently for the fourth time (he cancelled on me three times in a row awhile ago).

The two or three times I went to EddieManhattan, he never offered me a menu either.

This is why I almost always book appointments last minute, some masseurs are flaky.  If you book last minute, they are more likely not to flake on you.  However, the more popular masseurs normally can't be booked last minute.

I recently had an experience with a masseur that is excellent where I booked with him almost a week in advance, let him give me the date and time, and I confirmed.  I go to the appointment, and he has company.  He had no idea we were supposed to meet.  I showed him the texts, and he was bewildered.  He asked me to come back in an hour, and I said yes.  Then ten minutes later he texted me saying he is too tired to do it (it was later in the evening) and apologized for the miscommunication. I guess my fault a little that I did not confirm day of, but still...

The sense that I get from EddieManhattan and other successful masseurs are that clients are a dime a dozen.  Unfortunately, they don't particularly care about you or your time if you are inconvenient to their plans or situations.  They literally could care less if they don't get your money, there will be someone else waiting...  I also now avoid booking if I know the masseur is about to go on a trip or coming back from a trip.  

I have been drooling over massagenow for years. But know one seems to know him. His private pic is mighty fine . I like the Paris guy as well. His

private pics are nice too. You got good taste in masseurs. Terp

I went to massagenow earlier this week. He is very good and very friendly. His pictures are out of date, but he is good looking. I used to go to him when he previously lived in NY. I don't know why he changes his name on the site, it is one of the better messages I have gotten.

Sounds like a must try. Does he do the body grooming at the studio and the massage at his 5th floor walk-up apartment reference in above post?

His studio is the 5th floor walkup. He does not live there, but it is his space exclusively as far as I know. He does both massage and body grooming there.