I went for a massage this past Wednesday (April 2) at Hand and Stone. I had a male massage therapist - I typically stick with women but I really didn’t care.

However..the massage was AWFUL. I feel terrible saying that because he was a friendly nice enough person but I have never been so disappointed.

I paid $150 for a 50 minute massage (I only tipped $10 bc I was so in shock and disappointed about it) - I don’t make a lot of money so this was a splurge and I was so looking forward to it.

I don’t even know how to explain why it was so awful, but basically this:

• the pressure was barely-there despite him saying it’s medium pressure (imagine running your hands along someone’s skin with maybe a little bit of leaning pressure)

-He spent a lot of time just stretching me throughout the massage..and not even real stretches. He just flopped my wrist back and forth or leisurely laid my leg back. Just flopping me around doing nothing.

• He spent a lot of time just applying pressure to my back (like putting his hands on my back and then leaning body weight in to it) but still not even that hard for the “pressure” to have an affect..also 50% of the massage should not be static pressure. I want to be MASSAGED! Give me pressure and run along my muscles!

• When he did actually massage me he would only do one part of the muscle and not follow anything through to attachment points or what not so it was never satisfying

• He spent a lot of time getting warm wet towels to place on my limbs - don’t get me wrong this felt nice for the first 7 seconds, but then he’d run to the other side of the table and place the towel on the opposite limb and by then it was just a cold wet towel. He did this about 4 or 5 times it was so unnecessary and not enjoyable.

• He also soent a lot of time just..kinda squeezing me? Like he squeezed all my fingers like a kid squishing something soft

I filled out a report on the website about it and they asked if I wanted someone from the location to reach out and I said yes but have heard nothing.

Should I contact them directly and ask for a refund or would that make me a jerk? I don’t really want a credit to go back (except maybe another location?) because it was so awkward.