The Swedish Massage
I decided to claim my free Swedish massage today as it was going to expire soon. As the spa place was in the building just across the gym, I was there half an hour before the appointment time. When the lift door opened onto the 12th floor, I was literally taken aback as the reception counter was right smack in front of the lift lobby! Talk about an imposing first impression…
And looking at me simultaneously were 4 staff – 2 dressed in black jackets and 2 in white suits. From my past experience, I suppose the black jackets are the customer service people and the white suits are the therapists. While the black jackets looked professional and the white suits angelic, step gingerly out of the lift I still did as I certainly was not used to getting such a grand reception. The only thing missing was the red carpet and the adoring fans asking for my autograph by both sides.
As it was a free trial, I was asked to fill up a particulars form which I did obediently. When I returned the form to the counter, one of the black jackets asked me for my identity card. I was contemplating if I should hand it to her as it’s not an offence in Singapore not to carry your IC with you. But I decided to be nice since these people were going to give me a free massage treat.
When I handed over my IC, I thought she was just going to double check my particulars with what I had written on the form. But I was wrong. She actually copied the same particulars from my IC and rewrote them in red ink above what I had written on the form!
Writing in red ink reminds me of what my teachers would do when I made a mistake back in my school days. My first thought was did I make a mistake on the form that she had to use red ink to rewrite it? And was I going to be punished by having to do my corrections later? Instantly, I felt insulted. And the professionalism image she had portrayed in my eyes went straight down the drain.
Excuse me, I know my own name, address and date of birth. There is no need whatsoever for you to copy this information again when I had dutifully completed the form. Is it because my handwriting is illegible? Or does it resemble chicken scratchings? If she had stated her intent earlier, then I would not have bothered to fill up the form at all in the first place. It was just a waste of my time.
Just at this moment, a macik (auntie in malay) walked out and started complaining that she was tired as she had serviced so many clients. This macik I believe is the masseur. Alright, so I’m not going to be massaged by the angelic looking ones in white suits. Oh well. My impression of the spa fell several notches because the macik was complaining right in front of a customer. Hello, did anyone teach her to not wash dirty linen in public?
By now, I was praying hard not be serviced by this macik as I certainly did not want to be on the receiving end when she was massaging my back later. I thought my prayers were answered when I saw two other maciks walk out.
I was wrong again. In life, it’s amazing how when you hope to have someone or think of something, it naturally delivers itself to you. Just when I was hoping beyond hope not be serviced by that macik, I was very soon told that she was indeed going to massage me. Aargh…..talk about the power of negative intent.
Anyway, she ushered me into the narrow doorway with no smile on her face. Macik, saya tahu awak penat, tapi kasi saya senyum boleh? (Macik,I know you are tired but can you give me a smile?) Never mind, she is just not going to smile at me.
I was asked to deposit my flip-flops in a cupboard. Half thinking I was going to be offered a pair of Japanese slippers or something, I waited there like an idiot. She just waved her hand. I asked to use the toilet. And boy did I regret it. With no slippers, the floor was icy cold. And worse, it was wet. God knows if it’s water or is it urine? Okay, let’s not think about it. My impression of the spa naturally fell a few notches.
After taking off my clothes and changing into the shorts, I lay on the massage bed with my face facing downwards. The macik entered and started doing the massage.
Throughout the entire 30 minutes, she was coughing away. I was seriously contemplating asking her to stop or wear a mask at least. This is not good. If I were to rate her service, I would just say she was average. Never once did she ask me if I was comfortable or if I needed a change of touch from soft to hard or vice versa. She just did her job like she would go about her routine. From the way she operated, I knew she was massaging yet another customer and wanting to get it over and done with quickly. To speak the truth, I didn’t really enjoy the massage.
30 minutes later with the massage done, the macik ushered me into a smaller room and asked me to drink tea. When I stepped into the room adorned with a round table and 4 chairs, I immediately knew what was going to come next. It’s the sales pitch time.
I had made up my mind before I entered the spa that I would not be taken in by any offers nor their sweet words to sign for a package deal. My sole aim was just to claim my free massage. Nonetheless, I still had to give them a chance to present, right?
Sipping my tea slowly, I was counting the minutes. Five minutes passed and no black jackets came in to start their sales pitch. This was the defining moment that drove the nail into the coffin and caused my impression of the spa to fall to rock bottom. Well, if they are not going to start, then I would not let them start. Pick up my bag and walk out of the room I did all the way to the lift lobby.
Just when I was about to press the lift button, I heard someone call my name. Mr Lim. Ha, such formality. She must mean business. I turned around and saw a black jacket walking up to me. This time, she smiled. She asked if I wanted to find out more about the packages. I just smiled, shook my head and said goodbye.
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