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Review content:
I've patronized Bliss on 57th Street a number of times, but the quality of services and overall experience have been inconsistent. My last visit was absolutely dreadful, which is why, ever since, I've chosen to take my business to several of Bliss's many, many competitors.
On that last visit, I received a facial treatment I'd experienced a number of times before, so I knew what to expect. However, this particular time, the facialist was obviously rushed, clumsy and sloppy, with impatient sighs, rough handling and a generally grumpy manner. She made no effort whatsoever to promote a relaxing atmosphere. (You can always tell when a facialist or massage technician loves their job -- they relish putting you into a state of total -- well, "bliss".) That wasn't the case here. When my treatment was finished, she left a too-thick layer of shiny skin balm on my face that I had to remove myself in the ladies' room. It was true that with this particular treatment, a light protective layer of balm is usually left on the face, but this was overkill. I could actually feel the weight of the glop on my face.
When it was time to check out, a woman who identified herself as the manager asked how I enjoyed my visit. I was honest with her, about my disappointment and how this visit compared to past visits. Rather than making a heartfelt apology (or even offering something to compensate for the poor service I received for my money), the manager chose to argue with me. She defended her employee and insisted I had to be wrong. What school of management did this woman go to, anyway? The school of "tick off as many customers as possible, as soon as possible"? Whatever happened to "the customer is always right"? She actually challenged my experience, the one she wasn't in the room to witness. When I made a complaint about the heavy balm, she tried to tell me it was "supposed to be that way", and seemed disconcerted when I informed her that I'd had the treatment a number of times before and I knew how it was "supposed to be". Bad, bad manager! In fact, let's call it "bottom of the barrell" manager! This is the kind of defensive reaction I might expect from an inexperienced manager of a storefront nail salon, but certainly not in the context of the high-rise, high-rent, high-priced elegance of Bliss.
My advise? Skip Bliss. Try any one of the MANY other innovative, new and/or eager-to-please day spas popping up every day. Perhaps Bliss grew too quickly to keep up with its original idealistic vision.
One last "con" of the entire Bliss chain: at the time of my last visit, Bliss still had not committed itself to investing in spa robes to fit clients of all sizes. Not very progressive of you, Bliss!
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