Soleil Tanning Salons

This place is amazing, great service and I tried the matrix which has made me feel like I’m glowing! You must come try! Great location too so easy to get to. Prices are good and I’m going to back.

I finally got to use my Groupon last week! It wasn’t what I expected. I don’t quite know what that was but…
The store space is dim and lacks life and vibrancy. The staff was what made me give this place a 3^rd star. Iliana was so nice. She greeted me with a genuine smile and was a joy to be around. She made me feel comfortable in the surroundings. She was helpful and knowledgable.
It was my first experience with spray tan. There’s no option for tone/​color preference which kind of threw me off but I didn’t come out orange so all is well.
Parking is horrible and the breezeway is dingy. I didn’t really have the comfort of safety.
I will probably use my other two sprays and find a different spot.

They will do everything they can to NOT HONOR YOUR GROUPON DEAL. Don’t be a sucker, demand what you purchased. The tanning beds are great. Magic tan is great. The people who work there are very sweet. Parking is super easy, and you end up with a beautiful tan. They even have cute gym clothes!
That being said… I bought a groupon deal, $ 25 unlimited tanning from 30 days. They charged me $ 10 when I got here, which is not in the fine print, and groupon paid me back for it. I know it’s only ten dollars, but it’s not the point.
Now 5 months later… The Groupon deal clearly states That you may repurchase the deal after 90 days. The $ 25 dollar unlimited 30 days of tanning. But they tell me I have to buy 6 months of it, and they’ll deduct it from my account. No… I only want the one month I purchased for $ 25. After about 45 minutes I asked for a refund.
Great tanning salon, shady business practices.

Believe the Unilocal reviews. Trust me, it’s bad. I was hesitant, but in a time crunch before a trip, so I booked a spray tan.
To start, they did not have nose plugs, which they said were recommended by the FDA in the educational video. I let that slide, but then they gave me dirty goggles, which actually fell off my face while in the booth. When I got them there was mascara all over them, clearly unsanitary.
Once I got to the booth, the button didn’t work. I had to put the dirty robe on and stand there while the clerk tried a few different things and called his manager to fix it. It took about 15 minutes to finally get it to work, and he clearly had no idea what he was doing. It was quite awkward to stand there in the bathrobe and wait for this guy to fix things.
A few more things:
— The clerk told me to stand the wrong way in the booth. It sprayed the wrong side first.
— There are exposed wires and tubes in the tanning rooms
— It’s overall very dirty
— They charge you before you tan, which I was worried about when I realized that the booth wasn’t working. I’m glad they got it working.
— 4 days later, my tan is splochy and gross.
Don’t do it!

I’ve known about this place since sophomore year in high school. My friend and I would occasionally come here to get a light tan going for special occasions. Back then the prices were around $ 9 – 11 per session. Score! We always had a good time and came out with a glow.
However, over time this place started going down hill. Don’t get me wrong, their facility is large and nicely maintained and clean. However over the years the prices increased significantly, now it’s about $ 16 for a single session in the lowest quality beds :/​
However to top it off though, everyone working there seems to always say that the bulbs are new and to be careful when tanning. *im all for safe tanning, as amazing as the results are I do not condone tanning regularly.*
I personally tan very well and very quickly, I naturally have light-​medium skin tone, and haven’t sun burned since Hawaii when I was 11 years old. I understand that every persons skin is different and that there are levels of UV exposure in each bed. However, since I do tan so easily, going in for 10 mins in the lowest UV bed at any salon already gives me a nice base, going twice gives me a light tan. These days going to soleil tanning does not do that for me. Even when they have «new bulbs». And yes I use lotions, yes the ones you buy at indoor tanning salons and not possible knockoff’s online.
The straw that broke the camels back was when back in May I saw they were having a deal on groups, $ 20 for an unlimited month of tanning. (Turns out there was a new «California state tanning fee» that every salon had to charge its customers once a year or something like that, weird because when I asked around the other tanning salons they had never heard of such things. Anyway, my birthday was 3 weeks away so I eagerly purchased the groupon with the idea that maybe I would give this place one last chance. If I went once a week for those 3 weeks I would have already saved way more money than without the groupon, plus this is the closest tanning salon to my house. FAIL! I went twice in a medium for 10 – 12 mins because the bulbs were «new», and I literally had no difference in color, I wear a ring and there was nothing. I also mentioned that my face lamps were broken in one bed (as I always remember them constantly having broken/​out bulbs in all the beds). The girls at the front just apologized and said thanks for letting them know, that’s it :/​. You would think since the service you purchased wasn’t fully offered they would offer a free session but no never.
I came in yet another time during my groupon cycle, a little ok edge this time and complained about how the bulbs must be old because they literally aren’t doing anything, and if I’m going to suffer the skin damage I would like a light tan out of it. They girl just agreed with me and kind of did the oh bummer look. Then suggested I buy a session in the crazy regularly priced at around $ 40 per session spaceship looking bed. And because I had the groupon it would be offered at half off a session, $ 20, guaranteed to gradually within 12 hours or so make you 3 shades darker. 3 days later, still no color difference whatsoever.
So I called to complain to the owner, the girl at the counter left a message from me with my name number and reason for calling. It is now mid August and I never received a phone call from the manager/​owner/​anyone. In total I wasted $ 50 over 3 weeks in May and they didn’t have the decency to return my phone call.
Overall the management is shit, the girls at the front desk yeah might be stretching the truth to get/​keep customers, but then again I don’t blame them seeing as they are all young, and working long hours, they aren’t trying to lose their jobs. It’s the owner/​management that’s to blame.
I would rather pay another business twice as much as I did here if they were a trustworthy business and respected their customers to a certain extent, and not just worry about themselves and making a profit.

Highly unrecommended.
I bought the Groupon and liked the results at the time so I decided to sign up for the Groupon Alumni package. The Alumni Package is a 6 month agreement. I asked the receptionist if I could cancel my membership (I started to experience skin issues) and she provided an e-​mail and said cancellation was possible. The e-​mail is impossible to get a response from. I sent multiple e-​mails with no reply, over the course of a month. There is almost zero managerial presence so the receptionists seem to be left to fend for themselves…
I would continue as a customer if the owner’s/ a manager were much more available and present. My cancellation process was excessively stressful.

A manager just responded to my review that I posted over 12 months ago! She offered me 1 free high pressured tanning session… Too little, too late… Still poor service!

Bad customer service, everything is old and looks a little dirty. I tried the spray tan and had GREEN residue on my skin after. I wiped it with a towel but it was disgusting. And the spray tan was uneven with an overall orange glow.

Always friendly staff. However, wish they had more information about their beds… perhaps a chart/​pamphlet or something to give customers that describes each bed and the bulb’s watts/​levels. Also, they have no prices listed anywhere on their bottles so it’s hard to tell if they’re just ripping you off — the prices sure sound like it.

Can’t begin to tell you how much of a hassle and waste of time this company has been for my life. I signed up for a Platinum membership on May of 2014. Starting from last September of 2014, I had a few questions about my account and the manager at the time (who is no longer with them) that my contract couldn’t be discussed because it was locked until May of 2015. When I tried to find out information or options she told me I could freeze my account but the only way to do so is via email. I started emailing the address they had given me in November of 2015 to attempt to at least freeze my account but no one responded. Then in December I asked to also end my contract. No reply. Then January came along and a sales associate told me that my account in fact did not expire in May of 2015, but that it had been able to have been closed in November of 2015! I was so furious when I found out and attempted to reach their current manager but I have heard nothing from this mystery person, «Raquel.» That is the only thing I have heard, is her name. I am told she either «just left,» or «she will get back to you.» It is March 25, 2015 and still no Response. I have emailed their regular email and their managers emails. In fact, the sales associates have kept telling me over and over this is the only way to reach a manager. They are not allowed to even give out numbers other than other salon locations. RIDICULOUS! After emailing over 60 times, forwarding emails, calling all locations, and walking into the Berkeley location many times, I have reported them to the Better Business Bureau and am filing a small claims in court to receive my money back! I hope this is useful and I am writing this review to warn others so that no one else has to waste their time on this horrible business! The only positive thing I have to say is that EVERY sales associate at their Berkeley location has been MORE than helpful and has always been so patient with me and they have written every note I have asked them too. This is completely their manager and owners fault! They even got their owner on the phone on Sunday March 8, 2015 to tell him about my situation and he refused to speak to me because he says, «customers can get to hostile. Tell her to leave a note and email I’ll get back to her tomorrow.» THAT WAS A LIE!!!

I’ve been spray tanning for over 10 years in several different states. This is by far the absolute worst machine I’ve ever used. Don’t waste your time. It shouldn’t even be in use it’s either too old or just malfunctions but the tan is not even and I’ve never used such an old machine. They gave me a free tan but even 2 did not fix it. I’m really appalled they are in business and the owner is selling this as a service

Overpriced and poor consumer service. If you’re interested in doing beds, then this is an okay option. A tanning bed is a tanning bed. But otherwise, worst spray tan of my life. I get spray tans in the booth every so often. I usually get a Mystic Tan and I have never had a bad experience.
But, when I came here to get a tan for a wedding that I was a BRIDESMAID in, I had a horrible experience. The girl working the desk told me that someone was in the Magic Tan booth and I would have to wait for her to clean it. No big deal. Then she said it was ready for me. I am in the booth, getting my tan, frozen in the running position when I feel something wet dripping on me. I look up and there’s water dripping on me from the ceiling during my tan!
Afterwards I said something to the girl at the counter and she said «oh thats totally normal, its just water.» I said «No, like will this make my tan streak?» and she responded saying that it is okay, its not harmful etc etc.
Sure enough, I had 4 or 5 streaks down my arms and legs. There was nothing I could do about it at that point. Will never get a spray tan here again.

Early birds beware, these people NEVER show up at 9:00 am although their sign clearly states «9:00am –10:00 pm EVERYDAY» I’m a full time mother and have a full time job, the only free time I have is in the mornings and the fact that I have to stand outside waiting for these people to open up their store is inconvenient and unprofessional. Today my day was packed pretty tight, 9:10 still no one there so I didn’t get to tan today… If this wasn’t the only tanning salon in Berkeley I would never come here.

Worst spray tan I’ve ever received. Booth was dirty and had condensation that dropped off the ceiling ever time the spray was going leaving me with the streakiest mess of a tan ever. Also the front desk lady was clueless… Epitome of a stereotypical «dumb blonde»… When I ask a question don’t respond with a «whaaaaaahhhhhttt?» Or a «hahahaha I don’t knowwww». There’s no reason to drag your words out.

Over priced. No parking. Rude staff. Enough said. go to the hidden tanning salon in Montclair cheap but gets the job done!

I’m so happy I discovered this place so close to my house! I just want to get some vitamin D in the system, cause I’m a desert girl living at the wrong the latitude.
I’ve been really impressed with the way the new management is catering to and taking care of their customers’ needs. I just signed up for a package, and have been enjoying the basic beds, but have been wanting to try out the top tier MATRIX bed so I can be in and out, but haven’t because of how expensive a single session is, even with a package. The new manager, Elizabeth, totally took time to ask me about how she could help improve my experience at the salon, and offered me an awesome deal so that I could try out that bed! She even offered me bottled water :) jeez, so nice. How did she know I’d be dehydrated when stepping out of a UV space-​pod? She must be psychic. Awesome customer service, really genuine and sweet manager, and clean/​conveniently located salon. All is well in sunny Berkeley, ya’ll.

Soleil Tanning salons in Albany charged my account three months late via a debited transaction. Because of this my checking account went negative and two checks were bounced. I emailed and received no response. I called and finally reached Raquel at the Berkeley location. She was kind but not helpful, stating that someone would call me or email me and give me an explanation. Needless to say I DON’T want to tan here anymore– oh yeah except that I can not return the tans I have. It is unheard of for something like this to happen and no one to assume accountability. APPALLING!!!

Okay, seriously?
I’m not an über tanner. I mostly do it so I’m less likely to burn on vacations.
I went in, told the girl I hadn’t tanned in years or seen real sun months. Told her in the past I’d done a medium pressure for 8 to 9 minutes.
She told me she does 20 minutes and it’s no big deal. With 15 minutes, I’d be fine.
NOT FINE.
Burnt all over. Painfully burnt, for three days. So badly burnt, that on a more sensitive area, I peeled (read entire chest.) AND scabbed a little!
I’m not pale. I have an olive skin tone and spent 8 months in central america from last september to this May.
Not only did I get burnt, but the bed didn’t close all the way and I didn’t tan evenly.
Service was slow and pathetic.
It was a free tan, thank god.
Before writing this review, I did call to talk to a manager. The girl said she had no idea when one would come in, that they don’t open or close the store, and that she hasn’t seen one in days.
FAIL.

I have been a client for only a few weeks now and every single time that I have gone into the Berkeley Salon I have an issue. Whether it was an issue with the Matrix bed being turned off on me TWICE or my buying a pair of sandals that fell apart the first time that I wore them, only to be told that since I never got a receipt (which the girl working said I didn’t need since it was on my account) I would need to contact the manager via email and I had only 4 days to do it. Needless to say, I never heard back from them! Now I have $ 40 pair of sandals that the sole is completely ripped off of!!! The worst part is my 1^st time in, I agreed to a 6 month package that I now can’t get out of! At least I can still go the the Albany Salon.
Thanks for nothing Berkeley Soleil!
Here I come Albany, and thanks for being such a great salon, too bad we can’t say the same thing about Berkeley!
— A VERY upset client

I’m glad I like this place, because it’s the only option that’s walking distance from home. No complaints at all; it’s always clean, quiet and serene, the front desk staff are professional and courteous, and reasonably priced.
Lost a star for the reason everyone complains about; the lotions are outrageously priced. I’ll never buy that here again.