Massage Envy – Falls of the Neuse

Amazing Staff! The front desk girls are so welcoming specially Rebecca she is so sweet. My massage was given by Alaina and let me tell you she has the hands of a goddess! Make sure you tip your masseuse bc they deserve it!!(:

I had an appointment for 8pm tonight. They called me yesterday to reschedule for 5pm due to expected weather. I suggested rescheduling for another day because of the weather and I was assured that they were planning to be open today despite the weather. I was also assured that I would get an email if they closed.
I had not received an email at 4pm. I had heard from a friend that their parking lot was plowed. I quit work early, got out and shoveled my sidewalk and driveway of 6 inches of snow so that I could keep my appointment.
I am now sitting in the parking lot. The doors are locked. Still no email. What a big fail, Massage Envy.

I’ve been a member for over 6 years.
The price points are such that they obviously want you to be a member as the non member rates are a little high. They’ll give you a 1 hour massage at the member rate to try it out though which I thought was a good idea so you can have an experience of the service before you sign up.
The massages I’ve gotten have ranged from OK to very good and on occasion, excellent. There have been a couple of masseuses who have been exceptional but they have moved on to other locations. The staff that has been there over time give consistently good massages though. The staff is good reminding me when a massage is coming up which is great because I have been known to forget.
There has been several reasons the last year or so that I haven’t been making use ofthe service and they have been very flexible in suspending my membership so I keep it but don’t get billed for the months I am not using it. You have to stay on top of that arrangement though, as the lengths of time are finite and once the time period is up the auto billing starts again.
I don’t know if it’s just at this company or this industry but the tips they suggest are in my opinion a little high. I think I am sensitive to tipping as I was a server in various restaurants for over 10 years but the affordability of the service for me ongoing would be questionable if I had to tip 30+% of the price every time I went for a massage. I tip 20% which I can afford and still think is fair.
All in all if you are looking for a good reliable, clean, pleasant atmosphere to feel better and reduce stress at least once a month, I’d recommend it.

I actually joined Massage Envy at the Creedmoor Road location, because we had some gift cards to use up and the one closest to our home (this Falls of Neuse location) was booked up the weekend we wanted to use them.
Although I had a good experience at the Creedmoor Road location, I’ve been going to this one closer to home ever since and am very pleased with it.
Note: this isn’t like going to a spa. If you want the spa experience with a relaxing waiting room, robes, etc, you should go to a spa. Massage Envy is about rewarding yourself with regular massages. Once you join, you just call up, book an appointment, and show up for it. That’s why there’s no fancy waiting room. Members are there for the massage.
That being said, you can of course go for just a massage, but do know that they will try to sell you on joining, because that’s what they’re about.
Even though my membership means a one hour for $ 59 each month, I pretty much always upgrade for a slight fee to a ninety minute. Hour massages are a tease for me, but a ninety minute one is perfect. (even if it’s more like 80). A 60 minute one is more like 50 because they allow five minutes before and after for disrobing and getting dressed.
I will say that every Massage Therapist I’ve had has been completely different, with a different style. I find that very cool. I only had one that I thought was, well, awful, but management was kind enough to make it up to me. Another time, I had a therapist that wasn’t feeling well and had to stop part way through. Again, they made it up to me by not counting it. Mostly though, I’ve had very good experiences. Have to say that Tim, Anthony and Chris are favorites. Actually had to sit in my car a few minutes before I could drive after Tim got through with me today. Very much appreciate the hard work of these pros!
It’s not fancy, but it’s professional, and I love the variety of having options of therapists with different styles. If you prefer a certain style be sure to ASK who would be best for you. My Husband, for instance, prefers to have a gal therapist. Some do deep tissue and some don’t. If you want parts done and others not, TELL them.
The best part of being a member is knowing when you walk out of there that you have another one to look forward to. And you get to decide who it’s with and how long it will be. Yep, I’m a happy member and a fan.

There is a reason the massages are cheap! I would rather pay three times the amount and go to a nicer place! The quiet room reminds me of a doctors office… I’ve never been in a quiet room with uncomfortable chairs! The front staff accused me of being late to my first appointment! I was not told on the phone that I needed to arrive 15 minutes early. Then… instead of a relaxing quiet room with comfortable chairs and music playing with water it was a place you fill out paperwork and get asked questions by the front staff. Not to mention the front desks comes in and tells you you didn’t actually book a 60 minute massage… I booked a 50 minute massage? The only saving grace was the massage therapist Vincent who was very nice and professional. When I was leaving after I was finally relaxed they start trying to get me to become and member and pay 50 something a month… when I told her know she kept asking me why with a waiting room full of people! Annoyed and never returning! I should of listened to all of my friends who told me not to go!

I have a membership with Massage Envy and go at least once a month and usually more. I have been going for four months now and have been to three of the different locations, I have had a different masseuse every time so far, they are all good in their own way and all have different styles and feels. I suppose at some point I will pick one I like best and start returning to that particular person.
The stores are always clean and quite, and the staff is always friendly and helpful. I use to think going to a big chain to get a massage was not the way to go, but the membership and reduced prices compared to a individual masseuse makes it a very inexpensive alternative allowing more frequent visits.

Chris is an excellent therapist, who I highly recommend. If you are a veteran massage devotee as I am, please don’t be discouraged by the spa approach of Massage Envy — they are designed to appeal to a broader, comparatively less sophisticated consumer base who may not have experience with massage as a therapeutic and wellness intervention. You can find competent therapists at Massage Envy who just don’t want the hassle of hanging up their own shingle. Also, don’t be put off by the frequent tipping messaging — again, that’s the spa element at play. My only critique is that I was uncomfortable sharing medical information with front desk staff who may not be HIPAA trained — I only discuss these issues with my therapist. That said, the front desk staff are consistently pleasant.

Despite the name, Massage Envy doesn’t usually come to mind when I want to get a massage. However, because my sister-​in-​law gave me a gift certificate, I decided to check it out again (for the second time in 5 years).
The atmosphere was pleasant enough, with relaxing music and quiet halls.
After arriving, I was guided to a quiet room, offered water, and asked to complete a client information form. The questions near the bottom of the form were leading… gathering all of the right answers to recommend a membership plan at the end of the session. No surprise there.
Shortly after completing the form, I met my massage therapist, who gave me a very firm handshake. So firm, in fact, that I thought he was going to crush my hand, but that was a good thing, I knew I wouldn’t have a wimpy massage!
One thing I really liked about the set-​up was that a clock was clearly visible in the room. I noted the time that he started working, but he did me one better. He told me — «I’m starting at 9:07,» and he ended at 9:57, so I knew I had gotten my full massage time in!
The massage was very nice, and I felt great afterwards. We discussed my work/​life situation, and he made some very good recommendations as to what I could do to relax my body during the day. He then suggested a membership plan (as I expected he would), but he wasn’t pushy about it, at all — which I really appreciated.
During checkout, the front desk attendant went over my form, and reiterated the membership plan.
I wasn’t planning to sign up, but I figured, I could treat myself to a massage for $ 49/​month. I initialed sections of the agreement, but before signing on the dotted line, I read the cancellation policy, which stated that I could only cancel if I moved at least 25 miles away from a Massage Envy location, or, if I needed to stop receiving massages for medical reasons, and at that time, I would need to provide a doctor’s note.
I pointed the policy out to the attendant (who was relatively new), and he told me that they work with clients, and cancel memberships without necessarily meeting the two approved reasons for cancellation. I told him I could only go by what was written, not what was told to me — especially since I had not discussed the agreement with my husband.
The agreement works like this: you sign a 1 year contract with Massage Envy. During that time, $ 49 is drafted from your account each month. If you don’t schedule an appointment during a particular month, then that massage credit rolls over to the next month. That’s nice!
After a year, you are on a month-​to-​month agreement, and can cancel at any time. As a member, you get your first massage for $ 49, and if you want additional massages during the month, you only pay $ 39 — which is a nice deal. You can also get a facial at their North Hills or Creedmoor location — instead of your monthly massage — for a $ 10 upgrade.
The attendant told me about a 6-​month freeze account program, where an auto-​draft would not be taken out of my account. However, (they later told me after I asked), my contractual commitment would also extend for 6 months (or the length of the account freeze).
Since I hadn’t discussed it with my husband, and had already started talking myself out of making an impulse contractual purchase, I declined the membership for now.
While I enjoyed the service, and didn’t even have an issue with the membership plan, I was a little surprised with their pricing structure. A «member rate» massage is $ 49, but if you’re not a member, the price is $ 78! And that’s just the no-​frills massage. That rate is more than what I pay at a full service spa.
But I guess they have to make the price difference significant enough, that people will choose the member plan, instead of just walking in.
Finally, there’s the issue of the tip. I had already calculated in my mind, that I would tip 20%. From what I’ve experienced, 15% is standard, 18% is really good, and 20% is excellent. So, I was going to give a $ 10 tip (20%). However, Massage Envy posts tipping recommendations — $ 10 for good, $ 15 for excellent, and $ 20 for outstanding.
So, a 20% tip is only «good» in their book. I ended up tipping $ 15, but started to do the calculations — $ 49/​month plus $ 15 or $ 20 tip, ends up being about the same price that I pay for a massage at a spa, complete with the fluffy robe and sauna (or jacuzzi, depending on the spa). And with the full service spa, there’s no monthly commitment.
I can see how Massage Envy can be a good deal for some. A forced monthly massage is definitely not a bad thing! But for me — it wasn’t the right fit at this time in my life.

As others have stated, this is a massage chain with a membership business model. It is reasonably priced with flexible hours and multiple locations. However, it lacks the perks and customer service quality you might wish.
I received a gift certificate for a massage at ME, and was excited to try it out. During the call to make the appointment, the receptionist requested my credit card number and said she would charge me if I did not show up. Fair enough.
As she requested, I arrived 15 minutes early to fill out paperwork. About half of the paperwork seemed designed to provide them with info to sell me on their «Wellness Program» (i.e. membership), which they started talking to me about before I had even had my massage. A bit tacky, in my opinion, and I left a lot of questions blank. I was asked to wait in the meditation room, and my therapist would be out shortly.
Ten minutes go by, then 15, then 20. Given their expectation of respect for their time, I certainly expected the same. I went to the receptionist and complained. They apologized and said she had a prior appointment who came in late, but the therapist was supposed to stay on schedule, and again assured me that she would be with me shortly and I would receive my entire massage time.
I went back to the meditation room and waited for 5 more minutes (a total of 25 minutes). At this point, I was too aggravated and stressed to appreciate the benefits of a massage. I went back to the receptionist and said that I wanted to reschedule, and with a different therapist. They again apologized and complied, and after speaking with the manager, offered to give me the next massage for free, which I greatly appreciated.
My second appointment I was told to wait in the lobby and not offered water (not horrible, but different from the previous time). After waiting for 10 minutes, I went to the receptionist to complain, and just then my therapist came out. He was a male, which was probably good because he was quite strong and did a great job on some trouble spots in my back. The massage itself was wonderful, very professional, and I felt completely comfortable. I had been told that the massage would be 50 minutes, and it wound up being more like 45, but not a big deal since the quality was so good.
After the massage, however, came the hard sell by both the therapist and receptionist to sign up for their wellness program. I would need to think for a while about that, and make sure I could find both a location and therapist that would be a more ideal fit.

Yes I got a massage and I liked it, don’t judge! My wife joined Massage Envy’s wellness program a while ago and has been getting a massage every month and trying to convince me to join her. She tells me that she is just looking out for me but I bet the free 30 minute upgrade for the referral doesn’t hurt either.
So some background is called for I suppose. I have been struggling with back pain for over a year now. I finally broke down and saw the doctor and ended up learning that I have fluid around my spine and some protruding disks. Until I am able to meet with the specialist to discuss what this actually means, she said massage or other options might be a good alternative to try and manage the pain.
So with this in mind my wife convinced me to go get a massage with her. I arrived 15 minutes early as asked and was provided some paperwork to fill out. Once complete Liz came out and introduced herself as my massage therapist. As she walked me back into the room she asked about my preferences such as whether I wanted light, medium, or firm pressure and whether the massage was for stress, pain, or a combination. I opted to focus only on back, shoulders, and neck for this session because I have been told I carry all of my stress in my shoulders and neck and I also mainly came to give attention to the back pain. After explaining my situation to her, she described the process for me, answered any questions I had, and then left the room telling me that she would give me a few minutes to get comfortable and would knock on the door when she returned.
The room was dimly lit with soft peaceful music and nature sounds playing. This was all good until the sounds of a running creek came over the speakers. Luckily this doesn’t bother me as it does some people and I think you know what I mean without getting too graphic. So Liz returned and asked me if I was comfortable before getting started. She also explained that the table could be warmed and to let her know at any time if I need the temperature adjusted or needed her to adjust the pressure or do anything differently.
I had been prepared for the worst because a specific spot in my back hurts when any pressure at all is placed on it but by the time she made it to that location there was no pain at all. As much as I had been dead set against getting a subscription for myself when I walked in there, within the first 15 minutes I was sold. At the end of the session feeling quite relaxed (almost drunk to be honest) she told me to take my time getting ready and asked if I would like some water. Once I left the room she was outside the door waiting with a cup of water and explained the importance of remaining hydrated over the next few days and also gave me some tips on managing back pain between massages.
Once I arrived back at the front desk there was no need for the sales pitch and I signed up as an add-​on to my wife’s subscription. If you sign up as an add-​on to another plan you get a $ 10 monthly discount and the sign up fee is waived. If you choose to return in between massages you will only be charged $ 35 for an hour and I was also informed that we could use any Massage Envy location and that if we preferred, the Briar Creek and Creedmore locations had a couples massage room. And of course if you refer a friend for a massage within the first month you get a free hour upgrade, after that you get a free 30 minute upgrade for each friend referred.
All in all everybody was very friendly and patient in explaining the ropes to a massage newbie. They eased my fears, helped me do the impossible (relax) and made for an experience I would highly recommend to everybody!

Joined Massage Envy’s massage wellness program back in July when I was going through some crazy medical mess. I went for a gifted massage, and ended up feeling so good after it that they talked me right into a membership.
I’ve been going back once monthly for my massages and am in love with them! I always see Nicole and she is friendly, quiet, and has amazing technique! She offers deep tissue massage, and it really helps to work out the kinks and keep things in line.
The staff are friendly and helpful and always make sure you leave with your next appointment and a bottle of water.
My only issue with this place is that the rooms are not 100% quiet like some massage rooms. Either the staff or other patrons can be heard up and down the corridor where the massage rooms are, closing doors or chatting as they move down the hallway. If this could be rectified, the place would be perfect!