[nono1973]

Originally Posted by MovingTarget

Just came back from Batam for a 2 days 1 night stay at iBaloi Hotel. Nice hotel, spacious and comfortable with good spread of breakfast.

See you quietly lurking around in this thread,all of a sudden pop up with so much information almost causing an indigestion on my information collecting vault,hehehe...

Originally Posted by MovingTarget

Went to in-house spa called Theraz Spa on the 3rd level. While booking for a 2 hours time slot, saw a therapist who is slightly plump walking in with her food. Talked to her and she can do "kuat" massage. I kind of like it because this plump massage lady has meaty hand and when massage your neck and shoulder, you will feel very comfortable. I then told the counter staff that I book her at 2.30 pm. No comment from counter staff and I thought I had booked her.

When you see me quote this part of your post,i believe you will know what i wish to ask already. Whats a "kuat" massage?

Originally Posted by MovingTarget

Went to take lunch and after some rest time, go to the Spa at 2.30 pm. Was told that she cannot massage me by the same counter staff. I asked why. She said it was not her turn yet. So they picked another therapist who was in rotation for me. Then came the rotation therapist who is the opposite of plump and does not has meaty hand. I told her I am not keen to do if the plump lady was not massaging me.

She went to talk to Spa Manager who came out to reinforce the same idea saying no and I can't have the therapist that I chose earlier. They were on rotation. (I suppose each therapist deserve a chance to earn commission from the Spa itself).

Fine, I thought to myself because it is their management and they get to decide. It is whether I take it or leave it. Can't help but to wonder what kind of business model it is as competition is so keen in Batam massage environment.

Say, put in prospective of the customer where customer pays, cannot choose therapist and subsequently not happy. Customer will not come back - one time business. If customer chose himself and not happy, he can't blame the spa because he chose himself. He will still come back to try other therapist. Apparently, the Manager won't buy this idea.

I, of course can understood their position. But for my own comfort level, the money I have to pay and the value I hope to receive. I asked myself do I actually have value for money. And the answer probably No.

After reading this paragraph a few times,i find that the Massage place aka Theraz Massage Parlor dont seems to like regular customer/s.They planned to do only one time business. Its not the 1st time i came across this kind of situation. Some of these kind of shops (mostly from hotels) chop a customer so hard that he swore never ever to return. But who cares,since the hotel can always bring in new customer who didnt know about the situation.

Here's my solution,i leave my HP number there and tell them,once it is my massage girl's turn to massage the next customer,reserve her for me and call me immediately. The thing about Indonesia service industry is 1+2,they will know it is 3 and they will always stick by the "1+2 = 3" rule. Try using 2+1 the next time. Surprisingly their "answers" at most time can become 4 or 5,hehehe...my whole idea is if i got stuck in a situation,i try to MOVE around it. A little more time used,a little more effort required,but well...i still get what i want and reach my destination.

And i will also write in to iHotel showing my displeasure. Believe me,most if not all 4+ star hotels in Batam will respond to you. And even if they dont (which is unlikely),its ok,i have nothing to lose anyway. The massage shop Theraz will most likely be reprimanded by the Hotel management as they are indirectly under them. Next trip,go try and see if things improve. If they dont,i wont return.

I go to Kings Massage and when i pick "those girls" not in their photo album,i wasnt allow to choose too,hehehe...applies for Gideon Hotel too.

Originally Posted by MovingTarget

So, I called Sakura Spa and checked that my usual therapist was available. I cancelled the booking and took a taxi to Sakura Spa.

How's the massage at Sakura,bro? Pricing and amenities to share?

Originally Posted by MovingTarget

Theraz Spa has 4 single rooms and 2 double rooms. During the day, most of the time, it is empty even with 30% discount for staying guest. (I was there last week but did not stay). Perhaps, from strong competition from nearby massage shops and hotel in-house spa such as Reborn, universals, BCC service apt, Indo-Thai, Swiss Inn, Hotel 89, Gideon hotel and also with just a short taxi ride to Nagoya.

Good information here. Competition benefits the end user. If Theraz is iHotel's in-house Spa,they have no worries about competitions. They easily have a steady good flow of customers from iHotel's staying Guests (just like Kings Massage at Formosa Hotel).

Originally Posted by MovingTarget

I am wondering how long can they last if they are not flexible with their business model. They are operating completely different from Reborn business model which the boss encourage their therapists to build rapport with their customers and hope the customers can come back to chose the same therapist. The therapist will still maintain their position in the queue. In this case, Reborn get quick repeated business and therapists get commission from shop and tip from customer, and when their turn comes, they continue to do their massage. It is a 1 stone kill 2 birds strategy. That's why Reborn opens another shop opposite BCS mall and is looking to open the 3rd shop.

Has it ever occur to you that Theraz Spa is inexperience in this trade? In fact most hotel in-house massage shop has no worries about having no business especially those more renowned and popular ones.

Originally Posted by MovingTarget

Sorry, this is really boring stuff and should not be here.

Its not boring stuffs,otherwise i wouldnt have read them more than thrice. Its good to share the not-so-good time so that if another bro were to go to the same place and encounter the same situation..he will be prepared. Sharing a bad experience is as good as sharing a good one,as long as you dont share it with all the negativity like "i am going to burnt that hotel down" type of thing...lol. You have also share most of the stuffs in detail too.

Before i forgot to ask,whats the massage pricing like in Theraz Spa? The ambience? (should be pretty good since its new?) And i repeat my previous question,whats a "kuat" massage?

Sorry for the many questions.

Thank you for sharing your experience,bro. I am only ONE living person (with one dick,hehehe..) going to Batam once or sometime twice a month,but all the kind bros here who go Batam and then come back here to share their experience does help me in navigating all the places that they went to which i havent yet been to. (eg,like food place,place of interest,booking joint,massage places etc) My sincere gratitude to these bros (who shared).

May heaven bless your next trip to Batam be even better than your current.

Cheers!!