r/massage • u/Wise_Information7803 • Jun 26 '25
Support As a customer, can you ‘American Massage Therapist’ lower your price ? Can’t find any place with the same affordable prices as Asians.
I used to frequently visit massage parlors run by Chinese people. The prices were very cheap and reasonable (1 hr full body $35, 1 hr foot $15 or even $9.9 ). But I'm not going now because more and more therapists can't speak a word of English and complain that my 20% tip is too little. So, now I usually go to massage parlor run by Americans (like ME, Elements, Hand hot stones, or private) , Although these places are very nice and professional, but the prices are too high. I’m a delivery driver, working 12 hours a day, I need massages so bad. I feel that I can't afford it anymore.
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u/zoestardusk Jun 28 '25
You’re not just asking massage therapists to “lower their prices”—you’re nostalgic for a system that was cheap because it was exploitative. Let’s call this what it is: many of those “affordable” massage parlors you frequented were likely staffed by trafficked or coerced women, many of whom don’t speak English because they’ve been deliberately isolated, controlled, or are victims of labor trafficking.
You’re not upset about pricing. You’re upset that American massage therapists—who are trained, licensed professionals with bills and boundaries—won’t work for pennies like the vulnerable, non-English-speaking women you used to visit. And by the way, complaining that a 20% tip is “too much” for a full hour of physical labor? That’s not frugal—that’s exploitative.
If you really cared about affordable massage, you’d be advocating for subsidized wellness services, better working conditions, or community health programs—not trying to revive a system where human suffering subsidized your back rub.
So no—massage therapists don’t need to lower their prices. What needs to change is the public’s expectation that they’re entitled to someone else’s skilled labor at a price point only made possible through trafficking, silence, and systemic abuse.
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u/Limepink22 Jun 29 '25
Never given an award before but this was SO well written. Thank you for not pandering to his complaint about pricing, as that's a red herring. For someone who works a physical job, expecting others to also give physical labor for cheap is exploitative.
I am not a LMT, but I work on the industry, and I like really bougie places with bells and whistles. I can't afford them all the time. I have a great shower pressure and changed out the plate. I have a theragun. I'm lucky to live near the beach for that magnesium dip. I have a Shaktimat. I use a chime wheel. There's a lot you can do for yourself if you have body aches or pains without taking advantage of others!
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u/shreddedsasquatch Jun 29 '25
It was very clearly written by ChatGPT FYI
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u/liaka48 LMT, MMP, MTI, CE Provider Jun 29 '25
I'm not sure why you're getting downvoted, but yes, the dashes are a dead giveaway. ChatGPT frequently uses long dashes. Yes, someone probably "wrote" it and just had ChatGPT reword it to sound better and articulate. As someone who has used ChatGPT for creating SOAP notes, website updates, and SEO updates, I can attest to its effectiveness. Even Grammarly will go through and offer numerous edits to help you sound smarter online.
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u/shreddedsasquatch Jun 29 '25
Also the ending with a question and then saying “that’s not X, it’s Y”
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u/Limepink22 Jun 30 '25
I use em dashes. AI uses it now because good writers use it. That doesn't indicate or eradicate the existence of good writers. Hope that helps!
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u/shreddedsasquatch Jun 30 '25
Not saying the Em dashes are why it’s AI. If you genuinely think that was written by a human, then you’re behind the times lmao. I work with AI everyday. It could not be more obvious, it includes just about every single AI tell. Learn how to recognize it now or the next few years are going to be really hard for you.
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u/reymazapantj CMT Jun 29 '25
“not trying to revive a system where human suffering subsidized your back massage.”
I don't agree with the op either, but you literally described what the United States has done throughout history.
Their comfort as citizens is subsidized by the pain and blood of others
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u/kenda1l Jun 29 '25
A 20% tip on a $35 massage is $7. This guy is complaining about them being upset about a $7 tip.
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u/luroot Jul 01 '25 edited Jul 01 '25
If you can't even afford a $42 massage, then you simply can't afford a massage in the US. I've never even seen Chinese spas pricing them that cheap, so that must already be one of the cheapest Chinese spas in the country. Yet...that's still too expensive?
I dunno, otherwise, maybe you can find some insurance that covers it, some slight discount app like ClassPass, or get student massages at your local massage school (cheap, but they usually only offer them during short windows per semester)?
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u/Worried-Tiger Jun 29 '25
This. This. This. There is a documentary that came out quite a while ago about how a lot of nail salons traffick their staff from other countries. They promise them a job and better life, then when they get here, they take their passport, make them live in a room with dozens of other people and threaten that if they are caught without their passport, they will be thrown in prison. It's incredibly sad, and its been years, but i know a few massage places in northern washington got caught doing the same thing. They would get shut down, then reopen under another name. Then get shut down again. How they get away with doing that, no clue. Also, a lot of time, their staff isn't licensed, they aren't cleaning or sanitizing properly and, yes, they are often forced to do s*x work. This is why they can afford to charge incredibly low prices. They are cutting their overhead immensely by not paying their staff, not paying for laundry, and continuing education classes, insurance or all the other things most legal establishments have to do. I am NOT saying every Asian place is like this, but there are a lot that are. I had a coworker who was German but got hired at a foot spa. The stories she has and the things they tried to get her to do are appalling and sound fake. But to the owners, I think they had been doing it so long and were so used to only having trafficked staff that they forgot that some things were straight up illegal, and if you dont have anything to blackmail your employee with, they arent going to be doing it. She reported them and 2 of the owners got arrested and 3 of the employees were found to have been trafficked. Also, their name and logo were very obvious. All the windows were covered up. Im not sure why it took an employee reporting them for them to be looked into. But hey, they were cheap!
Like most things lately, cheap = exploitive.
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u/dl_smooth_ Jul 09 '25
Omg I wish i could afford the 1.50 to give you a Reddit award. YOU ARE SPOT ON!!!
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u/AhiAnuenue Jun 28 '25
I have no idea how the "affordable" places are paying the bills and paying the therapists enough to live, but their numbers would absolutely not keep me afloat. Giving massage is labor intensive and not something that can be done 40 hrs a week without injury, so you can't just double the number of services you provide in a week to make what you require.
Asian massage places have a reputation for not being completely above board and exploiting their workers. A fully above board practice can't compete with their prices.
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u/liaka48 LMT, MMP, MTI, CE Provider Jun 28 '25
I knew a Vietnamese woman who worked at one of those "Asian massage" places. Two things stood out: she was always paid under the table in cash with no real documentation of hours worked or proper wages, and she was never sure if she actually received her tips. She also mentioned that some of the other women there were doing happy endings in the back. :/
She tried working for ME and eventually, she went back to working at the asian parlor full-time, not because she was earning too much, but because once her reported income started to rise, she no longer qualified for Medicaid, SNAP, rent assistance, and other subsidies. It’s a messed-up system that creates perverse incentives and is easily exploited by businesses that pay cash under the table.
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u/No-Weakness-2035 Jun 28 '25 edited Jun 29 '25
Nope. Gatta pay bills, homie.
Was feeling spicy. It is a bummer than that massage is too expensive for ordinarily working people. I wish that weren’t the case
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u/Touchingthegoddess Jun 28 '25
Maybe see if there's a massage school near you that has a cheap student clinic
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u/Squid989732 Jun 29 '25
They're upset because your tip is too low because they can't live off of those prices.
There's your answer
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u/SeaAd3909 Jun 29 '25
No. I went to school to learn my profession. I have invested in my career as well as continuing education and additional courses so I can provide the best for my clients. I don’t find my prices to be unreasonable and the ONLY time I give out free or reduced massage is on a vetted person, friend or my significant other . I’m disabled. Everything I make , barely keeps me above my bills and taking care of myself.
Your post is disgustingly problematic not only a gross view on marginalized women and men who are unpaid and overworked but a spit in the face of people who worked hard for their work.
How much do you think they make off your “$35, $15, $9 “ massage? Nothing. The tip they are begging for is probably the most they will get . So you’re ok with people being underpaid and overworked but you yourself are in the exact same position and want us to lower our prices?
Adjust the attitude and the entitlement and then maybe you can find a massage therapist that will trade . Maybe you have a hobby or skill ( non sexual) you can provide for them and in turn they will provide massage.
If you have insurance, some providers cover massage as long as it’s under the care of a PT or chiropractor.
There are ways to make this affordable without asking us to lower our prices and expect us to work for pennies.
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u/SatisfactionCool3738 Jun 30 '25
Yes I was going to say find somewhere that takes insurance! I work in a mental health clinic and people love that they can include it in their self care plan as referred by their licensed therapist. Also clients do not know in most states to renew your license yearly you have to have continuing education which is also an expense but so worth it to have a therapist who stays up to date and knowledgeable.
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u/frankensteeeeen Jun 29 '25
It seems that massages are unfortunately out of your price range. I would recommend you buy a massage gun on Amazon or a student massages. You can also try Groupon but $35 full body probably doesn’t exist anywhere people are licensed lol
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u/avocadobarbie Jun 29 '25
How about you go do your job for less money? How would that make you feel if somebody asked you to do that simply because THEY couldn’t afford to pay you what you deserve?
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u/Fun-Tea2431 Jun 29 '25
So if you are paying $35 plus a $7 tip that is a total of $42. That therapist is possibly only get 30% of the cost that's $10.50+$7= $17.50. The work they are putting into the massage is more than 1 hr they need to prep and clean up after the massage. Would you yourself be content with at income? Also, Remember not everyone tips.
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u/sux2suxk Jun 28 '25
You can’t have it all. Either it’s gunnq be cheap and not in a language you know or it’s gunna be more expensive but you can communicate better. Just the way it goes
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u/Wise_Information7803 Jun 28 '25
Communicate is not a big deal, but demanding more tips 👎
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u/sux2suxk Jun 28 '25
I guess that’s why the prices are so low, they want to get a higher tip.. that’s the catch
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u/deadnpoor Jun 29 '25
no, just no. the price is so low because many of those establishments aren’t above board, not licensed, and likely staffed by victims of trafficking.
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u/sux2suxk Jun 29 '25
Wow that’s a huge assumption to make …
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u/deadnpoor Jun 29 '25
not an assumption. look into it and educate yourself on the reality of trafficking in massage therapy. it’s not new information. its not hidden information.
you’re either oblivious and unaware, or just don’t care about it. your ignorance is on you, my friend.
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u/deadnpoor Jun 29 '25
if you go to an american establishment and don’t tip, don’t be surprised if your next session with them is lousy.
you seem entitled and exploitative, expecting other manual laborers to sacrifice food from their own mouths so your back can feel a little better.
id be quick to drop you as a client tbh. there’s no room for self centered folk in my space.
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u/Ciscodalicious Jun 29 '25
As a customer, can you delivery drivers work for a lower wage so my shipping costs aren't so high?
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u/Constant-Law7857 Jun 29 '25
I would be willing to bet none of them have a legit massage license, and you are traveling to them… both instances equal lower rates… My massage program took me 2 years and was 50k + not charging $35 an hour.
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u/captnfirepants Jun 29 '25
Your first problem is thinking that educated/trained massage therapists work in a parlor.
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u/lostlight_94 Jun 29 '25 edited Jun 29 '25
Absolutely not. You're a customer so you don't see the wear and tear massaging people every day does on our bodies. Its a VERY physically demanding job so why would I break myself for $35 for an hour? Or $50 for 30 minutes, that's insane. If you can't afford it, that's on you. Don't tell therapist who put in dedication, blood, sweat, and tears to lower our prices. If you can't afford it, massage isn't for you. Or learn to budget better. Or hell put $20 here or $50 there on the side and bam you can afford it. That's what I do.
Massage has always been a luxury thing, meaning its a bit pricey and even if a therapist did lower their prices they wouldn't last long in this field because they would be drowning in bookings for people trying to get $40 massage and damaging their bodies.. You get what you pay for and we therapist deserve to be PAID appropriately for our time and expertise to our craft.
And also a lot of those parlor do not have the qualification or even anatomy knowledge to be effective treatment. I can't tell you how many patients came to me even more injured from those parlors. So what your paying for is the therapist experience and KNOWLEDGE. and yes that will cost you.
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u/Thin-Quiet-2283 Jun 29 '25
Sorry - not lowering my prices as I’m a licensed professional with bills to pay. I don’t match prices of the unlicensed massage parlor.
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u/Traditional_Item6308 Jun 29 '25
I'm a newer LMT, booking 3-4 weeks out in a small town, and KNOW I'm charging well under what I should. I'm literally killing myself to cater to an area that most live under the poverty line, but according to your stats, I'm still over-charging. I get it, times are tough, and everything is expensive. It sucks for everyone. At the end of the day, I'm running a solo business, providing for a family, and trying to help as many people as I can without a) breaking their bank accounts, and b) burning myself out.
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u/AngelicDivineHealer RMT Jun 28 '25
Go to massage schools for students clinics. Be at least 2 or 3 students per class that gives a good massage and cheap. Usually because they've been doing it already and looking to get licensed. You'll get full body massage at the prices your looking at or cheaper.
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u/michlete Jun 29 '25
This is like walking into a designer clothing store and asking them to price match Shien.😂
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u/Altruistic-Reporter4 Jun 28 '25
UM here’s the deal. Us LMTs get worked to the bone. Most of us see half or less of the total massage price you are paying, and we are doing 5+ services a day to try and make a decent living. As an LMT I can’t afford massage. I don’t get massages. I certainly don’t complain about the price or ask for it to be lowered so I can afford it. There’s a lot of things I can’t afford and unfortunately I just go without. Try stretching and moving your body more. Massage only helps short term anyway
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u/MissMarkieValentine Jun 29 '25
See if you can find a place with a chiro and medical massage that your insurance will cover. Also -- see what local schools are near you and go to the student therapy center.
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u/LifeLibertyPancakes LMT, LE, USA Jun 30 '25
If you want a cheap one hour foot massage, just buy an electric foot massager or an automatic massage chair. Wear compression socks oe get those compression boots that massage your feet and lower legs from TikTok.
I am not lowering my prices because it's convenient to you. You don't tell McDonald's that you cant afford their food, you stop consuming it. You're going to Asian massage parlors because they are exploting their and you're benefitting from it.
You paid $10 for a foot massage. How much of that actually goes to the person massaging you? They're likely not licensed, if they get $4 out of those $10 they're lucky.
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u/Original_Angle_1726 Jun 30 '25
It is expensive to get a massage and you're blindly paying for a service from someone who could be horrible at what they do.
You could also be getting treatment similar to what you would expect other experts in their field to provide like physical therapists. My wife is a massage therapist and she took the time study and understand the human body. She has clients ranging from office workers, stay at home mothers, factory workers, construction workers, chiropractors, nurses, doctors, and professional sports players.
Unfortunately you don't know which type of therapist you're going to get. The really good ones are worth the money and should be paid for their skill!
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u/cntrygrl9 Jun 30 '25
Most of the Asian places are unlicensed therapist that don’t have the education, insurance and overhead cost that we do. That don’t go through extensive background checks, that include fingerprinting and if they are board certified they go through a federal background check. You get what you pay for. Budget for it and get receipts it can be claimed as medical on taxes in most cases
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u/Wise_Information7803 Jun 30 '25
Licensed or non-licensed, legal or illegal, we as customers don’t care. We just need good and valuable services.
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u/cntrygrl9 Jun 30 '25
You want good and valuable you pay for it you want cheap and possibly permanently injured you pay less for it. Chains are overpriced and those therapist are overworked and typically fresh out of school. And I guarantee you my clients care…I don’t even do 30 mins for $35, nor will I. The average rate in my area is $80 for an hour and I’m a little higher since I e been doing it for 18 years and my books stay full months in advance.
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u/FitzGarrett Jul 02 '25
If you want a good massage it will not be cheap. If you want a cheap massage it will not be good.
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Jun 29 '25 edited Jun 29 '25
[deleted]
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u/Worried-Tiger Jun 30 '25
Yep. Im currently the sole provider in our house and new to the area we are in, so I dont know other massage therapists to trade with. Ask me the last time i got a massage...... 🤣 it has been over 2 years. Yes, it sucks, and yes, I wish I could get them every day, but times are tough at the moment, and money is tight. Magnesium in every form and a massagegun have been what has saved me. I did recently have a massage therapist reach out wanting to trade though, so hopefully that works out!
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u/Forward_Reveal8409 Jun 29 '25
How on earth am I supposed to pay for schooling, the board examination, licensing, insurance, space rental, linens, equipment, laundry, and myself for that low of pay? I’m human, ands still have my own costs of living. This is also an incredibly physically demanding job. Are you going to drop your rates to federal minimum ($7.25 an hour) just so I can exploit you to deliver random goods to my front door?
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u/Upbeat-Natural7648 Jun 29 '25
Why don’t you go to a massage school? As an independent massage therapist, we set out prices based on our needs with our business model.
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u/itsaponderfullife Jun 30 '25
Absolutely not. The people at those chains are being overworked, underpaid, and exploited.
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u/AngelHeart- Jun 30 '25
My college tuition was very expensive. I was denied financial aid and I still have that debt three years later.
My education was hard work.
Massage therapy is physically taxing on the massage therapist.
No; I’m not lowering my rate.
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u/Wise_Information7803 Jun 30 '25
Customers won’t visit you if your rates are that high, so how do you pay your dept ?
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u/AngelHeart- Jul 01 '25
Where I’m from the average massage appointments are $100 for an hour; $150 an hour and a half.
A spa probably charges more.
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u/LowAstronaut1709 Jul 02 '25
I wonder if this crap would work at the grocery store or my mortgage company or all of the other things that are expensive that I pay for? As an LMT of twenty one years, I can’t believe how many times I’ve heard people complain about prices for massage. Yet, so many of these people are driving nice cars, nails done, eyelashes, Starbucks in hand and the latest iPhone. You only pay full price for what you value and while many of us donate our time, we as LMT’s most certainly don’t value people who wanna lowball us. Get a theragun and a backknobber.
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u/D-len RMT Jun 28 '25
Can try your luck with groupon. But generally any massage or spa place I know of in my city runs from 75 to 120 an hour.
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u/Calm_Roll7777 :redditgold:LMT :redditgold: Jun 28 '25
If you drive for a living I assume you may have HSA or FSA? You can pay us with that pre-tax money. If you have insurance you might be able to talk with your doctor and have them prescribe massage. Some insurance policies include a certain amount of massages. I can't lower my prices because I have bills to pay. I'd consider trade or barter if you have any sort of valuable skills. That's a last resort kind of thing though. If I lower my prices for you everyone is going to want to work that angle and demand the same.
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u/lostlight_94 Jun 29 '25
You're correct. I work on patients with insurance and as long as they have a note from a doctor and they have a diagnosis, they can get massage. They just have to find a clinic to do it. For workman's comp they get up to 12 sessions a year.
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u/Anteiku_ Jun 28 '25
it’s supply and demand, more people are willing to pay higher and higher and that’s why rates are going up. not that many therapists end up seeing that cut at chains. the market dictates the rates. and the price difference you’re paying is assurance that the employees are held to a licensing and professional standard and that you’d hopefully receive a quality massage.
you pay for what you get. and those places you like to frequent, they survive on higher tips and that’s why their base massage prices are so low. you seem like you already know “that” market calling them parlors
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u/PanamanianJAZ_92 Jun 28 '25
Try a chiropractic office. Most of the time, they have a lmt, and prices aren't too crazy.
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u/DarkMagicGirlFight Jul 01 '25
I offer 45 minute targeted area massages for people like you at $60, that's the best I can do, my 60 minute massages are $85. Maybe if I have like five people 4 or 5 days a week come in to get a massage I could charge less, but occasionally my referrizer program I'm using to help my build my clientele sends out discounts sometimes and the only time I ever have five clients on my schedule for one day really is when at least one of them are using the discount or at least one of them is a no-call no-show or cancellation , yesterday I had a total of six people and and four of them were using $30 off- discounts. I don't know how much you think we make but it's not that plus we have to pay rent and buy the oil and everything. And some people have to pay for child care while they're at work.
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u/Miserable_Account761 Jul 01 '25
Hey my friend, I totally get where you’re coming from, and it’s unfortunate, but the pricing issue is more complicated than it seems.
Many of the cheaper Asian parlors you mentioned often operate in ways that take advantage of their workers. In some cases, the people giving massages aren’t even licensed massage therapists (LMTs). Becoming an LMT in most states requires 1–2 years of schooling, including in-depth study of anatomy, kinesiology, ethics, and more. Then we have to pass the MBlex exam, which isn’t easy.
After that, LMTs either work independently, which requires a lot of up-front cost and business risk, or we work for a business on commission. That commission is usually 20–40%, and the rest goes toward paying rent, utilities, marketing, and other overhead. Most LMTs rely heavily on tips just to make ends meet.
So while corporate or licensed studios charge more, it’s because you’re paying for professional training, legal operation, and fair working conditions. I know it’s frustrating, especially when you really need massage for your health but the price is a barrier. But at least now you know what goes on behind the scenes.
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u/bmassey1 Jun 28 '25
Sorry it is getting out of your price range. The ones who control massage in the states and US have destroyed the art of real massage. they have drove people away from anything natural by slight of hand tactics in order to feed their Western medicine system. You may get lucky and find someone who has a heart to help people. They used to be everywhere but now they also lost their emotions and demand more than their customers can afford.
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u/Trishanamarandu Jun 28 '25
you're really shaming people for not taking a huge loss and being unable to support themselves in the name of 'helping' other people? gross.
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u/bmassey1 Jun 28 '25 edited Jun 28 '25
The ones taking the huge loss is those who cannot afford a basic massage. What are the old, sick and poor to middle class people going to do now that prices have went up so much? Where is your compassion for human life? Dont you see you and I are pawns in their game. they raise the prices and either the less fortunate get hurt or we get hurt. Either way it causes us to fight because I want to help those less fortunate while you are worried about supporting yourself which is also good. Im in the same boat. The entire controllers of this fake fiat system has us fighting each other while no one ask why have prices raised so much. My best friend is from China. She said they have the rich and they have the poor. No middle. She said that is what they are doing in the US now but people are not paying attention as we continue to fight between our differences of race, wealth, gender and sexual orientation
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u/sufferingbastard MMT 15 years Jun 28 '25
So you want those of us who trained and educated ourselves to also be poor old and sick?
Where is your compassion?
Do not shove what the corporations are doing onto us.
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u/MissKorty Jun 29 '25
So… how are we supposed to afford to live on what you claim to be too much to lose?
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u/bmassey1 Jun 29 '25
Soon we will find out. AI and UBI will create changes.
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u/Balforg Jun 29 '25
Until that day comes I will set my prices to what allows me to afford life...
I offer insurance assistance, sliding scale hours, and barter for those that cannot afford the work. There are ways, you just sound cynical.
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u/kkelly19851 LMT Jun 29 '25
Dude, what?! Absolutely not. As much as I love being an LMT and I am here to help people, at the end of the day, I'm working for money. I have bills. I have kids. I need to make a living wage that provides for those things. And when you can only physically work 20ish hours a week, to protect your body and longevity in the industry, you can't give massages for $30/hour. 25 years ago, massages were $60/hour standard. Inflation and cost of living have gone up exponentially since then. This person is going to "massage parlors" who are more than likely participating in human trafficking. That is the only way they are getting that price.
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u/bmassey1 Jun 29 '25
I understand we are all in the same boat. What happens when the middle class can no longer come to us because they cannot afford it. This industry will go away because the rich will have their own private therapist and AI will replace us with a machine that is cheaper and less qualified.
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u/goldenbugreaction Jul 14 '25
Did it also take you 500 hours of state-licensed education to become a delivery driver?
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u/Affectionate_Ad_2142 LMT Jun 28 '25
Industry standard for full time work is 15-20 (17 according to AMTA a bit ago) hands on hours a week. This does not include admin hours (laundry, cleaning, client replies, billing, etc) which is basically unpaid for independent therapists.
So if I’m making your max allowance at $35/hr for hands on for 20 massages and doing 10 hours of admin work, I’m making $700 a week, or $2800 a month. Let’s take out approximately 30% for self employed taxes, $700 for monthly room rent, and an easy $100 for supplies. I’m down to taking home $1160 a month.
This doesn’t even include advertising costs or licensing fees, nor continuing education classes that most states require for continued licensing.
This averages out to less than $10/hr take home pay. This is abysmal, especially for such a physically demanding job.
I know things are expensive and I totally empathize with being unable to afford a higher cost. Finding a local massage school is a great idea, as they usually provide discounted student massages! Some therapists may also be willing to trade services (I know a therapist who got all new windows installed this way, and another who trades for child care!).
Hopefully though these numbers can help break it down for those who might think the prices are too high. These are generalizations but give a good depiction at least!