Relax Massage at 557B Geelong Road, Brooklyn is a local shop reached from a service road off busy Geelong Road, and it keeps things simple. You ring the bell, wait on the reception sofas and get straight to the point, because this is a service-first shop where the massage is a short warm-up.
Communication and customer interaction
- Ring the electronic bell and wait on the sofas. A therapist comes out, asks if you want a massage and takes you through.
- Extras come up as soon as you're in the room, and she'll quote a price if you ask, so settle it before you hand over cash.
- English is basic but fine for sorting out what's on offer.
- If another punter arrives mid-session, the therapist steps out and asks him to come back later, so expect the odd interruption.
Location, access, atmosphere and cleanliness
- The service road off Geelong Road makes for an easy, low-profile arrival.
- Reception is a sofa-and-cushions waiting area, with plain treatment rooms behind it.
- The set-up is functional and tidy enough for a local shop, not fancy.
Facilities and amenities
- Rooms have a ceiling fan and a cheap standing fan. Switch the standing fan on before you start, because the rooms warm up.
- Wet wipes, tissues and towels are provided for clean-up.
- The table can have a pillow on it, so you may end up resting your chin on it.
Therapists
- Asian therapists, mostly in their 30s and 40s, with more than one working across the week.
- Looks and build vary, and so does enthusiasm, which ranges from businesslike to surprisingly engaging.
Service and massage quality
- The massage is brief and basic, more of an oiled rub than a therapeutic session, so book this shop for relief and not for a deep tissue treatment.
- Extras follow quickly. Full service is available, with protection offered, and sessions work through a couple of positions.
- Hands-on boundaries are set by the therapist, for example on what's allowed while she's busy with you, so go with her lead.
Pricing and extras
- The base massage is 30 minutes for $50.
- A 30 minute session with full service is $100 and have run up to $150.
- Payment is taken upfront in cash, before you undress.
Session flow and timing
- You pay, undress and get a short massage, then the flip, extras and clean-up.
- A 30 minute booking keeps things moving, and it suits a quick turnover.
Overall customer experience
- Best for punters who want a direct, no-frills session close to home, with the venue giving little away from the street.
- Who you get decides how the visit goes, so a little patience when the doorbell rings is part of the deal.
Quotes
- “Place is situated via a service road off a busy road. The reception has sofas and cushions. A second door has an electronic ‘ring bell’ hanging. I press the door bell and return to the sofa.”
- “She leads me into the first room and asks if it’s my first time here and I tell her it is. She then says it’s $50 for a massage then pauses and says extras are offered.”
- “The room has a ceiling fan and a cheap standing fan (which I am regretful that I didn’t turn it on when I had the chance). The massage table had a pillow on it so I had to rest my chin on it as I laid down. Not totally uncomfortable but not the best.”
- “She slaps and prods me all over after applying oil. Then it’s rubbing and a poor attempt to press her arms on my back and legs. I certainly am not paying for a massage.”
- “By this time the doorbell rings. She takes a bunch of wet wipes and hands them to me asking me to wipe both my hands. She leaves the room and tells the next punter to come back later as she is busy.”
- “She then hands me a towel as my back is dripping with sweat. (The fan wasn’t on). I thank her for her time and get dressed. She leaves and heads to the back to shower and I leave the premises.”
Know before you go — the latest on which therapists are worth a visit, plus scam warnings, are on the forum. Check the Brooklyn updates on The Naked Truth