Terrible customer service... false charges... no accountability... immature and inexperienced…read morestaff... and this is all before you receive a service.
I typically receive private athletic massages from a certified athletic trainer at a private university, but two Christmases ago, I received a gift card to Hand and Stone. I wasn't sure what the amount on the gift card was, so when I visited the Durham location off MLK in December 2025, I was told it was worth $150, which covered two 50-minute massages. Great, I thought.
Fast forward to February, when I looked to make another massage appointment. I called on Wednesday, Feb. 18, to confirm the card's value, and I was told it would cover an entire 50-minute massage.
I also visited in person to make the appointment on Thursday, Feb. 19, and was told there was $50 remaining on the gift card, which would cover another 50-minute massage. On that day, a woman in a hijab made the next appointment for Sunday, Feb. 22, and I was not required to make any additional payments.
I later found out I could not make the appointment and decided to transfer the experience to my sister. I returned to the location on Saturday, Feb. 21, around 1:35 p.m. to make the change.
When I asked to make the change, the $50 remaining balance was brought up again. I politely explained what I had been told and that I was already booked for 50 minutes with no additional fees. Once again, I was working with the woman in the hijab. She went back to speak with her manager.
Upon her return, she told me the gift card did not cover another massage and blamed the misinformation on another coworker, Sam.
I asked what it covered, and she said nothing. I asked how much I needed to pay for a full massage; she stated it would be $79. Despite my hesitation, given that the previous massage cost $100, I paid so my sister would have the best experience.
But the most scathing and inappropriate aspect of the experience was the laughter by the other employees upon my exit, exhibited by the woman in the hijab, the manager, another desk receptionist (both white), and a checkout receptionist (Black).
As a marketing, communications, and brand executive who understands the importance of a company's frontline actions, this was an extremely frustrating and disturbing interaction.